Nuland and Jahjaga talk about new institutions (Tribuna)
The US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Victoria Nuland, spoke on the telephone yesterday with President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga. According to a press release issued by Jahjaga’s office, the conversation with Nuland focused on the creation of Kosovo institutions and the new government’s commitment to strengthen the rule of law and undertake reforms within the Euro-Atlantic agenda. President Jahjaga said that the new institutions are committed to fulfill obligations related to the fight against corruption, the establishment of the special court, the fulfillment of the conditions for visa liberalization and the SAA, and the continuation of the dialogue with Serbia for the normalization of relations.
Tahiri: Pristina-Belgrade dialogue is a priority (Zeri)
Minister without portfolio, Edita Tahiri said at a meeting with British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ian Cliff, that Pristina-Belgrade dialogue will continue to remain a priority for the new government. Tahiri said that the new government will address other important issues, such as sustainable economic development, rule of law, employment and social welfare, and Euro-Atlantic integration. Ambassador Cliff reiterated the support of the United Kingdom for the development of Kosovo as a Euro-Atlantic state. Cliff commended Kosovo’s contribution to the dialogue emphasizing that tangible results were achieved for the benefit of Kosovo citizens.
EU expects concrete results in fight against corruption (Koha Ditore)
Thomas Gnochi, head of the Political, Economic and European Integration Section at the EU Office in Pristina, said that the new government’s priority should be the fight against corruption and organized crime, Koha Ditore reports. Gnochi made the comments at the debate organized by the Kosovo NGO FOL. “We expect from the new government real results in fight against organized crime and corruption,” said Gnochi who refused to comment on allegations of corruption in EULEX.
LDK appoints chairs of parliamentary commissions (Tribuna, Zeri)
Tribuna reports that the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) appointed heads of parliamentary commissions that will be led by the party. Commission on budget and finance will be chaired by Naser Osmani, commission for European integration by Teuta Sahatqija, commission on human rights, gender equality and missing persons will be chaired by Lirie Kajtazi, Muhamet Mustafa will chair the commission on infrastructure and telecommunication while Teuta Rugova will be deputy chair of the foreign policy commission. At the same time, Zeri writes that opposition parties have expressed discontent with the way the parliamentary commissions were divided as the two coalition parties, PDK and LDK, will chair more than half of the total of 14 commissions. Opposition parties also announced that they will initiate the creation of a commission to investigate the activity of the PDK-led intelligence service, SHIK.
David Schwendiman, chief SITF prosecutor (Zeri)
David Schwendiman from the United States has been nominated as the new chief prosecutor for the EU Special Investigative Task Force (SITF), Zeri newspaper reports. Citing a press release issued by the EU Office in Kosovo, Zeri writes that Schwendiman has extensive experience in dealing with the legal, political and practical issues in both international and domestic criminal prosecutions. He succeeds Clint Williamson and will lead the investigation conducted by the SITF, as well as any criminal proceedings arising therefrom. According to Zeri, Schwendiman worked as international prosecutor in Bosnia and Herzegovina where he was head of War Crimes department of the Special Prosecution.
EU Ombudsperson finds irregularities in EULEX (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore on its front page reports that after an inquiry, the European Ombudsperson found many irregularities in EULEX. According to the paper, the European Ombudsperson also found that a reporting document of Maria Bamieh, EULEX Prosecutor, accusing EULEX Chief Prosecutor Jaroslava Novotna and the former President of EULEX Assembly of Judges Francesko Florit of involvement in corruption scandal, has disappeared. The investigations of the Ombudsperson started on 14 November, only couple of days after Koha Ditore reported on EULEX ‘scandal’, the daily writes. An additional investigation is also being carried out by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).
Mustafa: No salary increase as promised by Thaci (Zeri)
Newly-appointed Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, during an interview for Reuters said that there will be no salary increase as promised by his predecessor Hashim Thaci. In his first interview since taking the post, Mustafa said that he will decrease taxes for some businesses and will offer flat-rate taxes to certain businesses in order to generate new working places. Mustafa noted that increase of salaries by up to 25 percent, as promised by Hashim Thaci, is impossible. “We will increase salaries in line with the economic growth of the country,” he said.
Kosovo Police takes part in the World BORDERPOL Congress (Tribuna)
Representatives from the Kosovo Police for the first time attended the World BORDERPOL Congress that took place in Budapest from 9-11 December. KP attended the congress as an equal participant. The World BORDERPOL Congress is the only multi-jurisdictional transnational platform where the border protection, management and security industry policy-makers and practitioners convene annually to discuss the international challenges faced in protecting not only one’s own country’s borders, but those of neighbours and friends.
