UNMIK Headlines 5 November
Daka: Election material has arrived from the north (Koha Ditore)
Head of CEC, Valdete Daka, on Monday evening claimed that election material for the entire northern part has arrived in Pristina and as soon as it is processed, according to the procedures, it will be determined whether the material is damaged or not.
Daka did not accept to comment on the statements of OSCE officials who stated that the election materials from the three polling stations in north Mitrovica were not in their possession and, as a result, has not been handed over to the CEC. “I know that all election material has arrived in Pristina and has been brought by OSCE itself, from four northern municipalities. They are in the warehouse and are waiting to be processed,” said Daka.
DV wants light to be shed on incidents in the north (Zeri)
The coalition of non-governmental organizations Democracy in Action, which monitored local elections on Sunday, has called on the Central Election Committee (CEC) and the OSCE mission in Kosovo, to shed light on the course of events in the northern part of Mitrovica and in the three Serb majority municipalities of Leposavic, Zvecan and Zubin Potok. “Democracy in Action is concerned with the course of the election process in the northern part of the country, where people were not able to vote freely. Democracy in Action also expresses concern over the fact that law enforcement institutions in this part were not able to provide necessary security that would guarantee a free and equal election process,” a representative of the coalition told reporters.
PDK loses about 40,000 votes (Koha Ditore)
According to Kosovo Central Election Commission preliminary results, PDK at the country level in local elections of 3 November has received 178,000 votes or 37.6 percent which in comparison with parliamentary elections of 2010, shows the party has this time received 40,000 votes less.
At the same time, LDK also has no growth when it comes to the overall votes it won. Preliminary results show the party received 175,000 votes while in the elections of 2010 this party won 172,552 votes. AAK at the country level remains the same as in 2010, while Vetëvendosje and AKR have suffered a decline.
Belgrade’s two scenarios for 3 November (Tribuna)
Leaders of Kosovo institutions have expressed concerns with the management of election process in the northern municipality on the part of OSCE and EULEX, sources told the paper. Pristina is reported to have addressed harsh criticism to the two missions for allowing interference of Serb extremist elements at the polling stations.
Sources added that Belgrade had two objectives for Sunday. First, it aimed to secure victory in the municipalities already integrated into Kosovo institutions through the Serb Civic Initiative and second, to damage election process in the north in order to have the issue again be discussed in the Brussels dialogue.
Knowing this, Kosovo leadership has, at least publicly, commended election process and declared it to be successful in the north as well. Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi said that the turnout in the north was over 22 percent and “isolated incidents do not carry a decisive weight in the election process”.
Rasmussen: NATO has no downsizing plans for Kosovo (dailies)
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that the Alliance has no plans to reduce its presence in Kosovo. “Previous plans for reduction of KFOR forces in Kosovo have been for the time being suspended because we consider it is important to give our contribution to implementation of political agreement between Pristina and Belgrade”, Rasmussen said as reported by Radio Free Europe.
OSCE secretary general condemns attacks in the north (Bota Sot)
OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier has condemned the violence in the northern part of Mitrovica during local elections on Sunday. “The violent attacks carried out as polls were in progress are reprehensible. They are attacks not only against personal dignity but against the right of citizens to exercise their free democratic choice. We expect everything will be done to bring the perpetrators to justice. These incidents are all the more destructive as they come during an election which was to have marked a step forward in the process of normalizing relations between Belgrade and Prishtinë and contributing to stability and security in the region. Elsewhere, substantial number of voters were able to turn out to vote freely for their chosen candidates and the turnout was encouraging. We wish to thank OSCE staff on the ground who worked steadfastly despite challenging circumstances,” Zannier said.
Great Britain: Elections largely successful (dailies)
British Minister for Europe, David Lidington, has praised the process of local elections in Kosovo, calling them as largely successful, but he has condemned the violence in the north. I welcome the largely successful conduct of local elections in Kosovo on Sunday, with a higher turnout in some municipalities than ever before,” said Minister Lidington in a written statement, where he praised, Kosovo’s Central Elections Commission, alongside the OSCE and the EU Election Observation Mission for their hard work to support free and fair elections.
“I am, however, saddened by the incidents of violence and intimidation in the north of Kosovo, which forced the early closure of polling stations. The holding of these elections in the municipalities in northern Kosovo is a key part of the historic agreement on normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, reached on 19 April 2013. I welcome the efforts both governments made in advance to encourage participation in successful elections, and condemn the actions of an extremist minority which should not be allowed undermine progress,” said Lidington.
Çitaku assures Preshevo residents: You are not alone (Tribuna)
Kosovo Minister for European Integrations Vlora Çitaku visited Preshevo yesterday and met with the mayor Ragmi Mustafa with whom she discussed the current situation and challenges that citizens in the area face. Çitaku assured Mustafa that the Government of Kosovo is committed to support Albanian population in the Valley.
“I am very pleased that I am visiting Preshevo, for the first time in the capacity of a Minister of the Government of Republic of Kosovo”, said Çitaku. She said the Government of Kosovo will do outmost to assist and support citizens in the Preshevo Valley. “I want you to know you are not alone”, she stressed.
Nishani requests from Greece to recognize Kosovo (Epoka e Re)
The President of Albania, Bujar Nishani, met on Monday with the President of Greece, Karlos Papulias, who is in a three day visit in Tirana. He requested from Papulias abolishment of the Law on War with Albania and abrogation of all laws that contradict article 15 of Friendship Treaty. Nishani also requested from Papulias to find a solution on toponyms and the sea border between the two countries, as well as consideration of recognition of Kosovo.