UNMIK Headlines 14 March
Assembly adopts draft law on KLA veterans (dailies)
The Kosovo Assembly, during its session yesterday, approved the draft law on Kosovo Liberation Army veterans with 71 votes in favour and 3 against. The debate on the law lasted for several hours, with the opposition parties accusing the PDK-led Government of not being comprehensive and for delaying the law for so long.
LDK criticized the draft law because it said it did not dedicate enough importance to the former Armed Forces of the Republic of Kosovo (FARK). It urged the Assembly to make sure that those who fought are included in the draft law unlike the Prime Minister, who recently said he was far from the battle front. LDK also said the contribution of late president Ibrahim Rugova cannot be undermined. “President Rugova was the supreme commander,” said Arben Gashi.
The law aims to regulate the status and the rights of KLA heroes, the disabled, veterans, as well as civilian victims and their families.
Northerners approve illegal statutes (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports on their front page that the statutes approved by the four northern municipalities are in violation of the Kosovo Constitution and the law on self-governance. Apart from failing to use Kosovo symbols and the inscription “Republic of Kosovo”, the statutes also make references to the UNSC resolution 1244 and the Brussels agreement.
Kosovo Government officials, who monitored the sessions where the statutes were endorsed, said they witnessed legal violations in the process and warned that if necessary changes to the statutes are not made, they will be considered illegal. However, leaders in the north have made it clear that they are not going to change the statutes. This could lead to extraordinary municipal elections in these municipalities.
EULEX fails again in the north (Tribuna)
Slobodan Svirlovic is suspected to have attacked EULEX in the north twice during 2012. He is suspected to have thrown a Molotov cocktail at a EULEX vehicle in March and exchanged gunfire with Kosovo police and EULEX in September, injuring one Kosovo police officer. Although he attacked EULEX members, it was the clumsiness of EULEX that made it impossible for Svirlovic to be detained after being arrested on Wednesday. Tribuna learned that Svirlovic was arrested under strange circumstances; he had an argument with a member of Kosovo police and, only after being taken to the police station, police learned that he is on a wanted list. Police officers informed EULEX, however, their convoy did not arrive at the police station in Zubin Potok on time due to a road blockade by some 200 citisens. EULEX members drew back leaving Kosovo police members alone, reports this daily.
If Russia recognises Kosovo, Crimea referendum accepted (dailies)
The Austrian newspaper Der Standard reported on Thursday that Western countries that support Kosovo’s independence are expected to make an offer to Russian President Vladimir Putin, which accepts the referendum in Crimea in exchange for Russia’s recognition of Kosovo’s independence. Western diplomats are planning to follow the referendum that will be held in Crimea on 16 March. Meanwhile, Russia would have to recognise Kosovo as a state or accept the will of the people of Kosovo for self-determination.
Thaçi withdraws decision on salaries for political officials (Tribuna)
Certain deputies at the Assembly of Kosovo refused to have their salary increased, stating that the current one is sufficient. They accused the Prime Minister for “personalising” the decision to increase, and added that this was made in an illegal manner and only for his election campaign. The Prime Minister fulfilled their wish; he withdrew the decision in the evening, and decided to allocate the €5.5 million fund planed for increase their salaries to treat children suffering from leukemia.
Serbia playing with Raska gravesite (Zeri)
Kosovo authorities will not take part in the forthcoming meeting with Serbian counterparts as a sign of protest against obstructions they say are being made by Serbia on the issue of missing persons. A statement issued by the Kosovo delegation says it will not travel to Raska after Belgrade’s refusal to discuss the recently-discovered mass grave there.
Meanwhile, the Kosovo Government Commission on Missing Persons held a meeting yesterday with representatives of the international community and discussed future steps in the Raska gravesite case. Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri said authorities are deeply concerned with the missing persons issue and the lack of an agreement. She accused the Government of Serbia for delaying information regarding Raska, which is suspected to have been used as a burial site for around 400 Kosovo Albanians considered missing.
Serbian elections to take place in Kosovo (Zeri)
Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Edita Tahiri, said that Kosovo citisens with dual citisenship will be able to vote in Kosovo for the Serbian elections but refuted the statement of Veljko Odalovic from the Serbia’s Central Elections Commission who said there will be 90 polling centres opened in Kosovo. She said citisens will be able to vote in the collection centres through the technical assistance of the OSCE and that there will be only 20 polling centres in Kosovo.
EULEX to be defined (dailies)
The Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Hajredin Kuçi, requested that the issue of the EULEX mission should be defined as soon as possible in a meeting with Ambassador of United Kingdom, Ian Cliff. It is in the interest of justice to have an agreement with Brussels regarding this issue.
Ferrarese: Brussels agreements need implementation (Epoka e Re)
The Italian Ambassador to Kosovo, Andreas Ferrarese, said on Thursday that Italy strongly supports Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic perspective and called for the implementation of agreements that Kosovo and Serbia have reached in Brussels. During a meeting with Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri, Ferrarese expressed readiness to further cooperation in important areas, especially in the economy. He also said that agreements reached in Brussels are a contribution to peace and European integration for both territories.
Prizren Mayor found guilty, opposition requests his resignation (dailies)
After almost one year since the trial began, the judicial panel convicted Prizren Mayor Ramadan Muja to two years in prison. The execution of the sentence was suspended for a three-year verification period, which would take into account whether the convicted commits another criminal act in that period. Muja will appeal the ruling but, if his conviction is upheld by a higher court, Prizren could head to extraordinary elections.