UNMIK Headlines - 29 June 2016

Three incidents during Vidovdan (dailies)

Hundreds of Serb citizens from Kosovo and Serbia observed the religious holiday of Vidovdan throughout Kosovo on Tuesday. Under increased security measures Serb participants commemorated the Battle of Kosovo at the Gazimestan near Pristina. Kosovo Police reported that in the village of Lisice in Mitrovica, a  cocktail was thrown in the direction of Serb vehicles, while stones were thrown towards another van. Two people were injured and have been treated at the Mitrovica regional hospital. Also a third incident was reported in Mitrovica North where two groups of Serbs clashed with each other.

Montenegrins remove Vetevendosje’s sign (Zëri)

The Ministry of Interior of Montenegro has removed the sign with the words "Welcome to Kosovo” and  the Albanian flag that Vetevendosje Movement MPs put there  a day before in the place where they think the border-line should be. The Montenegrin news portal CDM reports that the sign and the flag were put on the territory of Montenegro.  “After the violation of the state border, police officers have taken all necessary measures, in consultation with the relevant prosecutor, including the removal of the above signs,” notes a statement issued by Montenegro’s Internal Affairs Minsitry.

Gecaj: PDK to discuss demarcation with Thaçi (Zëri)

Kosovo’s Deputy Minister of Local Government and advisor to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, Bajram Gecaj, told the paper that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) officials who are saying that the agreement on border- demarcation with Montenegro is wrong,  should discuss this issue with the President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi. "The  PDK members will have the opportunity to discuss the issue in the Assembly of Kosovo. But, prior to that, it would be a good idea to discuss this matter with President Thaçi since this agreement was signed by Thaçi,” Gecaj said. According to him, for the government, the demarcation issue is a done deal.

Minister Jevtić with agenda against Kosovo (Koha)

The paper reports in a front-page story that Kosovo’s Returns and Communities Minister, Dalibor Jevtić, participated in a regional conference in Belgreda where he lobbied UNHCR and OSCE to support the construction of the Sunny Valley settlement in Zveçan/Zvečan.  Citing unidentified sources, the paper reports that Jevtić and the director of the Office for Kosovo in the Serbian government, Marko Đuric, demanded that one of the conclusions of the conference to be the support for the Sunny Valley.  “During this meeting the Serb ministers in the Kosovo government tried to legitimize the construction of this settlement.  There were many objections from representatives of international organizations, such as UNHCR, when it was proposed that through this conference to come out with a stance that this settlement is supported by the international community,” a source told the paper.

Ministry of Health secretary suspended (dailies)

Kosovo Minister of Health Imet Rrahmani has suspended the secretary of this ministry, Gani Shabani, following an indictment filed against him. Shabani is accused of abuse of official position or authority together with former Health Minister Ferid Agani.

Kosovo ministers inaugurate Tzar Lazar (Indeksonline)

The Director of the Office for Kosovo at the Government of Serbia, Marko Djuric, accompanied by Kosovo’s minister, Lubomir Maric, and Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Branimir Stojanovic, assured Serbs that there are no stronger grounds than those of Vidovdan. He therefore requested from them to keep their Serb names, remain united and powerful.