UNMIK Headlines 29 December
Tahiri: Government plans to accommodate all illegals (Koha)
In a front-page interview for the paper, Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio, Edita Tahiri, says that all Serbs who previously worked in illegal administrations in the northern municipalities will be accommodated with different jobs. Tahiri said that the government of Kosovo, in cooperation with the European Union Office in Pristina, will set up a working group that will prepare an integration plan. That plan will help accommodate additional staff in new administrative units that will be formed in northern Kosovo over a three-year period. Tahiri also said that conditions are now ripe for Brussels to call for the removal of barricades in the north.
Kosovo to apply for Council of Europe membership soon (Tribuna)
Kosovo could apply for membership in the Council of Europe in the next three months. Daniel Holtgen, a spokesman for the Council of Europe, told Radio Kosova: “We have learned that Kosovo is consulting with member states of the Council of Europe, which then automatically decide on the application results immediately after they receive the opinion of the Parliamentary Assembly”. Holtgen also said that it is up to Kosovo authorities to decide when they will apply for membership.
Police launch investigations into suspect’s entrance into Kosovo (Zeri)
The Kosovo Police has suspended with pay four border police officers in northern Kosovo, at the Jarinje crossing point, for allowing Slobodan Gavric to enter Kosovo. Gavric is suspected of having planned a terrorist attack in Pristina last week. According to the paper, all four officers are Kosovo Serbs. Senior officials of the Kosovo Ministry for Internal Affairs told Radio Free Europe that investigations are underway against all those responsible for the errors that led to Gavric’s entry. Two days ago, the Department for Serious Crimes at the Basic Court in Pristina ordered a 30-day detention for Gavric.
Finance minister: Only 6% salary raise for public sector (Zeri)
Abdullah Hoti, Kosovo’s Minister of Finance, said on Saturday that there will be a salary raise of around 6 percent for public servants. According to Hoti, the raises will depend on years of work experience. Hoti added that he expects the trade unions to accept the 2015 budget, even though it does not include the 25 percent salary raise promised earlier by former Prime Minister Hashim Thaci.