Kosovo’s Deputy Foreign Minister Petrit Selimi had a meeting today with Austrian Ambassador to Kosovo, Johann Brieger and thanked him for his country’s strong support through increasing investment and lobbying for Kosovo’s recognition in the international arena. Selimi and Brieger discussed the agenda of the upcoming Berlin Process summit that will take place in Vienna on 27 August and the two agreed that strengthening of cooperation between the countries in the region and the EU are key to economic development.

Belgrade and Pristina contrary on membership in UNESCO

The deputy head of Kosovo diplomacy Petrit Selimi, yesterday denied the statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Ivica Dacic that the United Nations did not accept to forward Kosovo's application for admission into UNESCO.

Kosovo’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Petrit Selimi, reacted to the statements of Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivivca Dacic that the United Nations has rejected Kosovo’s application for membership in UNESCO. Selimi told Radio Free Europe that such statements are totally incorrect. According to him, the expectations are that in October, UNESCO’s Executive Committee will give a positive answer to Kosovo’s application to join this organization. “Kosovo cannot be denied by the UN because it didn’t apply to the UN.

The Vetevendosje Movement MP, Rexhep Selimi, commenting on the publication of a list by the journalist Milaim Zeka containing the names of the alleged suspect of special court, said that neither Milaim Zeka nor Hashim Thaci know the names that are expected to be among the accused by the special court. He said he didn’t take the list seriously, knowing that Milaim Zeka is not the one who makes the list.

Vetevendosje MP Rexhep Selimi accused the Kosovo government today over the constitutional amendments for the establishment of the Kosovo Armed Forces. During his address in the Assembly, Selimi said “a dirty game” is being played with the fate of the armed forces. “Knowing that the constitutional amendments require a double majority in the Assembly, knowing that the ruling majority does not have these votes and knowing that the Serbian List is against this, the question is why did the government submit the constitutional amendments in the first place? The goal of the government is clear.

Whether Kosovo will become a member of UNESCO depends on the member states of this organization. Instead of panic, Serbia should welcome entering Kosovo in UNESCO, as another mechanism for the protection of heritage of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo, said Kosovo Deputy FM Petrit Selimi, commenting the letter which Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia sent to the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon.

Petrit Selimi, Deputy Chief of Kosovo diplomacy

Why Pristina is so sure that Kosovo will “pass” the mechanism of voting in the Executive Council and the General Assembly of UNESCO this autumn? 

UNESCO’s Executive Council will review Kosovo’s application for membership on 3 October. According to Kosovo’s Deputy Foreign Minister Petrit Selimi, Serbia will be unable to prevent Kosovo’s membership. “Legally, Kosovo is eligible to apply to UNESCO because two-thirds of votes are not necessary and there are many European countries that gained UNESCO membership before becoming members of the UN”, said Selimi in an interview for Radio Kosova.

• Opposition to use protests and political actions against special court (Koha)
• Zbogar: Economic development, crucial for Kosovo (dailies)
• Nishani: Albanians are existential factor in Macedonia (Koha)
• Selimi calls for support for Kosovo’s UNESCO membership (Zeri)
• Special war in Presevo Valley (Zeri)

The Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkevics, during his visit to Kosovo on Thursday said that the recent statements of Belgrade officials barring the visit of Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci to Serbia, are against the Pristina – Belgrade dialogue. According to him, such statements do not help the process of normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. "Politicians on both sides have to abide by such statements," said Minister Rinkevics.