Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Đurić held an emergency meeting in Belgrade today with senior representatives of EULEX regarding the more frequent attacks on Serbs and open threats of violence that arrive from extreme political and religious circles in the province, stated the Office for KiM.

Daily Politika quotes today Deputy Prime Minister in the Kosovo Government Branimir Stojanović saying that currently there are no operational data which show that safety is jeopardized, but he also says that there was no indication of the pogrom that took place on 17 March 2004.

Leader of the CI SDP Oliver Ivanović told Večernje Novosti that he expects to be released on Wednesday, after three years of detention.

“Despite everything, I believe in justice and that truth always overpowers all injustices. I am pleased with the decision of the Court of Appeals of Kosovo, which reversed the first instance verdict for alleged war crimes, and I expect the termination of detention, but, above all, an acquittal” Oliver Ivanović said to Večernje Novosti.

Chairman of the Kosovo government’s commission on missing persons, Prenk Gjetaj, announced that excavations into a suspected mass grave site inside the compound of a mosque in the northern part of Mitrovica will get underway on 16 February. Gjetaj said the excavation works will be carried out in close cooperation with EULEX and relevant Kosovo institutions. EULEX confirmed that excavations will begin but did not give an exact date saying the site will be assessed in the near future.

Kosovo’s Justice Minister, Dhurata Hoxha, today participated in the conference “The investigation of sexual and gender-based violence - challenges and opportunities for forensic coordination" organized by the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX). During the conference, Hoxha thanked EULEX and local institutions for their commitment regarding more effective use of forensic techniques in cases of crimes of sexual violence which represent a serious violation of human rights.

The Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Kosovo Ruairi O’Connell, said that he believes on the EULEX conclusions however he added that if there is any new evidence, then the case has to continue with investigations. “It is a tragedy under all circumstances, and under the ones that it happened, it is very serious. The investigation should have commenced in a very transparent manner and with a special caution.

On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the head of EULEX, Alexandra Papadopoulou, confirmed EULEX’s commitment to advance and strengthen gender aspects in all of its activities, both within the Mission and in its engagement with Kosovo institutions. In a press release issued at the start of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, Papadopoulou also observed that a staggering amount of women in Kosovo still experience some form of physical, sexual or psychological violence in their lifetime.

The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) expressed support for the Ministry of Justice for transparency and accountability in correctional service. The Justice Ministry Inspectorate yesterday suspended four correctional service staff for procedural negligence in regards to the death of Vetevendosje activist Astrit Dehari. Through social media EULEX noted it supports efforts of the Minister of Justice Dhurata Hoxha to promote transparency and accountability in the correctional service.

The Citizens' Initiative SDP strongly condemns the sudden decision to transfer several inmates from the prison in Mitrovica to a prison in the town of Podujevo/Podujevë.

GI SDP members say that this unjustified action is disturbing for the family members of the detainees as well as for the public in the north of Kosovo.