Assembly and Government in conflict over special court (Koha Ditore)
The paper reports on its front page that Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli said on Monday that the constitutional amendments on the special court will be voted only after the government submits the draft law on the special court. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Hajredin Kuci has implied that the draft law can be submitted only after the Assembly adopts the constitutional amendments.
Special court to be established in January? (TV Dukagjini/Telegrafi)
Citing an unidentified source, TV Dukagjini reported on Monday afternoon that the special court, which will address war crimes allegations in Kosovo, will be established in January next year. The source also said that the special court will not be established in 2015 as initially planned due to legal proceedings and disagreements among international officials about the competencies of the court.
Kosovo to submit visa liberalization report this week (Epoka e Re)
Kosovo’s Minister of European Integration, Bekim Collaku, said on Monday that during this week Kosovo will submit to Brussels a report which shows the fulfilment of the recommendations of the European Commission regarding the visa liberalization process. “The report is now ready and we will send to the European Commission this week. The Commission will then initiate the verification and evaluation procedures,” Collaku said. He said that the report reflects the fulfilment of the EU recommendations.
Thaci to report to Assembly on border demarcation with Montenegro (Bota)
Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, on Thursday will report to the Kosovo Assembly on the border demarcation process between Kosovo and Montenegro. Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli said that in Thursday’s session the Assembly will also review the report on Oversight of the Anti-Corruption Agency.
Thaci wants support for SAA and visa liberalization for Kosovars (dailies)
Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, on Monday visited Malta where he met with Malta’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, George W. Vella. Thaci informed Vella about Kosovo’s commitment to join regional and international organizations such as UNESCO, Interpol and the Council of Europe. Vella, who expressed readiness to support Kosovo in the integration process, said that the best evidence of Kosovo’s success is the development of democratic institutions, the installation of the rule of law and the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA).
Report on links between senior Kosovo politicians and EULEX officials (Koha)
The Pristina-based TV station KTV published on Monday evening a confidential report prepared by senior EULEX investigators for an EU team from Brussels, which among other things also talks about links between Kosovo politicians and EULEX officials. This part of the confidential report mentions 13 names of local and international officials, among them former EULEX chief Bernd Borchardt, former Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli, Justice Minister Hajredin Kuci, former EULEX chief Xavier Bout de Marnhac and former Kosovo chief prosecutor Ismet Kabashi. According to the report, Kuci, Borchardt, EULEX official Mariana Papa, and Mats Mason, the former head of the EULEX executive decision, had direct influence over important decisions in the judiciary. Some of their intentions, which were related to the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), were: to release the Drenica Group before the 2014 elections, to get rid of EULEX and secure full control over the establishment of the special court. The report also claims that Mason tried to get the post of EULEX chief but failed. Now Mason is reportedly trying to get the post of the President of the special court. The report further notes that PDK leader and Deputy Prime Minister Hashim Thaci is working on becoming President of Kosovo and trying to stay out of the process of establishing of the special court. Thaci will reportedly try to make Hajredin Kuci Prime Minister of Kosovo in 2016. The report also says that Assembly Speaker Veseli is also interested in becoming Prime Minister in 2016; he also wants to have full control over the establishment of the special court in order to avoid the conviction/indictment of PDK officials.
FYROM leaders to meet today (KosovaPress)
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) leaders are expected to meet today in an attempt to resolve the political crisis. Also, the European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement, Johannes Hahn is expected to visit FYROM today. Media report that Hahn’s visit will deepen discussions between government and the opposition. This diplomatic reinforcement comes after the failure of three meetings in Skopje and one in Strasbourg, where the parties were not able to agree even on the negotiating framework and format.
