UNMIK Headlines 27 December
Government hides authorship for the Special Court (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports on its front page that Isa Mustafa, Prime Minister of Kosovo, stated that the Government will vote on the Law for the Special Court in January. Asked about this issue, Hajredin Kuci, Kosovo’s Minister of Justice, said on Friday for this daily that he is not aware of the content of the draft. “They are drafting it in Brussels. They did not send it yet. None of us has seen it yet,” said Kuci. However, judicial experts in Kosovo do not believe that the Law is being drafted in Brussels, at least not without involving or informing local authorities, reports this daily.
Authorities claim to have prevented a terrorist attack (dailies)
All dailies report that Serbian national, Slobodan Gavric, 46 years old, was arrested on Thursday evening in Pristina, carrying around 13 kilograms of explosive in his vehicle. Koha Ditore reports that Kosovo authorities claim to have had information about this attack in advance, however they chose to follow him from Mitrovica and arrest him only 50 kilometers further, in Pristina. “Authorities found big amount of explosive in his vehicle and it is suspected that it was intended to be used for a terrorist attack. The case is in its initial phase of investigations by a local prosecutor from the Special Prosecution, who will request detention of the suspect from the Court,” informed Kosovo’s Prosecution.
A source from the Prosecution told Koha Ditore that explosive was combined with metallic parts and it was supposed to be activated on Christmas Eve. “We have received information about the planned attack from a Serbian citizen with of Bosniak nationality, a few days ago. We knew that he was entering Kosovo and we had information about him and his vehicle,” said this source.
Skender Hyseni, Kosovo’s Interior Minister, also said on Friday at a press conference that the suspect was planning to commit an eventual terrorist attack.
Jahjaga: Security at national level should increase (Zeri)
Kosovo’s President Atifete Jahjaga met with Kosovo’s Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and the heads of security mechanisms – the Director of Kosovo Police, Shpend Maxhuni and the Director of Kosovo Intelligence Agency, Bashkim Smakaj to assess Kosovo’s security following the arrest of a suspect with large amounts of explosives in Prishtina.
According to a press release issued by the Office of the President, Jahjaga commended the Kosovo Police for their professionalism and good work in thwarting this terrorist activity and for protecting Kosovo’s national security and the security of its citizens. President Jahjaga demanded that security mechanisms increase the overall security in Kosovo and appealed to citizens to cooperate with law enforcement agencies who are investigating this incident.
“In addition, President Jahjaga, given the complex and serious nature of this suspected terrorist plot, calls upon regional countries to cooperate in shedding light to the circumstances of this terrorist act and to help in bringing the perpetrators to justice.”
Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama visited Pristina (dailies)
All dailies report on the visit of the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. During a conference held by the Non-Governmental Organization “FOL” Rama reiterated his promises for economic integration of Kosovo and Albania. He also said that there is no unification of Kosovo and Albania and that integration of Albanians will happen at the European Union. He said that Albanian unification has already happened but not in the format left in the will a century ago. He said that Albanians have never been more respected internationally than now. Rama also said that Albanians are the most important factor in the region, being that they are inclined by peace and not war.