UNMIK Headlines 11 February
- Thaci: No visa liberalization without border demarcation (Telegrafi/RTV21)
- Karpusin: Resolution 1244 does not permit creation of Kosovo army (Koha)
- Haradinaj argues for reciprocity with Serbia on arrest warrants (RTV21)
- PM Mustafa promises 25,000 new jobs this year (Koha)
Kosovo Media Highlights
Thaci: No visa liberalization without border demarcation (Telegrafi/RTV21)
Speaking about his visit to Brussels, President of Kosovo told RTV21 that the EU reaffirmed its unified stance on Kosovo’s European perspective. Thaci did not blame the EU for delays in visa liberalisation saying the issue is now in the hands of Kosovo MPs. He said the isolation of Kosovo is due to the MPs not ratifying border demarcation agreement with Montenegro.
“There needs to be communication between Kosovo political parties in voting for the demarcation. There is not a single argument that supports a no-vote. Territorial integrity of Kosovo is respected,” Thaci said. “It is a firm stance of the EU that without ratifying demarcation there will be no visa liberalisation for the citizens of Kosovo,” he added. “It is final time we acted right.”
Karpusin: Resolution 1244 does not permit creation of Kosovo army (Koha)
In an interview to Koha Ditore, Russian Ambassador to Albania Alexander Karpusin said the statement from the US Defence Secretary James Mattis that Kosovo needs to form an army is “unproductive.” Karpusin stated that the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 does not permit the creation of a Kosovo armed force.
Haradinaj argues for reciprocity with Serbia on arrest warrants (RTV21)
The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, said Kosovo should introduce reciprocity measures against Serbia on arrest warrants. “They have arrest warrants, so should we. Vucic meets the criteria to be issued an arrest warrant. Dacic, too,” Haradinaj said.
PM Mustafa promises 25,000 new jobs this year (Koha)
Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, said in a business conference in Pristina that he expects 25,000 jobs to be open this year. He also said that he believed this year Kosovo would move up on the international poverty threshold. “In two years, the unemployment rate has dropped from around 35 to 26 percent. We have opened 20,000 new jobs in two years,” Mustafa said.