UNMIK Headlines 1 June
Assembly Presidency to decide on special court today? (Epoka e Re)
The Presidency of the Kosovo Assembly will meet today at 11:00 and discuss documents related to the special court if the Kosovo government submits them. Adem Grabovci, the head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) parliamentary group, said the Assembly Presidency and the heads of parliamentary groups will discuss the relevant documents whenever they are ready. “After we look into the documents, the Assembly Presidency will decide on the timetable of the next plenary session. Everything will be done with respect to the laws and procedures,” Grabovci told the paper. Meanwhile, the representatives of opposition parties continue to highlight what they call negative aspects of the special court. Vetevendosje leader Visar Ymeri said on Sunday that establishing the special court would imply giving up Kosovo’s sovereignty. He also said that to vote in favour of this court would be to suspend the constitutional arrangements of Kosovo’s judicial system and create room for a parallel judiciary that is fully independent from Kosovo.
Isa Mustafa re-elected as LDK leader (dailies)
The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) on Sunday re-elected Isa Mustafa as the leader of the LDK for the next four years. Mustafa was elected by acclamation, as he was the only candidate, because the LDK delegates did not approve Vjosa Osmani’s candidacy for head of the party. Mustafa said that the election process was fair and democratic. Meanwhile, media sent a letter of protest to the LDK because journalists were not allowed to report from the LDK Electoral Assembly on Sunday. Koha Ditore reports that the majority of the 349 delegates did not support the candidacy of Vjosa Osmani. Osmani warned Mustafa that she would express her dissatisfaction over the voting process in the Kosovo Assembly.
Vulin in Kosovo to discuss Serbia’s platform (Zeri)
The paper writes that the Serbian Government’s Minister for Kosovo, Aleksandar Vulin, is expected to visit Kosovo to discuss Serbia’s Platform on Kosovo with Serb representatives in northern Kosovo. According to the paper, the mayors of the northern municipalities asked Belgrade officials to also consider their thoughts in regards to the platform. Vulin is also expected to meet with the Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Branimir Stojanovic. “The meeting will be closed and the main topic will be the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities,” said an unnamed Serb official. He added that the Kosovo government is expected to put pressure on Serb MPs and to condition the establishment of the Association/Community with the approval of the law on the Kosovo Armed Forces.
Governments of Kosovo and FYROM to meet in June (dailies)
A meeting between the governments of Kosovo and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) is expected to be held in June. The meeting between the two governments was initially scheduled for May. Kosovo government spokesperson, Arban Abrashi said that the meeting was postponed because the technical groups have not yet finished drafting the agreements to be signed. Abrashi denied that this was done because of the events that occurred in Kumanovo last month.
Draskovic: Kosovo is a state, whether we like it or not (Indeksonline)
Vuk Draskovic, the former Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs and leader of the Serbian Revival Party, in an interview for the news site, talked about relations between Kosovo and Serbia. “Kosovo is a state, whether we like it or not,” Draskovic was quoted as saying. He added that Kosovo’s return under Serbia is a myth that has nothing to do with reality. Draskovic also said that Kosovo will be removed from the preamble of the Serbian Constitution.
Croatian Foreign Minister to apply for post of UN chief (dailies)
Croatia’s Foreign Minister, Vesna Pusic, told media over the weekend that she could apply for the post of the United Nations Secretary-General if the UN Security Council decides that a person from Eastern Europe should take the post.