UNMIK Headlines 2 August
Thaçi: Now is time for a new quality of cooperation with the UN (Epoka e Re)
The President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, met on Monday the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Zahir Tanin. Thaçi and Tanin discussed the cooperation of Kosovo institutions with the Office of the Special Representative on issues of mutual interest. Thaçi said Kosovo is grateful for the role that the United Nations has played in Kosovo after the conflict and recalled that the process of declaration of independence was launched by the United Nations, based on the Security Council Resolution 1244, and was conducted within the United Nations, which appointed its Envoy, President Martti Ahtisaari, to lead the process. “Now is the time for a new quality of cooperation with the SG’s Special Representative and with the United Nations,” Thaçi said. Mr. Tanin, expressed satisfaction with the cooperation with the Kosovo authorities and said that “we should be constructive in seeking cooperation of mutual interest”. “We are the bridge between Kosovo and the United Nations,” Tanin said. Thaçi said that there is a range of topics of interest to Kosovo and the region in which the SG Special Representative and his team can contribute, such as the issues of missing person and the fight against terrorism.
Ratification of demarcation, vital for visa liberalisation (Epoka e Re)
Kosovo’s President, Hashim Thaçi, has called for political and civic unity on the border-demarcation agreement with Montenegro, two days prior to the institutional debate on this issue. He said that this debate was unjustly denied to the citizens for almost a year now. According to him, the ratification of the agreement on the demarcation is vital for visa liberalisation. On the other hand, Prime Minister Isa Mustafa said that the debate on the demarcation should highlight the arguments and show which part of the territory was lost. On the contrary, Mustafa said, those who have created the cause must withdraw and vote the agreement.
Strong confrontation on demarcation issue (Zëri)
The paper reports in a front-page story that Kosovo government and opposition representatives on Wednesday will have a strong confrontation on the agreement on border-demarcation with Montenegro, nearly a year after this agreement was signed. The debate on demarcation to be held on Wednesday, is expected to clarify many issues about this agreement. The government and the opposition will present their arguments aiming to convince the public and each other that they are right to protect or oppose this agreement. Meanwhile, the Kosovo leaders have called for this debate to serve for political and party unity.
Tahiri concerned over destructive acts in north (Zëri)
Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio, Edita Tahiri, travelled to Brussels on Monday to attend the new round of talks with Serbia, the paper reports. According to a press release issued by Tahiri’s office, the aim of this meeting is the implementation of the agreements reached on 25 August 2015, which are being blocked by Serbia. “Minister Tahiri will also raise her concerns over some destructive acts in northern Kosovo and the illegal constructions that are increasing the tensions which could destabilize the situation in the north,” reads the press release. Tahiri will ask Serbia to implement the agreement on telephone code for Kosovo and the removal of the barricade over the Ibar River Bridge.
Grabovci not concerned over intercepted conversations (dailies)
The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) parliamentary group chief, Adem Grabovci, said on Monday he was not concerned over the intercepted conversations published by investigative news site Insajderi. According to him, these are tendencies for political elimination. “This reminds me of the time when the former Yugoslav forces arrested me in 1984. The same thing is happening now. The tendency to eliminate people is quite big,” Grabovci said. He also accused EULEX, saying it had no right to intercept his conversations in this manner. Insajderi yesterday published parts of several phone conversations made by Grabovci in 2011 which reportedly show him as the person in charge of PDK’s illegal activities.
KDI urges prosecution to investigate Grabovci’s conversations (Koha)
In a press release, the Kosovo Democratic Institute has urged the prosecution to launch investigation into the recorded telephone conversations of the head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) parliamentary group Adem Grabovci and determine whether he is responsible of any wrongdoing. The KDI considers that the conversations where Grabovci is allegedly shown as responsible for hiring people through irregular procedures contain elements of criminal act and the prosecutors’ negligence in similar scenarios is deeply concerning.
Mustafa returns Selimi to the post MCC National Coordinator (dailies)
Several dailies report that Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa returned Petrit Selimi, to the post of the National Coordinator of the Millennium Challenges Corporation (MCC) and released him from that of deputy foreign minister. Through a press release Mustafa announced that Selimi, in accordance with the laws, will continue to hold the position of the National Coordinator in the Millennium Challenge Corporation.