UNMIK Headlines 15 November
Serbia cannot define Kosovo as its own (Tribuna)
According to the paper, Belgrade will have difficulties in approving the constitutional law where it would take a legal obligation to implement agreements with Pristina, but it could define Kosovo as autonomous unit within the framework of Serbia. Such a law cannot be passed by the parliament of Serbia if it starts the dialogue for EU membership. The strategy of the dialogue for EU membership presented by EU member states that during the dialogue Serbia cannot make actions which are in conflict to the spirit of normalizing relations with Kosovo.
OSCE is scared to count the votes in the north (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that Kosovo Election Commission has refused the request of OSCE for the counting of votes in north Mitrovica on 17 November to be done only in the Counting and Results Center in Pristina but not also in the polling station.
The request of OSCE to avoid counting of votes in the north has been made for security reasons and fear that the incidents of 3 November could be repeated in this part. In the meeting, tensions were raised and the media were requested to leave while the CEC members talked about the latest arrests of their officials for fraud, for which it has been said that they have violated integrity of election process.
The request of OSCE has been attempted to be reviewed far from the eyes of media. After the review of recommendations of CEC Secretariat, the head of CEC, Valdete Daka suddenly requested media to leave the area of the meeting with the reason that they will be discussing about security issues, which in fact was the request of OSCE, however this was opposed from CEC member of Vetëvendosje, Adnan Rrustemi, who requested from the head of CEC to put in the voting the request for the removal of journalists. When it was voted the majority of CEC members, with the exclusion of the head of CEC Valdete Daka were in favor that media to continue to cover the meeting.
Jacobson: It is very important for Serbs to vote (Lajm)
The U.S. Ambassador of Kosovo, stated in an interview for Radio Free Europe, that she hopes that after these elections, we will see mayors and municipal assemblies elected in a legitimate manner, with whom it will be possible to work and who will be able to fulfill the needs of their citizens. “When I was to the north, a so the great need of this part for development of infrastructure and for investments. We cannot wait to work with the elected mayors in efforts to support their work on this direction,” said Jacobson. She added that it is important for the elections to be held in a regular manner and to represent the will of the citizens. “Let us not forget that these elections are the first ones to be held in the entire territory of Kosovo, according to Kosovo laws, and I think that this is a significant step forward,” Jacobson reportedly said.
Hoxhaj: Best to have Serb mayors in the north (Koha Ditore)
Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj said it would be impossible to have an Albanian become mayor of North Mitrovica and that it would be best for a Serb candidate to be elected to the post. “The candidate of my part, Agim Deva, even if elected, I don’t think he would be able to run the municipality. The Mayor and the Assembly should reflect the composition of each municipality – ethnically and demographically, and I think this is what will happen”, Hoxhaj told Deutsche Welle.
Lajcak: Slovakia supports Kosovo in its European path (dailies)
Kosovo Foreign Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, during his stay in Slovakia met the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Issues, Miroslav Lajcak, from whom he received the promise that Slovakia will support Kosovo in the processes of European integrations. In the meeting, Hoxhaj and Lajcak also talked about the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, while emphasizing the necessity of full implementation of achieved agreements.
Dacic and Borchard discuss the rule of law in Kosovo (Epoka e Re)
The Prime Minister of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, and EULEX chief in Kosovo, Bernd Borchard, assessed during their meeting in Belgrade, that establishment of the rule of law and reach of complete protection of citizens’ security in Kosovo, is the main condition for the long term stability. According to a press release of Serbian Government’s Office for communication with media, Borchard stated that EULEX will try to assure that the repeated local elections in Kosovo would flow unimpeded. Dacic, who will be visiting the north of Kosovo today, stressed that Serbia is determined to the dialogue with Pristina and implementation of the Brussels agreement.
Thaçi: The ones that are convicted do not have a place in politics (Tribuna)
PDK leader and Prime Minister, Hashim Thaçi, has chosen the British daily The Guardian to send a message to all of his co-fighters and party members that if they are convicted of criminal acts, they will not have a place in PDK. Thaçi made the comments after the newspaper recalled that one EU prosecutor has accused 15 former KLA soldiers for torture and murders of civilians during the conflict with Serbia in 1998-99.
Zeka: EULEX is manipulating witnesses (Zëri)
RTK journalist Milaim Zeka said after his office and home were raided by EULEX investigators for suspicion of revealing identity of protected witnesses in the so-called Drenica case that witnesses are capable of making up all sorts of fabrications just to benefit from EULEX.
“I think this was all a media show on the part of EULEX. I think it was an act that in absolutely violates rights of journalists,” said Zeka. He added that he was not surprised with the raid as days ago he was interviewed by EULEX prosecutors. “I also told the investigators: do not think I am a fool to leave materials in the house or apartment. I said I felt sorry for their trouble because they would not be able to find anything”, said Zeka.
Selimi accused of torture not rape (Koha Ditore)
Former KLA commander Sylejman Selimi has been indicted for beating and torturing two women in 1998 and not for sexually assaulting them, writes the paper today. The sexual assault charges are only against one of the accused in the so-called Drenica case, Shefki Hyseni. The paper claims it made a mistake in yesterday’s reporting when it said Selimi was accused of rape. EULEX in a press release stated that Selimi is instead charged with war crimes against civilian population, including torture.