UNMIK Headlines 20 June
Agreements are blocked, opposition wants dialogue with Serbia to stop (Koha)
In a front-page story, the paper reports on what it calls “the total blockade” of almost all agreements that Kosovo and Serbia have reached so far in the EU-brokered dialogue in Brussels. The Kosovo government sent a 31-page document to Brussels last week complaining that Serbia is failing to implement the agreements. In the document, the government says it will condition the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities with the removal of the barricade on the Ibar Bridge and the dissolution of Serb parallel structures. On the other hand, opposition parties and political analysts in Pristina claim that the government lacks the power to set such conditions. They even argue that Pristina could have used Belgrade’s failure to implement the agreements reached so far as a legitimate to interrupt talks with Belgrade.
Thaçi: Demarcation is a done deal (Kosova Sot)
President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, said on Sunday that Kosovo has no outstanding issues with Montenegro. “Demarcation is a done deal and now the Assembly has to take a decision”, said Thaçi.
Gaxherri: There is space to revise demarcation agreement (Epoka)
The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MP, Besa Gaxherri, during an interview with the paper urged the Kosovo government to better analyze the issue of border-demarcation with Montenegro. She said the government is in control of all legal and constitutional mechanisms to set this matter right. According to her, there is space to revise the border-demarcation agreement. Gaxherri also criticized the opposition parties for taking the demarcation issue to the streets.
Veseli: Kosovo is committed to good neighborly relations (Epoka)
Kosovo Assembly President Kadri Veseli, during the International Leadership Meeting in Pristina on Sunday said that Kosovo is committed to good neighborly relations. Veseli expressed his satisfaction that Kosovo is the host of this meeting which is attended by 250 representatives from around the world. According to him, these meetings are a good opportunity for building mutual trust. “Democracy is what allows us to overcome our differences. Here in Kosovo we work together with all parts of society,” Veseli said.
Deçan/Dečani historians to sue Constitutional Court judges (Zëri)
The presidency of the Kosovo historians’ league, branch in Deçan/Dečani, announced they will prepare a collective lawsuit against the judges of the Constitutional Court regarding the decision to transfer 24 hectares of land to the Deçan/Dečani Monastery. In a press release, the historians’ league urged Kosovo institutions and the international community to take action, because according to them, the decision of the Constitutional Court will not be implemented.
Book fair cancelled after Kosovo blocks books from Serbia (Kosova Sot)
A two-week book fair scheduled open in Graçanica/Gračanica on 15 June was cancelled after Kosovo authorities did not allow entry of books from Serbia. Serbian language media reported that the Kosovo’s Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports ban on school textbooks in Serbian is not applicable to books of other nature and that despite being timely informed, neither the Ministry of Culture nor that of Education took measures to address the issue and allow Serbian books entering Kosovo.