Headlines 28 September
• PM Mustafa informs about his meetings in the U.S. (Kosova Sot) • Vetëvendosje with a new plan on demarcation (Kosova Sot) • Donlon requests cooperation with the Special Court (Kosova Sot) • EU: Bridge revitalization does not include Mitrovica mosque plot (Koha) • KSF transformation not on the agenda (Zëri) • “Kosovo can get the telephone code only as Serbian territory” (Kosova Sot)
PM Mustafa informs about his meetings in the U.S. (Kosova Sot)
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, wrote on his Facebook account that during the U.S. visit together with Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj they met leaders of states, international organisations and representatives of the diaspora. Mustafa highlighted his meetings with U.S. President Barack Obama, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the President of the European Council and the EU High Representative. “We received the full support of the U.S. and other partner countries and international organisations. They reconfirmed their support for the Euro-Atlantic processes, visa liberalisation and other processes that are vital to our people. We expect Kosovo’s international position to grow stronger with new recognitions and memberships in international organisations,” Mustafa wrote.
Vetëvendosje with a new plan on demarcation (Kosova Sot)
The Vetëvendosje Movement presented on Tuesday a five-point plan, as a proposal for the demarcation of the border with Montenegro. Vetëvendosje leader Visar Ymeri said the Assembly of Kosovo should create a commission consisting of representatives of all political parties that would look into the judicial modalities of revising the border delineation. Ymeri called on Prime Minister Mustafa to request from his Montenegrin counterpart the renegotiation of the border demarcation and to pledge to the EU institutions “for a right solution on the border demarcation with Montenegro.”
Donlon requests cooperation with the Special Court (Kosova Sot)
Kosovo’s Minister of Justice, Dhurata Hoxha, met on Tuesday for an informative meeting with the head of the Administrative Office of the Specialist Chambers, Fidelma Donlon, and the head of the Judicial Defense, David Hein. Donlon informed the Minister on the process of the establishment of the Administrative Office, functionalization and on finding the best ways of cooperation with the institutions of Kosovo. Donlon expressed the need for coordination and communication between the Administrative Office and the Ministry of Justice on administrative issues in order to insure transparency, justice and impartiality during the process.
EU: Bridge revitalization does not include Mitrovica mosque plot (Koha)
The European Union Office in Kosovo dispelled reports that the project for revitalization of the Ibër/Ibar bridge in Mitrovica will also include the plot where a mosque, destroyed by Serb forces in April 1999, once stood. “The project foresees rehabilitation of upper and lower levels of the Mitrovica bridge, road access through the construction of two new roundabouts and pedestrian access around the bridge”, EU Spokesperson in Pristina Dinka Živalj informed. She added that the project also includes construction of a basketball court, but said it will not touch on the plot where the mosque used to be.
KSF transformation not on the agenda (Zëri)
The paper reports in a front page story that the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into a Kosovo Armed Force (KAF) continues to remain hostage to politics, primarily of the Serb minority. However, according to the government's legislative agenda, KSF’s transformation should be reviewed in the Assembly during this autumn. On the other hand, the opposition accuses the ruling coalition for negligence in making an army for Kosovo. Serbian List MP, Nenad Rasić, said that in the past six months they have not been contacted by the government for any important issues. "We have not met for demarcation or for KSF transformation. It means we did not discuss these issues and our position remains the same,” he said.
“Kosovo can get the telephone code only as Serbian territory” (Kosova Sot)
Discussions between Pristina and Belgrade on implementation of the agreement on telecommunication continue in Brussels. They are focused on finalizing all steps in order for Kosovo to receive state telephone prefix +383. Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio engaged on the dialogue with Serbia, Edita Tahiri, said that the European Union appealed for the agreement to be implemented as the parties initially agreed, however, Marko Djurić, head of the “so-called” office for Kosovo in the Serbian government, stated that Kosovo would only receive the code to be used within the Serbian territorial zone.