Friday 8th August 2008 MEDIA HEADLINES IN ENGLISH

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

Columbia and Belize recognise Kosovo,
Bulgaria adopts plan to fight corruption, and
Georgia shells South Ossetia.

KOSOVO
Colombia announced yesterday that it has officially recognized the Republic of Kosovo, with Belize following suit. The two Latin American states become the 44th and 45th countries to recognize independent Kosovo. Bogota also stressed that Columbia intended to maintain traditional friendly relations with Serbia.

Foreign minister Skender Hyseni says Kosovo’s diplomatic missions will be established soon, adding that his Ministry is preparing for the 63rd UN Assembly session in September. Minister Hyseni also announced that FYR Macedonia and Montenegro may recognize Kosovo soon.

“Kosovo’s status issue was closed with the declaration of independence and we will never open it for negotiations again,” Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu said, pointing out that only technical matters can be open for discussion with Belgrade authorities.

Kosovo institutions have said the recent UN report on the events of 17 March in north Mitrovica as “incorrect” and “tendentious”. President Fatmir Sejdiu said the violent riots were a result of the action of Serb parallel structures in the north of Kosovo that aiming to destabilize Kosovo.

Mitrovica mayor Bajram Rexhepi considers UNMIK as the main blockade for Kosovo moving forward. Speaking for a daily newspaper, Rexhepi said the integration of international civil missions in the north is impossible, adding that there are no possibilities to meet with the Serbian leaders elected on May 11 elections.

UN Police Commissioner Tor Iver Ter Frigard said he is satisfied with the work of the Kosovo Police Service in northern Kosovo, saying that the security is under control in this area. Frigard met yesterday with commander of the police station in northern Mitrovica Milija Milosevic.

Kosovo Minister for Return and Communities says the new Gracanica project does not envisage the return of Albanians. “They wanted to accuse us of creating a multi-ethnic town but I say that this project is intended for Serbs,” Boban Stankovic said referring to the project presented at the donors conference in Brussels.

European Department Director from the Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow would not be against a bigger EU role in Kosovo, adding that Kosovo’s independence destabilizes the region. Aleksander Alekseyev said “only the Security Council has the right to replace UNMIK or to stop its presence there.”

OSCE and an NGO ‘Terre des Hommes’ have launched a campaign against child trafficking and begging children. “Your coins feed child’s exploitation and trafficking” is the motto of the campaign which will continue through August and aims to raise awareness of dangers related to child trafficking and begging.

REGION
The Bulgarian government has adopted an action plan of 80 urgent measures to tackle corruption and organised crime. Bulgaria, which joined the bloc in 2007, was the first member state to face such severe sanctions, reflecting mounting concerns in Brussels about corruption, organised crime and misuse of EU funds.

Serbia's most wanted war-crimes fugitive, Ratko Mladic, could be behind bars by the end of August. A Serbian government source said Belgrade would try to arrest him this month, as members of the team in charge of locating and apprehending Mladic had postponed their summer vacations for an unspecified period.

Italy’s Prime Minister picked up a broom yesterday in a brief attempt at sweeping the streets of Naples. "The streets should be an extension of your house," said Silvio Berlusconi. Waste disposal has long been a chronic problem for Italy's third largest city, and has scared off tourists and threatened residents' health.

INTERNATIONAL
Georgian troops, backed by warplanes, pounded separatist forces on the outskirts of the South Ossetian capital on Friday. Georgian big guns shelled Tskhinvali, where government and separatists envoys had been due to meet for Russia-mediated peace talks. The crisis fuelled fears of full-blown war in the region.

Australian police say they have busted an international drugs ring and seized what they describe as the largest-ever single haul of the drug ecstasy. Sixteen people were arrested across Australia, with further raids expected in Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy. It follows a year-long investigation.

WEATHER
Rain is expected today, reaching 30C, with overnight lows of 18C. Saturday will also see rain while Sunday will be sunny; weekend temperatures will range from 12 to 25 degrees Celsius.

And that’s all for today, thank you for listening.