UNMIK Headlines 25 March
EULEX transition to begin 15 June (Koha Ditore)
The paper reports on the front page that the European Union has turned down a proposal by Kosovo authorities according to which EULEX would begin its transition next month. The two sides agreed on Monday that the transition should begin in June.
“The transition will begin on 15 June by exchanging letters, as was the case last time, which was followed by the ratification in Parliament,” Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuci said after meeting EU authorities in Brussels on Monday. “There will be a transition in management and competencies.”
Although Brussels decided to make essential changes to its mission in Kosovo, it insists that three issues need to remain untouched: a draft on the strategic review of EULEX notes that United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 must remain the legal basis for the deployment of the new mission; “EU continuing to assess and monitor Kosovo’s progress in the rule of law area”; and “eventual procedures deriving from investigations by the Special Investigative Task Force are not part of the scope of this review”.
Election reform at Assembly on Thursday (Epoka e Re)
The Chairmanship of the Assembly of Kosovo decided to discuss the election draft law on Thursday. Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi stated that changes made to this Law do not represent a genuine election reform. “I have not been part of the election reform, but I know one thing for certain, this is not an election reform. Some technical changes that are made to the law might avoid defects from the 2010 elections,” said Krasniqi.
LDK leader indicates end of PDK’s government (Koha Ditore)
During a visit to Peja/Pec, Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader Isa Mustafa said upcoming parliamentary elections “are a good opportunity to remove the bad government that was involved in numerous corruption affairs and abused its authority”.
“Kosovo has the biggest unemployment rate in the region and a high corruption rate, and this government has isolated the country even more,” he said. Mustafa said the LDK strategy is focused on four key areas: economic development and employment, education and healthcare, effective government free of corruption, and integration in the European Union.
Ratel: We will soon arrest senior officials (Bota Sot)
EULEX Chief Prosecutor Jonathan Ratel told TV Plus that the EULEX Prosecution is investigating high profile officials for organized crime, corruption and murders after the conflict. “I am saying that there are ongoing investigations on very important people,” said Ratel, adding that there are senior level people who are using their power to become wealthy. According to him, the prosecution in Kosovo is investigating 374 cases. “It is very concerning that the people in power are so corrupt,” said Ratel.
Thaçi promises 50,000 jobs (Bota Sot)
Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi, Minister for Economic Development Besim Beqaj and Minister of Agriculture Blerand Stavileci participated at a debate on Monday with farmers in Vushtrri/Vucitrn. Prime Minister Thaçi promised to invest €500 million in agriculture in this region for the next four years, as well as create 50,000 jobs. He also told the farmers that starting in May, they will receive €300 for each cultivated hectare of their land.
Ashton expects Vucic to cooperate (Bota Sot)
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, congratulated the leader of the Serbian Progressive Party, Aleksandar Vucic, for his victory in Serbia’s parliamentary elections. “Citizens of Serbia supported your efforts and vision, and rewarded you with their trust to lead towards the European Union,” Ashton told Serbian media, adding that she expects close cooperation, continuance of the dialogue with Kosovo and further implementation of the Brussels Agreement.
Hoxhaj: Kosovo to issue new visas (Epoka e Re)
Since 15 April this year, Kosovo will issue new visas for foreign citizens. These new stickers with high security elements were presented on Monday to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Enver Hoxhaj. According to him, the new Kosovo visas represent a new and very high standard. “The new visa fulfills all the criteria of the Schengen zone and it will be issued to foreign citizens wanting to enter Kosovo from 15 April of this year,” said Hoxhaj.
EC postpones publication of 2013 Kosovo report (Koha Ditore)
The report of the visa liberalization fact-finding mission, which visited Kosovo in December last year to evaluate issues related to emigration, will not be submitted to Pristina in March, as initially promised by the European Commission. After it completes all evaluations, the Commission will prepare a summary report, which is expected to be published between June and September.
“Together with the findings of the mission that visited Kosovo in December 2013 on migration-related issues, the European Commission will prepare another report on Kosovo’s progress in meeting visa liberalization requirements,” said European Commission officials in Pristina.
Meanwhile, Kosovo Government officials said they don’t prefer the practice of receiving all reports together. “Their idea is to complete all assessments and then prepare a report. We want the report as soon as possible. We believe it doesn’t make sense for the last evaluation conducted in December to be published in a report that will come out in June or later,” Besnik Vasolli, the government’s visa liberalization coordinator said.
Limaj: We offer those who will do great work (Epoka e Re)
The leader of the Initiative for Kosovo, Fatmir Limaj, stated on Monday in Peja that this political party will offer people who can perform quality work. Limaj added during the establishment of the initiating council of the Initiative for Kosovo in Peja that, more than anything else, Kosovo needs people who are great at their professions. According to him, the Initiative will give space to men and women who have proved that they know how to advance projects.
EU blocks surveillance by AKI (Zeri)
The European Union is not allowing the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (AKI) to phone tap without permission from the court. The Kosovo Government prepared the draft law on the surveillance of electronic communications, according to which AKI would survey citizens without needing permission from the court first. This initiative was strongly rejected by international officials, which according to sources insisted that the government needs to make changes to the bill on the surveillance of electronic communications.
Serbs won’t let go of Brezovica (Zeri)
The paper reports on the front page that four consortiums have qualified for the development of the new ski resort in Brezovica. Among the four bidders is the MK Group Consortium from Serbia owned by Miodrag Kostic, one of the most powerful businessmen in Serbia. Kosovo’s Trade and Industry Minister, Bernard Nikaj, confirmed that the consortium from Serbia is among the four bidders but did not make any further comment. The paper notes that in the 1990s, Kostic was a senior official of the Democratic Party in Serbia, led then by Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, who was assassinated in 2003. Following democratic changes in Serbia in 2000, when the opposition ousted Slobodan Milosevic from power, Kostic withdrew from politics. Kostic, or the ‘Sugar King’ as Serbian media call him, has now closed ties with the Progressive Party led by Aleksandar Vucic.
Decision to increase salaries brings IMF mission to Kosovo (Lajm)
Sources told KosovaLive that after the Kosovo Government’s decision to increase public sector salaries by 25 percent, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked for an earlier meeting with the government. Kosovo’s Finance Minister, Besim Beqaj, said the government would meet IMF representatives in April to discuss a new program with this institution. The IMF mission however did not wait and arrived in Pristina on Monday to discuss the latest developments. Sources told KosovaLive that IMF representatives expressed concern over how civil service reforms, which were launched in 2010, will not be implemented in the next few years due to lack of budget.