Opposition believes that Association and Demarcation will destabilise situation

(KTV) 

Opposition is responding on the same way to the persistence of senior Kosovo officials to push Association and Demarcation forward.

The troika of state leaders met a day earlier where they discussed implementation of these agreements and establishment of Kosovo Army.

Vetëvendosje deputy chairman, Driton Çaushi, says that these three persons who resemble ill-governance always come together to make favours to Serbia, by surfacing the subjection to them.

“Same as they started with an agreement on coalition with Srpska List on these conditions, now they are coming together under the Serbian pressure by clearly surfacing the subjection to Serbia’s requests for two issues that were evidently wrong as dialogue processes and very harmful projects for the state-building, namely the Association and Demarcation,” Çaushi said.

Pal Lekaj of AAK thinks that this will only destabilise the situation further, tensions will raise and people will have its final say about it.

Political analyst Imer Mushkolaj qualifies the effort to put Kosovo Army in the same package with the Association and Demarcation as unfair.

“Having in mind the reactions that were there for the Association and the Demarcation, be it from the opposition or a great part of society, of course they are putting establishment of Kosovo Army in this package, a promise that was given years earlier and which was easier to be met in 2014,” Mushkolaj said. 

FM Hoxhaj concerned that Serbia is getting armed by Russia

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV) 

Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj has raised his concern regarding military arming of Serbia from Russia.

In his report in front of the Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee members, Hoxhaj said it is concerning that over the last three months Serbia’s military balance has been increased. Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee wanted to know if Kosovo has a contraposition strategy toward Serbia.

But these concerns raised by members of this Committee did not receive a concrete response from Minister Hoxhaj.

Kosovo Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, also reported to this Committee during Wednesday.

She said that Association of Serb Majority Municipalities will be established only if the overall dissolving of illegal structures in the north will happen.

Minister Tahiri said that Kosovo-Serbia dialogue is heading toward its end. According to her, in the final stage it will be discussed about mutual recognition, Kosovo-Serbia demarcation, missing persons, pensions and war reparations issue.

MPs to discuss Kosovo Army on Thursday’s session

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV) 

On Thursday Kosovo Assembly MPs will give their interpretations on how the future army of Kosovo will be constructed.

Initiative of the Assembly Committee for Kosovo Security Force, Daut Haradinaj, got the support of other members. In Wednesday’s meeting Haradinaj stressed that institutions are obliged to make KSF an army.

On the other hand, parties in power said that conditions have not been met for this issue to be addressed in public debate for the fact that constitutional ways should be looked at once again.

However, Nisma për Kosovën does not believe that Thursday’s debate might be at KSF’s interest, while they blamed PDK for the failure to create the army.

Assembly Security Committee also called on Kosovo Police Director, Shpend Maxhuni, to report at the next meeting of this Committee about the presence of Serbian army within the territory of Kosovo, as reported by Serbian media. 

Government’s building in Kosovo north still not functional

(KTV) 

Kosovo still did not manage to extend its sovereignty in the northern part of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë as the Minister for Dialogue had stated while inaugurating Kosovo Government’s building in that part.

However, according to her, the building will soon start working, without telling exactly when.

Whereas, about non-functioning of this building, Albanian municipal councillors of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North blame the Serbian part for this, saying that they do not want to see any Kosovo Government institution functioning in the north.

KTV tried to take a stance from Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North Mayor, Goran Rakic, but he was not accessible during the day.

After its inauguration this building was attacked twice with explosive devices, which caused many material damages. Kosovo Police said that there is still nothing concrete regarding identification of attackers. 15 ministries and central agencies that have local scope of activities were planned to have offices in this building. 

KJA wants to be included in drafting of Law on RTK

(KTV)

In the amendment of the Law on Radio of Television of Kosovo (RTK), chairwoman of the Assembly Committee for Public Administration and Media, Xhevahire Izmaku, has proposed amendment of the Article 32 paragraph 3 regarding appointment and selection of the RTK Director General. With this proposal adopted by this Committee, the RTK Director General will be appointed with simple majority and he/she will be dismissed with two-thirds of votes of members present in the RTK Board.

His/her mandate will be three years with possibility of reselection from the RTK Board. Reformulation of this paragraph does not limit permanent reselection of RTK Director.

MP Xhevahire Izmaku does not admit she is the proposer of this change, but in the draft law it is evident that she was the one who proposed it.

“Proposals are from the Committee. No proposal in any amendment cannot pass and be sent for interpretation to Government if it does not get the necessary votes in the Committee,” Izmaku said.

MP Shqipe Pantina, who is also a member of Media Committee, did not accept to speak about this issue.

Responses regarding the change of Law on RTK were not given by the current RTK Director, either.

On the other hand, Jeton Mehmeti of GAP Institute considers non-limitation of RTK Director’s mandate dangerous for functioning of the public broadcaster.

Head of Kosovo Journalists Association (KJA), Shkëlqim Hysenaj, demands more transparency and inclusion of KJA in drafting of the Law on RTK.

Workers Union of Radio and Television of Kosovo (SPERTK) consider non-limitation of RTK Director’s mandate as a constant opportunity for influence of certain groups in this medium.

Few days ago, the European Union Office in Kosovo also expressed its concern over lack of transparency in amending Law on RTK.

Protection of Serbian cultural heritage remains KFOR’s priority

(RTK2)

The abbot of the Visoki Decani Monastery, archimandrite Sava Janjic, said that protection of Serbian cultural heritage, to which Monastery belongs, remains one of KFOR’s priorities.

On Wednesday he had an important meeting with the Deputy Head of NATO (JFC) operations headquarters, US Admiral Mary Tinch.

“KFOR remains dedicated to prevention of any threats to peace, as a guarantee of security for all Kosovo communities,” Janjic said.

Jevtic informed CoE Commissioner for Human Rights on situation of IDPs

(RTK2)

Minister for Communities and Return, Dalibor Jevtic, met on Wednesday in Prishtinë/Pristina with the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, and informed him about the current situation with regard to displaced persons, creating conditions for their return, as well as the problems faced by those who have returned.

Minister also spoke about the issue of usurped property and situation of IDPs in collective centres in Kosovo, as well as the plans for closing these centres.