UNMIK Headlines 23 May
Agreement reached in principle about the implementation plan (dailies)
Papers report that prime ministers of Kosovo and Serbia, under the facilitation of EU, finally agreed in “principle” on the text of the plan for implementation of the agreement they initialed on 19 April.
According to that agreement, the implementation plan should have been agreed on by 26 April but this failed to happen largely due to internal problems in Serbia but also because of different interpretations from the parties.
Koha Ditore reports that according to the agreement the integration process of security parallel structures of the north of Kosovo into Kosovo police structures and judiciary system would have to finish by the end of this year. Implementation of some points at the same time will require change of legislation or creation of legal framework.
EU and Kosovo with disagreements about the fund for the north (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that development fund for the north will become functional next month and that this was confirmed on Wednesday by the Office of European Union in Kosovo.
January agreement between Prime Ministers Thaçi and Dacic foresees that the fund is to be filled from customs taxes collected at border points Jarinje and Bërnjak but the law on management of public funds does not allow funds to be allocated outside the state treasury.
A senior official in the Ministry of Finances who spoke to Koha Ditore under anonymity said that the agreement cannot be implemented as it stands. This official said that the implementation plan for the agreement drafted by the ministry is undergoing review from European authorities who are yet to come up with comments. The plan foresees that the fund’s bank account is set up by the treasury instead of by the EU Special Representative Samuel Zbogar.
EU Office in Kosovo said in a written reply to the newspaper that they are to open the bank account. In this process, they treat the parties involved in the agreement as equal therefore the Kosovo authorities will only be consulted.
“EU office aims the creation of the development fund, including the opening of a bank account in one of commercial banks in close consultations with parties involved in the agreement. The details are being scrutinized. We believe that the adoption of the implementation plan, discussed today in Brussels and the beginning of implementation will provide an impetus for the creation of the fund”, reads the statement of Office of European Union in Kosovo.
Romania will not obstruct Kosovo (Zëri, Epoka e Re)
In an interview for Deutsche Welle, Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean said his country hails the progress reached in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and that the recent agreement shows extraordinary political courage.
“This agreement enables normalization of relations in the entire region and is a historic step whose goal should be EU integration”, he said. Corlatean added that the perspective of stability, democratization and joint EU integration is crucial not only for the region but for Europe as well.
FM Corlatean said that in the recent months the Government of Romania has adopted a constructive approach that enables development of European processes in Kosovo. He said the EU member states, including those that have not recognized independence of Kosovo, should find a solution in harmonizing their stance and begin negotiations with Kosovo on Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
LDK wants elections by early October, at the latest (dailies)
Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has asked President Atifete Jahjaga to announce the date for local elections demanding they take place no later than first week of October. The party’s senior official, Ismet Beqiri, said elections in wintertime leave space for manipulations of votes which, he noted, is most suitable for the ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK).
Poll: PDK 31%, LDK 26%, Vetëvendosje 20 (Lajm)
The paper publishes the findings of a poll conducted by the Kosovo Centre for Security Studies which indicate that if elections were to take place at present, Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) would win with 31 percent of the votes, followed by Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) with 26 and Vetëvendosje with 20 percent of the citizens’ votes. Alliance for Future of Kosovo has won the fourth place with 14 percent while Behgjet Pacolli’s New Kosovo Alliance is said to secure only 2 percent.
US and Kosovo committed to strengthening of strategic partnership (dailies)
Kosovo Foreign Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, had a meeting on Wednesday with US Ambassador in Kosovo, Tracey Ann Jacobson, in which they discussed about the internal progress and strengthening of international entity of the state of Kosovo.
According to a press release issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two officials also discussed about the process of dialogue for normalization of relations between Republic of Kosovo and Republic of Serbia. Hoxhaj emphasized the commitment of Kosovo Government for the successful conclusion of this process and the beginning of implementation of the achieved agreement in Brussels.
Negotiations for KEC membership at Eurochambers have started (Koha Ditore)
The Kosovo Economic Chamber (KEC) has started negotiations for membership at Euro-chambers, organization that is considered as an umbrella for Economic national chambers of European countries. KEC chairperson met today in Brussels the director for legal issues at Euro-chambers, Arnaldo Pham. “Membership of the Economic Chamber of Kosovo at Euro-chambers is an important element of the European strategy for economic development, as well as for contribution given to the processes in the economic dimension,” said chairperson of KEC, Safet Gërxhaliu.
Government takes on loans to end highway construction (Koha Ditore)
Kosovo Government will take on two loans from Islamic financial institutions to finalise the Pristina-Mitrovica highway. The first loan of USD 20 million will be received from the Islamic Bank for Development and will be used to expand the road from Llazareva to Vushtrri while the second loan of over 40 million from the Saudi Fund for Development is planned to be used for expanding the rest of the road to Mitrovica.