Authorities applaud demolition of wall in north, opposition calls it a circus

(KTV) 

Regardless of the statements of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North Serb Mayor, Goran Rakic, that a concrete basement will be there again few metres away from the wall demolished on Sunday, Assembly Speaker said that there will be no more walls in Kosovo. He even described into details how that part will look like.

He also called on citizens not to fall prey of those that, according to him, are fighting for chairs, while without mentioning his name; he invited Albin Kurti to return to Kosovo.

LDK of Isa Mustafa also welcomed demolition of wall in the north. Ismet Beqiri of this party said that the most important thing is that everything ended without tensions and it was demolished by those who built it.

While demolition of the wall for LDK became a reality, the same thing is not also happening with demarcation with Montenegro. Beqiri did not rule out the possibility that this issue will not manage to happen in this mandate.

On the other hand, Vetëvendosje deputy chairperson, MP Driton Çaushi, said that a circus is happening in the north.

“It aims to conceal two very important issues, which go beyond the importance of a wall that was erected, is being demolished and re-erected again. These issues are the 2015 Agreement which behind this wall places a boulevard that ultimately blocks the only highway that connects northern and southern part of the country,” Çaushi said.

Meanwhile, Pal Lekaj of AAK said that violation of Assembly resolution adopted on 29 December last year is going on.

Opposition announced its contradiction by all means in case the topic of Association of Serb Majority Municipalities will be returned, parties in power guaranteed that the Association will only be done based on Constitutional Court’s judgement.

Otherwise, at the next session of the Assembly it is expected to be discussed about Kosovo Security Force and the possibility of its transformation into an army or extension of its competencies with the request of AAK MP, Daut Haradinaj.

In the meantime, the U.S. Embassy in Prishtinë/Pristina welcomed February 4 agreement between Environment and Spatial Planning Minister Ferat Shala and North Mitrovica/Mitrovicë Mayor Goran Rakic on a revised urban plan for the pedestrianization of King Peter Street.

“We applaud the municipal assembly of North Mitrovica/Mitrovicë for its prompt adoption of the new plan. The agreement reached will result in the construction of a beautiful pedestrian area that fulfils the 2015 agreement on freedom of movement for all of Kosovo’s people. Much can be accomplished when all sides come together to work for the common good,” statement of the U.S. Embassy in Kosovo stresses.

Shala: No new wall in north

(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)

While Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North Mayor, Goran Rakic, said that construction of new wall will start on Tuesday in the northern part, Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, Ferat Shala, categorically denied that there will be a new wall.

Invited to RTK Monitor show, Minister Shala said that according to the agreement, works will on the new boulevard in that part can continue as of Tuesday.

“There is no new wall any more. Everything is harmonised and designed. Everything is measurable. Everything is an approved project at all the administrative levels of local and central government. The wall was demolished because it was illegal and unnecessary,” Shala insisted.

Shala denied that continuation of works in the boulevard of that part will divide the town.

Later during the evening, RTK online version also quoted Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North Mayor, Goran Rakic, as saying that that no wall will be built in northern part of this town.

“We agreed that the existing wall would be demolished and build a new structure with a new design, for which we agreed with all the actors involved in dialogue,” Rakic told RTV Dukagjini.

Gecaj announces sooner resumption of talks for establishment of ASMM

(RTK1) 

Deputy Minister of Local Government Administration, Bajram Gecaj, announced sooner resumption of talks for establishment of the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities (ASMM).

Talking to RTK Image show, Gecaj said that negotiations will be difficult and that Government will not allow this Association to be a third power.

“I am telling you that I believe work will start quite soon. How long will the negotiations go on, I do not know. I have expected, in fact I was afraid that negotiations on the wall will last longer, but they lasted only a week, apart from the meetings that we had with Prime Minister Isa Mustafa. On the other hand, on the Association issue, I expect them to be longer, because the viewpoints are completely opposite here. While we want to establish an Association that will help Serb majority municipalities, on the other side, there are viewpoints that this Association should have executive power and be a sort of third level. This will not happen. Due to these viewpoints, negotiations will be difficult and it is likely for them to be long,” Gecaj said.

No census for Serbs of Kosovo north

(KTV)

Draft law on census of Serbs in the four northern municipalities is not even close to submission for approval at the Assembly. At least it is not close during these first months of the year, because this draft law was returned to Government last month.

At the Assembly Committee for Public Administration say that this draft law, which is considered to be of utmost importance, still has not reached their hands.

Chairwoman of this Committee, Xhevahire Izmaku, said that Government should put more pressure on Srpska List representatives, in order to encourage residents of these four municipalities to take part when the census will be held.

Izmaku added that this issue is not planned to be discussed in the agenda of this Commission during the first months of this year. But, according to her, Government has ways to bring it this draft in fast-tracked manner to the Commission.

However, in Government say that this issue was passed to Ministry for Dialogue.

“Based on information at my disposal, this draft law is not at the Office of Prime Minister, as it has been passed to offices of Ministry of Dialogue, since the European Commission does a part of the financing,” said Faton Abdullahu, Prime Minister’s media advisor.

But, the other advisor to Prime Minister who is also Deputy Minister of Local Government Administration, Bajram Gecaj, says something completely different. According to him, this draft law is at the Assembly.

Kohavision requested a response regarding this issue from the advisor to Minister Edita Tahiri, Dren Zeka, but the latter did not respond.

In the meantime, one of Srpska List representatives, Nenad Rasic, said that Government of Kosovo has not requested from Srpska List to discuss this draft law.

Military exercises carried out in Kosovo north

(RTK1)

For two weeks in a row, “Udhëve” [On the roads] show in Radio and Television of Kosovo published facts on the presence of former members of Serbian paramilitary structures in mountains of Leposavic/Leposaviq. In the investigation were presented facts that these persons illegally entered the territory of Kosovo, and that they carried out military exercises.

Publication of these facts provoked the reaction of the one who led these exercises. However, Momcilo Arlov, the Serb from Glina of Croatia, did not manage to refute the claims of “Udhëve” show.

“It is true that I have met Captain Dragan on several occassions and took photos with him, same as I have received red beret from him which I proudly wore in all the wars, including the one in Kosovo,” Arlov said.

Arlov tried to justify military exercises in the north referring to his association, registered as “Airsoft Club” with the name ‘Vukovi’. However, security experts do not consider his justifications sincere, who conclude that typical military exercises were carried out in the north.

“An activity which was initially started to decrease the cost of military exercises, it started from big and sophisticated armies. It means that strategies, techniques and tactics remained the same but only the cost of the exercise was decreased and minimizing of injuries or fatalities in different tactical exercises and strategies,” said security expert Agim Musliu.

Even the Ministry of Public Administration (MPA), the institution that licenced this organisation, after broadcast of “Udhëve” show, concludes that this NGO has violated the law.

“If these exercises were carried out on behalf of the organisation then it is a flagrant violation of the statute they registered with and the Law on Freedom of Association,” stated Bajram Kosumi of MPA.

Leader of these activities in the north, Momcilo Arlov, tried to make propaganda against “Udhëve” show by using Serbian media. However, pressure put on our editorial office did not stop the investigation, RTK reported. Furthermore, journalists and camera operator of “Udhëve” show even went to mountains of Leposavic/Leposaviq where they clearly saw that military exercises were carried out.

Publication of all these facts led to resignation of Momcilo Arlov from the club he opened, on behalf of which “Udhëve” show revealed the illegal activities.

Through an announcement in Vukovi Club’s website reported about his resignation. However, it seems that his resignation will not be enough for Kosovo institutions, which admit they have been deceived by this Group. It is expected that in the coming days Kosovo security institutions to recommend closure of this suspicious NGO, which would end activities of this organisation.

Lauka: Russia is threat number one for the Balkans

(Summary of Klan Kosova – Zone B show)

Former Albanian Ambassador to Kosovo and expert on Russian politics, Islam Lauka, said that Kosovo issue has found its place in Russian diplomacy for years now. Talking to Klan Kosova Zone B show, he said that Kosovo did not get recognition from all the states because Russia opposes it.

Nevertheless, Lauka said that Kosovo issue has no value for Russia and that Vladimir Putin uses Kosovo issue to keep Serbia under its control, and use it as a card for pressure.

According to Lauka, Russia is the threat number one in the Balkans. He said that terrorism or Turkey do not come before this threat.

Lauka said that Russia’s interest for the Balkans in great. “Russian interest for the Balkans never fades. During [Donald] Trump’s campaign, the Balkans or Kosovo were never mentioned,” he stressed.

Former Albanian Ambassador to Kosovo, Lauka, also commented visits of Albanian officials to the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj and his detention case in France.

He mainly mentioned the Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, saying that he can be anything, but not a patriot.

“Edi Rama suffers for patriotism because he is not a patriot. He is a product of Sorosian sphere and if you take him away from that sphere he will vanish,” Lauka said.

Islam Lauka also said that Albanians are not prepared for exchange of territories.

“In case exchange of territories begins Serbia aims to take Mitrovica/Mitrovicë and I do not think that this is not the moment,” former Albanian Ambassador to Kosovo told Zone B show.

“If Kosovo is not recognised as a state, we cannot talk about anything serious,” Lauka concluded his interview with Klan Kosova.