UNMIK Headlines 19 December
Kosovo close but not fully ready for visa-free regime (dailies)
The papers all report today on the publication of the European Commission’s report on Kosovo’s progress in fulfilling the requirements of its visa liberalization roadmap. The report stated that Kosovo has made significant progress but that eight requirements are yet to be implemented by Kosovo authorities. “As soon as Kosovo fulfils these last benchmarks and provided effective measures remain in place to prevent new migratory flows to the EU, the Commission will propose lifting the visa obligation for citizens of Kosovo,” the report said. Koha Ditore in its coverage of the report writes that its findings are not surprising and that they are open to different interpretations. While the European Commission President Jean-Claude Junker and the Migration and Home Affairs Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos on one hand called the report positive, on the other hand, the fact that it identifies eight more outstanding conditions makes it also negative, writes the paper. According to Zeri, Kosovo did not get a positive recommendation for visa liberalization because of the failure to implement eight more criteria, four of which are key priorities: transfer a sufficient number of judges, with appropriate support staff, to serious crime departments across courts in Kosovo; build up a track record of investigations, final court rulings and confiscations in serious organised crime and corruption cases; ensure the operational independence of the Public Procurement Review Body; and demonstrating that it has implemented its amended secondary legislation on name changes.
Kosovo, one more decade of negotiations with Serbia (Koha Ditore)
The paper reports on the front page that the Government of Kosovo has published the programme of the EU-facilitated dialogue with Belgrade which contains the commitment of Pristina to continue negotiations and also address new issues. The negotiations therefore are set to continue, according to the programme, until both Kosovo and Serbia join the EU. The programme covers a period from 2014 to 2018 and although it was finalized in the first half of the year, it only just became available to the public. It states that the dialogue in Brussels is a long-term process and that the Government of Kosovo considers that it has contributed to improving relations with Serbia transforming them into a “European model of cooperation.”
Detention for three Vetevendosje MPs extended (Zeri)
The paper quotes sources from the Basic Court in Pristina as saying that detention for three Vetevendosje MPs – Albin Kurti, Albulena Haxhiu, Faton Topalli, has been extended to two months following the prosecution’s decision to file an indictment against them. The MPs are accused of possession of weapon or dangerous objects and obstructing officials persons from performing their duties.
Konjufca: Government of Kosovo needs to reflect (Epoka e Re)
The head of the Vetevendosje parliamentary group Glauk Konjufca said in an interview for the paper that they expect the Government to reflect and undertake concrete steps in revoking agreements with Serbia and Montenegro. If the Government doesn’t withdraw from the agreements, Konjufca said a referendum on the matters would be a legitimate way to resolve the current crisis. If the referendum is not organized, then the only way, according to Konjufca, is to hold early general elections. “We will not stop until the irresponsibility of the Government stops,” said Konjufca.
Grabovci: Thaci, president in 2016 (Epoka e Re)
In an end-of-year press conference, head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) parliamentary group Adem Grabovci said he regrets the recent actions of the opposition in blocking the work of the Kosovo Assembly. He said the main challenges in the year-in-going include the constitutional changes paving way for establishment of the special court as well as the two agreements – that with Serbia on Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and border demarcation with Montenegro – that the opposition is disputing. Grabovci accused the opposition of trying to use these two agreements for political interests rather than those of the people of Kosovo. Grabovci also said he is certain that the PDK leader Hashim Thaci will be elected new president of Kosovo in 2016 and that they have sufficient votes in the Assembly.
No plans for Bosnia and Herzegovina recognizing Kosovo (Zeri)
The member of Bosnia and Herzegovina presidency Bakir Izetbegovic said his country doesn’t plan to recognize independence of Kosovo in the near future. “I do not believe we will recognize Kosovo because we face strong resistance from Serb politicians and member of presidency Mladen Ivanic,” said Izetbegovic.