UNMIK Headlines 27 May
Daka meets EU observers (Kosova Sot)
The Head of the Central Election Commission (CEC), Valdete Daka, met a group from the European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM), which was led by the Deputy Chief of the Mission, Marian Gabriel. Daka welcomed the EU observers and briefed them on the preparations underway for the 8 June elections. Daka said the CEC is on track with its operational plan, while Gabriel noted that, this Sunday, a group of observers will travel to the field to monitor the election process.
Constitutional court judge faces dismissal (Koha)
The paper reports on the front page that Kadri Kryeziu, a judge with the Constitutional Court of Kosovo, could be dismissed as a result of his participation in Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) activities. A source told the paper on Monday that the decision to initiate Kryeziu’s dismissal will be made in two weeks. “For now, one thing is certain: he will be held accountable and could face dismissal. This will happen no later than 12 June, because evidence must be collected,” the source said. Kryeziu told the paper recently that he has been attending PDK events but that this does not constitute a legal violation. “The law does not allow me to support any party, but allows me to be a citizen,” he was quoted as saying.
Thaci inaugurates memorial for fallen US soldiers (Tribuna)
Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and US Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson inaugurated yesterday in Prizren a memorial dedicated to two NATO soldiers who lost their lives while in an airspace operation. “American pilots died on duty in an effort to stop Serb genocide and ethnic cleansing in 1999”, said Thaci. “Kosovo is the youngest state but remains the most pro-American country”, he stressed.
Haradinaj “clan” never existed (Lajm)
Lajm reports on the front page that the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) leader, Ramush Haradinaj, through a letter, has rejected a NATO report published yesterday in a daily newspaper in Kosovo. Haradinaj, in the letter sent to Kosovo Force (KFOR) Commander Salvatore Farina and Quint countries, emphasized that he never served in the French Legion, and never had connections through which he controlled businesses. He also denied the existence of a Haradinaj “clan” for organized crime.
RTK has become private property of PDK (Botapress)
Officials of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) have criticized the management of Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK), saying that the public broadcaster is the private property of Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi. LDK member Vjosa Osmani said that RTK is following Hashim Thaçi’s every step with special teams, while they are bypassing other parties, primarily the LDK. She said she was convinced that RTK would change after 8 June, when Thaci would be in the opposition.
Unnecessary confusion over “Drenica Group” case (Lajm)
The Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) has reacted to developments at the Kosovo University Clinical Centre (QKUK), in which detainees escaped while being medically treated. The detainees belonged to the “Drenica Group”, which has been charged with war crimes. The Council says that unnecessary confusion was created during the episode, and requested the Ministry of Interior Affairs to establish a team to investigate the Kosovo police officers who failed to perform their duties. CDHRF also requested the Ministry of Justice, specifically the Kosovo Correctional Service, to establish a team to investigate the correctional officers involved in the transfers from detention centres to regional hospitals.