Thursday 14th August 2008 MEDIA HEADLINES IN ENGLISH

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

No Serb ethnic police, says UNMIK,
Mladic’s surrender negotiated, and
Russia risks isolation

KOSOVO
British Deputy U.N. Ambassador Karen Pierce has said that the EU and United Nations are working out a formula for EULEX’s deployment in Kosovo. “EULEX will function within UN resolution 1244, and we are expecting the details to be revealed soon on how it will work out in the field,” Pierce said yesterday.

UNMIK has confirmed that it will reduce staff including northern Kosovo but in smaller size, the missions spokesperson Alexander Ivanko said yesterday, refuting the voices that reconfiguration of the mission won’t affect the mainly Serb inhabited area. Ivanko confirmed that by the end of autumn UNMIK will reduce its numbers by 75%.

UNMIK is opposing the creation of the Serb ethnic police within the Kosovo Police Service, which could operate under UNMIK’s police command. UNMIK spokesperson Alxander Ivanko stated that UNMIK is only assisting in finding a solution for the issue. Suspended Serb police officers continue to receive salaries from Kosovo budget.

Upon returning from Beijing yesterday Serbia’s President Boris Tadic said Serbia will continue defending its integrity in Kosovo. Tadic said he tried to secure the support of countries for Serbia’s initiative to request the International Court of Justice to rule of the legality of the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence.

Further recognitions of Kosovo’s independence are expected and Serbia cannot interfere with the process, Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu said yesterday. “If it is up to Serbia, not a single country would recognize Kosovo’s independence” Sejdiu said adding that Kosovo’s officials are doing their job and new recognitions would come.

Kosovo Security Force will be Kosovo’s elite army, according to President Fatmir Sejdiu who met yesterday the head of Kosovo Protection Force. Kosovo Security Force plans to have 2.500 active members and 800 reserve troops.

Supreme Court releases Fazli Sejdiu from detention, a suspect for the attack on Prime Minister’s home. Lawyer of Prime Minister said this was the first time a Court has taken such a decision for somebody who is charged with such serious allegations even prior to completion of investigations.

Kosovo allocated budget’s for the municipality of Leposavic, continues to be blocked for three months and cannot be used because Mayor Vladimir Ratkovic, elected in Serbia’s 11 May local elections is not recognized by Pristina. The budget of €10,000 intended for capital investments awaits resolution of this matter before the cash can be spent.

The International Civilian Office says the process of electing leaders in the new Kosovo municipalities foreseen by the Ahtisaari Plan will require mutual consultations between the Kosovo Government, the communities of those municipalities and the ICO.

REGION
The most wanted Serb commander from Bosnia war Ratko Mladic is in talks with Serbia's secret services about his surrender to the Hague tribunal. "The authorities are insisting that Mladic must go to The Hague without problems. Serbia is determined to put an end to 'The Hague story'," a Bosnian newspaper writes.

Traffic across the border between Greece and Albania has increased because of many Albanian citizens’ returning home for a religious holiday. Albanians make up the largest group of economic immigrants in Greece.

Lord of the Rings star Orlando Bloom is set to star in a movie about the siege of Bosnian capital Sarajevo during the war in the mid-90s. The film, based on the book Fools Rush In by Bill Carter, who lived in Sarajevo during the siege, will be directed by Andrucha Waddington and produced by Elliot Lewitt.

INTERNATIONAL
The US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice has warned Russia that it risks isolation abroad if does not observe a ceasefire with Georgia and withdraw its troops. Rice is to visit France for talks with President Nicolas Sarkozy, who currently chairs the EU, before visiting Georgia itself on Friday.

White people are projected to no longer be in the majority in the United States by the year 2042 - eight years sooner than previous projections. The US Census Bureau's latest figures - based on birth, death and immigration rates - suggest that minorities will soon make up 55% of the population.

WEATHER
Today will be sunny with temperatures will range from 31 to 17 degrees C. Tomorrow more sun, with temperatures will reach a high of 34 degrees Celsius.

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