Thaçi urges Assembly to immediately take decision on KAF establishment

(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)

President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, met with the President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker. The issue of visa liberalisation for Kosovo citizens and the European integration process were at the focus of this meeting.

President Juncker, who is a supporter of European perspective for all the Western Balkans countries, expressed his willingness to conclude this prolonged process.

After the meeting, President Thaçi spoke about visa liberalisation. He called on MPs to vote Demarcation in order for Kosovo citizens not to remain hostage to their vote.

“The European Union will not change its stance. I must be very open and sincere with citizens of Kosovo; therefore I call on everyone to work together to conclude this process during the month and then the EU will immediately announce full implementation of issues by Kosovo’s part, and citizens will move freely within the year,” Thaçi said.

In a longer interview with the public broadcaster which was aired immediately after its main news edition, President Thaçi urged members of the Assembly to put interests of the state above party ones. “The ones who are not voting demarcation, they have visas for themselves, and by doing so the citizens are being punished,” he said.

Thaçi also spoke about establishment of Kosovo Armed Force – KAF. He said that there is no time to lose for this issue and, according to him; the Assembly of Kosovo should immediately take the decision for establishment of Kosovo Army.

“It is good that discussion for establishment of the Army happened today in the Assembly, but this issue should not be politicized. But, the Assembly’s decision for establishment of the Armed Force is required,” President Thaçi said.

“More than futile discussions in the Assembly of Kosovo, Kosovo needs Assembly’s decision for establishment of the Kosovo Armed Force. Therefore, I insist on a decision and I look forward to signing that decision of Kosovo Assembly as the President of Kosovo. Kosovo has no time to lose. This issue depends on us and we must move with decision-making in the Assembly of Kosovo, in voting and not in political polarisation,” he urged.

According to him, all the options for convincing Srpska List to vote Kosovo’s Army have exhausted. “Unfortunately they are influenced by Belgrade and we cannot wait for Serbia’s mood to establish the Armed Force, because they are never in the mood for Kosovo to establish its army,” President Thaçi stated.

According to him, Kosovo should make the last efforts to convince Srpska List, but in case it does not manage, then it should be moved with legal changes and equip KSF with military mandate and mission. 

French court postpones ruling on Haradinaj

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV) 

Following the extradition request filed by Serbia, the Appellate Court in Colmar of France will rule on 02 March regarding release or extradition of the AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj.

Following Thursday’s session, former Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, said he hopes that this decision will be taken before 02 March, since a lot of time has been lost for an extradition request of Serbia which is ungrounded. Haradinaj said that Serbia is trying to obstruct Kosovo by all means.

During the session Haradinaj was asked if he accepts to be extradited to Serbia, but he said he was against this, saying that extradition request was political. Until this date, Haradinaj is not allowed to leave France.

Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Enver Hoxhaj, considers further holding of AAK leader, Ramush Haradinaj, in France unnecessary and senseless.

Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli also expressed his lament for Haradinaj. “Charges from Belgrade against Haradinaj are unacceptable,” Veseli said. 

Mustafa: Institutions have demonstrated their strength

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Interpellation of Prime Minister Isa Mustafa regarding the situation in Kosovo north called from Vetëvendosje Movement lasted for several hours, but the resolution was not voted following AAK’s request to suspend the plenary session as a sign of protest against the decision of French judiciary authorities for their leader, Ramush Haradinaj.

Prime Minister Mustafa said that with the latest actions Kosovo institutions have demonstrated the strength they have, while the opposition accused him of cooperation with the Serbian Government.

Other TV broadcasters reported that the plenary will resume its proceedings on Tuesday 14 February.

Nikolic: Keeping Kosovo a top UN priority important

(RTK2)

Serbian President, Tomislav Nikolic, said that keeping Kosovo a top priority of the UN is very important for maintaining stability.

As the Office of Serbian President announced, in the meeting that he had with Head of UNMIK Zahir Tanin in Belgrade, Nikolic pointed out the importance of this Mission in Kosovo and expressed his expectation that the volume and staff of this Mission will not be changed.

New round of Kosovo-Serbia talks expected soon

(RTK2)

A new round of Kosovo-Serbia talks in Brussels will probably happen soon. It is very likely for it to happen at the very beginning of next week, Serbian daily Danas reported.

It can be expected that the EU, as facilitator in these talks, will commend both sides unless major incidents do not happen in the meantime, as it was case with the train, diplomatic sources told Danas unofficially.

Sources of the Belgrade daily said that format of these talks will be changed after upcoming presidential elections in Serbia, respectively that the two Presidents and not the Prime Minister will be discussing in the future.

Prosecutors show little interest in joining Special Prosecution

(Klan Kosova)

The salary of over 2.200 euros is not encouraging prosecutors to become part of the Special Prosecution.

Only nine prosecutors applied in the last vacancy announced by the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council to fill in nine vacant positions in this sector, while three of them applied only on the last day of the deadline.

It seems that this fact has also worried the Chief State Prosecutor, Aleksandër Lumezi. He addressed a request to the Ministry of Justice to amend Article 20 of the Law on State Prosecution.

In a response for Klan Kosova, Chief Prosecutor’s Office explained that they have requested softening of criteria for becoming a prosecutor in this prosecution body.