Main Stories 23 May2012

  • EULEX reduced, remains only in the north and Pristina (Koha Ditore)
  • Mandatory motion (Zëri)
  • Lunacek: Visa liberalization roadmap, in the coming weeks (dailies)
  • Çitaku: Positive evaluation for visa liberalization (Koha Ditore)
  • Dialogue anyhow (Express)
  • Serbiacannot stray from its path to EU integration (Express)
  • EC punishes the Government, cuts off scholarships (Zëri)
  • Vollebaek: Integrate minorities (Express)
  • Serb protesters request Milkovic’s release (Express)
  • EULEX raids the house of Zvonko Veselinovic (dailies)
  • Pedophile and Agent of AKI (Express)

Kosovo Media Highlights

EULEX reduced, remains only in the north and Pristina (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that judges, prosecutors, investigators and other EULEX officials are facing personal challenges. They have until 15 June to sign new contracts with the EUthat offer lower salaries.

Budgetary cuts are not the only reductions that the largest EU mission will experience. EULEX will have 40 percent less staff and will have an official presence only in the north of Kosovo and Pristina. Until now EULEX had the right to employ up to 3,000 officials; 1,900 international and 1,100 national staff but after 15 June there will be 40 percent less internationals.

The focus of the mission on the north and in Pristina, according to officials in Brussels,was decided so EULEX can adapt to the reality. “The mission will be headquartered in Pristina because the major work is in Pristina. There will be a presence in the north because of the situation there. A great deal of success has been achieved in other components, like the police and the courts, therefore the new structure will reflect the reality,” said an unnamed EU official to the newspaper.

Mandatory motion (Zëri)

Legal experts claim that the recent motion passed by the Kosovo Assembly conditioning talks with Serbia with the resolution of the missing persons issue is obligatory for the Government. Experts say that even the language used in the text of the document shows that the decision is obligatory and not a recommendation.

“Both motions passed by the Assembly, the one on reciprocity and this one on missing persons, are obligatory decisions for the Government,” said legal expert Tomë Gashi. He said statements that the Assembly’s motion presents only a recommendation for the Government are a result of pressure. At the same time, LDK’s Vjosa Osmani said the motion is mandatory. “If we read the text of this document, we see that the Government is asked to condition talks with the resolution of the missing persons issue and not advised to do so,” said Osmani.

Lunacek: Visa liberalization roadmap, in the coming weeks (dailies)

Rapporteur for Kosovo in European Parliament, Ulrike Lunacek,announced that Kosovo will receive the roadmap for visa liberalization in the coming weeks. Lunacek, through a video call, told students of the AAB-Riinvest University that she is committed as are many of her colleagues in the European Parliament to bring Kosovo and other parts of the Western Balkans closer to the European Union. “Of course we are talking about visa liberalization for you, about your right to travel to all parts of the EU, especially you as youth. This is important in the context of the visa liberalization roadmap which your country will receive in the near future, in the coming weeks. This is important for your country and for the EU”, said Lunacek.

Çitaku: Positive evaluation for visa liberalization (Koha Ditore)

European Integration Minister Vlora Çitaku said that the roadmap for visa liberalization will be more rigorous for Kosovo than it was for other countries because the EU is improving on mistakes it made with other countries. In Gjilan, Çitaku commented that the repatriation process is going “quite well”. “We have talked to Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi to address requests coming from the local level faster and we are working on setting up an agency that would directly deal with this issue,” said Çitaku.

Dialogue anyhow (Express)

Express reports that among all the uncertainty about the technical dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, officials in Brussels are sure about one thing: the dialogue will continue. For the EU, not even the latest motion of the Kosovo Assembly which conditions the dialogue with the revelation of the fate of missing persons or the coming to power of Serb ultranationalist Tomislav Nikolic seem to present obstacles for the continuation of the dialogue. Although the achieved agreements are being implemented with difficulty from Serbia, the EU aims to not lose the rhythm of the dialogue. Maja Kocijancic, Spokeswoman of the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Catherine Ashton, stated on Tuesday for Express newspaper that the EU is waiting for the inauguration of the new President of Serbia and the creation of the Government there. Afterwards, according to the spokeswoman of Ashton, there will be consultations with both parties about the continuation of the dialogue.

Serbia cannot stray from its path to EU integration (Express)

Express reports that British Ambassador, Ian Cliff, stated on Tuesday in Mitrovica that Kosovo needs to fulfill its obligations to the European Union as does Serbia. In Mitrovica, the British delegation concluded that “Mitrovica is a specific municipality in Kosovo, with problems which do not have other municipalities, therefore the situation here and the challenges citizens are facing, request much more engagement and mobilization”. The delegation consisted of Stephan O’Brian, Deputy Minister of the Department for International Development DFID, British Ambassador in Kosovo, Ian Cliff and the Head of DFID in Pristina, Richard Taylor.

EC punishes the Government: cuts off scholarships (Zëri)

The European Commission has decided to penalize the Government of Kosovo by cutting of “Young Cell” scholarships for post-university studies because it considers the Government has failed in systemizing students graduated in different European universities. “Many of the students that have graduated, upon return did not get employed as was foreseen by the contract between the European Commission and the Government of Kosovo,” said an unnamed international official.

Vollebaek: Integrate minorities (Express)

The OSCE High Commissioner for Minorities, Knut Vollebaek said that he is convinced that the Government of Kosovo will engage further on integration of minorities in the Kosovar society, as this is the only way to prosperity for Kosovo. Vollebaek made these comments during a meeting with the Prime Minister of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi on Wednesday.

According a Government press release during the meeting with Vollebaek, Thaçi said that the determination of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo and the results achieved prove best that the country has become a model in the region for respectinghuman rightsand integrating communities.

Serb protesters request Milkovic’s release (Express)

Around 80 Serbs protested on Tuesday in the north of Mitrovica against the detention of Jovica Milkovic, arrested on 17 May by Kosovo Police, for his participation in the destruction of the police container at the three towers zone, in northern Mitrovica. Protesters gathered at noon at the main bridge of the Ibër River, and then headed toward the courts, where EULEX staff are located, requesting the immediate release of Milkovic. “We request Jovica Milkic’s immediate release, in order for him to be defended on bail, said the illegal mayor of northern Mitrovica, Krstimir Pantic, to journalists. He added that there will be protests every day until he is released.

EULEX raids the house of Zvonko Veselinovic (dailies)

Koha Ditore reports that EULEX Special Police Units early Tuesday morning raided the properties of Zvonko Veselinovic. The land operation was supported by air with four helicopters. However, international policemen returned almost empty handed from the village of Dolan, municipality of Zvecan. They did not find Zvonko Veselinovic or his brother Zarko, wanted for many criminal offenses. They confiscated one hunting and air rifle. This operation, ordered by EULEX Special Prosecutor, Jonatan Ratel, was done in connection to investigations on organized crime in the north. The action was confirmed also by the EU mission for the rule of law through a press communiqué, but it did not give any details. Serb representative in Mitrovica, Krstimir Pantic, announced that due to the growing pressure towards Kosovo Serbs in north Mitrovica, from today on they will begin daily protests. “With the protest the citizens want to express their disagreement with the policy towards Serbs”, said Pantic for the local Serb radio Kontakt Plus.

Pedophile and Agent of AKI (Express)

Express reports that journalist Bojan Bozovic is detained in Serbia. The journalist from the north of Kosovo, who reported for Pristina-based mediahas been detained as a suspectin a pedophilia case and as a threat to the security of the Serbian state. Allegedly, he was severely beaten up by Serbian police. In addition, he allegedly, declared himself as a national of Kosovo, and presented a document of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency to the authorities there.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page

  • EULEX downsized, remains only in the north and Pristina
  • Kuçi makes Maloku director through a framed process
  • Lunacek: Roadmap in the coming weeks
  • Serbia, obstacle for interethnic reconciliation
  • EULEX raids the house of Zvonko Veselinovic

Other headlines

  • Presidential race allows retention of senior state posts (3)
  • UK continues economic support for Kosovo (3)
  • Çitaku: Positive evaluation for visa liberalization (4)
  • Students file case for corruption at University (6)
  • Remains of 12 Albanians kidnapped in 1999 reburied (7)
  • Two international conferences for sale of PTK (9)

Zëri

Front page

  • Kuçi in the “Tolaj and Bukoshi” trial
  • Mandatory motion
  • EC punishes the Government – cuts off scholarships
  • Work to be done on reconciliation

Other headlines

  • Roadmap in few weeks (2)
  • Kuçi: Articles 37 and 38 to be removed (2)
  • Naim Maloku, prison director (2)
  • Roadmap to be more rigorous than for other countries (4)
  • Rehn: Dialogue with Pristina to continue (4)
  • Serbs announce protests (4)
  • Serbia will not be allowed to block its path to EU (4)
  • Veselinovics house raided (16)

Kosova Sot

Front page

  • Government fills leaders’ pockets
  • “Aristocrats” of poor Kosovo
  • Politicians with privileges also for their wives
  • EULEX raids Veselinovics’ house

Other headlines

  • Kuçi requests removal of articles 37 and 38 (2)
  • Isa Mustafa, professor, mayor and joint stocker (3)
  • Hamiti with 145 euros more (3)
  • Lunaçek promises guidelines within a few weeks (4)
  • Candidates for Kaçanik mayors nominated (4)
  • OSCE requests integration of minorities (4)
  • Initiators of reconciliation (4)
  • Earthquake in Kosovo, citizens leave their flats (8)

Express

Front page

  • AKI pedophile agent
  • Dialogue: Dialogue by all means
  • Changes start
  • At Zvonko’s with helicopter

Other headlines

  • Mirena: Invitation to clean (2)
  • Buzhala: The role of the media group “tobacco pipe” (2)
  • AAK with a candidate for Kaçanik (4)
  • Vollebaek: Integrate minorities (5)
  • Serbia cannot impede (5)
  • Tadic worse (6)
  • Hostages of the past (6)
  • Weeks are required for the guidelines (6)
  • Serb protesters want release of Milkovic (7)

Bota Sot

Front page

  • PDK is “pride” also with Xhabir Zharku in jail
  • EULEX raids house of Zvonko Vesilinovic

Other headlines

  • Cliff says that Serbia cannot prevent Kosovo in its path to the EU (2)
  • Mortal remains of 12 persons handed over (2)
  • Serbia to remove pressure from Kosovo Serbs (3)
  • Positive signals of the Reporteur Ulrike Lunacek Kosovo will receive the guide during the next weeks (4)
  • Britain, strong partner for Kosovo (7)
  • New President, the real face of Serbia, no mask (8)
  • Beqaj gurantees highest international standards for the privatization of PTK (9)

Disclaimer

This media summary consists of selected local media articles for the information of UN personnel. The public distribution of this media summary is a courtesy service extended by UNMIK on the understanding that the choice of articles translated is exclusive, and the contents do not represent anything other than a selection of articles likely to be of interest to a United Nations readership. The inclusion of articles in this summary does not imply endorsement by UNMIK.