UNMIK Headlines 20 March
Serbian List will return to Kosovo institutions next week (Zeri/Kosova Sot)
The Deputy Minister for Local Government, Bajram Gecaj, told Radio Dukagjini on Thursday that the Serbian List will return to the Kosovo institutions next week. According to Gecaj, who has been negotiating with Serbian List officials for their return to the Kosovo institutions, said they did not set any conditions for their return. “We resolved the issue of conditions when we reached the coalition agreement,” he said. Officials of the Serbian List were not willing to comment on whether they will return to the Kosovo institutions.
Mustafa: EU to open doors for Kosovo (dailies)
Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, on Thursday attended the European People's Party Summit in Brussels. Mustafa presented the government programme, highlighting Kosovo’s objectives in the fields of economic development, rule of law and European integration. He also pledged for the removal of visas for the people of Kosovo and seasonal employment opportunities.
Mustafa to report on the 100 days of government’s work (Epoka e Re)
Isa Mustafa, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, has decided to speak himself about the work of the government during its first three months. One of the ministers of Mustafa’s cabinet confirmed the news to this daily, speaking on condition of anonymity. Mustafa has warned his cabinet not to speak about this issue before he presents his position to the Assembly of Kosovo. “We agreed that no one should speak before him on the performance of the government during these 100 days,” said the minister.
British ambassador: Don’t lose hope (dailies)
At the end of his mandate as British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ian Cliff has encouraged the youth of Kosovo not to lose hope for a better future. "Kosovo has the youngest population in Europe. Every year, the number of jobseekers grows to 25 thousand young people, and this is not an easy problem to manage,” Cliff said. He encouraged the new leadership to continue with quality education for the youth.
Rexhepi: SHIK has usurped PDK and institutions (dailies)
Bajram Rexhepi, former Minister of Interior, said in an interview for the KTV show “Rubikon”, that SHIK (the former PDK-run intelligence service) has usurped not only the Democratic Party of Kosovo but the institutions of Kosovo as well. Rexhepi spoke out with accusations against Kadri Veseli and all SHIK members, who in his view have captured the state. He was convinced that the major turn for the worse in PDK happened with Kadri Veseli’s becoming deputy leader of the party.
Implementation of Brussels Agreement, tough work (Zeri)
The Balkan Policy Group on Thursday presented a report entitled "Integration of Serbs in Kosovo after the Brussels Agreement.” The Executive Director of the Balkan Group, Marko Prelec, said that reaching the agreement for the normalization of relations between Pristina and Belgrade was the easiest part of the job, compared to its implementation on the ground. “The aim should be not to have two parallel systems, but only one system - that of Kosovo,” Prelec said. He added that the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities should be established under the Constitution and Laws of Kosovo. Norwegian Ambassador to Kosovo, Jan Braathu, said that integration of minority communities is essential for Kosovo. "Kosovo's independence was achieved on agreement for the integration of minority communities in Kosovo system, in line with European standards,” Braathu said.
Thaci at anti-extremism summit in Vienna (Epoka e Re)
Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hashim Thaci, will participate on Friday at the summit “Let us fight Jihadism together,” in Vienna, Austria. Foreign and interior ministers from South-Eastern Europe are gathering at this summit to harmonize their actions and increase the level of coordination in the joint war against extremism. The Foreign and Interior Ministers of Austria, Sebastian Kurz and Johanna Mikl-Leitner, will be hosting the ministers, who are expected to come up with a joint statement against extremism.