Kosovo lawmakers reject the special court (dailies)
All dailies report on their front pages that after a harsh debate on Friday, the Assembly of Kosovo failed to pass the constitutional amendments which would open way to the establishment of the special court which would prosecute the war crimes alleged in a report of the Council of Europe. Each constitutional amendment requires at least 80 votes, however, only 75 deputies voted in favor. While the 31 deputies of the opposition parties decided to remain only as observers during the voting, the deputies of the biggest party in the coalition government, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), played the decisive role. Seven deputies of this party, Nait Hasani, Fadil Demaku, Ganimete Musliu, Fadil Beka, Xhevahire Izmaku, Rafet Rama and Raif Cela voted against, while Flora Brovina and Nezir Cocaj, also from PDK, abstained. Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo and leader of the PDK, Hashim Thaci, stated after the voting that deputies damaged Kosovo with their vote. “I want to assesses with the highest moral political and national responsibility that with the voting against the establishment of this court, the Assembly of Kosovo, or those who voted against, caused the biggest harm that one could currently cause to the Kosovo state. And I can freely say that deliberately or not, they served the opponents of the independence of Kosovo. We will proceed again and I want to hope on the citizens’ courage, national devotion of the people who vote, and deputies who have citizens’ legitimacy to make decisions on interest of the state instead of the interests of daily politics. I am speaking about the deputies of every political party that voted against,” said Thaci
Internationals disappointed with the decision of the Assembly (Koha/ Zeri)
The decision of the Assembly of Kosovo to reject the constitutional amendments which would allow establishment of the special court, was not welcomed by the Ambassadors and representatives of the international offices in Kosovo. Head of the European Union Office in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, expressed his disappointment after the voting. “We are very disappointed but it remains for us to respect the decision,” he said.
Even though the U.S. Embassy in Kosovo did not come out with a statement after the voting of the assembly, Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson made the U.S. position clear prior to the voting. “If the Parliament of Kosovo does not vote the special court, we, as U.S. Government have made it clear that we would not block some proposal by Russia or some other country. This is why have made some kind of pressure to the government of Kosovo,” Jacobson stated a week ago. Jacobson was present at the Assembly session on Friday, however she left a few hours prior to the voting.
“This was a chance for Kosovo to prove readiness on implementation of its international duties and the failure has unfortunately put a question mark on Kosovo’s capability,” said the British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ruairi O’Connell.
The Dutch Ambassador in Kosovo, Robert Boch, also left earlier, stated in front of the journalists that the head of the Legislation Commission Albulena Haxhiu should resign immediately, for refusing to read the position of the Assembly Commission on establishment of the special court. He told the journalists that he was going to his office, since the session has become boring and that he could not stay to hear 35 individuals that requested to speak at this session.
Djuric: Serbia to request establishment of the special court from the UN (Koha)
The Director of the Office for Kosovo at the Government of Serbia. Marko Djuric, stated that Serbia will request establishment of the court which would treat the terrorist crimes committed by Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), from the United Nations. According to him, there is no political will in Kosovo to prosecute these crimes. “We expect from all the states, especially the UN Security Council members, to support establishment of the international court or tribunal, that would reconsider the crimes committed by KLA,” Djuric said.
The new round of the discussions in Brussels, on Monday (Epoka e Re)
The Prime Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa, will meet on Monday in Brussels with the Prime Minister of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, to continue the new round of the dialogue for normalization of the relations between Pristina and Belgrade, mediated by the European Union. “The meeting was planned and we expect further progress on the implementation of the Brussels agreement,” said a senior EU official who preferred to remain anonymous. This daily reports that the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Frederica Mogherini, has not yet sent the invitations to the Prime Ministers.
Mustafa to meet German Chancellor on Tuesday (Bota Sot)
The Prime Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa, will meet on Tuesday in Berlin with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The news was confirmed on the official page of the Chancellor, where the meeting appear in the agenda. “Chancellor Merkel will host a meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo Isa Mustafa. They will discuss bilateral relations, situation in Kosovo and Kosovo’s relations with the European Union,” is written in the agenda.
