UNMIK Headlines 6 January
Crucial week for northern municipalities (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that mayors of four northern municipalities keep insisting that invitations for the inauguration of municipal assemblies be status neutral to Kosovo or use the footnote. None of these options is acceptable for the Kosovo Government which warned that if the inaugural session is not carried out in accordance to Kosovo laws, Serb mayors will be considered illegal. Friday is the last deadline for inauguration sessions to be held or the municipalities will risk going into early elections.
Kosovo Government officials during this week will meet EU representatives in a last bid to convince Serb mayors to hold inaugurations according to Kosovo laws. The mayor of Zubin Potok, Dragan Jablanovic, said that they have refused the request of European Union to place the logo of the Republic of Kosovo in the invitations.
Brussels officials did not wish to comment on possible proposals for resolving the deadlock. Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, said for the newspaper that the parties are undergoing negotiations in Brussels about this issue. Meanwhile Kosovo Government officials said that none of the Serb proposal will be accepted. Deputy Prime Minister, Edita Tahiri, said inauguration will be done according to Kosovo laws and in accordance with the Brussels agreement.
Pantic to lead “Community” (Tribuna)
If a solution is found for inaugural sessions of the new municipal leadership in the north, then the elect mayor of North Mitrovica, Krstimir Pantic, is likely to lead the Association/Community of Serb Municipalities. Inaugural sessions have so far been postponed twice but the paper reports that there will be renewed efforts to resolve this issue this week.
Thaçi: Kosovo needs to invite the Venice Commission (Epoka e Re)
Kosovo Prime Minister and PDK leader, Hashim Thaçi, said on Saturday that Kosovo needs to invite the Venice Commission which would provide legal and professional advice for a more functional election system.
“Following the unnecessary inter-party stalemate in election reforms and with the aim of reaching European standards, accommodating all parties and electoral stability for all parties and communities, I think it is necessary to invite the Venice commission that will provide legal and professional advice for a more functional election system … The Venice commission played an important role in all South-East European countries during the process of democratic transition.”
Demolli: We don’t need the Venice commission (Epoka e Re)
Haki Demolli, member of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and former chairman of the committee for amendments in the election law, told the paper that he is against the idea of PDK leader Hashim Thaçi to invite the Venice Commission in order to conclude election reforms. Demolli said Thaçi’s invitation is unnecessary because the international community was involved in the drafting of the election law.
“At this point, we don’t need this invitation; we need a serious approach by local political stakeholders,” Demolli was quoted as saying.
Demolli also said Thaçi is trying to delay the process of election reforms and parliamentary elections. “The PDK and its leader are delaying election reforms. The PDK has always tried to delay the reform ever since its beginning,” he added.
Vulin in Gjakova for Orthodox Christmas (dailies)
Serbian minister without portfolio, Aleksandar Vulin, is expected to spend Orthodox Christmas in the Gjakova Monastery of Saint Mary. A statement from Vulin’s office states that this will be the first time in 14 years that the ceremony will be held at the monastery where only four Serb nuns remain at present.
Government does not respond to AXOS threats (Koha Ditore)
Kosovo Government did not comment on accusations of AXOS Company that was awarded in the race for the privatization of 75 percent of PTK shares. This company, on Saturday, announced legal, trade, measures, economic and financial consequences for Kosovo Government. Newspaper tried to get a stance from the Minister of Economic Development, Fadil Ismajli about the announcement of AXOS Company about a pending lawsuit against Kosovo Government but he said he was abroad. His deputy, Gani Koci, said that he could talk only on Monday.
Two more months detention for MUP member (Koha Ditore)
Basic court in Ferizaj has decided to extend detention by two more months to the MUP member, Laza Lazic, who was arrested in Shtërpce on 1 December. Lazic is suspected to be an active member of Ministry of Interior Affairs of Serbia MUP. He was arrested on 1 December last year, on the runoff day of local elections, under suspicions that he intimidated citizens into voting for the candidate of Civic Initiative Srpska.