UNMIK Headlines 26 November
Parties preparing for the end of political dialogue (Tribuna)
Diplomatic sources told the paper that EU facilitators of the Belgrade-Pristina political dialogue are planning to end the process early in 2014 thus enabling the parties to focus on implementing agreements that would lead to what diplomats call “normalization without recognition”.
However, the dialogue will not be declared over until prime ministers Thaçi and Dacic agree on a number of yet-unresolved issues such as competencies of the community of Serb municipalities as well as management of Ujman water plant and Trepça mine.
Trials could again lead to elections in few municipalities (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that if by 20 December Sami Lushtaku is not released, he loses the mandate as the mayor of Skenderaj Municipality. This municipality could have the same fate with Ferizaj and Kaçanik where two former mayors from PDK lost their mandates because of court sentencing. Elections in these municipalities have cost the CEC over half a million euro. There are other local leaders accused for criminal acts who are running for office or have already been elected.
Meanwhile, the PDK branch in Skenderaj has interpreted the law for local governance by saying that it does not limit the oath of the mayor. PDK said that based on this law, Lushtaku can sign the oath statement anywhere. “Lushtaku is ready to sign the oath statement anytime,” says a press statement of PDK in Skenderaj.
Jacobson: We expect improvements from first round to be maintained (dailies)
US Ambassador to Kosovo Tracey Jacobson met on Monday with European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) representatives to discuss international efforts for monitoring runoff elections of 1 December in Kosovo. “I am pleased that US embassy is joining other international organizations like ENEMO in deploying monitors at polling stations throughout Kosovo on 1 December,” said Jacobson. “We are closely following and we are expecting that the improved achievements in the first round of elections to be maintained. If on 1 December the process will have defects of fraud, the progress made in the first round of elections will be meaningless.”
MFA waiting for membership in thirteen regional bodies (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that Kosovo is stalling in the process of membership in regional organizations. Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not receive answers from thirteen bodies that are operating in Southeast Europe. Opposition has said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has proved that it does not have the knowledge or commitment to deal with the problem of regional initiatives. The criticism for negligence came also from civil society.
Hoxhaj: Kosovo part of TAP not of Belgrade initiatives (Tribuna, Kosova Sot)
Kosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj said Kosovo is determined to become part of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline project. “Recent debate on which gas pipeline Republic of Kosovo should connect to is no dilemma. Our firm stance is that Kosovo should be part of TAP which also includes Republic of Albania, Greece and Italy, a project that is of European Union for supplying the European Union. This means in no way be part of initiatives that Serb officials in Belgrade are talking about”, said Hoxhaj for Tirana based TV, Top Channel.
Religious dilemma of AAK (Tribuna)
A video going around in YouTube shows AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj speaking before an international audience where he addresses the issue of religion in Kosovo and notes that he has never been to a mosque. “My family for four generations was Albanian Catholic. I was born a Muslim but I don’t know why I am a Muslim because I’ve never been to a mosque in my life”, Haradinaj is reported to say.
The video is reported to have caused outrage with Kosovo Islamic community while AAK has issued a statement saying Haradinaj’s quote was taken out of context for speculative reasons.
Political Islam, danger for Kosovo (Zëri)
According to a document of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kosovo, except parallel structures in the north, is also threatened by political religious extremism. The assessment is made in the document presented days ago to the Commission of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo Assembly by Minister Enver Hoxhaj.
The document that is in possession of Zëri is called “Security Challenges and Risks” and lists concerns for the problems which Kosovo could face in the future. According to this document, there is no perspective for political extremism or religious extremism in Kosovo to be successful, without the help from outside. “We request to keep good relations with our first neighbors and with other concerned countries for the possibility of political and religious extremism,” says the document.