The strategy for the return of displaced persons during and after the conflict in Kosovo, drafted by the Kosovo’s Ministry for Communities and Returns, is facing numerous challenges in its implementation stage. Ministry’s spokesperson, Uroš Staletović, said that usurped property is a significant obstacle to the return of displaced members of the Serb community. According to him, only ten percent of the IDPs have returned to Kosovo, namely 20,000 out of a total of 200,000.

Vetëvendosje leader, Visar Ymeri, said that the arrest of the Kosovo Police director for Mitrovica region, Nehat Thaçi, by Serbian authorities on terrorism charges shows to what degree the government of Kosovo has yielded to Serbia. “Serbia is not only not being conditioned for what it did during the war but it is also damaging us in peacetime while our government leaders keep silent and trust in Serbia’s mercy”, said Ymeri. He said that only through a conditioning policy will Serbia change. “Any other action leads to new arrests and other similar moves”, added Ymeri.

Special Rapporteur of the United Nations in the field of cultural rights Karima Bennoune begins today a ten-day visit to Serbia and Kosovo. She will assess efforts to implement the right of all persons to participate in cultural life and the right to access and enjoy the cultural heritage. She will also consider the destruction of the heritage, both in the past and present.

The President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, spoke from Tirana about the arrest of the Kosovo Police regional director, Nehat Thaçi, by Serbian authorities.

Thaçi said that Kosovo cannot respond to the arrests with arrests and to violence with violence. He added that Kosovo institutions are coordinating with international authorities in order to resolve this matter as soon as possible.

Enver Hoxhaj, Foreign Minister of Kosovo, spoke today at the meeting of the government of Kosovo about the arrest of the director of Mitrovica regional police, Nehat Thaçi.

He said that the Ministry is dealing with the case and that they are giving their maximum. He added that Thaçi’s arrest by Serbian authorities is unacceptable.

BELGRADE – The Serbian Football Association has submitted an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against Kosovo being accepted as a member of UEFA.

UEFA member federations voted 28-24 in favor of Kosovo’s application in May, despite strong protests from Serbia against its former province.

Flora Brovina, Kosovo Assembly MP from the Democratic Party of Kosovo has requested re-actualization of the collection of signatures on drafting the resolution for Serbia’s genocide in Kosovo. Brovina added that endorsement of this resolution is very important for Kosovo.

Bajram Hasani, member of the leadership of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) has objected the agreement for the new telephone prefix for Kosovo. Hasani said a third party, in this case Austria, should not be applying at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for Kosovo’s prefix. “NISMA is against this agreement knowing that it is conditioned with application of a third state, in this case Austria, to apply for this code, which means that Kosovo would only be a user while Serbia would be the owner.

If the situation deteriorates in Syria, Afghanistan, and if Turkey decides, depending on the outcome of negotiations with the European Union, to direct refugees to Europe, which are stationed in this country, in late October, Serbia could face a new big wave of migrants that would arrive through so far little used route - through Kosovo.

Relations between Serbia and Albania "are going in the right direction."
This is what Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic and Albanian Ambassador to Serbia Ilir Bocka said when they met in Belgrade on Monday.

The two officials said this was evidenced by the upcoming activities of the two governments, which will contribute to the overall stability in the region, the Serbian government said on its website.