Headlines - 08.02.2017

• 19 new judges appointed to Specialist Chambers (dailies)
• Thaci, Veseli, Mustafa coordinate to fulfill international obligations (Epoka)
• Serb media: Association could be established on Kosovo Independence Day
• Apostolova, Bahtiri: Problems to be resolved through dialogue (Bota Sot)
• NATO refutes reports in Serbian paper (Koha Ditore)
• Thaci and Mustafa appoint new intelligence chief (media)
• Spain will not change its position on Kosovo (Zeri) 

Kosovo Media Highlights 

19 new judges appointed to Specialist Chambers  (dailies)

Head of EULEX, Alexandra Papadopoulou, appointed 19 judges to the roster of international judges at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, upon the recommendation of the independent selection panel. President of the Specialist Chambers, Ekaterina Trendafilova welcomed the appointments and said that each of them will contribute to ensuring fair and efficient justice. Specialist Chambers spokesperson Avis Benes told Zeri that the priority will now be to convene the first plenary of the judges and reaffirmed that the first indictments are expected to be raised in the first half of this year. 

Thaci, Veseli, Mustafa coordinate to fulfill international obligations (Epoka)

President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, had a meeting yesterday with Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and Assembly President Kadri Veseli and discussed continuing coordination of international obligations Kosovo has pledged to fulfill. The three officials agreed to continue work on establishing the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and conclude the border demarcation process with Montenegro. In addition, they also said they would work on transforming the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into an army. 

Serb media: Association could be established on Kosovo Independence Day

Serbian paper Novosti has quoted an unnamed official in the Serbian Government saying that plans are under way to establish the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities on 17 February, Kosovo’s Independence Day. “The issue of establishing the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities will be another spark in Belgrade-Pristina relations. This is because institutions of Kosovo are refusing to form the Association/Community even though this is an obligation stemming from the Brussels agreement,” the source said. 

Apostolova, Bahtiri: Problems to be resolved through dialogue (Bota Sot)

The Head of the EU Office and Special Representative, Nataliya Apostolova, met Mitrovica Mayor Agim Bahtiri and the two agreed that problems in Mitrovica should be resolved through dialogue. According to a press release issued by Bahtiri’s office after the meeting, Apostolova thanked the Mayor for his commitment to de-escalating tensions and maintaining peace. Bahtiri on his part said he was briefed in detail about the revitalization of the Mitrovica bridge project which will continue as soon as the weather permits. Furthermore, Bahtiri said the project for the pedestrianizing area in Mitrovica North will be constructed by the municipality there but under the supervision of Kosovo’s Ministry for Environment and Spatial Planning.

NATO refutes reports in Serbian paper (Koha Ditore)

Officials from NATO headquarters in Brussels have refuted reports published in the Serbian paper Informer saying that the Alliance’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during his visit to Kosovo told leaders there that “Serbia’s army could crush you in a matter of hours” and that “since Serbia has Russia’s support, NATO would not easily decide to enter a war with Russia over Kosovo.” NATO claims the paper’s article is “completely groundless” and contains fabricated quotes. “NATO Secretary General has conveyed a clear and open message to the region by calling for continuation of political dialogue for normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina which is in the interest of the whole region,” NATO spokesperson Oana Lungesku said. 

Thaci and Mustafa appoint new intelligence chief (media)

President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, and Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, announced the appointment Driton Gashi as director of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency. Gashi has been working for the Ministry of Interior and prior to that he was a UNDP consultant on human trafficking.

Spain will not change its position on Kosovo (Zeri)

Spanish Ambassador to Belgrade, Miguel Fuertes, said after a meeting with the head of Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric, that his country will not change its position of not recognising independence of Kosovo.