Tuesday 26th of August 2008
MEDIA HEADLINES IN ENGLISH
You’re listening to NEWS REPORT, a summary of today’s media,
prepared by UNMIK ON AIR
UN and Belgrade talk of rule of law matters
Graft in Bulgaria
And Iraq demands exit date from the US
Kosovo
Acting deputy UNMIK chief and Serbia’s Minister for Kosovo met
yesterday in Belgrade. Media report that while no conclusions came from
the meeting, the sides will continue their dialogue on police and judiciary
matters and issues highlighted by UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon.
Kosovo’s Prime Minister says it is in the interest
of regional peace and stability to talk to Serbia, but only in the capacity
of two independent states. Hashim Thaçi also reminded the UNMIK
chief, Lamberto Zannier, that his role is to facilitate a technical
dialog with Serbia.
Serbia’s state secretary in the Ministry for
Kosovo said that government in Pristina should accept everything Belgrade
agrees with UNMIK representatives. “Pristina should finally engage
in talks, but talks that will end with a result, respectively with an
agreement, are negotiations,” Oliver Ivanovic said.
Kosovo President said yesterday in Pristina that Arab
countries would recognize Kosovo's independence very soon. Arab countries,
according to Fatmir Sejdiu, should recognize Kosovo and do away with
the prejudice that Kosovo can be used as a precedent for other conflicts
in the world.
The head of the EU rule of law mission yesterday said
Serbs should accept the new international civilian mission in Kosovo.
“Join us. Act with us to reinstate human rights together for all
communities,” Yves de Kermabon said, adding that, “some
people do not want EULEX and they are trying to show a bad image for
it. They are people that do not want the rule of law in Kosovo.”
Kosovo Serbs protested yesterday in Zubin Potok against
the installation of cameras at border crossing points with Serbia. Zubin
Potok Mayor Slavisa Ristic told protesters that Kosovo Serbs would never
allow representatives of UNMIK, KFOR and KPS to deploy along the northern
border between Kosovo and Serbia.
Regional
Officials from the EU's anti-corruption authority OLAF have begun new
investigations into Sofia's spending on EU-financed projects. OLALF
is demanding “better controls" from Bulgaria after determining
that €32 million in EU money had been misappropriated
More than ten wildfires fuelled by strong winds are
raging across FYROM, with some threatening populated areas. The most
alarming situation is in the western part of the country where fires
have spread rapidly due to the winds reaching speeds of up to 35 kilometres
per hour. Fires also raged near the western towns of Tetovo and Kicevo.
Parts of a giant, marble sculpture depicting the Roman
emperor Marcus Aurelius have been found at an archaeological site in
southern Turkey. Fragments of the statue were unearthed at the ancient
city of Sagalassos. So far the statue's head, right arm and lower legs
have been discovered.
International
The US President has urged Russia not to recognise Georgia's two breakaway
regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. Mr Bush's
comments came after Russia's parliament passed a non-binding motion
calling on President Dmitry Medvedev to support the enclaves' independence
bid.
The Iraqi Prime Minister has demanded a fixed date
for the withdrawal of American troops. “It is not possible for
any agreement to conclude unless it is on the basis of full sovereignty
and the national interest, and that no foreign soldiers remain in Iraqi
soil after a defined time ceiling,” Mr. Maliki said in a speech
to Shiite tribal leaders in Baghdad’s Green Zone.
According to rebels Sudanese troops have opened fire
inside a Darfur refugee camp, leaving 27 people dead. Some 100 government
trucks surrounded the Kalma camp, home to some 90,000 people who have
fled their homes in Darfur, the rebel spokesman said.
Weather
Today will be sunny with a low tonight of 15 degrees; tomorrow will
be sunny with occasional showers with a high of 27 degrees Celsius.
And that’s all for today, thank you for listening.