UNMIK Headlines 19 February
Difficult discussions for north opened in Brussels (Koha Ditore)
The fifth round of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia at the prime ministers’ level will begin this afternoon; the EU considers this round to be the most difficult as it will address issues such as northern Kosovo.
Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi will begin his visit to Brussels by meeting with the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, and then European Council President Herman van Rompuy. “This meeting will be an opportunity to review Kosovo’s road in the European integrations processes. President Barroso and Prime Minister Thaçi will also discuss the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which is facilitated by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton,” said European Commission spokesperson Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen.
Optimistic about disbanding parallel structures (Zëri)
Only a few hours before travelling to Brussels for the upcoming round of dialogue with Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi told his cabinet that the meeting with Dacic may result in a concrete agreement for disbanding Serbia’s parallel structures in the north. He said Kosovo’s position is clear and includes stretching authority throughout the territory of Kosovo. He is also optimistic that the entire dialogue process will end in mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia.
Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi said after the meeting of the government cabinet that this round of dialogue may very well result in a concrete solution for the parallel structures in the north. “There are signals from Belgrade that illegal security structures established by Serbia will be disbanded and there is also readiness in this regard from our international partners - EU and USA”, said Kuçi. He added that these structures have been operating illegally, in conflict with the Constitution of Kosovo and UN Security Council Resolution 1244.
No additional privileges for Serbs in north (Tribuna)
The closest person to Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi, his political advisor Bekim Çollaku, spoke of difficulties expected to arise in the Kosovo–Serbia dialogue. According to Çollaku, terminating illegal structures in the north is essential for integrating the north. He said that they are not being pressured by international partners to act beyond the Ahtisaari Package as the Kosovar side would not offer more to Kosovo Serbs living in the north.
Pack: Kosovo-Serbia dialogue result with seat in UN (dailies)
German deputy of the European Parliament Doris Pack, in an interview for Radio Dukagjini, is convinced that Kosovo will receive a seat in the UN at the end of the dialogue process. Five years after the declaration of independence, she said the situation in Kosovo is unstable. “We should at least convince the EU states that did not recognize Kosovo to do so as soon as possible. I am very sorry that this did not happen within these five years,” said Pack.
“Qualitative” recognition (dailies)
Express reports that the Kosovo Government expects Egypt to formally recognize Kosovo’s independence within a few days. According to political analysts, this would encourage more other countries to act similarly.
Predrag Simic, Belgrade-based political science professor, said Egypt’s recognition would be the best gift Kosovo on its fifth anniversary and incite recognitions from non-aligned countries and countries in the Islamic world, which until now have been prevented from recognizing Kosovo’s independence.
Cliff: Serbia’s power against Kosovo recognition declined (dailies)
On the fifth jubilee of Kosovo’s independence, British Ambassador Ian Cliff spoke of the achievements and challenges that await Kosovo in the future. “Kosovo has not been recognized by 98 states because there are still issues that are unclear with states like Uganda and Nigeria,” he said. Despite this, Cliff assessed that the process of recognitions marked progress. “Great Britain lobbied and continues to lobby for Kosovo’s recognition by as many countries as possible. France, the United States, and other international partners were and continue to be great lobbyists,” Cliff said. “Great things have been achieved during the last five years, however, much remains to be done, especially in rule of law, trade, heavy industry, and mines,” said Cliff, who added that there is no friendly atmosphere for businesses that would want to invest in Kosovo’s heavy industry.
Recognition of Kosovo, “EU’s essential condition for Serbia” (Koha Ditore)
The president of the Council for European Issues at the French Parliament, Danielle Auroi, said Serbia should recognize Kosovo, even though this condition was only communicated verbally. “This is not, let’s say, a written condition, but Serbia or Kosovo will not join the EU until countries agree completely and recognize each other,” Auroi told Vecernje Novosti. “Otherwise, I do not see how the EU can accept some country that has not recognized another state,” she said.
Another incident in the north (Express)
There was another explosion in northern Mitrovica yesterday that targeted a member of the Serb community living in Bosniak Mahalla, according to Kosovo police; a hand grenade was reportedly thrown at his house. The police added that no one was injured in the attack.