UNMIK Headlines 9 May
No agreement on implementation, new meetings necessary (dailies)
Delegations from Kosovo and Serbia failed to agree on implementation plan of the agreement reached between prime ministers Hashim Thaçi and Ivica Dacic last month in Brussels.
Koha Ditore reports that the agreement reached on 19 April, which continues to be called historic and one of biggest successes of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, is encountering difficulties in the implementation process.
Meetings held over the course of two days not only failed to bring an agreement for an implementation plan but were also unsuccessful because the parties continue to have diametrically opposing stances about implementation.
While the EU is keeping silent, certain European diplomats have started to express frustration for the lack of progress in starting implementation of the agreement and they fear that parties “are playing some sort of a game.”
“We are interested to discuss about specific issues for the implementation of what has been achieved on 19 April and I believe that such action should move to the level of prime ministers and Lady Ashton”, said the head of the Kosovo delegation, Deputy Prime Minister, Hajredin Kuçi.
Thaçi and Dacic to sign agreement on 21 May (Koha Ditore)
Prime Minister of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi will meet on 21 May in Brussels his Serb counterpart Ivica Dacic where the two are expected to sign the “first agreement of guiding principles for the normalization of relations” which they already initialed last month. By that time, the sides are expected to agree on the implementation plan of the agreement.
The news about this meeting was confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister, Hajredin Kuçi, who is staying in Brussels in an effort to come to an agreement with the delegation of Serbia on the implementation plan.
Kuçi did not reveal the reasons for the postponement of signing of the document which has received support from institutions in Kosovo and Serbia. An unnamed official involved in dialogue said that the time of signing the document has not been specified yet and the answer for the delay should not be sought in Kosovo. Instead, he shifted the responsibility for the delay with Brussels and Belgrade.
Kosovo representatives discuss liaison officers in Belgrade (Koha Ditore)
Agreement for exchanging liaison officers reached between Pristina and Belgrade late last year is expected to be addressed today. A three-member delegation from Kosovo led by general director of the foreign ministry Sami Ukelli has travelled to Belgrade to discuss with the Serb side modalities of the agreement.
Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj said the discussions so far have resolved many issues like the freedom of movement, license plates but there are still few more technical aspects that need to be tackled.
One of the members of the delegation told the paper that the outstanding issues include bank accounts of diplomatic personnel as well as use of space where offices will be based.
Zbogar: Pristina should also talk to the north (dailies)
EU Special Representative to Kosovo Samuel Zbogar urged authorities in Pristina to establish lines of communication with Serbs in the north and not leave all the work to Serbia in implementing the agreement. He said Kosovo leadership should reach out to the Serbs in the north and convince them that agreement is in their good.
“I think it is not only Serbia the one that should convince Serbs in the north about the plan and the agreement because I also think people in Pristina should continue to encourage and convince them that the reached agreement is in their interest”, said Zbogar after meeting Kosovo Democratic League leader Isa Mustafa.
Reeker: US supports investigation of “Marty’s report” (Epoka e Re)
Epoka e Re reports that the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Philip Reeker, has expressed support for “full and detailed investigation,” on charges of organ trafficking raised in the 2010 Council of Europe report known as “Marty’s report”. In a session of the Helsinki Commission, Reeker said that the US takes seriously all charges of war crimes and other serious crimes. Reeker said that the process will be long and complicated and expressed appreciation for the work done by former US war crimes prosecutor, Clint Williamson.
Kelmendi’s arrest part of battle against crime (Zëri)
In the routine meeting of the government, Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi hailed the recent arrest of Naser Kelmendi, considered as one of the main drug dealers in the region. He said he believed that this “powerful blow” to elements of organized crime will be an additional motive in the fight against all crimes in Kosovo and the region.
However, he said that the fact Kosovo is not member of Interpol is a huge handicap and “unnecessary delays caused to Kosovo for membership in these organizations definitely have to be eliminated”.
EU citizens can now travel to Kosovo with biometric ID cards (Tribuna)
Residents of member states of the European Union will no longer need passports to travel to Kosovo. The Government of Kosovo has adopted a decision which allows residents of EU countries to travel to Kosovo using only their biometric ID cards.
Kosovo’s Interior Affairs Minister Bajram Rexhepi said the decision marks advancement as machines used by Kosovar officials can read biometric ID cards that possess the same data as passports. Meanwhile, in the second half of the year, Kosovo is expected to introduce a visa regime for several world countries, whose nationals are believed can pose a threat to Kosovo and international security.
Pacolli denies buying land in Vojvodina (Tribuna)
Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Behxhet Pacolli denied a Serbian media report which said he together with an Arab sheik have bought 10,000 hectares of land in Vojvodina. Pacolli told Tribuna he has not purchased the land or made any other investment in Serbia. “One thing is certain, I am not involved in any kind of investment in Serbia,” he was quoted as saying.