UNMIK Headlines 21 March
Integration of Serb judges and prosecutors begins on Wednesday (Koha Ditore)
Recruitment of Serb judges and prosecutors to serve in the Mitrovica region is expected to begin on Wednesday, Koha Ditore reports. According to the paper, only formal public announcement of vacancies shall be made by the locals, while the recruitment and vetting process will be led by the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX). Kosovo’s Minister of Justice, Hajredin Kuci, confirmed the date of the announcement. “On March 25 we expect to be announced the vacancy for judges and prosecutors," Kuci said. “The Judicial Council and Prosecutorial Council will decide for the duration and the number of vacancies.”
Mustafa calls for a decrease of inter-ethnic tension in Kroi i Vitakut (Koha)
Arban Abrashi, Spokesperson for the Kosovo government, said on Friday that Prime Minister Isa Mustafa communicated with Mayor of Mitrovica South, Agim Bahtiri and Mayor of Mitrovica North Goran Rakic, and urged them to exercise their influence in calming the situation in the Kroi i Vitakut neighborhood in Mitrovica. “The idea is to overcome this situation and to find a common language to begin works. There is enough space to realize joint projects, and we are working hard that that these problems do not happen again, " Abrashi said. Last Thursday, Serbs threw stones towards Albanian owners and workers who had started rebuilding their houses in Kroi i Vitakut.
Former prosecutor sues EULEX and British Government (Kosova Sot)
The former EULEX prosecutor, Marie Bamieh, has sued the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Britain. Peter Dely, her legal representative, said that Britain was aware of Bamieh’s allegations of corruption in EULEX, but they have done nothing to protect her or to offer assistance. Meanwhile, Bamieh said that this is the right way to proceed further with the case, saying she feels sorry for the rule of law in Kosovo.
Thaci: Extremists can’t stop us (dailies)
Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, said on Friday that a small group of extremists that appeared in Kosovo in the recent years would not be able to stop Kosovo’s fight against religious extremism and to contribute to global peace. "As a result of our efforts, we have had a decrease in the number of fighters from Kosovo to Syria and Iraq," said Thaci. Thaci made these comments during the Conference Against Terrorism in Vienna.
Ymeri: 100 days of failure (dailies)
The leader of the Vetevendosje Movement, Visar Ymeri, on Friday criticized the 100 days of Mustafa governance, saying that it only confirmed that this government is only a continuation of the Thaci government, “which does more harm than good for Kosovo.” “Kosovo government created a big government, with 20 ministries and each of them with at least 2 deputy ministers. Rather than increase the quantity and quality range of services, the government is increasing the number of employees,” Ymeri said.