Headlines - 25.03.2015

Mustafa: Gratitude for NATO and the United States of America (Bota Sot)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, spoke on Tuesday during the meeting of the government of Kosovo, about the sixteenth anniversary of the start of the NATO air raids on Serbian military, police and paramilitary targets. “Today, after 16 years, I want to express our enormous gratitude to NATO member states, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo and on behalf of the people of Kosovo, and I want to say that 24 March marks the start of the end of Kosovo war and the start of the freedom of our country. Sixteen years later, we are experiencing Kosovo as a free, sovereign and independent country, which aims at European integration. I especially want to express gratitude to the United States of America, and our other allies for their major contribution in defense of civilians, and defense for the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, as well as for the support and help that they gave to our freedom and independence,” Mustafa said.

Serbs in Belgrade burn NATO, US, EU and Kosovo flags (Zeri/Bota Sot)

On the anniversary of NATO’s intervention against Serb police and military, because of their alleged crimes committed in Kosovo, representatives of the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) burned the flags of NATO, the United States, the European Union and Kosovo. Addressing the participants, SRS leader Vojislav Seselj said that Serbia must never become a member of NATO or the European Union.

Serbia puts conditions on Kosovo to appear without symbols (Tribuna)

Kosovo is ready for the “Western Balkans 6” conference, where all the countries of the Western Balkans are expected to participate. The countries of the region are expected to agree on some infrastructure projects and the documents deriving from this conference will become official at the European Union, which will also finance the projects. However, Pristina-based TV station KTV has learned that Kosovo is lacking ideas for projects and that therefore they will be presenting projects already initiated by the government. Sources told this broadcaster that Kosovo has not even completed the feasibility studies for these projects, due to the six-month political crisis last year. The delegation of Serbia, led by Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic will also be attending the meeting. According to the Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was for this and some other reasons that the meeting will be held without any state symbols and based on the Gymnich system.

Thaci: EU to enable seasonal employment for people of Kosovo (Zeri)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, told Austrian-based paper Die Presse that visa liberalization is very important for the people of Kosovo. According to him, this process will prove to them that the European Union is no paradise. “Kosovars should have the right to visit their relatives and prove to them that the EU is no paradise,” Thaci said. He also emphasized that the EU should offer seasonal employment opportunities to young and skilled workers from Kosovo.

Serwer: Special court doesn’t do “political cleansing” (Zeri)

Daniel Serwer, an American Conflict Management expert, told Zeri that the main purpose of the establishment of the special court which will address war crimes allegations is to serve justice and not to do any “political cleansing”. According to him, this court could be avoided if the local judiciary was more efficient with war crimes cases. “The establishment of a special court may be painful and difficult for Kosovo, but it's very important for the country to demonstrate a willingness to investigate allegations of war crimes,” Serwer said.

Several persons arrested in large-scale police operation in Mitrovica (Express)

The Kosovo Police in Mitrovica, in cooperation with the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), launched a large-scale operation in the Mitrovica region early this morning. According to Kosovapress, around 100 police officers, including special units, are involved in the operation that targets unlicensed moneylenders. A Kosovo Police spokesman for the Mitrovica region confirmed the operation but revealed no further details.