UNMIK Headlines 26 May
EU also sees radical Islam in Kosovo as a threat (Koha)
The paper reports on its front page that a recent article published in The New York Times about the threat of radical Islam in Kosovo has raised special interest among EU diplomats in Brussels. An unnamed European diplomat told the paper: “We know that an article published in such a prestigious newspaper can have a greater impact than our reports. But the same things were more or less highlighted by the European Commission in its reports, by our agencies that engage in anti-terror activities and also by the services of our member states”. The diplomat said he hopes that the article will not have a negative impact on visa liberalization for Kosovo. The paper further quotes a recent report by the European Commission as saying: “visa liberalization can also result in the undetected entrance into the EU of people from Kosovo who returned from war regions where they had joined terrorist networks. The continuous implementation of the legislation adopted as part of the dialogue on visas and increased cooperation and exchange of data with member states, will be crucial in reducing such threats”.
Kosovo wants new format dialogue with Serbia (Lajmi/Tribuna)
Faton Abdullahu, advisor to Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, told Tribuna Channel on Wednesday that Kosovo is ready to resume talks with Serbia and to improve relations with this country, “but in order for this to happen, the Serbian side must implement the already reached agreements”. Abdullahu said there will be a new format of dialogue and that Pristina will ask Brussels to pressure Serbia into implementing the agreements in practice. “This is a premise to continue discussing new agreements, because we cannot agree now on the Association [Community of Serb-majority Municipalities] at a time when the already reached agreements are not being implemented,” Abdullahu added.
Tahiri in Brussels to discuss telecom issue (Zeri)
Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio, Edita Tahiri, travelled to Brussels today to discuss the telecom and cadastre issue with Serbian representatives. The meeting was called by the European Union after the Kosovo government insisted that Serbia should no longer delay the implementation of agreement on telecom, namely the issue of telephone code for Kosovo. The purpose of this meeting is to accelerate the implementation of these agreements.
Prime Minister Mustafa reprimands Minister Marić (Koha)
KTV reported on Wednesday that Prime Minister Isa Mustafa has reprimanded Local Government Minister, Ljubomir Marić, after the latter made statements against Kosovo’s membership of the UEFA and FIFA. Mustafa’s advisor, Faton Abdullahu, said in interview for KTV that Mustafa told Maric his statements were unacceptable for the government of Kosovo. “The Minister was told that he should focus on the agenda of the Kosovo government and not surpass his competencies,” Abdullahu said.
Minister Tahiri meets UNOPS Under-Secretary-General Faremo (Koha)
Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio, Edita Tahiri, met yesterday in Pristina the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Grete Faremo, and discussed the overall situation in Kosovo, reforms in the field of rule of law, European integration and Kosovo’s membership in international organisations. The two officials also spoke about intensification of relations between Kosovo and the UN. Tahiri and Faremo also visited the Merdare crossing point with Serbia which is being constructed by UNOPS as part of the Integrated Border Management (IBM) agreement.
Demolli: Armed forces do not present a threat to neighbours (Epoka e Re)
Kosovo Security Force (KSF) Minister Haki Demolli said after a meeting with the Swiss ambassador to NATO Christian Meuwly that the creation of Kosovo Armed Force (KAF) will not present a threat to the neighbours. “It will be a force that aspires NATO membership, a force that will one day be part of peacekeeping missions”, said Demolli.
Orthodox Monastery should foster good relations with Albanians (Kosova Sot)
The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) MP, Daut Haradinaj, said that the Orthodox Monastery in Deçan/Dečani doesn’t need tens of hectares of land which it does not own. In a Facebook post, Haradinaj said that the Monastery can flourish only by having good relations with the local community and added that Albanians have traditionally protected this religious site. “The Monastery of Deçan should enjoy its property but not that unlawfully granted by the Milosevic regime”, wrote Haradinaj.
Kosovo and FRONTEX sign agreement on border management (Zeri)
Kosovo’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Skender Hyseni, and director of FRONTEX (EU agency for border management), Fabrice Leggeru, yesterday in Warsaw signed an agreement for operational cooperation in border management activities. This is the first agreement between Kosovo and a European Union agency. “With this agreement, Kosovo and FRONTEX will have close cooperation in combating crime, irregular migration and border control,” notes a press release issued by Interior Ministry. This agreement also foresees exchange of experience in the field of border management, exchange of information and participation of Kosovo Police in joint risk analysis.
Mulaku: Serbs demolished their own homes (Zeri)
Mayor of Vushtrri/Vučitrn, Bajram Mulaku, said yesterday that 63 houses for Serb families in Vushtrri/Vučitrn municipality, built with funds of the government of Kosovo, were completely demolished by Serbs themselves. Before demolition, according to Mulaku, they took all the furniture, bought from Kosovo budget, with them. According to the spokesman of the municipality, Shemsedin Preteni, these Serb families now live in usurped flats in northern Mitrovica. Preteni said that Kosovo government invested €1.4 million for this project. On the other hand, Serbs believe their homes should be built in Serbian environments and not where Albanians live, despite that their properties are on the Albanian side.