UNMIK Headlines 3 April
Dutch ambassador: Visa liberalization next year, if all criteria are met (dailies)
The Dutch Ambassador to Kosovo, Robert Bosch, said on Thursday that visa liberalization for Kosovo might happen next year, but only if the Kosovo authorities meet all the criteria set by the European Union. Bosch said he doesn’t see any significant changes in terms of economic development and creation of new jobs in Kosovo. He said that economic development is hampered mostly by the lack of the rule of law. With regards to the special court which will address war crimes allegations, Bosch said that it is better if Kosovo establishes the special court and does not let others do it in its place. Bosch made these comment during a lecture at a private university in Pristina.
President Jahjaga, ministers coordinate actions on visa liberalization (Zeri)
Kosovo’s President, Atifete Jahjaga, met on Thursday with Minister of Interior Affairs, Skender Hyseni, Minister of Justice, Hajredin Kuci and Minister of European Integration, Bekim Collaku, in order to coordinate actions for fulfilling the remaining recommendations in the visa liberalization dialogue. President Jahjaga and ministers agreed on the dynamics of implementation of all remaining recommendations for visa liberalization by June 2015.
Hyseni: We are ready for visa liberalization (Bota Sot)
Kosovo’s Interior Minister, Skender Hyseni, said on Thursday that Kosovo is the only place in the region that was not included in the visa liberalization process. “Kosovo will soon meet all criteria from the visa liberalization roadmap and expects a positive assessment. The issue of visas has become an issue that exceeds the framework of technical criteria. Further isolation and deprivation of Kosovo citizens of their right to freedom of movement is unfair,” Hyseni said.
Opposition MPs criticize Prime Minister Mustafa (Zeri)
The paper notes that the Kosovo government’s report to the Assembly on its first 100 days in power was characterized by criticism from opposition MPs. Vetevendosje Movement MP Glauk Konjufca said that the 100 days of the Mustafa government were a failure, emphasizing protests and irregular migration. Ramush Haradinaj, the leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), said Mustafa’s government has done nothing in terms of economic development, justice and the fight against corruption. Fatmir Limaj, the leader of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), said the current government is only a continuation of the previous government. “The current Prime Minister, however, is more honest than his predecessor Hashim Thaci, because at least Mustafa told the truth that the Kosovo Armed Forces won’t go to north and that there won’t be any salary rises in the public sector.”
Kosovo Constitution is breached if Armed Forces won’t go to north (Zeri)
The opposition parties have accused the government of Kosovo of violating Kosovo’s Constitution by accepting that the Kosovo Armed Forces will not to go to the north, without prior permission from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Vetevendosje Movement MP, Rexhep Selimi told Zeri that the governments of Kosovo and Serbia are harmonizing their positions to the detriment of the sovereignty and Constitution of Kosovo.
Thaci prefers to become President through popular vote (Bota Sot)
Hashim Thaci, leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, said in a short statement for Lajmi.net that he supports the election of the future President of Kosovo through a popular vote. Thaci, who is Principal Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, is expected to become President of Kosovo in 2016, based on an agreement with the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). Thaci said that he will very soon start a campaign presenting his platform for the post of President.