It's important that mayoral elections in four municipalities in the north of Kosovo take place without incidents and in a democratic atmosphere.
The director of the Serbian government's Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Marko Djuric, said this on Monday in Belgrade in conversation with the head of the OSCE mission in Kosovo, Jan Braathu.
Issues affecting the non-majority communities in Kosovo, including usurped properties, non-implementation of decisions, the slowdown in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue because of the tariffs were the topics discussed in a meeting between the Minister for Communities and Returns Dalibor Jevtic and OSCE officials, High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier and Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jan Braathu, KIM Radio reported.
Jevtic, in a press statement issued by the Ministry, said a chance to change the situation must be given.
Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Deputy Director Dusan Kozarev met with the Head of OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jan Braathu yesterday, and informed him about everyday problems Serbs in Kosovo are facing, in particular about the difficulties caused by the trade blockade on goods from central Serbia, Danas daily reports.
Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Marko Djuric spoke with the Head of the OSCE mission in Kosovo about the political and security situation in Kosovo, reads the statement of the Office for KiM, Radio Television of Serbia is quoting.
Djuric pointed out that the recent intrusion of Albanian special forces in the north of Kosovo was a threat to stability and that it is necessary that international organizations in the field take steps to prevent such provocations happening again, reports RTS.
Jan Braathu, Head of OSCE Mission in Kosovo, interviewed by the Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS).
The OSCE wants renewed efforts to uncover the truth behind the kidnappings and murders of Serb and ethnic Albanian journalists connected to the 1999 war.
OSCE ambassador to Kosovo Jan Braathu said on Tuesday at the unveiling of a memorial plaque to two Serbian reporters who were kidnapped in 1999 and never found that the European organisation will support increased efforts to find the perpetrators of crimes against journalists in the country.
The United Nations in Kosovo organized a two-day Youth Assembly in Pristina, entitled "The Power of the Youth - Joint Building of Peace and Security".
This event brought together 160 young representatives of various organizations from all over Kosovo. The goal is their involvement in decision making and making recommendations for institutions.
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo in cooperation with the German government, launched today the second project on strengthening capacities of Kosovo institutions in fighting serious corruption “Development of capacities of Kosovo agencies and Special Prosecution in fighting corruption of the high level.”
Head of the OSCE mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jan Braathu said the situation between Serb political parties in the north of Kosovo is “fragile” and called on them to respect the right to vote. In a visit to the Elections Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) where he presented the Braille ballot, Braathu said the OSCE and the U.S. Embassy issued a joint statement calling for free and fair elections process but that “unfortunately, we are still seeing signs of intimidation”.
- My main focus, as the new head of the OSCE mission in Kosovo, will be to work for the benefit of all communities, in line with our status-neutral mandate. Special attention will be paid to the protection of civil and human rights, especially minority communities. We are ready to assist in the implementation of agreements arising from the Brussels dialogue on the normalization of relations between Pristina and Belgrade, says in an exclusive interview for Vesti, Jan Braathu, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.