The UN Women in Kosovo on Wednesday launched the project “Conflict brought no flowers” dedicated to survivors of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo. The project aims at making the voices of the victims of sexual violence be heard and give recommendations to relevant institutions on helping these victims. Flora Macula, chief of the UN Women in Kosovo said this project has been drafted after months of work, and includes consultations with the women who are survivors of sexual violence during the war.

The Mayor of Deçan, Rasim Selmanaj, through a Facebook post on Wednesday called on the members of the Kosovo Assembly not to vote the border demarcation deal with Montenegro.  “On behalf of the citizens of Deçan, who used this land for as long as they remember, which was also proved by the independent experts, I call on the MPs, especially those coming from this region, to oppose this deal,” Selmanaj said.

Leaders of the opposition parties have announced that they will not be able to attend the meeting called by Kosovo Assembly member Ramiz Kelmendi to discuss border demarcation deal on Wednesday. Kelmendi confirmed that also Prime Minister Isa Mustafa informed him that he will not be attending the meeting. The news site recalls that this was the last attempt to find a political solution on demarcation issue. Kosovo Assembly is expected to vote on the agreement on Thursday, 1 September, at 11:30.

The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK,) Ramush Haradinaj said that the campaign of the President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, the Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, and Assembly President Kadri Veseli to impose voting for the demarcation of the border with Montenegro, is a flagrant violation of the Constitution.

The Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Kosovo, Ruairi O’Conell, told the paper that he does not support any politician and that he has several times stated openly that the political mentality should change by vote and not interference of the internationals. Despite the fact that he has signed an agreement with the Assembly President Kadri Veseli and that he was supported by the Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, when speaking about de-politization of the boards, O’Conell said that “I will continue to be suspicious on political will until something changes.”

The Vetëvendosje Movement through a press release commented on the attack on the premises of the public broadcaster RTK on Monday night. “With the attempt to connect Vetëvendosje with last night’s attack on RTK, the management of this medium only confirmed that the RTK has become classic government propaganda. Last night's attack against RTK cannot be justified in any way, not because the RTK symbolize free speech, but because we do not think that such bomb attacks help any cause in Kosovo.

Mayor of Mitrovica South Agim Bahtiri, during a meeting with representatives of UNHCR in Kosovo has sought to resolve the problem of 12 thousand Albanians displaced from the north, who now live as refugees in the south. Bahtiri said it is not fair and human that it is not being discussed at all for the return of around 12 thousand Albanians from the northern neighborhoods of the town, who, according to him, were forcefully displaced by the Serbs.

Unidentified persons threw stones at the Kosovo government building on Tuesday while the Committee on Foreign Affairs was reviewing the draft-law on the ratification of border-demarcation agreement with Montenegro, Zëri reports.  Several windows were broken while media report that no one was injured from the attack.

Editorial by Andrew Russell, UN Development Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative

15 July marks the World Youth Skills Day, a day when the world recognizes the value of helping young people to develop the skills necessary to contribute to better futures for all. While more and more young people have better opportunities for education and skills development than ever before, some 75 million adolescents globally are out of school, are deprived of a quality education, and unable to acquire the skills they need for a prosperous life.

The excavations for an alleged mass grave have started today near the Pristina University campus. Director of the Department of Forensic Medicine, Arsim Gërxhaliu, told Radio Kosova that there are suspicions about ethnic Albanian victims. The initiation of the excavation at the site comes after several citizens reported seeing Serb forces digging in this location during the war. The works will be observed by a delegation from Serbia.