UNMIK Headlines 8 April
President Thaci meets Quint ambassadors (RTK/Klan Kosova)
Kosovo President Hashim Thaci met on Thursday evening with Quint representatives in Pristina. The meeting was held behind closed doors and no media communiqué was released. According to the media, U.S. Ambassador Greg Delawie, British Ambassador Ruairi O’Connell and EU Special Representative Samuel Zbogar were present at the meeting.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary Hoyt to visit Kosovo today (Kosovapress)
The US Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Hoyt Yee will visit Kosovo and meet the most senior leaders. Hoyt is also expected to take part in the inaugural ceremony for President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci.
Reichel: Germany committed to supporting Kosovo’s development (Koha)
Kosovo Assembly President, Kadri Veseli, met on Thursday with the German Foreign Ministry’s Special Envoy for South-East Europe, Ernst Reichel, in Pristina. A media communiqué issued by the Kosovo Assembly noted that Reichel confirmed Germany’s readiness and commitment to continue supporting Kosovo in all processes. Veseli said Kosovo highly appreciates the excellent relations with Germany that bring a positive impetus for Kosovo in its path toward Euro-Atlantic integration.
Simic: Thaci to do more for communities (RTK/Klan Kosova)
The Serbian List leader Slavko Simic said on Thursday he expects Hashim Thaci to be the president of peace, stability and cooperation. He said the now-former President Atifete Jahjaga was the most independent leader in Kosovo. He also said he expects Thaci to do more for all communities in Kosovo “and be an independent body who we could always address.”
“First to be indicted by special court is Agim Ceku” (Bota Sot)
Citing unidentified sources, the paper reports that the first person to be indicted by special court for war crimes is the former commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army and currently PDK MP, Agim Ceku. Indictment against Ceku is expected to be made public no later than September this year. The charges relate, inter alia, to prisoners of war who were captured by the KLA at the time when Ceku was a key leader.
Deda: Vetevendosje will not use tear gas in the Assembly anymore (RTK)
Vetevendosje MP Ilir Deda said that his party will not use tear gas anymore. “The tear gas is over. We will not see tear gas anymore in the Assembly, either now or in the future,” said Deda. He said the leaders of the opposition parties should explain why they failed to continue their journey in opposing the government and argued in favour of a single electoral list that would include all those who think they could send the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) into opposition.
Konjufca: It is time for AAK to make concessions (Telegrafi/Rrokum)
In an interview for cable TV channel Rrokum, head of Vetevendosje parliamentary group Glauk Konjufca said that his party has already made concessions to the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and that it is now the AAK’s turn to do the same. “We have already agreed to have equal number of candidates in the electoral lists although we are the largest opposition party,” said Konjufca.
Albania PM: Vetevendosje is a national treasure (Klan Kosova)
Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama told Klan Kosova on Thursday that the Vetevendosje Movement has an interesting leadership. “The Vetevendosje Movement is a national treasure, a movement that has a significant potential in the service of the people of Kosovo. It has a special leadership,” Rama said. He also talked about the differences of the government and opposition in Kosovo, saying that both sides must find a common language. Regarding the new President Hashim Thaci, Rama said he was confident that history would appreciate Thaci’s sacrifices and that he hopes his election means a new positive chapter for Kosovo. Rama also commented on the recent decisions made at the ICTY saying that something is wrong in this respect. “There is credible reason to see that something is wrong when a criminal like Seselj gets acquitted and meanwhile there are new charges against members of the Kosovo Liberation Army,” he said.