Hoxhaj: Illegal structures, a threat for the region (koha.net)

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj said in his speech to the members of the UN Security Council that Kosovo has made extraordinary progress in the three last months and declared 2012 a historic year. Hoxhaj focused on the main developments from July to October and emphasized the end of Kosovo’s supervised independence, the start of establishing contractual relations with European Union and the new stage in bilateral relations with Serbia.

Speaking about the situation in the north, Hoxhaj said the Government and the citizens of Kosovo are committed to peace and stability but that “I have to draw your attention that the situation in the Kosovo’s northern municipalities remains tense and challenging”. “In full violation of the UN Security Council resolution, Serbia continues to lead, control and fund illegal paramilitary police units in this part of Kosovo. This situation has to be stopped,” said Hoxhaj. He added that the illegal structures sponsored by Serbia present a serious threat for stability not only in Kosovo but the region as their aim is to destabilize Kosovo and create ethnic divisions.

“The recent example of this situation is the ethnically motivated incident at Kroi i Vitakut in the northern part of Mitrovica where Serb illegal structures oppose the return of Kosovo Albanians to their homes. We condemn this provocation and remain committed to construct burnt and destroyed houses,” said Hoxhaj.

Regarding relations with Serbia, Kosovo FM said dialogue for normalizing relations with Serbia is aimed at resolving problems between two independent and sovereign states in the interest of improving lives of people and advancement of European agenda.

Mrkic: Serbia is open to all issues except removing “Serb institutions” in Kosovo (Telegrafi)

In his speech at the UN Security Council session which debated on the developments in Kosovo, Foreign Minister of Serbia Ivan Mrkic said that his country is determined to fully implement achieved agreements during the dialogue with Pristina.

According to him, the role of UN for stabilizing the situation is “irreplaceable” and therefore added that “the mandate of UNMIK should remain unchanged”.

“We would like to see more efficient cooperation between UNMIK, KFOR and EULEX. Also UNMIK and EULEX too should be more active in the field and act in accordance with their mandates, in neutral way towards the status, under supervision of UN”, stated Mrkic.

He said that Serbia wishes to make progress towards European future and is committed in the process which should result with permanent peace between Serbs and Albanians.

Reeker: Dialogue brings stability (Zëri.info)

Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Phillip Reeker agreed in Belgrade that continuation of dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo brings stability and helps Serbia get closer to the EU.The two officials stressed that the dialogue is the only way to establish a sustainable stability and that its goal is to produce joint and fair solutions.

Latest developments gather Quint Ambassadors (lajmonline)

Yesterday’s protest with the request to release Fatmir Limaj and his co-fighters from the detention, as well as impeding of the inauguration of Ibrahim Rugova motorway, has gathered the Ambassadors of the Quint countries in an urgent meeting.

Sources of Radio Dukagjini, inform that this meeting has started in the afternoon, and that the ambassadors are discussing the recent situation that has been created after Fatmir Limaj’s detention, as well as the decision that the Hague Tribunal is expected to make on Thursday for Ramush Haradinaj, Lah Brahimaj and Idriz Balaj.