Headlines - 03.08.2013 Police director will not have a say on north’s commander (Koha Ditore) Ministry of Interior has issued an administrative direction stripping the general director of Kosovo Police from any competency regarding the selection procedures for the police commander of north Mitrovica. The direction that bears the date of 22 July is in conflict to the Law on Police, says the paper, because the law stipulates that the “regional police directors are appointed by the general director based on the standard of ranks, posts and job descriptions”. In addition, the law also says that the territorial jurisdiction of each regional directorate is determined by the general director. The new administrative direction which is already in force does not restrict mayors of four municipalities with Serb majority from recommending someone to the post of north’s regional director out of the list presented to them by the general director. Serbs of the north return EULEX escort, Belgrade warned (Koha Ditore) The Serb “Civil Protection” sent back an EULEX escort taking Kosovo and international police and customs officers to the border point of Jarinje prompting an official from the EU rule of law mission travelling to Belgrade to protest against the move. Kosovo Police Spokesperson for Mitrovica region, Besim Hoti, said a group of Serbs near Leposaviq stopped and sent back an EULEX escort but did not give details whether the officers at the border point were able to end their shift or had to extend for another 24 hours. EULEX takes the lead in the north (Tribuna) Since the start of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, EULEX has started to gain ground in the north and is now moving more freely and arresting persons suspected of criminal activity. Furthermore, EULEX members have also monitored the closing of MUP offices in the north. European officials told the paper that EULEX is gradually taking a leading position during the transitional stage in the north until Serbia’s institutions there are dissolved giving way to new ones that will cooperate with Kosovo institutions. Kosovo Embassy’s official in Croatia causes diplomatic scandal (dailies) Papers report that a senior official from the Kosovo Embassy in Zagreb was detained by the police after he caused a traffic accident while driving under the influence of alcohol. The official, who the papers say is Urtak Hamiti, was released shortly because of his diplomatic immunity. Kosovo’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it has received a note of protest from the Croatian Foreign Ministry complaining over the official’s “unprofessional and undignified” behavior. Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj has immediately recalled the official back to Pristina and apologized to Croatian authorities. Halbauer: KFOR’s mandate remains unchanged (dailies) KFOR Commander Volker Halbauer said in Zveçan that the mandate of the mission he commands will remain unchanged. He said that members of KFOR will continue to give their contribution to enable all citizens of Kosovo to live in peace and security. Halbauer said KFOR supports dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade and stressed that conflicts cannot be resolved through force.