Construction works in relation with three big projects funded by the European Union will kick off today in Mitrovica North, where cornerstones will be laid down at three locations.

New books in Serbian language, which Serbian Ministry of Culture buys for public libraries, can’t reach Kosovo and Metohija libraries because authorities in Pristina are not allowing their transport through administrative crossings. Serbian librarians from Mitrovica North, Zubin Potok, Zvečan/Zveçan and Leposavić/Leposaviq are warning that they will face huge problems this year when it comes to receiving books, renewing collections and promoting the literature in Serbian language in their institutions.

The Director of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Marko Đurić, Bishop of Raška-Prizren and chairperson of the provisional body of Zvečan/Zveçan Municipality Ivan Todosijević today will lay a cornerstone for the construction of a returnee settlement ‘Sunny Valley’ in that town.

The Mitrovica South municipal building was attacked with Kalashnikov on Thrusday morning, causing material damages. The mayor, Agim Bahtiri, confirmed the attack and said that such criminal acts aim to destabilizing the current situation. “The time of Kalashnikov in Kosovo, especially in Mitrovica, has passed long ago, no one can hinder my work,” Bahtiri said. The news site reports that the attack comes just one day after the former guards of the parking lot broke the windows of municipality’s official vehicles.

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) branch in Mitrovica, through a press release today condemned the attack with Kalashnikov on municipal building in Mitrovica. “This incident is unacceptable and the relevant authorities must shed light on this case as soon as possible. At the same time, the PDK considers that this situation is a result of actions and tricks of Mayor Agim Bahtiri. The citizens are tired of his unfulfilled promises for employment and welfare.

Training for Kosovo-Serb judges and prosecutors from northern Kosovo has been held in Montenegro in organization of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. The head of OSCE Mission in Kosovo Jean-Claude Schlumberger said that ‘judicial system in northern Kosovo was for years dysfunctional’. “Such situation negatively influenced on the rule of law, including the right on access to justice and trials within the reasonable time,” said Schlumberger.

The Kosovo government allocated today EUR 200,000 for the Basic Court of Mitrovica. The funds are aimed at facilitating the implementation of the Pristina-Belgrade agreement on the judiciary in the north.

The news site reports that after 11 years, a liturgy was held today in the partially-reconstructed church of St. Sava in the southern part of Mitrovica. After the liturgy, Father Staniša Arsić said that peace, unity and brotherly love is very important for Serbs living in the southern part of Mitrovica. The news site recalls that the church was demolished during the 2004 March riots.

Mitrovica Mayor, Agim Bahtiri, said today that the borders of the city of Mitrovica will not be changed, but that if they do, he will resign from his post. During a public discussion in Pristina titled “The Bridge Over Ibar”, organized by the Vetevendosje Movement and the municipality of Mitrovica, Bahtiri said that he cannot come to an agreement with the mayor of North Mitrovica, Goran Rakic, on the removal of the barricade on the Ibar Bridge.

The Mayor of North Mitrovica and chairperson of the municipal council of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in North Mitrovica, Goran Rakić, stated today that almost all local councilors of the Citizens' Initiative SDP of Oliver Ivanović in North Mitrovica and Zvečan decided to join the ranks of the SNS.