Germany, Kosovo strengthen economic cooperation

A large delegation from the German business community are in a two day visit in Kosovo meeting with Kosovar business community, Kosova Chamber of Commerce and Kosovo Government economic and trade officials.

Businessmen from Germany have arrived in Kosovo with a clear purpose to learn about the economic environment and investment opportunities, first in manufacturing.

During the meeting was stressed the support of the initiative the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce to establish the Kosovar-German Business Association. Also was noted the necessary assessment to be applied to use all resources aiming to broaden and deepen the economic cooperation between the two countries.

Incidentally, the need to use the potentials and professional expertise of members of the Kosovo Diaspora who live and work was stressed in Germany as well.

Deputy German Ambassador to Kosovo Eckart Blaurock pledged that his country's embassy will have as a high priority economic cooperation between the two countries.

Kosovar Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Union of German Chambers of Trade and Industry with their office in Skopje, organized yesterday the presentation of the SES - Senior Service expert from Germany.

SES is a non-profit organization which is supported by industry and the Federal Government of Germany. The German government sends these experts in small enterprises and medium-sized enterprises with the aim to support and promotion of their business.

Representatives of the business community from Kosovo who attended the presentation expressed interest for the realization of collaboration with imminent business from Germany.

Greece to recognise Kosovo independence

Greece will recognise Kosovo's independence in the ''not-so-distant future,'' Kosovo's Premier, Hashim Thaci, said.

Greece is one of the four EU member states which has not recognized Kosovo’s independence but has instead recognized its passports.

Until recently, Greek Foreign Minister, Dora Bakoyannis has been firm that her country would not recognize Kosovo.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008 and has since been recognized by 58 nations around the world.

Serbia expects no more countries to recognise Kosovo

Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic stated today in Havana at the ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) that Serbia expects no more countries to recognise Kosovo’s independence and that Kosovo will not be allowed attendance or membership of international organisations.

Jeremic told the FoNet news agency that Serbia managed to have the assessment of the legality of the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo-Metohija by the International Court of Justice included in the final document of last year’s NAM conference in Tehran.

We got great support from NAM countries during the voting on Serbia’s resolution in the UN. We will use this opportunity in Havana to present them with the latest events related to Kosovo-Metohija, said Jeremic.

He announced that the global economic crisis will be one of the crucial topics in Havana.

Also, the Minister will have a number of bilateral meetings to discuss possibilities of economic cooperation with other NAM countries.

The conference is attended by 118 countries, which is almost two-thirds of the number of countries in the UN.

Serbia is taking part as a monitor and guest of Cuba.

Minister Jeremic will take part in the inaugural plenary session and the general debate and will hold bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of other NAM countries.

Tear gas used to disperse Serb protests as Kosovo tensions rise

Tear gas was again used against Serb protesters in Kosovo on Thursday as NATO forces and EU police tried to control around 50 people demonstrating in the divided city of Kosovska-Mitrovica.

The Serbs are protesting against the return of ethnic-Albanians to homes in predominantly Serb areas of the city, which the European Union's EULEX security mission started to push ahead with this week. They were dispersed by tear gas after trying to cross into an Albanian area.

Kosovo's minority Serb population, which is dominant in the north of the territory, began to protest last week in Brdjani, where the EU mission is trying to rebuild houses belonging to Albanians that were razed during the 1999 war.

The Serbs demand a ban on the return of ethnic Albanians until the same opportunity is provided to Serbs in the southern, Albanian-majority part of Mitrovica, which is split into mainly Albanian and Serb sections by the Ibar River.

"Several years ago the Serbs and Albanians agreed to draw a 'yellow line' dividing the Albanian Sukhoi district and the Serbian Brdjani district," a police official in Kosovo told RIA Novosti. "They agreed to do nothing without agreeing with each other, but the Albanians didn't follow the agreement and started rebuilding their homes, ignoring the agreement."

According to the official, the Serbs insist the agreement is honored and oppose the Albanians crossing the yellow line.

"That's why these incidents have been going on for several days," he said, adding: "I'm afraid that these [protests] will become much larger."

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said on Wednesday that there is a growth in the destabilization of northern Kosovo that could lead to an escalation of tensions throughout the region, adding that "balanced actions in the interests of all parties are needed."

"The use of international police and activities against Serbs is unacceptable," Nesterenko said.

Local Serb representative Sinisa Lazic said that the Serbs are not against the Albanians returning to Serbian soil if the Albanians agree to the return of Serbs to their homes in Albanian areas.

"That's why we are holding these protests and plan to continue them," Lazic said.

It is estimated that some 300 people will participate in Friday's protests.

Tensions flared on Monday when EU police, backed by the NATO-led peacekeeping force KFOR, fired teargas at Serbian demonstrators attempting to enter an ethnic-Albanian area of Mitrovica.

"We had a couple of incidents today in Mitrovica - one in Brdjani, one at the bridge - and afterwards two hand grenade attacks - one against our police officers and another against KFOR," Christophe Lamfalussy, a EULEX spokesman in Kosovo, was quoted by Deutsche Welle as saying on Monday.

KFOR took control of Brdjani on Monday, entering the area with tanks and heavy machinery.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in February 2008, but has only been recognized by 56 of the 192 UN member states.

KFOR, Serbs in northern Kosovo reach agreement on Brdjani conflict

Serbs in Mitrovica and KFOR commanders agreed on Tuesday (April 28th) that peacekeeping troops blocking the roads to the Brdjani district will withdraw. KFOR personnel will leave, while Serbs and Albanians, involved in sporadic clashes since Friday, will be able to return to their homes. Tensions rose when several Albanian families tried to start restoring houses in a disputed area near the unofficial border that separates the divided town of Mitrovica into the Serb-dominated north and the Albanian-dominated south.In other news, the Independent Judicial and Prosecutorial Commission has begun re-appointing judges and prosecutors, according to local media reports Wednesday. The aim is to remove unprofessional, corrupt officials or judicial staff members with dubious pasts. The process is expected to take a month.