Colonel Nick Ducic, the new commander of the US military base in Kosovo has assessed the situation in Kosovo as stable, noting that the crucial problems Kosovo is faced with are corruption and organized crime.
Speaking for Belgrade-based daily Vecernje novosti, Ducic has announced his soon visit to the central Serbia, where he will meet the Serbian Army’s representatives.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday that he asked his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for help in solving the Kosovo problem in international organizations.
“No solution can be found in the United Nations without Russia’s approval and in that sense Russia will very actively monitor our talks and everything that could happen and will react on time,” he told reporters in Moscow, adding Moscow will not be directly involved in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue under European Union auspices.
Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) head Patriarch Irinej warned of the small number of Serbs left in Kosovo.
Speaking at the Patriarch’s seat in the Kosovo town of Pec, Irinej said the biggest problem for Serbia in regard to Kosovo was the small number of Serbs.
Serbian ministers were instructed to focus on the Kosovo problem every time they speak to their foreign counterparts, especially with those representing countries that are believed to be willing to withdraw their recognition of Kosovo, according to Vecernje Novosti.
The measure is part of Serbia’s diplomatic offensive aimed at decreasing the number of countries that recognize Kosovo’s independence.
Kosovo Ombudsman Hilmi Jashari said human rights have been violated in the process of detention and deportation of six Turkish citizens, regional broadcaster N1 reports.
Jashari points out that their right was violated when they were deported without a court procedure and which requires the Constitution and the laws of Kosovo.
This morning in Mitrovica North was peaceful, and normal activities took place, but outrage and anger can be felt over the arrest of Director of the Office of Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric and the behaviour of the members of the Kosovo Police, reports portal Insajder.
In place Rudare, nearby the cross, the main road Pristina - Raska continues to be blocked. Two trucks prevent the traffic on the road. People use alternative directions.
Ambassador of Serbia to UNESCO Darko Tanaskovic said that Pristina, due to changed international circumstances today, would have much less chance of joining that UN organization compared to 2015, when its application for membership was rejected.
After the cancellation of a handball tournament that was for months pre-arranged, subsequently it was assessed that it could be interpreted as recognition of Kosovo's independence, followed also by a strain on the organization of the internal dialogue in Mitrovica North, reports today broadcaster N1.
The deputy commander of Kosovo police in the north has denied that a special unit, "Rosu," had been deployed to this area, KoSSev website is reporting Monday.
According to Besim Hoti, an intervention police unit from the same region was sent to carry out "the operative plan" to ban the planned arrival of several Serbian officials to the territory of the self-proclaimed state.
Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic denied allegations that a German delegation with a proposal for a legally binding agreement on Kosovo will arrive to Serbia, N1 broadcaster reports.
"It's nonsense, nobody comes," Dacic told the Belgrade based daily Politika.