UNMIK Headlines 7 June
Serbs of the north to be integrated unconditionally (Zëri)
The paper reports that the second day of meetings in Brussels between Kosovo and Serbia ended yesterday without any concrete progress. The meetings are expected to continue in the course of today and focus on issue of security, police and justice.
A source from Brussels told the paper that the Serb side is not accepting Pristina’s demand for the integration into Kosovo security structures of only those persons who have no criminal past. “The Kosovar side has demanded their integration is done in accordance to some rules that Pristina will present including a background check and whether the persons have a criminal file”, said the source adding that Belgrade meanwhile wants the integration to be done unconditionally.
Kuçi invited to Belgrade (Tribuna)
Tribuna writes that international representatives have turned to the possibility of direct exchange of visits between Kosovo and Serbia. One delegation of Kosovo Government could stay for a visit to Belgrade, marking this way the first state visit of Kosovo in the Serb capital.
Sources explained that the delegation could be at the level of people who have discussed implementation plan of the Brussels agreement and it would be led by Deputy Prime Minister, Hajredin Kuçi. The visit which has been discussed in Brussels is proposed by Serbia and has been welcomed by the Kosovo side which insists on few conditions being met before it takes place.
According to the sources, Kosovo side has requested that the invitation comes from the same level, namely from the Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic. In addition, Kosovo wants the visit to take place according to the state protocol.
Jakup Krasniqi abandons PDK, set to create a new political party (dailies)
Koha Ditore reports that this summer the political scene in Kosovo will be enriched by a new party. Former secretary of Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), presently Kosovo Assembly Speaker, Jakup Krasniqi, exclusively for television show Rubikon in KTV has announced he accepted to create a new party.
Clearly emotional, Krasniqi said that he does not have a place in the party which he helped found. Furthermore, he said that anyone who wants democratic changes in Kosovo does not have future in PDK.
Krasniqi admitted that he has started talks with many people but also with unhappy people in PDK and in other parties on the idea to create a new political subject. Krasniqi said that very soon he would make public his decision. And as far as Fatmir Limaj is concerned, he said that he will talk to him about this issue upon his release.
Assembly sends back the so-called “Gestapo law” (Zëri)
Members of the Kosovo Assembly did not agree to vote on a law on telephone wiring considering its content as undemocratic. The draft law was sent for review upon the request of Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi who said that the legislation is not in harmony to EU laws.
Photos of protected witness in a number of cases published (Koha Ditore)
Posters depicting a man said to be a protected witness in a number of cases involving former KLA fighters have been put up on the streets of Skenderaj yesterday. The man, from one of the nearby villages, left Kosovo last year along with his family and no one knows where they went though the rumour had it that he was given a protected witness status by EULEX and relocated to one of the western European countries.
Kosovo Police said they are not informed about the posters being put up in Skenderaj with the photo of a protected witness.
Thaçi and Krasniqi to communicate through a messenger (dailies)
Koha Ditore reports that for more than two years the head of Kosovo Assembly Jakup Krasniqi and Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi did not have an official meeting between themselves. This has made difficult the communication between the Government and the Assembly. According to the sources, internationals have requested that both institutions appoint coordinators for communication. The Government is expected to appoint in this position Hajredin Kuçi or Bajram Rexhepi.
KOSID rejects licensing of Serbian GSM operator in Kosovo (Epoka e Re)
The Kosovar Consortium of Civil Society for Sustainable Development (KOSID) has expressed serious concerns on the implementation of economic policies by the Government of Kosovo which endanger the country’s sustainable economic development.
KOSID has rejected the licensing of a Serbian GSM operator and the transfer of €17.9 from the Kosovo Power Corporation to the Turkish company “Calik-Limak”. KOSID representatives told reporters that the government should be more transparent in the case of agreements with Serbia and to have access to official documents.