Jahjaga reiterates call for dialogue (Kosova Sot)
President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga commended the peaceful rally called by opposition parties on 28 November but reaffirmed her stance that solutions to any outstanding issues should be found through dialogue and through the democratically-elected institutions of Kosovo. Jahjaga called for the establishment of a political dialogue between all major parties in Kosovo in order to avoid violence and “imposition as a means to solution, which accordingly ensures the democratic order in the country.”
Quint countries voice support for Kosovo Police (Zeri)
The embassies of France, Italy, United Kingdom and the United States in Kosovo commended the opposition’s peaceful rally on Saturday and expressed support for the Kosovo Police’s conduct. “We firmly believe in the power of dialogue as a way to resolve political disputes and we encourage all parties to use different opportunities for dialogue, including inside the Assembly,” a press release issued by Quint countries reads. The Quint countries further stressed that no one is above the law and that they expect all ensuing procedures are transparent.
Opposition: Democracy is dead (dailies)
The leaders of the three opposition parties – Vetevendosje, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) – said after a two-hour meeting yesterday that they remain firm in their stance against the agreement on the Association/Community of Serb-majority and the border demarcation with Montenegro and that the Saturday’s mass protest showed that the people are also against them. The opposition leaders also said that the police operation at the Vetevendosje’s offices on Saturday for the arrest of Albin Kurti was not the right move. “Democracy has no meaning anymore,” said AAK’s Ramush Haradinaj.
Ymeri: Agreements shall not pass (Zeri)
Vetevendosje leaders have accused the government of Kosovo of exercising influence over the judiciary and the police and said the Kosovo Police stormed the party’s headquarters on Saturday without a search warrant. They said this represents a political precedent. “Criminal agreements shall not pass and the government demonstrated force against the opposition which means we are not dealing with a democratic government,” said Vetevendosje leader Visar Ymeri. At the same time, Vetevendosje deputy leader Driton Caushi said that 86 people were arrested in Saturday’s police operation many of whom injured. He said that currently 12 activists are still being detained by the police.
Vetevendosje MP Albin Kurti sends letter from prison (media)
Several media cover a letter that Vetevendosje MP Albin Kurti sent from the High-Security Prison on Sunday. Kurti argues that Kosovo cannot be a republic and at the same time have the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. “This is why either the Kosovo Government or the Association will fall, or both of them … The political landscape in Kosovo is not divided into an opposition and the government, but rather into those who support and those who are against the Association,” Kurti writes.
Collective arrests of the opposition, “a dictatorial mindset” (Koha Ditore)
On its front page, Koha Ditore quotes Vetevendosje leaders as saying that the Kosovo Police showed no written order when they raided their offices on Saturday. On the other hand, the Kosovo Police displayed the material they confiscated during the raid saying that “these are dangerous and lethal”. Meanwhile, civil society representatives in Pristina said it is evident that the collective arrests of Vetevendosje activists and the raid were made after a political order from the Kosovo Government. They also argue that the government is following a “dictatorial mindset”.
Thaci: Russia is destabilizing the Balkans (Epoka e Re)
Kosovo’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, said in an interview for German daily Bild Zeitung, that the Balkans is faced with three challenges that can question the stability and security of South-East Europe. The first challenge, according to Thaci, is Russia’s influence in the Balkans, the second is the refugee crisis and the third is religious radicalism. Thaci further argued that by interfering in the region, Russia is investing against countries that aspire to join NATO and the European Union. On the refugee crisis, Thaci said “the Balkans countries lack the capacities of European Union member states; this is why an intensive cooperation is needed between the EU and the Balkans on the matter”.
