Headlines - 12.08.2014

Quint calls for vigilance (dailies)

Several dailies carry the joint statement issued by Quint ambassadors on Monday about the arrest of 40 people suspected of terrorist activities. “The Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States in Kosovo welcome the recent action by the Kosovo Police to apprehend terrorism suspects, and urge continued vigilance against the threat of violent extremism. The fight against the spread of extremist ideologies requires the engagement of all segments of Kosovo society, as well as strong international cooperation.  We are committed to working with Kosovo authorities as they exercise their responsibilities for ensuring public safety and security within the rule of law.  We call on all relevant Kosovo institutions to enhance the legal tools available to fight such security challenges,” the statement said.

Albanian youth must understand terrorism isn’t related to Islam (Bota Sot)

The British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ian Cliff, welcomed Monday’s operation by Kosovo Police that resulted in the arrest of 40 people suspected of terrorist activities. “Kosovo institutions, the international community and the Islamic Community of Kosovo need to continue sending messages to Albanian youths that involvement in terrorist activities has nothing to do with religion and Islam,” Cliff told Tanjug news agency. He also said that the operation on Monday showed the strength of Kosovo Police.

Mustafa: Kosovo does not have sons to lose (Lajm)

Isa Mustafa, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), commented on yesterday’s arrest of 40 people suspected of terrorism, saying that “Kosovo does not have sons to lose in wars with useless ideas and ideologies”.

Forum of Muslim Youth condemns yesterday’s arrests (Lajm)

The Forum of Muslim Youth (FMY) issued a statement on Monday saying that it is following with concern “the terror exercised by police and the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA) against Muslims and massive arrests that are taking place today all over Kosovo”. “The justification that some Kosovars have travelled to Iraq and Syria to fight there is ridiculous. The FMY is very concerned by the fact that Fatos Rexhepi, deputy leader of the Islamic Movement ‘Unite’, is among those arrested. The FMY condemns violence used by Kosovo Police during the arrests, and also condemns the involvement of foreign military personnel who were speaking in English during the arrests,” the statement said.

ISIS official’s friend evades arrest (Zeri)

The paper reports on the front page that Bujar Brahimi, a Kosovo Albanian from Mitrovica, and a friend of ISIS senior member Lavdrim Muhaxhiri, fought alongside the ISIS terrorist group in Syria for 508 days. Brahimi reportedly returned to Kosovo in April this year and called on people to join the jihad in Syria and Iraq. Brahimi is on the list of people suspected of carrying out terrorist activities and inciting terrorism. However he was not among the 40 suspects arrested by Kosovo Police on Monday. Police are still searching for Brahimi and another 16 suspects.

Kosovo Serbs want technical, not political, topics in dialogue (Koha)

Kosovo Serb representatives want the upcoming round of dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade to focus more on technical issues with the goal of improving the lives of Serbs in Kosovo. Nenad Rasic, Kosovo’s Labor and Social Welfare Minister, said, “The Brussels agreement foresees continued negotiations with Belgrade … But dialogue is also needed with Kosovo Serbs who have autonomy and are natives here in Kosovo and this is an issue that needs to be addressed not only by the next government [of Kosovo] but also by the entire Albanian political class who are responsible for Kosovo Serbs… Albanians need to have dialogue with Kosovo Serbs so that the latter can become part of central and local institutions and every area of social life.” He also said: “Belgrade did not support us in the way we expected. They put forth political and not economic ideas and proposals… I think the list of topics first needs to include technical, and not political, proposals, because Kosovo Serbs need to have more responsibilities to address their own problems, and not have someone else do this for them”.

Implementation of agreements awaits new government (Epoka e Re)

The Head of the Kosovo Government Administrative Office in the North, Adriana Hodzic, told the paper that there is a stalemate in the implementation of agreements between Pristina and Belgrade. “I believe once we have a new government, the process of implementation will move forward and will be more concrete than it is now,” Hodzic said. She added that implementation cannot be successful without a clear commitment from mayors of northern municipalities.

Excavations continue in Rudnica, no mortal remains found yet (Koha)

New excavations are underway in Rudnica, Serbia, but no mortal remains have been found yet. Prenk Gjetaj, chairman of the Kosovo government’s committee for missing persons, told Kosovapress that everything is going according to procedure. The paper notes that excavations resumed in Rudnica on 7August after work was interrupted by the Serbian side, which cited insufficient funds.

Kosovo President and US Ambassador in Gracanica (Tribuna)

The municipality of Gracanica announced that the President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, and US Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson will visit the municipality today. Apart from meeting Gracanica Mayor Branimir Stojanovic, Jahjaga and Jacobson will visit the municipality’s Diagnostic Centre and Monastery.

Mining director defends illegal contract (Zeri)

The Serb management of the Trepca mining complex in northern Kosovo insists that Trepca, including the facilities in the south, are the property of the Republic of Serbia and that the Privatization Agency of Kosovo (PAK) has no power over the complex. Trepca’s general director in northern Kosovo, Jovan Dimkic, said the northern mines set records with their production this July, and that the management expects support and an active approach from the Government of Serbia. “Only the Government in Belgrade is authorized to resolve matters related to the status of the mining complex,” Dimkic said. Meanwhile, according to a decision by the Special Chamber of the Supreme Court of Kosovo, PAK needs to submit a plan for the reorganization of the mining complex by 2 April 2 2015. The paper also recalls that in May 2013, the Serbian Ministry for Mines signed a contract of cooperation with the US consortium New Generation Power (NGP), which foresees new investments, greater volume of work and new jobs. According to the agreement, NGP will take over 49 percent of shares while the Serbian Government would keep 51 percent.