UNMIK Headlines 23 February
Assembly will not have a say about the north (Koha Ditore)
A possible solution in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia regarding the north of Kosovo would not be presented to the Assembly for approval, said a local official. “It will not even be called an agreement. It will simply be a statement from Lady Ashton describing what the parties have agreed to. So, there will be no need for it to be taken to the Assembly for approval”, the source added.
The unnamed offcial who the paper says is included in process of dialogue said that the possible agreement for the north will be treated the same as conclusions reached in the course of the technical dialogue. “They don’t have the power of international agreements that would need ratification with two thirds of MPs”, said the source further.
Association of northern municipalities is in conflict to EU convention (Zëri)
The possible agreement between prime ministers of Kosovo and Serbia, Hashim Thaçi and Ivica Dacic, for creation of association of northern municipalities is not only in conflict to the Kosovo legislation but also that of European Union, namely the European Convention for Local Self-Government, writes the paper.
It also says that the idea for creation of the northern municipalities association is not an idea introduced in the recent talks between Kosovo and Serbia but is an initiative that Europe has presented even before status talks in Vienna.
Reeker: It is foolish to focus on reactions to Pristina-Belgrade talks (Koha Ditore)
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Phillip Reeker said that the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia should continue to improve the lives of the citizens. “It is foolish to focus on reactions. These are difficult issues. The US is a strong supporter of Kosovo’s territorial integrity. History is as it is and we should therefore put it into context and look forward to integration and good neighbourhood. This is important”, Reeker is quoted as saying for an Albanian TV channel.
Halbauer: We have a political barricade in the north (Zëri)
KFOR commander Volker Halbauer said the situation in the north remains unchanged and is still tense due to recent incidents. He however added that KFOR is ready to maintain a stable situation for all citizens. Halbauer said that everyone inherits something from their predecessors and he has inherited the barricade on the river Ibri in Mitrovica. “The symbolic of this barricade has to do with politics”, he said after a meeting with Drenas Mayor, Nexhat Demaku.
Two more month detention for Limaj (dailies)
Court in Pristina extended detention period to former Transport Minister Fatmir Limaj and the three other accused men for two more months under the reasoning that if released, the accused could influence the legal proceedings. Limaj’s lawyer disputed the decision saying it has no legal basis and is politically motivated.