According to a research conducted by the Center for Research, Publication and Documentation (CRDP) in Kosovo, the justice system in Kosovo has proven to be very poor when it comes to witness protection. Based on this research it shows that there have been complaints that the Ministry of Justice has not defined processes for prosecutorial and judicial system in witness protection. The report noted that Kosovo lacks political will for the rule of law and protection of witnesses.

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, met today in Vienna with Germany Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Through a Facebook post, Thaci said that Steinmeier congratulated Kosovo on the recent successes and said that Kosovo made brave steps towards integration in the European Union and NATO.  “Germany will be with us during the coming weeks that will unfold very important steps for the people of Kosovo,” Thaci wrote from Vienna where he is participating in the Western Balkans Summit.

To mark the International Day of the Disappeared (30 August), the Association of Families of Missing Persons, Government Commission for Missing Persons and families of the victims today will begin with different activities in honor of the missing persons during the war in Kosovo. During a press conference today, the Commission laid out the agenda for four days, where they will visit various cemeteries and will meet with families of the missing persons.

Kosovo’s President, Atifete Jahjaga, received today in a farewell meeting the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General in Kosovo, Farid Zarif. President Jahjaga praised Zarif's work as head of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and his commitment during the mandate in Kosovo and congratulated him on his new assignment. Jahjaga said that Kosovo is consolidating internationally and stressed the importance of the support for membership in international organizations, in particular in the UN.

Austria's Ambassador to Kosovo, Johann Brieger, in an interview with Radio Kosova said that Austria supports Kosovo’s integration process. He said that the support will be given to Kosovo also during the Western Balkans Summit to be held in Vienna.

The leader of the Vetevendosje Movement, Visar Ymeri, during a vitis to Gjilan/Gnjilane today called on its residents to oppose the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities. According to him, the idea of creating a Serb Association/Community in Kosovo has no other purpose rather than enforcing Serbia’s impact in Kosovo.

Kosovo’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Petrit Selimi, told Radio Kosova that Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci, during the United Nations Security Council meeting today will report on Kosovo’s successes and will require the closure of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).  “Today the Deputy Prime Minister Hashim Thaci during the UNSC meeting will call on the UN not to spend money on its mission in Kosovo because the situation has improved, and that seven years after independence, Kosovo is governed by its legitimate institutions,” he s

Kosovo’s Interior Minister, Skender Hyseni, said today that 46 individuals from Kosovo were killed until now in Syria and Iraq. He added that he is worried with the number of Kosovo citizens participating in foreign wars. According to him, Kosovo is ranked among the places with the largest number of fighters in Syria and Iraq per capita.

The Mayors of ten Serb-majority Municipalities in Kosovo sent a request to the Governments of Kosovo and Serbia that at the next meeting in Brussels to reach agreement on the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities.

The Law on Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor and the Law on legal defense and financial support for potential indicted persons by the special court were sent yesterday to Kosovo’s President Atifete Jahjaga for endorsement. The Constitution of Kosovo gives an eight day deadline to the President to decree or reject the Laws.