UNMIK Headlines 2 March
Thaçi reports to Assembly about recent meeting with Dacic (dailies)
In his address to the Assembly MPs about the last meeting with Serbia’s Prime Minister Ivica Dacic in Brussels, Prime Minister of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi tried to reassure the MPs that his actions in the dialogue process are not anti-constitutional and that the aim of talks is to normalize relations between the two countries.
“We have to accept the fact that Serbia has not yet recognized the state of Kosovo but we are convinced that the process of normalization of inter-state relations leads to this logical conclusion – that of Kosovo’s recognition”, said Thaçi who went on to read the speech he delivered a day before from the Government’s press room.
Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi said that the citizens of Kosovo deserve to know the truth behind the dialogue process while the MPs from ruling parties, PDK and KKR, expressed support for Thaçi.
At the same time, Ismet Beqiri from opposition LDK expressed fear that something may be hidden behind the association of the northern municipalities concept, something that would resemble a third-level government. Vetëvendosje’s Liburn Aliu, on the other hand, said the entire speech delivered by Thaçi insults the intelligence of the MPs while the idea for creation of the association of northern municipalities leads to internal division of Kosovo’s territory.
Competencies of association of Serb municipalities to be discussed (Koha Ditore)
The sixth round of talks between Prime Minister of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi and that of Serbia Ivica Dacic will open the issue of competencies for the association of Serb municipalities on the establishment of which the parties have already agreed.
Spokesperson of the EU High Representative, Maja Kocijancic, said that the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade will continue as planned despite the statement of the Serb Prime Minister Ivica Dacic that talks are in crisis. Kocijancic said the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton will start the sixth round of dialogue on Monday.
Surroi: Association endangers Constitution of Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
In a roundtable discussion organized by Forum 2015, head of the Foreign Policy Club Veton Surroi said that agreement on creation of association of northern municipalities without Serbia recognizing independence of Kosovo means undermining the Ahtisaari Package and the Constitution of Kosovo. “Kosovo made its fundamental mistake by agreeing to enter negotiations which had no defined end. Kosovo went from one negotiation to another without defining what will be the end-goal of this negotiating process”, said Surroi.
UN Security Council to discuss Kosovo in March (Epoka e Re)
International media reported that UN Security Council is expected to discuss the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon report on Kosovo during the second half of this month. The exact date of the debate will be announced following results in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.
Assembly urges inquiry into deaths of Vetëvendosje protesters in 2007 (dailies)
More than five years since two Vetëvendosje protesters were killed by Romanian police under UNMIK command and many others injured, Kosovo Assembly adopted three recommendation calling on Kosovo institutions to bring to justice authors of the killings of Mon Balaj and Arben Xheladini.
The first recommendation includes asking Albania to initiate a debate and a resolution at the UN General Assembly asking the Security Council to launch an independent investigation. The second recommendation involves the Government of Kosovo asking the countries that have recognized Kosovo and are permanent members of the Security Council to call on it to authorize special and independent investigations into the crimes committed under UNMIK authority on 10 February 2007 and the third calls on all ministers of the Kosovo Government and MPs to raise the issue of an independent inquiry in all their meetings with EU and UN officials.
Jacobson: Dialogue brings stability (Zëri)
US Ambassador to Kosovo Tracey Ann Jacobson said that dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia and agreements for cooperation are important not only because Kosovo and Serbia are neighbours but because the dialogue can bring stability and normality in the aspect of investments and security. Jacobson made the statement on the annual gathering of the US Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo.