Selimi: EULEX Is Allowing Armed People to Enter from Serbia (Koha)

Main Stories 26 May 2010

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·  EULEX decides to stop unauthorized visits by Serbian officials (dailies)

·  Selimi: EULEX is allowing armed people to enter from Serbia (Koha)

·  Klompenhouwer meets Thaçi, reconfirm Government-EULEX cooperation

·  Assembly debate requested after entrance of Serbian politicians (dailies)

·  Feith: Kosovo will be forever independent (dailies)

·  Conditioning of partners (Express)

·  Kuwait’s promises (dailies)

·  KLA Associations announce national protest in Mitrovica (dailies)

·  Çohu: Dell is sounding like PDK politicians (dailies)

·  Fire breaks out near Gate 31 in northern Kosovo (dailies)

·  Minister Ahmet Shala replies to Feith (Express)

·  There is no one to discipline police commander Milija Milosevic (Koha)

·  Projects clash Mitrovica municipality with UNMIK (Koha Ditore)

·  Ivanovic: Serbian telephony operators cannot be removed (Koha)

·  Bringeeus: First Kosovo, then EU (dailies)

Kosovo Media Highlights

EULEX decides to stop unauthorized visits by Serbian officials (dailies)

Dailies report that after a long consultation with Brussels, EULEX has decided to stop all unauthorized visits by Serbian officials as of Wednesday. Koha Ditore reports on the front page that Tuesday marked a record-setting day for the number of Serbian officials present in Kosovo without authorization, but it seems that this will be the last day that they could so. The paper further notes that the visit by dozens of Serbian officials to the northern part of Kosovo has only helped flare tensions there. The Serbian politicians held rallies in the north and promised that Kosovo would remain an inseparable part of Serbia. Citing its sources there, the paper even reports that a Serbian Police vehicle was sighted in the north on Tuesday.

Selimi: EULEX is allowing armed people to enter from Serbia (Koha)

In an interview for the paper, Behar Selimi, acting director of Kosovo Police, said he was concerned but at the same time helpless to prevent Serbian officials from entering the northern part of Kosovo. Selimi argued that EULEX is allowing these officials to cross into Kosovo without checking them and adds that this is unprofessional police work. According to Selimi, EULEX not only failed to check Serbian politicians and their armed escorts but the same were not even stopped at the border crossing point in Jarinje.

“Colleagues from EULEX think this is the best way to secure some sort of oversight of movements there. It is known that the international administration has some form of influence and EULEX colleagues coordinate their actions with the ICO administration. Therefore, from the police aspect this makes no sense, if it makes sense in another aspect then that is a different matter,” Selimi was quoted as saying.

Klompenhouwer meets Thaçi, reconfirm Government-EULEX cooperation

Several dailies report that Kees Klompenhouwer, commander of the European Union’s Civil Operations, accompanied by EULEX chief Yves de Kermabon, met yesterday in Pristina with Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and the officials reconfirmed their pledges for cooperation.

A press release issued by EULEX quotes Klompenhouwer as saying that the meeting with Thaçi was very fruitful. “During our conversation, we emphasized the need to continue cooperation between the Government and EULEX,” Klompenhouwer added.

Prime Minister Thaçi said his Government was determined to step up the fight against corruption and to establish the rule of law. “We are working closely with EULEX which is helping Kosovo to achieve progress in building rule of law institutions,” Thaçi was quoted as saying.

Assembly debate requested after entrance of Serbian politicians (dailies)

Several dailies report that the Democratic League of Dardania (LDD) has requested an immediate debate at the Kosovo Assembly for protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. The LDD’s request for an urgent assembly session correlates with the holding of Serbian elections in the northern municipalities on Sunday. Representatives of the opposition are quoted as saying in Koha Ditore that the entrance of Serbian officials and their armed escorts in Kosovo constitutes the most serious violation of the country’s integrity ever since the declaration of independence.

Feith: Kosovo will be forever independent (dailies)

During his four-day visit to the U.S., International Civilian Representative Pieter Feith said the International Court of Justice advisory opinion is not likely to change the commitments of countries toward Kosovo. “Kosovo will be forever independent,” Feith said adding that 69 countries have so far recognized Kosovo. “Progress made since 2008 is an important indicator of the commitment of Kosovo to itself and international partners,” said Feith at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington D.C.

Conditioning of partners (Express)

The LDK parliamentary group is expected to put a condition to its coalition partner PDK if the latter continues to delay the draft law on Pristina. Naser Osmani from LDK said PDK last year gave assurances that the law on Pristina will be brought to the Assembly this year. “So far this has not been the case and we have waited long enough,” said Osmani. He did not say however what will be the condition put before the PDK. At the same time PDK’s Rrustem Mustafa said LDK is not in a position to put conditions.

Kuwait’s promises (dailies)

Dailies report that Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi met on Tuesday with the highest leaders of the institutions of Kuwait, in efforts to convince them to recognize the reality created in Kosovo after 17 February 2008. Express reports that the Emir, Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament in Kuwait promised economic and political assistance for Kosovo. The Kuwaiti leaders reportedly gave clear signals that the country would soon recognize independence of Kosovo.

KLA Associations announce national protest in Mitrovica (dailies)

Several dailies report that the associations deriving from the former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) have announced a national protest in Mitrovica in opposition to Serbian illegal elections in Kosovo and in the defense of Kosovo’s sovereignty.

The chairmanship of KLA War Veterans issued a communiqué on Tuesday saying that after discussing the political and security situation in Kosovo it has decided to react harshly against Serbian elections in Kosovo and hold a protest in Mitrovica on 30th May.

Muharrem Xhemajli, leader of the KLA Veterans, told Express that the association will hold a press conference by Friday and inform the public about further details concerning the protest. Meanwhile, Kosovo Police and officials of the Government said they have no information about the planned protest.

Çohu: Dell is sounding like PDK politicians (dailies)

Several dailies cover the criticism that leaders of the non-governmental organization Çohu have addressed against U.S. Ambassador Christopher Dell. Koha Ditore quotes Çohu leader Avni Zogiani as saying that Dell’s remarks about EULEX’s investigations of Kosovo officials are the same as the speeches of PDK officials. “Dell said corruption is not fought by lynching public officials, these are the same words that were used by the Kosovo Democratic Party, when he commented raids at the Ministry of Transport,” Zogiani said.

Zogiani added that another damaging statement by Dell was when he supported the Government of Kosovo in the concession of Pristina International Airport. “Such interferences prevent the society and institutions of this country from doing their job,” Zogiani said.

Fire breaks out near Gate 31 in northern Kosovo (dailies)

Dailies report that a fire broke out last night near Gate 31 in northern Kosovo, in the building of the Kosovo Insurance Associations and in a container for transaction services. Police reported that the fire has caused material damage and that a Serb worker was slightly injured from the fire. Epoka e Re quotes Interior Affairs Minister Bajram Rexhepi as saying that the fire was started on purpose. “The fire was certainly set on purpose. Kosovo Police and EULEX are conducting the investigations and I hope that those responsible for this act will very soon be arrested,” Rexhepi told the paper.

Minister Ahmet Shala replies to Feith (Express)

Express reports that only a week after receiving a warning letter from the chief of the International Civilian Office Pieter Feith, Minister of Finance and Economy Ahmet Shala replied to his letter, saying that his recommendations to keep privatization funds out of Kosovo do not stand. Shala said these funds should be returned to Kosovo and that they are extremely necessary for economic development of the country. Express reports that Kosovo has approximately 800 million euros invested at foreign financial markets.

There is no one to discipline police commander Milija Milosevic (Koha)

Koha Ditore reports that Milija Milosevic continues to be trusted in the post of the Commander of the Police Station in northern Mitrovica, despite the fact that he is suspected to have the penal deed, qualified by police investigators as an attempt to kill. According to this daily, Milosevic continues to receive and implement orders from illegal Serb representatives in the north. Police Inspectorate is investigating some of Milosevic’s offences, reports this daily, however it adds that nobody from the security institutions has promised to undertake any measures against the Commander.

Projects clash Mitrovica municipality with UNMIK (Koha Ditore)

The review of the Mitrovica municipality budget has led to a clash between the local authorities and UNMIK as 30 percent of the budget goes to the north of the city for funding the UNMIK administration, the paper reports. The head of the directorate for budget and finance Borivoje Djuric has presented the municipality, through UNMIK, a new list of projects which seems not to have the support of the administration in the south. Rasim Veseli, director for public services, said the UNMIK’s request for allocation of funds for reconstruction of two houses in the Bosniac Mahalla for members of minority communities should not be endorsed as long as the problem of reconstruction of Albanian houses in the area is not resolved. Veseli also noted that the project for construction of a parking lot in the north should also not be approved as it is prepared by the Serb parallel structures bearing UNMIK signature.

Ivanovic: Serbian telephony operators cannot be removed (Koha)

Oliver Ivanovic, State Secretary in the Serbian Ministry for Kosovo, told Serbian media yesterday that he is sceptical about the success of efforts by Pristina authorities to remove Serbian mobile telephony operators from Kosovo. Ivanovic said he would confirm Pristina’s claims that over the next 30 days operators would be removed from Gracanica, Shtërpce, Leposavic, Prizren and Peja. Ivanovic also said that with the international community he would try to find a temporary solution for telecommunications in Serbian enclaves.

Bringeeus: First Kosovo, then EU (dailies)

Dailies report that the outgoing Swedish Ambassador to Belgrade, Krister Bringeeus, said clearly that Serbia cannot join the European Union without resolving the problem with Kosovo. “Allow me to be very, very clear, if Serbia does not resolve the Kosovo issue, Serbia will not be able to become EU member. And this is not a new condition. This is a fact, a very simple fact. And this is the advise that I want to communicate,” said the Swedish Ambassador for a local television.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page

·  EULEX decides to stop unauthorized visits by Serbian officials

·  Selimi: EULEX is allowing armed people from Serbia to enter

·  Serbian elections return “the north” to the Assembly

·  Klompenhouer reconfirms cooperation between Government and EULEX

·  Government doesn’t consider Feith’s recommendations

·  There is no one to discipline commander Milija Milosevic

Other headlines

·  Ivanovic: Serbia telephony operators cannot be removed from Kosovo (4)

·  Agreement with IMF to be signed this week (6)

·  Çohu: Dell is sounding like PDK officials (6)

·  Projects clash Mitrovica municipality with UNMIK (7)

·  Matoshi: Division of Kosovo – a new war (10)

Zëri

Front page

·  Nikolic on “his land”. Where are we then?

·  Feith: Kosovo is forever independent

·  Kosovo, a place of crime and corruption

·  KFOR downsizing poses no security threat

·  Editorial: They better give up!

·  Late parliamentary lobbying

·  Kuwait will soon recognize Kosovo

Other headlines

·  Serbia not in the EU, without resolving Kosovo problem first (2)

·  Protest in Mitrovica against Serbian elections (2)

·  Kosovars should fight corruption (3)

·  Great Britain supports Kosovo (4)

·  Zogiani: Dell’s statement an amnesty for corrupt politicians (4)

Kosova Sot

Front page

·  Oil traders threaten to block roads

·  Constitutional Court silent about the north

·  Assembly lunches

·  Embassies remain paying rent

·  Kosovo-IMF agreement announced

·  Fire at the Gate 31

·  Editorial: This is not the way to fight corruption

Other headlines

·  Belgrade mayor enters Kosovo with permission (2)

·  Elections, 100 cases at the ECAC (3)

·  LDK to decide about the Council today (3)

·  Czech Republic includes Kosovo in the aid package (4)

·  Kosovo MPs ‘inspect’ KSF (4)

·  Rohan supports EULEX intervention (4)

·  EU conditions Serbs (4)

·  Haradinaj maintains contact with Uganda (5)

·  Anti-corruption law with flaws (5)

Epoka e Re

Front page

·  The submission ends

·  Kuwait gives signal for recognising independence of Kosovo

·  Fire at the border gate 31

·  Opposition addresses Assembly about situation in the north

Other headlines

·  Hague: Great Britain supports Kosovo ambitions (2)

·  Institutions, greater role in fight against corruption (3)

·  Rexhepi: Fire caused with a tendency (4)

·  EULEX against unauthorised entries in Kosovo (5)

·  Patience ends (5)

·  Feith: Kosovo, forever independent (6)

·  KSF, Kosovo army (7)

Express

Front page

·  Last episode

·  Shala: Our money

·  Entries only with authorisation

Other headlines

·  Limani: To the party of the disappointed people (2)

·  Kosovo first, then the EU (4)

·  Conditions of the partners (4)

·  Kuwait’s promises (5)

·  Session on elections (6)

·  Protest for sovereignty (7)

·  Fire at the border gate in Zubin Potok (7)

Bota Sot