UNMIK Headlines 9 February
- Hoxhaj: Serbia is being armed by Russia (Zeri)
- Kosovo delivers HLC war crimes report to 130 countries (Koha Ditore)
- Tusk: EU to do all to improve situation in the Balkans (Bota Sot)
- Tahiri: Association after dissolution of parallel structures (Zëri)
- O’Connell: Territorial swap, dangerous idea (Klan Kosova)
- IS fighter from Kosovo reported killed (Koha/RTK)
Kosovo Media Highlights
Hoxhaj: Serbia is being armed by Russia (Zeri)
Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Enver Hoxhaj, said on Wednesday during his reporting to the Assembly Commission for Foreign Affairs, that Serbia is preparing new provocations towards Kosovo. He even expressed concern that Serbia is increasing its military potential. “This is concerning for us in Kosovo. Serbia is being strengthened militarily by Russia,” Hoxhaj said.
Tusk: EU to do all to improve situation in the Balkans (Bota Sot)
President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, said after a meeting with President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, that the EU needs to make efforts to improve the situation in the Western Balkans region. “Good talks with Hashim Thaci. EU must do all to improve the situation in Western Balkans,” Tusk tweeted in English, Albanian and Serbian.
Tahiri: Association after dissolution of parallel structures (Zëri)
Kosovo’s Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, said that the dialogue with Serbia is reaching its final phase, where the main issue of the discussions will be reciprocal recognition between the two countries. Speaking to the members of the Kosovo Assembly Commission for Foreign Affairs, Tahiri said that there will be no establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities without complete disintegration of the Serbian parallel structures in Kosovo. “We remain determined on implementation of the reached agreements during the dialogue,” Tahiri said.
Kosovo delivers HLC war crimes report to 130 countries (Koha Ditore)
Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has delivered a Humanitarian Law Centre report on war crimes committed in Kosovo to around 130 world countries including international organisations like the UN, OSCE, Council of Europe, the EU, and the European Parliament. The Ministry urges the international community to devote more attention to the non-sanctioning of Serbia for war crimes its forces committed in Kosovo. “The report published by a Belgrade-based organization speaks about the hiding of crimes by Serbia,” the Ministry said.
O’Connell: Territorial swap, dangerous idea (Klan Kosova)
British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ruairi O’Connell, said in an interview with Klan Kosova that the idea of a territorial swap between Kosovo and Serbia is dangerous. “It is a very bad idea,” O’Connell said. He also said that it is very good that the issue of the Mitrovica North wall has been resolved through dialogue. “Hearing the reactions from the people in Mitrovica, it seems the tensions have been lowered. It is important not to employ inciting language. We have to have in mind that the situation in the Balkans was fragile.”
IS fighter from Kosovo reported killed (Koha/RTK)
Ridvan Haqifi from Gjilan/Gnjilane who was fighting alongside the Islamic Group is reported to have been killed, his family confirmed to RTK. Haqifi is believed to have been commander of Albanians fighting with IS in Syria.