UNMIK Headlines 22 July
LDK: Kosovo does not lose territory with demarcation agreement (media)
Kosovo Prime Minister and leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Isa Mustafa, held on Thursday separate meetings with the LDK parliamentary group and heads of party’s branches. Mustafa discussed the border-demarcation process with Montenegro, where external experts presented the process, the legal base and finalisation of the demarcation. “During discussions with MPs, no facts were presented to prove that Kosovo is losing any part of its territory as a result of the agreement with Montenegro,” an LDK press release noted. Mustafa discussed the same issue with heads of party’s branches. “Heads of LDK branches strongly support the border-demarcation process with Montenegro, because it strengthens the integrity and state subjectivity of the Republic of Kosovo. They stressed that this is a normal state-building process and that it should not be used by certain individuals for their political agendas,” the press release noted.
Reçica: Debate for demarcation will not be formal (Epoka)
Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP, Elmi Reçica, told the paper on Thursday that the round table which will be held on 3 August at the Assembly of Kosovo, regarding the demarcation of the border with Montenegro, will not be a formal one. Reçica said the Assembly is the right place to present arguments, clarify the matter and draw conclusions. He called on the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) to return to the Assembly and he condemned earlier actions undertaken by the opposition.
PDK attacks its coalition partner (Kosova Sot)
Besim Beqaj, member of the chairmanship of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), said on Thursday that Kosovo has lost millions of euros in 2015 as a result of decisions made by Finance Minister Abdullah Hoti, who comes from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). Beqaj said he was against the current version of the draft law on Strategic Investments, “as it eliminates transparency in procurement”. Beqaj said the PDK is also against the merger of the Kosovo Customs and the Tax Administration in the version proposed by Minister Hoti. According to Beqaj, the government is rapidly increasing the public debt.
Mustafa government, one of the biggest in the region and Europe (Koha)
The paper reports on its front page that despite earlier statements, Prime Minister Isa Mustafa has yet to downsize the number of ministries in his government. The Kosovo government is the second biggest in the region, following the government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The Kosovo government has more ministries than the governments of UK, Germany, France and even the United States. Kosovo’s Principal Deputy Prime Minister, Hajredin Kuçi, told the paper on Thursday that an analysis on the government’s efficiency will be prepared first before the partners of the ruling coalition decide on reshuffling the government. “The matter will be discussed by the [ruling coalition] party leaders,” he added.
Hoxhaj: New chapter of economic cooperation with Germany (Epoka)
Kosovo’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Enver Hoxhaj met during the first day of his visit to Germany the Director for Eastern Committee of the German economy, Michael Harms, to discuss the possibility of increasing German investments and deepening of cooperation. Hoxhaj said that he is visiting Berlin to push forward a new chapter of cooperation, focused on Kosovo’s economic development.
Six years since ICJ ruled in favour of Kosovo’s independence (media)
Several news websites report that today is the sixth anniversary of the International Court of Justice’s ruling in favour of Kosovo’s declaration of independence. With 10 votes in favour and four against, the Court had ruled that the unilateral declaration of Kosovo’s independence did not violate international law.