After the first UN Security Council’s session presided by the Great Britain, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, Karen Pierce, called on Pristina and Belgrade not to deal too much with the issues of tactics at the UN Security Council, and stressed that both parties should engage together with the EU High Representative to normalize relations, as the only way of advancing on European integration.

The Director of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA) Driton Gashi, reported today to the Assembly Committee for Supervision of KIA, about the security situation in Kosovo, especially after the murder of Oliver Ivanovic.

Head of this Committee, Donika Kadaj Bujupi, said they requested from the Director to increase vigilance in the north.

Kadaj-Bujupi said there were warnings about turbulences, but they did not happen and added that the situation in the north is not alarming.

Kosovo’s Minister of Justice, Abelard Tahiri held today an introductory meeting with the Amnesty International team, respective with Deputy Director Gauri van Gulik, and rapporteurs Sian Jones and Jelena Sesar.

Tahiri informed them about his priorities during the four year mandate as well as the work that is being done in harmonizing legal norms with the international ones in the field of justice.

Pope Francis, hosted today at the Holy See in Vatican, a private audience with the President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci.

“Thaci stressed that Kosovo has continued to preserve patience, faith and values that we have as society – love and solidarity in family and society, respect for everyone’s dignity, tolerance and cooperation,” informs a press release issued by the Office of the President of Kosovo.

Koha.net’s sources within the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) informed that this party has nominated former Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Arban Abrashi, to compete for mayor of Pristina, in local elections to be held in October of this year. LDK also nominated Hatim Baxhaku for the mayor of Prizren. The portal reports that these two municipalities are among the most significant ones and in the focus of the political parties. PDK has not made public the name of its nominee for Pristina yet.

Today, 21 July 2017, an international prosecutor of the Special Prosecution of Kosovo, has filed charges at the Department for Serious Crimes of the Basic Court in Pristina, against four defendants accused for aggravated murder of two UNMIK Officers and the attempted murder of two other UNMIK Officers occurred on 23 March 2004.

Serbian authorities have released from prison Hilmi Kelmendi, from Kosovo, who was arrested last Friday in Belgrade.

His lawyer, Sead Spahović, confirmed Kelmendi’s release for KTV.

Kelmendi is currently concluding routine procedures and he is expected to leave the prison in two hours. Head of Kosovo’s Liaison Office in Belgrade, Valdet Sadiku, will be waiting for him at the detention center.

Hilmi Kelmendi, 36 years old, from Gjakova, was arrested on Friday by the Serbian authorities. He is suspected for war crimes committed in Kosovo.

Kelmendi was coming for holidays from Germany, where he has been living during the last twelve years.

He was stopped between Friday and Saturday for allegedly war crimes during 1998-99.

Kelmendi’s family confirmed the news for KTV.

According to the budget proposal regarding the work of UNMIK in Kosovo, 3.5 million dollars less will be allocated this year. USA and UK are attempting to reduce the staff of the mission.

According to sources cited by the Belgrade newspaper, Večernje Novosti, Koha.net writes that the purpose is to abolish 20 jobs and empower the mission in the areas of human rights, support to communities and strengthen the role of UNMIK in the north of Kosovo.