UNMIK Headlines 5 February
UN chief expects Kosovo to address its many challenges (dailies)
Koha Ditore and Zeri report that United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has noted in his quarterly report that Kosovo authorities must quickly adopt the legislation for the establishment of the special court that will address war crimes allegations in Kosovo. The UN chief called for engagement in the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, where the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities is seen as a priority. Ban also noted Belgrade’s concern with the eventual establishment of the Kosovo Armed Forces and he welcomed the European Union’s actions to address corruption allegations in its rule-of-law mission in Kosovo.
Thaci: Jablanovic wasn’t dismissed because of opposition’s pressure (RTK)
Kosovo’s Principal Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, said on Wednesday that it is good that Aleksandar Jablanovic is no longer part of the Kosovo government. Thaci said he was confident that Jablanovic was not dismissed as a result of violent protests by the opposition. He added that Prime Minister Isa Mustafa’s decision to dismiss Jablanovic was made in line with constitutional and legal responsibilities.
Serbia threatens with forming its own army in the north (Indeksonline)
Commenting on the support the United States of America has pledged to Kosovo in establishing its armed forces, the Serbian President, Tomislav Nikolic, said this would constitute a serious violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. According to Nikolic, Serbia has passed the territory of Kosovo to the United Nations and not to the Albanian majority. He said the establishment of the Kosovo Armed Forces would set off a series of events and that the north of Kosovo would then be entitled to form its own army commanded by a member of the Serb community.
Serbian List problems List bring about need for constitutional changes (Koha)
The paper reports on the front page that after the dismissal of Communities and Returns Minister Aleksandar Jablanovic, the opposition now wants the Serbian List to be removed from the Kosovo government and be replaced with “Serb ministers that are loyal to the state of Kosovo”. The Movement for Unification (LB), a partner in the ruling coalition, on Wednesday called for constitutional amendments that would remove the privileges granted to the Serb community. The LB issued a press release saying that the Constitution gives exceptional legal powers to the Serb community, “and by misusing them they [Serbs] are blocking the functioning of the state of Kosovo”. Legal experts meanwhile argue that constitutional amendments require 2/3 of votes from minority communities.
Zero chances for Kosovo asylum-seekers in Germany (Epoka e Re)
The President of the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, Manfred Schmidt, told Deutsche Welle that there is a dramatic increase in the number of people from Kosovo who are seeking asylum in Germany. He said that the quota for Kosovars obtaining asylum in Germany is zero percent. Schmidt added that poverty is not a cause for migration to European countries, and that the asylum seekers will be repatriated to Kosovo.