Thaci on strategy in north Kosovo (EMportal)

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19 January 2010

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said that the goal of the Kosovo Albanian government's new strategy is to improve the economic situation in northern Kosovo and strengthen its sovereignty.

"The strategy has four main fields: strengthening the rule of law on the entire territory of Kosovo, decentralization and the formation of new municipalities in northern Mitrovica, the issue of municipal governments in the three northern municipalities (Leposavic, Zvecan and Zubin Potok), improving the social-economic situation in this part of Kosovo," he said.

Kosovo Prime Minister Thaci said that the formation of a special fund for northern Kosovo is expected in order to help achieve these goals.

"Last year, we invested EUR 8mn in that part of Kosovo. This year, depending on the circumstances, we can form a special fund in the north and for that we have complete international support," Thaci said.

He said that the document will include concrete deadlines for implementation and will be harmonized with the Ahitsaari proposal, the constitution, and Kosovo laws.

He said that the preparation of the strategy is in "its final phases" and added that "it's being worked on in cooperation between the Kosovo government and international factors, including the international civil office."

EU special representative in Kosovo Pieter Feith confirmed the existence of the strategy.

EULEX Head of Mission Yves de Kermabon stated Thursday that the EU Mission does not recognize neither assist the so-called parallel structures in Kosovo, adding that Belgrade's political decision to nominate judges for Serb courts in Kosovo has to be dealt with urgently.

Kermabon said in a written statement that there is not a single place in Europe with two judicial systems operating at the same time and covering the same area, adding that this would mean non-existence of justice. "This will trigger conflicting decisions which will go against the rights of the population. There can be only one judicial system in Kosovo," Kermabon said. "The political decision by Belgrade to nominate judges for Serb courts in Kosovo has to be dealt with urgently.

EULEX is working on the reestablishment of a functioning justice in North Mitrovica, has reopened the court and conducted five trials there," Kermabon added. According to him, EULEX top priority is to get Kosovo Serb and Kosovo Albanian judges and prosecutors back to the Mitrovica District Court, so that justice can be delivered by a local, multiethnic and single judiciary.

He underscored in the written statement that EULEX mission's mandate is clear concerning the Serbian institutions in Kosovo and drawn based on the Joint Action adopted by all 27 member states of the EU. "It says that we are here to assist the Kosovo institutions, judicial authorities and law enforcement agencies. EULEX is determined to help to reinforce the Kosovo institutions in the rule of law area," the EULEX head of mission said.

Kermabon stated that strong, fair and multiethnic rule-of-law institutions for all communities are the only option, adding that this will be a guarantee for a fair justice and will make the so-called parallel structures irrelevant. "We are not in Kosovo to govern, but to help the Kosovo authorities in the rule of law area. Until now, we have worked in the North on a step by step approach. This approach proved quite efficient," Kermabon said.

Serbian Kosovo Ministry State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic stated earlier that Feith's statements regarding the integration of northern Kosovo into the Kosovo institutions are dangerous, and that they are only feeding the hopes of radical Albanians.

International representative Peter Feith and the International Civilian Office in Pristina are trying to annul and eliminate UNMIK in Kosmet, the state secretary of the Serbian Ministry for Kosovo-Metohija, Oliver Ivanovic, said, stressing UN SC Resolution 1244 is providing Serbia with the right to continue with battle for the preservation of territorial integrity.

Commenting for RTS the initiative of some international representatives and Kosovo Albanians to integrate the mostly-Serb populated north of the Province into a so-called independent state of Kosovo, Ivanovic assessed that action of Feith, supported by Pristina as well, was dangerous and added Serbia would react to that.

Serbian Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanovic has said that he will send a letter to EULEX Chief Yves de Kermabon concerning the necessity to hold a meeting where they would discuss the issue of establishing legal institutions in the north of Kosovo.

"The legal vacuum which exists in the north of Kosovo-Metohija is first of all unacceptable for the Serbian community and we are ready to solve such issues," Bogdanovic told Belgrade television Pink. He pointed out that the international community is already familiar with Belgrade's position on the matter, and added that since April the ministry "has not had any meetings with EULEX in order to resolve the situation." "We want that people are protected and that criminals are prosecuted," the minister stressed.

Bogdanovic evaluated that the meeting has to be held so that the dialogue on problems in Kosovo would finally begin. Speaking of the Wednesday incident, when he was prohibited from visiting the village of Strpce by the Kosovo Police, the minister said that "this is the message for Serbs that they are not wanted in Kosovo and Metohija." "This proves the fact we often mentioned - there is no rule of law in Kosovo, no freedom of movement and Serbs are not legally protected," Bogdanovic concluded.

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