Monday 29th September 2008 MEDIA HEADLINES IN ENGLISH

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

Government, the most non transparent institution,
Fake Solana posters in Belgrade, and
Explosions kill 32 in Baghdad

KOSOVO
The Association of Independent Journalists and UNDP organized a debate yesterday in Pristina on the International Day for Transparency. Journalists complained that Kosovo institutions are not transparent. Also yesterday, a group of NGO’s declared the Government as the most non-transparent institution in Kosovo.

The Kosovo Government is optimistic that its authority will very soon extend to the north of Kosovo, Interior Minister, Zenun Pajaziti said. However, the leader of LDD in opposition, Nexhat Daci, criticised the Governments’ work in combating parallel structures in the north, saying that Serbia is more powerful in Serb enclaves than it was before the declaration of independence.

UNMIK spokesperson in Mitrovica, Georgy Kakuk, said smuggling in northern Kosovo is happening in front of eyes of UNMIK and KFOR. Smugglers have understood that nobody impedes them, Kakuk was quoted in the “Chicago Herald Tribune” newspaper.

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni met Saturday with Foreign Ministers of Malaysia and Egypt in New York. Reportedly, Malaysia has promised to recognize Kosovo soon . Meanwhile, the UN’s General Assembly will debate and vote on October 8th on Belgrade’s request to questioning Kosovo’s independence.

Any initiative coming from Serbia which intends to reverse Kosovo’s independence will have no effect, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried said. “Independence of Kosovo is an issue closed forever,” he said.

Pristina leaders dismiss the findings of the International Crisis Group, which in a recent report said that ethnic divisions in Kosovo have deepened and that the threat of partition is increasing in Kosovo. Both Prime Minister and Assembly chair said on Saturday that Kosovo territorial integrity is inviolable and that partition along ethnic lines is unacceptable.

The international presence in Kosovo, through EULEX and the International Civilian Office missions, will withdraw after five years, leaving Kosovo to continue European integrations on its own, the head of ICO said. Speaking at John Hopkins University in Washington, D.C, Pieter Feith said both missions will be fully operational by the end of autumn.

The Danish authorities have decided to recognize passports issued by Pristina. Kosovo’s Interior Ministry believes that recognition of passports will continue.

Controversies caused by the person appointed as Kosovo’s chargé d’affaires in Switzerland, received a reply from the Swiss government. Swiss authorities say that Naim Mala has no police record. The only disputable issue seems to be his dual citizenship that could lead to problems in granting him diplomatic immunity.

REGIONAL
Serbian police have arrested four people for allegedly putting up posters containing faked death notices of the European Union's foreign policy chief Javier Solana. Police say the four, including two minors, will face legal action after they were arrested with about 100 posters in the capital Belgrade.

Former Croatian general and deputy defence minister Vladimir Zagorec, wanted by Zagreb for alleged embezzlement, has been arrested in Vienna again amid fears that he might try to escape. Zagorec was initially arrested in Vienna in 2007, but he was allowed to go free a few days later after posting bail of one million euros.

Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro have been invited to join a group of countries seeking membership in the NATO alliance, the US State Department says. The Adriatic Charter, which consists of Albania, Croatia and Macedonia, extended invitations to the two Balkan states during a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, a US State Department spokesman said.

INTERNATIONAL
Five bomb attacks struck Baghdad yesterday evening, immediately before and after the fast breaking meal of Iftar. Security sources said at least 32 people had been killed and 84 wounded. The worst of the bombings, in a bustling market of the central Karada district.

The Sri Lankan military claimed its forces killed 62 Tamil Tiger rebels and suffered 34 injuries in weekend battles in the island nation's northern region of Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu. A ministry spokesman said the casualties were among the heaviest since Army Chief Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka "vowed to eliminate the terrorists" from their last bastions.

WEATHER
A maximum of 15 degrees is expected today and a low tonight of 5 degrees. Bright day is expected for tomorrow with temperatures reaching a high of 17 degrees Celsius.