Friday 29th of August 2008 MEDIA HEADLINES IN ENGLISH
You’re listening to NEWS REPORT, a summary of today’s media, prepared by UNMIK ON AIR

New privatization agency has begun
EU Considering Sanctions Against Russia
And Obama launches historic campaign

Kosovo
Kosovo's authorities say they have created a new agency to take over the privatization process from the United Nations. The Kosovo Privatization Agency will be responsible for finding foreign investors to buy publicly owned enterprises such as a telecommunications company or a power plant.

Kosovo's Government has allocated € 25 million on Wednesday to buy property in the capitals where it is going to send its ambassadors. Also, he Government of Kosovo has proposed the names of its first eleven ambassadors to represent Pristina abroad. “The creation of our diplomats, who are people of high national attributes, vision and dedication, starts today,” Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said.

Kosovo’s Interior Minister has called on international partners to encourage Serb policemen to return to their jobs. Zenun Pajaziti thinks that the return of Serb Kosovo Police Service officers will help turn Kosovo into a peaceful and safe place, adding that the suspended Serb policemen were part of Kosovo’s institutions and it was “our responsibility to do everything possible to protect and support them.”

Groups of ethnic Albanian and Serb youths clashed on Wednesday night in Kosovo's ethnically-divided town of Mitrovica. According to the Kosovo Police, “First there was an argument, and then the youngsters started throwing stones at eachother. Gun shots were heard as well.” Some of the youths suffered minor injuries.

Kosovo’s Prime Minister at a conference on prevention of crime and corruption accused the justice system of not having a zero tolerance policy against corruption. “Government cannot fight corruption when justice tolerates it and does not impede corruption and in some cases even supports corruption,” Hashim Thaçi said. Rexhep Haxhimusa, head of Kosovo Judicial Council, said that justice system faces many challenges “but not everything in the system is not as black as presented.”

Serbia’s Prime Minister says Belgrade would be ready to sacrifice its EU bid for its continuing opposition to the independence of its former southern province of Kosovo. Mirko Cvetkovic said “so far no EU official has conditioned Serbia’s membership with its recognition of Kosovo” and that he does not expect that to happen.

Regional
Ahead of a meeting of EU heads of government next week, the French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says the EU is considering imposing sanctions against Russia. France holds the rotating EU presidency and brokered a cease-fire agreement between Russia and Georgia in their conflict this month.

Bosnian police say they have broken up a network of drug dealers and arrested 56 people across the country. About 60 kilograms of marijuana and small amounts of cocaine as well as weapons and ammunition were confiscated during the raids. The network was operating across the country and over the border into Montenegro.

At least four people have been killed when a light aircraft crashed near the southwest lake resort of Ohrid. All of those who died were reportedly inside the plane at the time of the accident. The plane hit a parked car during the crash. A child that was in the car, apparently escaped unhurt.

International
Barack Obama has accepted the Democratic Party's historic nomination to run for president of the US. He promised he would do his best to keep alive the American dream of opportunity for all. Mr Obama is the first African-American to be nominated by a major US party.

Russian Prime Minister has accused the US of provoking the conflict in Georgia. Vladimir Putin said US citizens were "in the area" during the conflict over South Ossetia and were "taking direct orders from their leaders". The White House dismissed the allegations as "not rational".

Hindu mobs ransacked a church and clashed with Christian villagers in eastern India on Thursday, police said. Indian authorities have struggled to control spiraling religious violence in the eastern state of Orissa after the murder of a Hindu leader in a tribal area where Christian missionaries have been active for years.

Weather
Today will be rainy with a low tonight of 15 degrees; it will continue to rain on Saturday with a high of 22 degrees Celsius; but the sun will come out on Sunday with a high of 22 degrees Celsius.