Headlines - 24.08.2013 Kosovo asks for end to UNMIK mission (telegrafi.com) Kosovo officials have started to ask for concrete steps to end the United Nations mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, and change UN Resolution 1244 that laid out the basis for the international mission. But a decision on the request and any changes to UNMIK's role would have to be made by the UN Security Council, which includes members Russia and China that are opposed to Kosovo's recognition. Serbia, which has never recognised its breakaway republic's independence, would also oppose such an effort. Kosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj told SETimes that the mission should be ended. "We believe that all conditions have been met and that the Security Council should take a decision, bring a new resolution and finish the UNMIK mission in Kosovo as this (mission) is not usable any more. It is unnecessary and I am very sure that the UN can use the budget it has at its disposal for Kosovo in countries that are facing a crisis,” he said. Hoxhaj said UNMIK can be transformed into a partner of the Kosovo membership to the UN. "It is the time to start a debate on such a direction and to see the possibilities – political, legal and procedural – on how this mission should be concluded in Kosovo," he said. UN spokeswoman Morana Song declined comment, other than noting that such a decision would rest with the Security Council. Hoxhaj said the Brussels agreement reached this year between Serbia and Kosovo, in which Serbia accepted Kosovo's territorial integrity, should be a factor in any UN deliberations on the issue. Kosovo also starts the negotiations this year for the signing of a stabilisation and association agreement with the European Union. UNMIK has had an important role in Kosovo since forming in 1999, Hoxhaj said, but its usefulness is approaching an end. "We have said it several times and we will insist that UNMIK concludes its work in Kosovo and Kosovo becomes a member of the UN and a member of the UN system," Hoxhaj said. Belgrade officials have said that the mission should stay intact to protect Serbs in Kosovo. "All institutions that maintain a status neutral stance constitute a problem for Pristina because it is hoping for recognition of independence by the international community and Serbia as well," Aleksandar Vulin, head of the Serbian office in Kosovo, told Tanjug on August 16th. "UNMIK is an organisation that still has the biggest legal relevance for Serbia, and in keeping with the UN Security Council decision and the situation in the field, UNMIK is also the head of all international organisations," in Kosovo, Vulin added. Seb Bytyci, executive director of the Balkan Policy Institute, said it is unlikely that the UN will change UNMIK's role. "It is difficult to think that a resolution that gives an end to UNMIK can come out without dealing with the issue of the status of Kosovo. If Russia changes its approach towards Kosovo, that would be possible, but it does not seem on the horizon. And also, the chances to have this issue put on the agenda of the Security Council are small, taking into consideration the international crisis in other regions, especially in the Middle East," Bytyci told SETimes. Next meeting, with surprises! (zeri.info) Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci is expected to return from Brussels "with his bag full", namely with an agreement on telecommunications. Pristina also expects Belgrade to agree on the issue of energy. The November 3 local elections are another topic that is seen by many as "the golden reserve" for the upcoming meeting between the two prime ministers. The two leaders are also expected to discuss missing persons and pension funds. The European Union has backed Pristina's plan for Kosovo to get the telephone code +383 and for Serbia to have a virtual operator in Kosovo. Serbia's Prime Minister Ivica Dacic insists that Serbia should get a GSM operator in Kosovo in exchange for a telephone code for the latter. Kosovo's deputy prime minister Edita Tahiri said Pristina and Brussels are waiting for Belgrade's answer on telecommunications and energy, in order to move on to other issues. "We have joint positions with the European Union and are now waiting for a response from Belgrade. Special attention will be paid to organizing the November elections and I am confident that all three parties will repeat their calls for participation in local elections, especially in the four northern municipalities," Tahiri said. Halbauer advises land routes to be used in the north (koha.net) General Volker Halbauer, commander of KFOR peacekeeping troops, at the end of his mandate, called on Kosovars to travel to the northern part of the country, "because the possibility is there now and it should be used". The COMKFOR advised Kosovars to use land routes to travel north. "The security situation in the north is stable but tense; these tensions are created by people who do not want the status quo to end. I talked to the chief of Serbian defense last month. We agreed that the security situation has improved a lot in the last six months and thanks to positive developments in political dialogue and I believe now is the time to use this opportunity and to travel there without fear," he said. Halbauer said it is not up to KFOR to remove the main blockade on the bridge over River Iber. "I shall not remove the blockade, because it is a political symbol and as such it needs to be removed through a political agreement. Only in that case will we assist in its removal," he added. Poll: Ahmeti could defeat Mustafa (gazetaexpress.com) A recent online poll conducted by Express shows that Vetevendosje deputy leader Shpend Ahmeti could defeat LDK leader Isa Mustafa in this year's municipal elections in Pristina. The poll included 6283 respondents, 4077 of whom voted for Ahmeti (65 percent), while 2206 (35 percent) voted for Mustafa. Vetevendosje and LDK have yet to announce their candidates for Pristina municipality. Sources told Express that Vetevendosje will run with Ahmeti and that LDK's Mustafa is likely to seek a third mandate as Pristina mayor.