Mustafa: Problems to be resolved in institutions not the streets (Bota Sot)
The leaders of Kosovo institutions continue to request the opposition to resolve problems within institutions and not in the streets. As the date of the protest is approaching, government leaders stressed that there is a tendency to want to force out the government and to create tensions at the time when the special court is expected to be established. Furthermore, government leaders stress that power can be obtained through the popular vote in free and democratic elections and not by proletarian revolutions. PM Mustafa said that Kosovo has problems just like other countries, and that even though they are specific, they should be resolved in an institutional manner.
Ymeri: Government trying to suppress peaceful protests (Bota Sot)
The leader of the Vetevendosje Movement, Visar Ymeri, reacted to the statement of Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minsiter and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, who said that the protest scheduled for 18 April by the opposition parties will be violent. Ymeri said that the protest will not be violent and that Thaci is trying to suppress the protest even before it happens. “In his threatening statement, Thaci showed the government’s plan to suppress peaceful protests. The only warning about violent protests is coming from the government,” Ymeri said.
Arifaj: Thaci ready to go to Belgrade (Epoka e Re)
Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hashim Thaci, has accepted an invitation to take part in a conference on the integration of the Western Balkans, which will be held in Belgrade on 24 April. Thaci’s political adviser, Ardian Arifaj, told the paper that in principle, the chief of Kosovo’s diplomacy responded positively to the invitation. He added that Thaci is one of the main leaders of the region in promoting peace and cooperation among peoples and states.
Serbian List waiting for Mustafa’s invitation (Zeri)
The paper writes that Serbian List leaders are waiting for an invitation from Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, to return to the Kosovo institutions. Aleksandar Jablanovic, the leader of the Serbian List, told Zeri that they are asking from the coalition partners to implement the agreement reached on the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. In regards to the protest scheduled for 18 April by the opposition parties, where one of the demands is the non-establishment of the Association/Community, Jablanovic said that such protests complicate even more their return to the institutions.
Jahjaga and EUSR call for establishment of special court (Zeri)
Kosovo’s President, Atifete Jahjaga, said on Wednesday that the decision of the Constitutional Court that found admissible the amendments proposed to enable the establishment of special court, is a step forward towards the fulfillment of Kosovo’s international obligations. “I call for a general political consensus for the fulfillment of this international obligation, through establishing the legal framework for the special court, which will address the accusations deriving from the Council of Europe report, and by no means will judge our efforts for liberation and independence,” Jahjaga said. Meanwhile, the European Union Special Representative to Kosovo (EUSR), Samuel Zbogar, called on the Kosovo institutions to treat with priority the establishment of special court.
U.S. embassy welcomes Constitutional Court’s decision on special court (Zeri)
The Embassy of the United States of America in Kosovo has welcomed the Constitutional Court’s ruling that the proposed amendments for the establishment of special court, which will address war crimes allegations, were admissible. “This decision helps pave the way for the Assembly to create the Special Court, a commitment Kosovo undertook in its 2014 Exchange of Letters with the EU High Representative. We realize this is a difficult decision for some, but this is about individuals and not about Kosovo’s struggle for liberation. The U.S. remains supportive of the work of the Special Investigative Task Force to deal with these allegations in a credible manner, and calls on Kosovo’s Assembly to take the next steps to establish the Special Court,” stated the press release.
Ombudsperson accuses government institutions of irresponsibility (dailies)
In a press conference yesterday, Kosovo Ombudsperson Sami Kurteshi accused the government of Kosovo, the Assembly and a number of ministries of not replying to the concerns he addressed to them months ago and for failing to implement his recommendations. Kurteshi presented to the media the list of recommendations which he sent to the institutions and which were not implemented.
Mustafa: Signing of the Brezovica contract, successful (Epoka e Re)
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, assessed on Wednesday at the meeting of the Kosovo government that the signing of the contract for the development of Brezovica ski resort was successful. “I congratulate all the actors who worked so far on drafting the contract on the investments in Brezovica, which will open way to great development of tourism, as well as employment of people not only from that region but also from other areas, since this field is related to many sectors of activity,” he said, adding that the trust of the foreign investors is gradually improving.
Teachers to begin strike as of next week (Koha Ditore)
Kosovo’s Education Trade Unions announced that teachers across Kosovo will begin a strike on Monday after the government did not deliver on its promise to start paying an allowance for each year of service. Head of the unions, Rrahman Jasharaj, said the government had had plenty of time to fulfill its promise. At the same time, officials at the Ministry of Education said the Ministry of Finance has already allocated the funds needed for the implementation of the agreement with trade unions and that the allowance will be paid as soon as all technical aspects are finalized.
