UNMIK Headlines 25 July
No agreement on telecom and energy (Koha)
The paper reports on the front page that futile were expectations of the Kosovo delegation to reach an agreement with Serbia on telecom and energy. Kosovo and Serbia prime ministers, Hashim Thaçi and Ivica Dacic, only agreed to take actions to ensure the participation of Serbs in Kosovo’s local elections on November 3rd. Sources told the paper that only a small amount of the four-hour meeting was dedicated to telecom and energy, because both parties maintained their previous positions. Kosovar side has expressed its stance not to fulfill the request of Serbia for a new Serb mobile operator in the north nor for an energy distributor, except KEDS.
25 July operation gave an end to division of the north (Epoka e Re)
The paper notes that on this day two years ago the Kosovo Police Special Unit (ROSU) headed towards the two border points in northern Kosovo in an attempt to take them under control. Representatives of civil society and security experts said the action of 25 July prevented the division of the north and accelerated dialogue with Serbia. Opposition representatives on the other hand said this was an adventure by the Kosovo Government and that Serbia benefited more than Kosovo. Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi told the paper that the police action on 25 July gave clear signals that the north would not be divided.
Hoxhaj: No reason to leave Kosovo (Lajm)
Kosovo Foreign Affairs Minister Enver Hoxhaj told media on Wednesday that Kosovo citizens should not seek asylum and that EU member states should not grant them asylum. Hoxhaj said every attempt for illegal immigration would damage Kosovo citizens the most, who are becoming victims of traffickers. “At the same time it could have a negative impact on the visa liberalization process for Kosovo,” Hoxhaj added.
Kurti writes to European diplomats about Kosovar emigrants (dailies)
Several dailies report that Albin Kurti, chairman of Kosovo Parliament’s committee for foreign affairs, has sent a letter to his Hungarian counterpart Mihaly Balla, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs Cecilia Malstrom, European Parliament’s Rapporteur on Kosovo Ulrike Lunacek, about the situation of Kosovo emigrants in camps and prisons in Hungary. “I am writing to you to express my concern over the treatment of Kosovo emigrants, who are currently in camps and prisons in Hungary. Media have reported that in the last couple of months around 5,400 people have fled Kosovo, most of them are in Hungary. According to media reports, most of them are being kept in refugee camps, while others are in prison. The most disturbing fact is that Kosovo emigrants are subject to inhumane treatment … I call on you to use all available means to call on Hungarian authorities to respect their international rights as emigrants”. Kurti also said he was willing to meet Hungarian authorities as soon as possible to discuss the matter.
IMF calls for postponement of contract for “Highway 6” (Koha)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called on the Government of Kosovo not to enter new contractual obligations without first successfully concluding the sale of 75 of shares of the Kosovo Post and Telecom. IMF experts were referring to the construction of the Prishtina-Hani i Elezit highway. IMF called on the government not to spend funds that were planned for Highway 6 in 2013 until it receives funds from the PTK transaction. “In case funds from the privatization of the PTK are transferred later than according to plan, the government should postpone contractual obligations for Highway 6 in accordance with the circumstances,” the IMF said.
Economic cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia (dailies)
With facilitation from Eurochambers, the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce and the Serbian Chamber of Commerce signed a memorandum of understanding in Brussels on Wednesday. The signatories said the document represents an important step forward in the normalization of relations between business communities from both sides. The two chambers of commerce were represented by their chairmen, Safet Gërxhaliu (Kosovo) and Zeljko Saric (Serbia). The two chairmen agreed to set up a joint mechanism that would identify trade barriers and find ways to improve the business environment.