UNMIK Headlines 14 October
EU wants prevention of corruption (Tribuna)
Tribuna reports that the approval of the strategy against corruption and prosecution of six cases this year did not convince European Union that corruption is being fought in Kosovo. In the Progress report, which is expected to be published next week, EU hails the approval of laws requested by the feasibility study published last year, but it requests institutions and different mechanisms fighting corruption to have better coordination. Among others, it requests Kosovo take measures of prevention of corruption and conflict of interest.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Hajredin Kuçi did not want to comment on Sunday about the findings of the report until it is not made public but did say that the work requested from him as justice minister has been done. “We will comment on the report after it has been officially published, but I can say that what was in my competencies has been fulfilled. It means that the legal base has been put in place,” said Kuçi.
Kacin: Serbian leaders not to get involved in campaign (dailies)
European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia, Jelko Kacin, called on Serbian officials not to get involved in campaign for local elections in Kosovo. “The voters should decide what list to vote for. I think it is not in the spirit of Brussels agreement for the state of Serbia to stand behind a certain list because this looks like continuation of support for the so-called parallel structures, but now in a different form,” Kacin said in an interview for Serbian media.
Çeku no longer KSF minister (Bota Sot)
Following decision to run for Pristina mayor, Agim Çeku has been relieved of his duties as minister of the Kosovo Security Force and has had his position frozen. During election campaign, Çeku will be replaced by his first deputy minister, Muhamet Latifi.
Kodheli: Albania will support membership of Kosovo in NATO (dailies)
In an interview given for the television show “Bugajski Hour” of the journalist Janusz Bugajski in “Albanian Screen”, Albanian Minister of Defense Mimi Kodheli said that Albania supports the membership of Kosovo in NATO as soon as it meets conditions. “Yes, we will support Kosovo. It is normal. They have made extraordinary steps forward. I am happy for them. They are working hard to fulfill conditions, and I hope they will get the membership soon,” said Kodheli.
CEC in service of party interests (Kosova Sot)
Kosova Sot reports that civil society thinks that the Central Election Commission is composed of politicized members who don’t do their work professionally and serve interests of political parties. CEC member from Vetëvendosje, Adnan Rrustemi, says that this election process has been characterized with political decisions and actions and as consequence the technical and organizational aspect of elections process and improvement of faults that have produced industrial theft of votes has been left aside.