Thursday 2nd October 2008 MEDIA HEADLINES IN ENGLISH

You’re listening to NEWS REPORT, a summary of today’s media, prepared by UNMIK ON AIR

Tadic’s statement tops political discussions,
EU defence ministers on Bosnia troops exit, and
Russia’s Romanovs win pride back

KOSOVO
A statement by Serbia’s President Boris Tadic on possible division of Kosovo, has been the main subject lately. However, according to Tadic media are to blame. He accuses journalists for purposively misinterpreted his statements, saying that he did not propose Kosovo’s division. According to Tadic, Serbia’s main plan for Kosovo is its substantial autonomy as final status.

In Berlin, German chancellor Angela Merkel told Tadic that Kosovo’s division is not an option. Merkel also confirmed the EU member states are discussing on their vote on Serbia’s request to send Kosovo’s status declaration to the International Court of Justice.

Also reacting on Tadic’s statement, Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi considered it as continuation of Milosevic’s policy against Kosovo. Thaçi added that Serbia should abandon such ideas if it wishes to be part of the EU family.

Both international missions in Kosovo, UNMIK and the EU, division is not an alternative. UNMIK spokesperson Alexander Ivanko said that not only the division of Kosovo is not acceptable, but it is also in contradiction with the principles determined by the Contact Group during status talks.

The UN Security Council should provide some kind of support in order for EULEX to spread in all of Kosovo, UNMIK Chief Lamberto Zannier has said to Italian news agency. If EULEX receives green light from the Security Council to operate under the UN then even rule of law function can be taken from EULEX, Zannier warned.

Two senior Serb officials of the Kosovo Police have returned to their posts yesterday after seven months of boycott. Police and Interior Ministry officials have welcomed the decision, and invited all Serb police officers to return to work. About 300 Serbs continue to refusing to return to work since Pristina declared independence in February.

There is no official dialogue with the Serbian religious and political authorities on protection of the Serb cultural and religious heritage, Raphael Naegeli, ICO representative said yesterday at a debate in Cagllavica. He added that the police will soon take over the security of heritage premises, are required by law.

REGIONAL
EU defense ministers will discuss an end to military operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina at their summit in Deauville. EUFOR mission was established in December 2004 with the aim of bringing military stability to Bosnia-Herzegovina. At the time, it was the EU’s largest military operation.

NATO and Serbia have agreed to exchange classified military information. The agreement was signed nearly two years after NATO brought Serbia into its "Partnership for Peace" programme that promotes ties with third countries.

More than 250 people came down with suspected food poisoning after eating cream-filled pastries to celebrate the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, Skopje’s health officials said yesterday.

INTERNATIONAL
Brussels is pressing for tough rules to protect EU banks from meltdown. The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, has asked Britain, Germany and Italy for emergency talks, possibly this weekend in Paris, to discuss a European response to the crisis.

About half the population of Zimbabwe could soon be in need of constant food aid and medical assistance, the UN's humanitarian chief said adding that three million people were already reliant on aid, and that figure could rise to five million. John Holmes said the situation was already grave and deteriorating.

Russia’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of full rehabilitation for Russia’s last czar and his family yesterday, officially recognizing the Romanovs as victims of “unfounded repression” 90 years after they were executed.

WEATHER
Light rain is expected today with temperatures reaching a maximum of 18 and a lowest of 10 degrees celsius. Tomorrow the weather will be partly cloudy with temperatures ranging from 10 to 17 degrees Celsius.

This was all for today, thank you for listening.