UNMIK Headlines 13 May
The protest that aspires opposition’s revival (dailies)
Both Koha Ditore and Zeri on their front pages today write about the protest on Saturday announced by two parties, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA). Zeri claims the protest will be a test for AAK and NISMA on whether they will manage to get enough people out on the Pristina’s main square without the support from the leading opposition party Vetevendosje. At the same time, Koha Ditore writes that the intensity of actions against the government has considerably dropped following the “collapse” of the opposition’s bloc late March.
Rugova residents to join Saturday’s protest (Zeri)
Residents of 15 villages of the Rugova region will join Saturday's protest organized by the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA). They said they will protest against the agreement on border-demarcation with Montenegro, which, according to them, gives away thousands of hectares of their land to the Montenegro. Ali Iberdemaj, the AAK representative for Rugova villages, told the paper on Thursday that the residents of this area, besides the protest, will oppose this agreement also in other forms. Meanwhile, political analysts say that Saturday’s protest will show the power that the AAK and NISMA have.
Kadri Veseli with a new initiative for demarcation (RTK/Tribuna Channel)
The news site reports that the current version of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro is not expected to be proceeded to the Kosovo Assembly. Assembly President, Kadri Veseli, is seriously considering the revision of the agreement. Citing unnamed sources, Pristina-based Tribuna Channel reports that Veseli is ready to set up a committee consisting of local experts from the governing coalition and opposition parties, which would review the demarcation agreement. According to the source, Veseli discussed the matter with Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and the Quint ambassadors in Pristina.
Still no agreement on extension of EULEX mandate (RTK)
A meeting between senior local and international officials in Kosovo took place on Thursday evening with special focus on the extension of the mandate for the EU Rule of Law Mission (EULEX). The meeting gathered President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci, Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, Assembly President Kadri Veseli, Interior Minister Skender Hyseni, Justice Minister Hajredin Kuci, chief prosecutor Aleksander Lumezi, head of EU in Kosovo Samuel Zbogar and EULEX chief Gabriele Meucci. The meeting was held behind closed doors and sources said that there is still no agreement on whether to extend EULEX mandate or not.
Veseli and Deane discuss EULEX’s future (Kosova Sot)
Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli met on Thursday the head of the EU Civilian Operations, Kenneth Deane. Veseli and Deane discussed the current developments in Kosovo, specially the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX). During the meeting, Veseli stressed that European expertise is necessary for Kosovo. "Rule of law is one of the main priorities of our institutions,” Veseli said. Deane said that the EU is keen to help strengthen the rule of law until in Kosovo as long as it considers this to be necessary. Deane also met with the Minister of Justice, Hajredin Kuci.
Tahiri lifted ban on Djuric entering Kosovo (RTK)
Kosovo’s acting Foreign Minister, Petrit Selimi, is quoted as saying that the decision to ban the head of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo Marko Djuric from entering Kosovo was lifted by a decision of the Kosovo’s Dialogue Minister Edita Tahiri. According to Selimi, the decision was taken after the agreement reached between the parties in Brussels which stipulated that Djuric had to make an official apology for his actions and, in the meantime, the EU drafted a code of conduct for the visits of Serbian officials to Kosovo.
KLA veterans’ pensions pose a threat to IMF agreement (Koha Ditore)
The paper reports that the uncontrolled increase of the number of Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) war veterans entitled to a pension is posing a threat to the Stand-By agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The head of IMF for Kosovo Jacques Miniane said that an agreement on the reforming of social schemes would be crucial for the future of the Stand-By programme. “There has been significant progress in many fields under the IMF programme, including putting the budget deficit under control. However, the rapid increase of social scheme expenses, particularly those relating to the war, is posing a threat to the budget. Without reforms, the fiscal order would be breached in 2017 and the years to come”, warned Miniane.
Limaj interviewed about murder of two civilians (Tribuna)
Fatmir Limaj, leader of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), was interviewed on Thursday by the Special Prosecution regarding the murder of two Albanian civilians in the Malisheva region, in autumn of 1998. As he was leaving the prosecutor’s office, Limaj told reporters that he was called to clarify a case from the war time, and that he hopes that his statement would help the prosecution to enlighten the case and that the perpetrators will be brought to justice. “I gave a statement about this case in The Hague as well, and I hope that the truth will be revealed,” Limaj said. Limaj was interviewed about the murder of Ramiz Hoxha from Bellanica and Selman Binishi from Banja, Malisheve.