UNMIK Headlines 19 July
SAA to be signed in spring of 2014 (dailies)
All papers quote European Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule as saying in Pristina that if Kosovo does its homework, it can expect to sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with EU by spring of next year.
“You need to have vision and courage to approve legislation that enables functioning of April’s agreement. This implies approval, on your side, of legislation and difficult processes, like the amnesty law last week, and agreement on future legislation regarding local self-government and rights of communities,” said Fule in an address before the Kosovo Assembly. He noted that difficult decisions are part of Kosovo’s path to become a peaceful and successful member of European family.
After meeting Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi, Commissioner Fule said there has been “seismic” change in Kosovo and that it can take pride in considerable achievement. “I hope we will meet in autumn and in the meantime report of great progress and close negotiations by next spring,” Fule said.
Assembly passes visa liberalisation laws (Zëri)
Members of the Kosovo Assembly approved the package of laws related to the visa liberalisation process in yesterday’s session. The package, containing eight laws, cover issues such as international judicial cooperation, draft law on foreigners, asylum, Kosovo citizenship and on preventing and fighting human trafficking.
Jahjaga invites EU to observe local elections (dailies)
President Atifete Jahjaga has addressed a letter to the EU High Representative for Foreign Policies and Security, and Deputy President of the European Commission, Catherine Ashton, requesting supervision of local elections on 3 November in Kosovo. “As you know, I have announced holding municipal elections on 3 November 2013 in the entire territory. I am determined to undertake all required steps to assure free and just elections in Kosovo, which would result with the election of legitimate representatives of the interests of Kosovo citizens,” says her letter. “Therefore I invite your Excellency to send an EU mission to supervise the process of these elections,” she adds.
Kosovo police steps up patrols in Karaçeva (Zëri)
Kosovo border police has stepped up patrols along the border with Serbia following reports that Serbian Gendarmerie forces have entered inside the territory of Kosovo. Residents of the bordering village of Karaçeva said the Serbian police are trying to intimidate Albanian residents so that they flee their homes. They said that apart from Kosovo police and KFOR, no other institution has expressed concern about 2,000 people living along the border with Serbia.
Northern Mitrovica to establish after elections of 3 November (Tribuna)
Northern Mitrovica is expected to be established as the fourth municipality with a Serb majority, after the elections on 3 November. Similarly, Kosovo has established other new municipalities, however, the Ministry of Local Government does not have an answer on the forms and legal procedures on holding elections to creating the new municipality. Analysts consider that there is sufficient basis to proceed further according to the reached agreement in Brussels, where northern Mitrovica is mentioned as a separate municipality, even though it has not yet been established.
Three bodies recovered from mass grave in north Mitrovica (Koha Ditore)
EULEX forensic experts have recovered three bodies believed to be Albanians. Meanwhile the teams are reported to be collecting remains of the fourth body. “According to witness’ accounts, 12 Albanians killed during the war by the Serb army and police forces are buried in this mass grave,” said Bajram Çerkini from the association of missing persons.