UNMIK Headlines 14 August
Solution for Association/Community on 25 August (Koha Ditore)
The paper reports on the front page that Kosovo authorities have announced that four agreements will be finalized this month with Serbia, one of which is the creation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. Agreements are expected to be signed by Kosovo and Serbia prime ministers on 25 August. The Prime Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa said that the Pristina delegation remains firm against the Association/Community having executive powers but rather assist the predominantly Serb municipalities in economic, cultural, educational development.
Selimi: 15 states are lobbying for Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO (Zeri)
Kosovo’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Petrit Selimi, in an interview with the paper said that there are 15 states with influence in Europe and other continents, that are currently lobbying for Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO. “The first phase starts in October of this year during the UNESCO’s Executive Board meeting, where it is expected that the majority to vote in favor for Kosovo’s membership. After that, in November during UNESCO’s General Conference it is expected to be voted on Kosovo's membership,” he said. According to Selimi, Kosovo’s handicap is the non-participation of the United States of America in the General Conference. He also said that the United Nations and its Office in Pristina did not want to be mediators in this process.
Haradinaj urges leaders to stop border demarcation with Montenegro (Koha)
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) leader Ramush Haradinaj called on Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and President Atifete Jahjaga to stop the border demarcation process with Montenegro as this is resulting in Kosovo losing thousands of hectares of land. “It is good if they stopped on their own accord before someone else makes them”, said Haradinaj. He also spoke about the recent Pristina-Belgrade vehicle insurance agreement which he said is damaging for the people of Kosovo. He said the agreement is not based on the principle of reciprocity and as a result, people of Kosovo are being ripped off.
Zarif appointed UN Special Representative for Liberia (Zeri/Kosova Sot)
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced the appointment of Farid Zarif, of Afghanistan, as his Special Representative for Liberia and head of the United Nations Mission there, known as UNMIL, dailies report. Currently the Special Representative and head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Mr. Zarif has extensive experience in diplomatic, international and United Nations affairs, having served in various positions inside and outside Afghanistan. At UNMIL, Mr. Zarif will succeed Karin Landgren of Sweden.
Djuric refused entry to Kosovo (Kosova Sot)
Government of Kosovo has not issued permission for the director of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo Marko Djuric to visit Kosovo and take part in a protest in north Mitrovica against the court’s decision to extend detention of Oliver Ivanovic who is facing war crimes charges. The visit was not approved on the justification that the request was not made 48 hours in advance.
Molliqaj: Vucic’s reaction confirms Vetevendosje’s fears (Zeri)
The Vetevendosje Movement Secretary, Dardan Molliqaj, commenting on Serbia’s Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic’s reactions that there is a threat of war coming from Kosovo, said that such reactions have only confirmed that Vetevendosje’s objections to the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities is correct and in protection of Kosovo. Molliqaj reiterated that Vetevendosje will not allow in any way the establishment of this Association/Community.
Selimi: Either Thaci President in 2016 or we go for elections (Epoka e Re)
Petrit Selimi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs spoke in an interview for Gazeta Express about how Kosovo is expected to become a UNESCO member, the procedures to be followed, and the reaction of the religious communities in supporting Kosovo towards this UN mechanism. He expressed conviction that Hashim Thaci will become of Kosovo in 2016, adding that the only other option is extraordinary elections.
Clashes between government coalition, confirmed (Zeri)
The paper on its front page reports that Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) officials confirmed their dissatisfaction with the coalition partner Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), due to the removal of some of the PDK members from institutional positions. According to them, such an approach could destabilize Kosovo’s institutional life. The head of the PDK parliamentary group, Adem Grabovci, told the paper that the coalition is functioning well with some exceptions. "At the moment everything is going well, with the exceptions of some ministers who took some unnecessary steps," Grabovci said. Meanwhile, LDK officials say that there have been no political dismissals, but rather only those who are under investigation were dismissed.