UNMIK Headlines 6 October
Opposition continues to block Assembly’s work (Zeri)
The united opposition front continues to be “fortified” in its position to block the work of the Assembly, despite the Assembly Presidency’s decision to hold the next session on Thursday. Opposition representatives are adamant that the solution lies with the Prime Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa, who according to them has to annul the agreement on the formation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. Glauk Konjufca, head of the Vetevendosje parliamentary group, told a press conference on Monday that the same politicians who are weeping over the blockade of the Assembly are responsible for the level of unemployment and corruption in Kosovo.
Secretary Kerry supports Kosovo’s bid to join UNESCO (dailies)
The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, sent a letter to Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci, pledging full support for Kosovo's membership of UNESCO. In this letter as the media report, Kerry also reacted to Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic who compared Kosovo to ISIS. “Kosovo has proven partnership with the international community to combat violent extremism and that makes Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO even more important,” Kerry wrote in his letter. “The United States as a dedicated partner and friend of Kosovo is actively cooperating with other allies to help Kosovo's accession to UNESCO.”
Mustafa: Visa liberalization criteria, not fully met (Telegrafi)
Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, called on relevant local institutions to oversee implementation of the remaining criteria from the visa liberalization roadmap which should be finalized by the end of November. In a meeting with his cabinet’s ministers and heads of institutions responsible for the implementation of visa liberalization criteria, Mustafa expressed the full commitment of the Kosovo side to enable the EU to grant visa liberalization for the people of Kosovo as soon as possible.
Thaci: No early elections and no broadening of coalition (Indeksonline)
In an interview for RTV 21, Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, said that the parliamentary blockade is unreasonable. “I think it is the last thing that Kosovo needs,” he said. Thaci also addressed recent reports that the ruling coalition will grow to include other parties, namely Ramush Haradinaj’s Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), by saying that there will be no broadening of the coalition or early elections.
Delawie: Elections in 2018 (Zeri)
The United States Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, while speaking to media about the recent developments in the Assembly, said that in democracy it is the coalition parties who set the agenda. "In a democracy, the coalition parties define policies. In general, those who don’t like these policies must work hard to explain their positions to the electorate and receive more votes in the upcoming elections in 2018,” Delawie said.
Mustafa reacts to Haradinaj’s statement on border demarcation (Zeri)
The Office of the Prime Minister Isa Mustafa reacted to Ramush Haradinaj statements of yesterday that the current agreement on border demarcation would not be implemented and that the borderline would be returned to where it was before. Mustafa’s Office through a press release noted that the threats made by Ramush Haradinaj do not contain any arguments. "The border with Montenegro and other neighboring countries is determined not by the will of individuals or political parties, but on the basis of documents certified by professional committees," reads the press release.
SAA enters into force in early 2016 (Koha)
The paper reports that the European Union’s Special Representative in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, confirmed on Monday that the Stabilization/Association Agreement between Kosovo and the EU could enter into force in early 2016. Zbogar said procedures were being finalized with member states before the SAA with Kosovo is signed.
Kosovo’s eternal regress (Zeri)
The paper reports in a front-page story that the high level corruption, increased number of asylum seekers and shortcomings in the public administration reform will be recorded in this year’s Progress Report by the European Commission. The report will be published in two weeks. The report will be published after the new round of talks between Pristina and Belgrade. The EU spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Maja Kocijancic, said that it is in everybody's interest that this report has the attention of the public and therefore will be published after the Pristina-Belgrade talks. Kocijancic indicated that this year’s report will be the first for the Commissioner for Enlargement, Jean-Claude Juncker. The enlargement package, according to her, for the first time will include a medium-term strategy and the presentation of reports on each country will be done differently from the previous years.
Government releases Sabit Geci from prison (Koha)
In one of its front-page stories, the paper reports that Kosovo’s Deputy Minister of Justice, Lirak Çelaj, released Sabit Geci from prison on Friday, under the excuse that he needs medical treatment outside Kosovo. Geci is serving a 15-year sentence for war crimes against civilians. The decision that suspends Geci’s imprisonment for three months was signed on behalf of Justice Minister Hajredin Kuci. “This decision allows the three-month suspension of the sentence of Sabit Geci so that he can receive the necessary medical treatment and he will immediately be released from the Correctional Center in Dubrava,” the decision noted. Justice Deputy Minister Çelaj told the paper on Monday that Geci is in a grave condition and that he has given guarantees that he will return to Kosovo after receiving medical care. According to the paper, Geci is expected to travel outside Kosovo in the next couple of days.