UNMIK Headlines 17 July
Serbia doesn’t discuss MUP’s disarmament (Zëri)
Deputy Prime Minister leading Kosovo team in technical talks with Serbia, Edita Tahiri, told the paper that the Serb side is avoiding discussions on dissolving parallel structures in the north of Kosovo and have asked the EU facilitators to tackle this issue today. Tahiri also said that the Serb delegation has failed to present the list with names of citizens that would apply for amnesty and eventually be integrated into the Kosovo Police.
“There was a tendency of the Serb side in the last meeting to avoid topic of dissolving the so-called ‘Civil Protection’ structure that operates illegally in the northern part of our country and the topic of disarming MUP structures,” said Tahiri adding that the talks will continue over the week and that she expects this issues will be tackled in the meeting today.
Oath impedes implementation of agreement (Tribuna)
The procedure of oath for the Serb police officers and judges expected to be part of the institutions of Kosovo appeared to be an obstacle for implementation of Brussels Agreement. Sources of the newspaper inform that a procedure for their training has been prepared at the training center in Vushtrri, however this was objected on Tuesday by the Serbian party at the technical dialogue. Belgrade is refusing for the judges and police officers who used to be part of the parallel institutions, to undergo the oath.
Assembly asks for clarifications on Serb police patrolling (Koha Ditore)
Kosovo Assembly’s commission for security is to demand official explanation from KFOR and Kosovo Police regarding recent reports that forces of Serbian Gendarmerie have been seen patrolling inside the territory of Kosovo. Chairman of the commission, Ahmet Isufi, said the patrolling of Serbian Gendarmerie is causing recurring concern with local residents and is leading them to stage protests.
Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi said he conveyed concerns of the local residents to KFOR and EULEX and that investigations are underway to determine whether the Serb police stepped across the borderline. However, Rexhepi said the responsibility for the Karaçeva borderline rests with KFOR as this has not yet been transferred to Kosovo security mechanisms.
Security concerns over Pristina’s mission in Belgrade (Koha Ditore)
Kosovo’s Foreign Ministry has expressed concern over the security of the special mission in Belgrade and has undertaken the initiative to consider it as a national security interest. However, Government of Kosovo does not seem to share the same concern and has not included the issue on its agenda. “This item is not on the agenda of tomorrow’s meeting,” said Fitim Krasniqi, general secretary to Prime Minister’s Office.
Deputy Foreign Minister Petrit Selimi has raised the need for special security measures for members of Pristina’s mission to Belgrade despite the agreement with Serbia guaranteeing full legal immunity for the employed personnel. Selimi said that the working environment is not the same in Belgrade and Geneva and that is why he argued in favour of stepped-up security and even hazard allowance for the staff.
Çitaku: No more asylum for Kosovars (dailies)
The Minister of European integration, Vlora Çitaku, appealed to Kosovo citizens who consider to leave the country, to change their minds, since they do not have the right of asylum in any country of the European Union. With asylum, they can only impede the process of visa liberalization and they cannot resolve their economic problems.
“Despite the difficulties, challenges and problems that we have in our country, asylum is not any more an option for our citizens. Whomever heads Europe with the idea to benefit from economic, political asylum or some other form, will be returned to Kosovo,” stated Çitaku in a joint press conference with Austrian Ambassador in Kosovo, Johann Brieger.
Interpol looking for the convicted in “Bllaca II” case (Tribuna)
Kosovo Police, through EULEX and the latter cooperating with the UNMIK office in Pristina, has issued an international warrant for Shpresim Uka and Bekim Sylaj. They were sentenced by the District Court in Pristina for the case known as “Bllaca II,” on 17 December 2012. However, Shpresim Uka, Bekim Sylaj and Driton Hajdari are at large after being declared guilty for “serous murder,” of Ibush Kllokoqi and attempted murder of Adem Salihaj. Uka is convicted with 15 years of jail, while Sylaj with 12. They data have already been submitted and distributed through the page of the global network of police cooperation, Interpol.