Fate of special court to be decided today (Epoka e Re)
The deputies of the Assembly of Kosovo are expected to vote today the constitutional amendments for establishment of the special court. The two ruling coalition parties, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), expressed support for establishment of this court, despite the fact that certain deputies from these parties have positioned themselves against the court. Despite the appeals of the U.S. and the United Kingdom, Vetevendosje, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) stated that they are against the court.
Jahjaga meets Mustafa and Thaci ahead of special court vote (Kosovapress)
President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga met yesterday Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and Deputy Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and discussed todays’ anticipated voting for the establishment of the special court. Jahjaga is said to have stressed the importance of meeting international obligations that Kosovo has undertaken. However, a statement issued by Thaci’s office claims the special court was not discussed in the meeting but rather Kosovo’s representation at the UN General Assembly.
“Drenica Group” conviction threatens special court (Zeri)
The paper reports on the front page that several Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MPs have changed their position on the establishment of the special court following the conviction of the members of the so-called “Drenica Group” on war crimes charges. Until Wednesday when the court rendered the verdict on the “Drenica Group”, there were about five MPs from the PDK who announced they would vote against the special court’s establishment but this number is expected to increase, maybe even double, following the group’s conviction.
KLA veterans: “Drenica Group” conviction orchestrated by Belgrade (Koha)
Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) associations are to stage a protest in Pristina today (Friday) against the recent decision of the Mitrovica Basic Court that convicted members of the “Drenica Group” on war crimes charges. Former KLA members said the court’s decision is orchestrated by Belgrade and is political. Protest organisers said they are determined to protest until all members of the group are released and at the same time called on Kosovo MPs not to vote in favour of establishing the special court.
PDK on “Drenica Group”: Justice to be led by credible facts (Epoka e Re)
The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) reacted to the verdict on “Drenica Group,” assessing that the ruling is unexpected, concerning and harmful for Kosovo. A PDK statement reads: “With the full faith that the KLA war was just and clean, we have always supported each judicial process that treated our comrades in arms, convinced that their innocence cannot be changed. This conviction of ours was proven during the judicial processes in Hague and Kosovo, where our convictions that the KLA war and its soldiers were led by the feeling of equality and freedom, were always proven. We were always convinced that the courts will be led by facts and proven evidence and they would not be impacted by fabricated testimonies with hostile, personal or political motives towards the KLA or the suspects. The KLA war was just and clean. Justice should be led by facts and credible evidence.”
Koci: Lushtaku was sentenced for a murder that never happened (Epoka e Re)
This daily carries on its front page an interview with Sami Lushtaku’s lawyer, Arianit Koci, who considers that Lushtaku was sentenced for a murder that never happened. He stated that Lushtaku’s verdict is unjust and based only on the testimony of a single protected witness without any other evidence. According to him, the criteria and justification used to sentence Lushtaku were not even used by the previous regime.
Lushtaku’s wife reveals identity of protected witness (Zeri)
The wife of Sami Lushtaku, Mayor of Skenderaj/Srbica and former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander convicted days ago on war crimes charges, has revealed the identity of a protected witness in a Facebook post. Revealing the identity of a protected witness is a criminal act and carries a prison sentence of up to three years. According to EULEX spokesperson Roland Bless the issue is being reviewed by the mission’s prosecutors.
Serbian List will not support Kosovo Armed Forces motion (Zeri)
Officials of the Serbian List said they would not vote in favour of the draft law foreseeing the establishment of Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF). Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister from the Serbian List, Branimir Stojanovic, said their position is firm and will not change. He added that the Serbian List would not vote for the KAF even if this is conditioned with the establishment of the special court.
