PDK backs down, Mustafa rejects Koci as Minister of Justice (Koha)
The paper reports on its front page that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), the biggest party in the ruling coalition, had proposed its member Gani Koci to replace Hajredin Kuçi in the post of Minister of Justice. Citing unnamed sources, the paper earlier reported that Prime Minister Isa Mustafa refused to accept Koci in his government saying among other things that “internationals have reservations about this proposal”. Mustafa, who is also leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), together with PDK leader and Assembly President, Kadri Veseli, announced on Thursday that Hajredin Kuçi would continue to hold the position of Minister of Justice in addition to assuming the post of Principal Deputy Prime Minister. Enver Hoxhaj (PDK) has been appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. Mustafa told reporters on Thursday that the PDK never submitted to him the proposal for Koci to become Minister of Justice. Mustafa and Veseli also said they were confident that the current coalition would continue to govern the country until 2018.
Visa liberalisation for Kosovo, in autumn (Zeri)
Kosovo will most probably not get visa liberalisation before autumn this year, the paper reports on page four. Kosovo’s European Integration Minister, Bekim Çollaku, told the paper that there is no indication that visa liberalisation for Kosovo will be postponed. He said so far things have moved on and that the proposal of the European Commission is going through the process of decision-making in the Council of Ministers and is being discussed by the relevant bodies. Çollaku also added that Kosovo institutions are working hard to maintain the positive trend of the implementation of all aspects of the visa liberalisation roadmap. Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MP, Arben Gashi, said the government should work more to convince those member states that are still reluctant to support Kosovo. On the other hand, representatives of the opposition parties said that every condition for visa liberalisation posed by the EU is unfair.
“Increased threat from violent extremism in Kosovo” (Telegrafi)
The United States State Department on Thursday issued the Country Reports on Terrorism, which describes the counterterrorism landscape during the last calendar year. Regarding Kosovo, the report says the threat of violent Islamic extremism is gradually increasing since the conflict in 1999. About 300 foreign terrorist fighters from Kosovo, says the report, have traveled to Syria and Iraq to fight for ISIS or al-Nusra Front, of which about 50 were killed. Violent extremist groups are actively using social media to spread propaganda and recruit people, the report said. In 2015, in Kosovo there were no terrorist incidents, although police arrested suspects for planning such attacks. “While relevant governmental and nongovernmental stakeholders have expressed the willingness and commitment to implement their respective action items, lack of capacity and sufficient budget remained challenges,” the reports says. “Because the security and political situation in northern Kosovo continued to limit the government’s ability to exercise its authority in that region, the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) and EU Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) worked with the KP to maintain a safe and secure environment and strengthen the rule of law, including at the borders. Kosovo’s ability to exercise its authority in the north has improved since the signing of the 2013 Brussels Agreement to normalize relations with Serbia, but the two countries have yet to fully implement the agreement.”
Thaçi: Kosovars did not join ISIS because of their religious beliefs (Insajderi)
Kosovo President, Hashim Thaci, told RTV Dukagjini on Thursday that religious beliefs and ideology are not among the main reasons why some Kosovar youths joined ISIS. Thaçi said Kosovo is a champion in the region in the fight against terrorism and radicalization. Thaçi also said that local authorities have launched concrete measures against 100 individuals who are accused of inciting hatred and facilitating the travelling of Kosovars to Iraq and Syria.
Kosovo, Albania governments to meet today in Pristina (RTK)
The third joint meeting of the governments of Kosovo and Albania will be held today in Pristina. Seven agreements will be signed between the governments, in different sectors. Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, and Albania’s Prime Minister, Edi Rama, are expected to hold a joint press conference in the afternoon.
Bahtiri, Rakić agree that “media should not cover the Iber Bridge” (Koha)
KTV reported on Thursday evening that Mitrovica South Mayor, Agim Bahtiri, had given many promises for freedom of movement on the Iber Bridge, but that now he does not want to talk to the media on the matter. Bahtiri met on Wednesday with European Union officials but did not comment on the revitalization of the bridge. Mitrovica North Mayor, Goran Rakić, did not attend the meeting. He told KTV that questions about the bridge should be addressed to the EU. Rakić even suggested that the media should not cover the topic at all. KTV asked the EU Office in Pristina about the timeline for the revitalization of the bridge but received no reply. The TV station recalls that according to the Brussels agreement, the bridge was supposed to be open to the public in mid-June.
Kadriu: Kosovo’s underground is threatening me (Lajmi)
Margarita Kadriu-Ukelli, an independent MP in the Kosovo Assembly, writes on her Facebook profile that the tires of her car were slashed on Thursday. “My speeches as an independent member of the Kosovo Assembly and my insistence that there should be a parliamentary committee on fiscal evasion, smuggling, corruption and organized crime, seem to have caused great concern among companies that are linked to organized crime and certain politicians … I call on the police and prosecution to seriously address this case … It seems that my independent voice in the Kosovo Assembly has become unbearable for Kosovo’s underground and the politicians that are linked to it,” Kadriu-Ukelli wrote.
