Monday 18th August 2008 MEDIA HEADLINES IN ENGLISH

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

UNMIK-EULEX memorandum signing today,
Moscow to face “serious consequences”, and
Iran launches rocket

KOSOVO
A memorandum of understanding between UNMIK and the EU’s Rule of Law mission, EULEX, will be signed today. The memorandum deals with the transfer of technical assets, such as vehicles and to free the space for EULEX. UNMIK on Friday received the “green light” from the UN headquarters.

National communities in Kosovo had no reason to be worried because of the authority transfer from UNMIK to EULEX, said the acting deputy head of the UNMIK. Nicholas Hasom emphasized that the UNMIK reconfiguration was a natural process, since the EULEX would cover the whole territory of Kosovo.

Russia’s Ambassador in Belgrade has stated that his country will send a protest note to the United Nations because of EULEX. “Serbia has to insist in not accepting illegal steps, regardless if those steps are taken by the European Union or the United Nations Secretariat,” Aleksander Konuzin said.

Also, the Serbian Foreign Minister said that Serbia considers that the reconfiguration process of UNMIK in Kosovo can not be done without Serbia’s participation. Vuk Jeremic added that this cannot happen without the “clear support” of the United Nations Security Council.

Parallel structures may be dissolved even before local elections scheduled for 2009, Kosovo’s Local Government Minister said. However, local media warn that the Government is talking about the dissolution of Serbian parallel structures without having a concrete strategy

The Serbian Government is offering large amounts of money to buy Albanian land and houses in Mitrovica north, according to local media. Local residents stated that Serbs are more interested to buy land in strategic areas. The Serbian Government reportedly offered €1.2 million for two abandoned houses in Suhadoll hill.

The Serbian Foreign Minister filed, on Friday, a draft resolution to the UN, asking the General Assembly to request the opinion of the International Court of Justice, ICJ, on the legality of Kosovo’s independence. Vuk Jeremic said that he expects “strong opposition” to Serbia’s initiative.

Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not concerned with the Serbian diplomatic offensive. A Ministry official says that she does not believe that Serbia will get support at the UN General Assembly for its request to ask for an opinion of the ICJ on Kosovo’s independence.

Meanwhile, local media report that due to the small number of recognitions, “the train for membership in the United Nations this year has been missed.” In response, Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuçi said, “We are closely following developments and we want to have a sufficient number of recognitions before we apply.”

REGION
Western powers have stepped up pressure on Russia to honour its pledge to begin withdrawing troops from Georgia. French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned of "serious consequences" if Moscow did not comply. The US and Germany also urged Moscow to start to pull out its troops, who remain deep inside Georgia, on Monday.

Turkish warplanes bombed a hideout of the rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq late on Saturday, the Turkish army says. It says the jets "successfully" hit the PKK base in a cave in the Avasin-Basyan area and returned to their bases. The Turkish army did not give any details of casualties.

Ukraine has said it is ready to make its missile early warning systems available to European nations following Russia's conflict with Georgia. President Viktor Yushchenko said his country could ensure its sovereignty only through collective security. Last week, Kiev limited the freedom of movement of Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

INTERNATIONAL
Separatist leaders are set to march to a UN office in Indian-administered Kashmir, demanding the right to self-determination for locals. More than 21 people died last week in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley during police firing on protesters, after unrest began two months ago.

At least nine people have been killed when a suicide bomber rammed a car into the gate of a US base in eastern Afghanistan, officials said. The dead were all Afghan civilians. Thirteen others were wounded in the blast in Khost province.

Iran says it has successfully launched a rocket capable of carrying its first domestically built satellite. Tehran has pursued a space programme for years, despite international concern over its nuclear plans. The White House voiced concern, saying the technology could also be used for launching weapons.

WEATHER
Today will be sunny with temperatures will range from a high of 25 to 12 degrees C. Tomorrow more sun, with temperatures reaching highs of 25 degrees Celsius.

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