UNMIK Headlines 14 March
Jahjaga: Perpetrators to be brought to justice (Bota Sot)
Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga condemned the Molotov cocktail attack on the offices of the presidency in the Kosovo Assembly building on Saturday. “President Jahjaga expresses her concern over such actions of vandalism on public and private property. President Jahjaga calls on the Kosovo Police and judicial authorities to investigate the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice and appeals to the public to assist law enforcement authorities to shed light on these cases,” reads a press release issued by Jahjaga’s office. Kosovo Police officials said police have taken additional measures in order to prevent such cases by increasing the presence of uniformed and civilian police in the streets.
Zbogar: Kosovo should prove it can resolve political crisis (Epoka e Re)
The European Special Representative to Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, told RTK that during the last six months, the politicians are dealing more with themselves than with the issues that would facilitate the lives of the citizens. He said that now that Kosovo has elected the new president, he should continue to seek solution in a political dialogue between the government and opposition parties. He said that the current political situation is concerning and added that it should improve. “Two agreements in a way accelerated this polarization while later, with the tear gas and police actions, the situation deteriorated.” Zbogar stressed that Brussels condemns the violence in the Parliament and that there is no justification for it. He added that the international community would not interfere in the relations between the government and opposition.
Veseli: Visas for Kosovo citizens to be removed as soon as possible (RTK)
The President of the Assembly of Kosovo, Kadri Veseli is participating at the Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Anti-Semitism. “Albanians have a special tradition of tolerance; they demonstrated their historic role especially in the past. Kosovo is special for its interreligious and interethnic tolerance. This is what we will discuss, and of course we will use the Conference to advance our issue, related to Euro-Atlantic integration and liberalization of visas for our citizens,” Veseli said.
KDI: Reckless politics threatening visa liberalization (Koha Ditore)
The Kosovo Democratic Institute said that the reckless political actions are threatening the future, wellbeing and visa liberalization for the people of Kosovo. In this respect, KDI mentioned the dismissal of Bajram Zogiani from the procurement review authority board four months after being arrested on human trafficking charges. His dismissal, said KDI, came only after the EU imposed it as one of the visa liberalization criteria. In addition, KDI said Zogiani has continued to receive regular pay checks from the Kosovo budget during his 14-month detention period.
Dugolli: I am being treated as a Serbian national (Koha/Kosovapress)
The Kosovo Security Force Ministry head of protocol Gafurr Dugolli, detained over the weekend by the authorities in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on an arrest warrant issued by Serbia, said that he was being treated as a Serbian national although he was the bearer of a Kosovo passport. Kosovapress reports that the Basic Court in Skopje is expected to announce today its decision on whether to release Dugolli or begin procedures for his extradition to Serbia.
Mitrovica-Jarinje road closed due to landslide (RTK)
The Mitrovica-Jarinje road has been closed due to landslide caused by the recent rainfall. The Ministry of Infrastructure said the road is completely impassable and that the company in charge for road maintenance has no possibility of intervening for the time being.
Two new police stations in northern Kosovo (Telegrafi)
Two new police stations were established in northern Kosovo in order to prevent criminal acts. The stations were opened in the villages of Socanice and Lesak. These two police stations were opened at the request of the Leposavic police station. The Commander of the Leposavic station, Dragan Stefanovic, said only the presence of police officers will help in preventing the criminal acts. “Also now the citizens can address the police at any time in Lesak and Socanice, without having to go to Leposavic station,” Stefanovic said. The deputy director of the Kosovo Police in the north, Besim Hoti, said the new stations will be to the benefit of all citizens.