UNMIK Headlines 29 August
Mustafa: Association does not impose constitutional changes (Koha Ditore)
Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, assured his cabinet ministers and the people of Kosovo that the Constitution of Kosovo requires no changes to enable the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities. He said agreement on the Association/Community does not impose any changes to the Kosovo applicable legislation. In a joint press conference with the head of Pristina delegation in talks with Belgrade, Edita Tahiri, Mustafa said the agreement reached with Belgrade is part of the international obligation Kosovo assumed when it ratified Agreement for Normalisation of Relations with Serbia in 2013. “Therefore, this is not a new or unexpected development. Decision on the Association was taken at the Assembly in 2013, with two-thirds of votes,” he added.
Albanian translation strengthens Association/Community (Zeri)
Kosovo political analysts consider that the Albanian version of the document that establishes the Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities and defines its responsibilities has been wrongly translated. They suspect this was done intentionally in order to present the Association/Community to the Kosovo public as more acceptable. Analysts say the text of the agreement creates ambiguity and called on the Government of Kosovo to be cautious in the drafting of the Association/Community’s statute.
Protest against Serb pilgrimage in Gjakova/Djakovica (dailies)
Koha Ditore reports that a group of citizens, mainly Vetevendosje activists, protested in Gjakova/Djakovica yesterdau against the visit of Serb pilgrims to the city’s Orthodox Church. As the pilgrims were coming out of the church, the protesters threw red paint at them as a result of which the Kosovo Police arrested two persons. Following the incident, Serbian List leader Aleksandar Jablanovic called on Gjakova/Djakovica Mayor Mimoza Kusari-Lila to condemn yesterday’s events.
Vetevendosje throws rotten eggs at PM Mustafa’s car (Koha Ditore)
Activists of the largest opposition party Vetevendosje, threw rotten eggs last night at Prime Minister Isa Mustafa’s car as he was heading to the public broadcaster RTK for an interview. Vetevendosje said it would continue to protest until PM Mustafa steps down from office.