UNMIK Headlines 1 December
- Thaci: There will be no borders along ethnic lines (Klan Kosova/RTK)
- Haradinaj: Resignation in the north, not definite (Zeri)
- At WB forum, Pacolli defends import tax on Serbia and Bosnia (media)
- Mitrovica municipality seeks to unite with Mitrovica North (media)
- Kosovo army to be voted on 14 December (Zeri)
- Haradinaj: Deportation of six Turkish nationals, hasty move (Koha Ditore)
Kosovo Media Highlights
Thaci: There will be no borders along ethnic lines (Klan Kosova/RTK)
Speaking at the Atlantic Council in Washington D.C., President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci said there is will on the part of Kosovo and Serbia to reach a peaceful solution that would once and for all end the conflict and underlined that this agreement would not involve “borders along ethnic lines, no exchange of population and no displacement of people.” Thaçi argued that “part of this agreement should be actually drawing the border between the two countries.” The agreement would “maintain the multiethnic spirit and reality of Kosovo and Serbia,” said Thaci rejecting the “ridiculous” idea of “peaceful ethnic cleansing.”
Haradinaj: Resignation in the north, not definite (Zeri)
Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj said yesterday that resignations of mayors from the four northern municipalities are not “definite” and that the government is reviewing them. “Resignation is a right of mayors or elected officials but there is a procedure, a protocol that should be followed. We are reviewing them, we don’t know whether they qualify as resignations,” Haradinaj said.
At WB forum, Pacolli defends import tax on Serbia and Bosnia (media)
Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli defended the tax on imports from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina during the meeting of Western Balkans foreign ministers meeting in Budva, Montenegro. Responding to Bosnian Foreign Minister Igor Crnadak who criticized the tax, Pacolli said: “You have offended my country but we respect you and Bosnia. Tell us though, how many [Kosovo] trucks do you allow into Bosnia? None. Do you respect the documentation attached to Kosovo goods? No, you do not accept or respect it. Do you recognise our seals? No, you do not. Can trucks with Kosovo license plates enter B&H? No, they cannot.” In a subsequent Facebook post, Pacolli wrote that Kosovo understands the importance of constructive spirit but it can no longer continue acting as a “quasi state.”
Mitrovica municipality seeks to unite with Mitrovica North (media)
The Municipal Assembly of Mitrovica has unanimously approved a resolution calling on the Government of Kosovo to amend necessary legislation to enable the unification with Mitrovica North. Mitrovica Mayor Agim Bahtiri said the request is a democratic right and should become a reality and called on the Government and the Assembly of Kosovo to implement the resolution. Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj briefly commented on the Mitrovica municipality move saying that decisions of this nature can only be taken by central-level institutions, Zeri reports. Koha Ditore meanwhile writes that Mitrovica mayor’s initiative will not come to fruition as it would also require the approval of Serb members of the Kosovo Assembly.
Kosovo army to be voted on 14 December (Zeri)
While the Kosovo Assembly presidency is expected to decide next week on when to schedule the second reading of the Kosovo Security Force transformation bills, the paper quotes sources saying that this is most likely to happen on 14 December. Assembly committee on budget and finance yesterday unanimously approved the draft laws and revealed that €53 million will be allocated for the Kosovo army next year.
Haradinaj: Deportation of six Turkish nationals, hasty move (Koha Ditore)
Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj said at an Assembly committee hearing that he was not informed about the deportation of six Turkish nationals wanted for alleged links with Gulen movement and called the move “hasty”. He said that the government has taken precautionary measures to make sure such “individual” actions do not happen in the future.