Serbian List votes will determine fate of Armed Forces (Koha)
The paper reports on its front page that the Serbian List is blocking the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force into the Armed Forces of Kosovo. The mechanism of the double majority, which is required for every constitutional amendment, has blocked the Kosovo Assembly on the matter. Fearing that the bill on the Armed Forces will share the same fate as the special court, the ruling coalition consisting of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has backed down from submitting the required constitutional amendments. Kosovo’s Assembly President Kadri Veseli said on Monday: “We are faced with a challenge and on a daily basis we receive messages from those who helped us reach this point as a country, primarily from the United States of America. This is not an easy challenge but we will overcome it,” Veseli told reporters on Monday after the Assembly Presidency decided not to send to vote the constitutional amendments for the armed forces. He said the Assembly will soon pass the bills on the armed forces and the special court. “We need the votes of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, the Initiative of Kosovo and Vetevendosje. We need everyone’s votes. We will show that we fear no issue. Our fight was a righteous one,” Veseli said. He neither denied nor confirmed that the armed forces and the special court could be voted as a package. “What I want to confirm is that the Armed Forces are our national priority. The special court is an obligation coming from the international community and it is also part of our state-building process,” he added.
Mustafa: No one set us conditions on Armed Forces (Bota Sot)
Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, said yesterday that no one set any conditions to the government in regards to the transformation of Kosovo Security Force (KSF) to the Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF). He also said that it is necessary to be working with the entire political spectrum, including representatives of minority parties in order to secure their support just as the Constitution specifies. “The transformation of the KSF into the Armed Forces is a very important process for Kosovo and for overall stability. Therefore, this transformation must be done because it serves the interests of all the people of Kosovo,” Mustafa said.
Haradinaj calls for early parliamentary elections (Epoka e Re)
The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, called on Monday for new parliamentary elections in Kosovo. Haradinaj made these remarks during an AAK convention. He said that the partners of the governing coalition, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), are blocked and that they are unable to take Kosovo forward. According to Haradinaj, early parliamentary elections are the only solution. He also added that the partners of the ruling coalition need the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo and that his party has an offer ready for them.
Baroness Anelay visiting Kosovo today (Kosovapress)
United Kingdom’s Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and British Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Baroness Joyce Anelay, will visit Kosovo today. Baroness Anelay is scheduled to meet Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga at 10.00hrs and Prime Minister Isa Mustafa at 11.10 hrs. Later in the day, Baroness Anelay will also meet Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli.
President of Court of Appeals in Peja arrested by KP (Indeksonline/Koha)
The news site reports that the Kosovo Police yesterday arrested in Peja the President of Court of Appeals, Salih Mekaj. Sources told Indeksonline that Mekaj had been negotiating the release of a person who was caught with drugs. During the arrest, Mekaj reportedly told the police, “You don’t know who you are arresting”. An official from the State Prosecution Office told Koha Ditore: “Mekaj is suspected of committing the criminal offence of commercial crime. He was placed under 48-hour detention.”
Visa liberalization, tough challenge for Kosovo (Kosova Sot)
Visa liberalization working groups met yesterday in Pristina and discussed last week’s visit of the European Commission fact-finding mission. Ministry of European Integration said in a press release that there are still a small number of requirements Kosovo institutions have to meet before gaining visa-free travel to Europe.
Trepca miners demand pay rise (Kosova Sot)
Trepca mine general director Ahmet Tmava told Radio Free Europe that there is no strike and that the miners will resume work normally. However, he added that the miners are demanding a pay rise and the resolution of the mine’s legal status.
Another ISIS member from Kosovo killed in Syria (Zeri)
The paper reports that Flurim Zenuni, 20 years old from Kosovo was killed a few days ago in Syria while fighting alongside extremist group ISIS. Zenuni had German citizenship and reportedly joined ISIS from Germany.
