UNMIK Headlines 7 May
Kosovo waits for Serbia on implementation (Zëri)
Kosovo delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi hopes that the upcoming meeting with the Serb side will result in the parties agreeing on implementation modalities of the agreement between prime ministers Thaçi and Dacic. Kuçi said he was optimistic that tangible results will be achieved by June and that this is an international obligation that parties have taken on.
“We emphasize the need for agreement to be implemented as soon as possible, on which the Kosovo side is ready and it expects the same level of commitment from the Serb side and international actors like KFOR and EULEX”, said Kuçi.
NATO and EU expect implementation of agreement (Koha Ditore)
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he expects the implementation of the agreement between Kosovo and Serbia to start and improve the situation in the north of Kosovo. He reaffirmed the Alliance’s readiness to continue contribution in Kosovo in maintaining safe and secure environment.
At the same time, EU officials say they are aware that the agreement’s implementation will not be easy but they will, nevertheless, insist on its enforcement. Certain EU leading countries are even reported to have made it clear to Serbia that implementation will be the main criteria for the final decision to give a date for accession talks in June.
Zbogar: Agreement helps also on normalization of Kosovo-EU relations (dailies)
EU representative in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, said that the agreement for normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia helps on normalization of the relations between Kosovo and the countries that have not recognized its independence. In an interview for Radio Kosova in Serbian, Zbogar reiterated that the agreement is in the benefit of Serbs that live in the north of Kosovo.
Zbogar did not answer whether the five EU countries that have not recognized Kosovo will change their position after the agreement; however he said that the agreement helps on this issue. “I do not know. This is an issue where EU countries decide individually. They have their own reasons for their decisions and they will decide on their own when to recognize Kosovo. I think that this agreement will also help on normalization of the relations between Kosovo and EU,” said Zbogar.
Wammen: Implementation to be implemented on the ground (dailies)
In his visit to Kosovo, Danish European Minister Nicolai Wammen called on the citizens of Kosovo and opposition parties to support implementation of agreement with Serbia. He said the agreement presents a historic moment and marks a new beginning in relations between Kosovo and Serbia.
“We strongly support Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia and we also urge to maintain this momentum. This means that in the coming days and hours the implementation plan will be agreed upon. This is the time to move forward”.
Wammen made the comments after meeting his Kosovo counterpart, Vlora Çitaku.
Mustafa doubts the seriousness of Serbia about the agreement (Koha Ditore)
Kosovo Democratic League (LDK) leader, Isa Mustafa, has expressed doubts in the seriousness and readiness of Serbia to implement agreement with Kosovo. “Serbia is using the agreement to open the path for European integrations. If the implementation of the agreement does not start by 20 June, this will be the yet another deceit not only for Kosovo but also for the international community,” said Mustafa for KTV.
“Medicus” connections with people from the Government (Koha Ditore)
Alush Gashi, Shaip Muja, Shkëlzen Syla, Flamur Bogaj, Rinon Dervishi, Kenan Dermikol and Ercen Somnez are the new suspects in the Medicus case as the prosecution is reported to have found many connections of people close to Hashim Thaçi to the ongoing investigations in the so-called Medicus case.
Shaip Muja was Thaçi’s advisor and for a while, the Prime Minister lived in the apartment owned by Muja. Alush Gashi was minister in the Government of Thaçi while Shkëlzen Syla was secretary of Kosovo Security Force Ministry.
Sources from prosecution said that these persons are expected to be charged very soon under suspicion of being involved in organized crime, human trafficking, serious bodily injuries, misuse of office and exercising of influence.
Trouble breaks out in AGPK (Koha Ditore)
The paper reports that internal disagreements are marking the start of mandate of the new chairperson of the Kosovo Association of Professional Journalists (AGPK), Liridona Lluka-Gashi. Barely a month into the new job, Lluka-Gashi is facing criticism from her colleagues who accuse her of having close ties to the Government, of issuing improper statements in some cases and delayed reactions in others.
“Current chairperson has shown she is in full service to politics and the government with her public actions and even attacks she made to certain media”, said Xhemajl Rexha from KTV who is a member of AGPK Board. In his Facebook profile, Rexha announced he is to resign from his post.
Naser Kelmendi “cannot be” extradited to Bosnia (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that the man suspected of having paid for the killing of five persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina was arrested on Sunday in Pristina. Naser Kelmendi, wanted by Interpol for four murders, one attempted murder, organized crime and international trafficking of narcotics, was arrested on Saturday by Kosovo Police. The arrest was carried out based on the international arrest warrant issued by Bosnia and Herzegovina while his extradition to this state cannot happen as there is no agreement with Kosovo that would enable Kelmendi being handed over to authorities in B&H.