UNMIK Headlines 5 February
Krasniqi: Constitution speaks of President (dailies)
Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi would not comment after the meeting of the Assembly chairmanship on Monday that discussed the meeting between Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga and Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, expected to be held Wednesday.
“The President’s duties are set in the Constitution, therefore I do not want to interfere in this issue,” stated Krasniqi. He also refused to respond to whether the President should report to the Assembly after the meeting, but added that any agreement that would result from the discussions mediated by EU should be ratified at the Assembly.
EU assesses Jahjaga – Nikolic meeting as important (Epoka e Re)
The meeting between Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga and Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic that will be held on 6 February in Brussels will be based on the normalization of relations between both countries, according to representatives from Brussels and the office of the President of Kosovo. Baroness Ashton’s spokesperson, Maja Kocijancic, told Radio Free Europe that this is an important meeting in the context of the normalization of the relations between Kosovo and Serbia. “Ms. Ashton will discuss with both Presidents regarding the next steps required in the context of the normalization of the relations,” stated Kocijancic.
“Cries of mothers” call on Jahjaga not to meet Nikolic (dailies)
The “Cries of mothers” association sent an open letter to Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga calling on her not to meet Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, who is “a representative and participant in the horrible regime that inflicted the worst atrocities and led to the disappearance of our loved ones without a trace,” the letter read.
“You are a woman and a future mother, and we wish you will never experience what we are going through… You know very well that thousands of women were raped by invading paramilitaries and soldiers who were influenced by Nikolic’s fascist and racist ideology … President, turn down this meeting, because it is not befitting for a woman, a representative and President of Kosovo to meet a criminal who 15 years ago publicly supported the thesis of exterminating Albanians through the HIV virus,” the letter said.
Ban Ki-moon: Progress in dialogue, incidents on the ground (Koha Ditore)
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon notes in his latest report on Kosovo that the key step is dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, but progress has also been accompanied with incidents, especially in northern Kosovo.
Ban hails the leaders of both sides for their commitment to a challenging but important process aimed at finding solutions for grave problems that make difficult relations between the two. Ban said coordinated action is required for Mitrovica and that difficult issues should be solved with good intentions to avoid new tensions.
“Alongside the high-level political process, equally important are efforts to promote reconciliation and increased trust between communities in Kosovo,” Ban said.
North Mitrovica municipality set up by autumn (dailies)
Radio Kosova reported yesterday that the Government of Kosovo plans to find a solution on establishing the North Mitrovica municipality by September. The plan, prepared by a group of local and international officials, foresees that the Administrative Office in the north will be fully functional by June so as to make way for local elections that OSCE would organize. The document further anticipates the voters’ lists to be ready by September and the OSCE mission in Kosovo is expected to take on a leading role in ensuring that parties’ reconcile in Mitrovica.
Petrovic – Dacic meeting might take place in Washington (Koha Ditore)
Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo Slobodan Petrovic might meet with Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic in Washington later this week during an annual traditional meeting known as “the Morning Prayer” organized by the U.S. President for the international guests. Petrovic told Dana newspaper that this meeting is possible, and he met other Serbian participants at the Morning Prayer in the past.
Rexhepi: We plan to disband parallel structures (Epoka e Re)
Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi said Kosovo officials will present modalities for disbanding Serb parallel structures in the north in the course of the dialogue. Rexhepi warned of likely tensions in the north for as long as criminal structures are present.
“If the dialogue leads to the normalization of the situation in the north, then tensions are expected. It is therefore in the interest of Kosovo and Serbia to move towards normalizing relations,” said Rexhepi, adding that “there will be gradual progress”.
Two Serb children wounded in north Mitrovica (Koha Ditore)
Two Serb children were wounded when a hand grenade exploded in Bosnjacka Mahalla, in northern Mitrovica. Kosovo police spokesperson Besim Hoti confirmed the incident that took place in the home of the Vucetic family. Motives behind the incident are unknown and there are no suspects at present. Serbian media reported that both children did not suffer life-threatening injuries.