Kosovo Assembly marks Independence Day with solemn session

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Last year, Kosovo’s Independence Day was marked with protests and without any solemn session of the Assembly.  Although the stances of ruling and opposition parties have not changed, Kosovo’s Assembly session on the honour of the ninth anniversary of Kosovo’s independence was held in a peaceful manner on Thursday.

When Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi took the floor to address the MPs, Nisma MPs left the session. President Thaçi said that 17 February is an important day for Kosovo, listing the achievements the country has accomplished during the nine years of independence.

As soon as the President concluded his speech, four Vetëvendosje MPs and Nisma MPs joined the session.  Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, addressing to MPs, said that they are forever thankful to those who gave the life for Kosovo.  He called upon all u to overcome minor differences and to prove that all can get united for Kosovo.

Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli also addressed to MPs. He recalled the national heroes who gave their lives in different period for Kosovo’s freedom.

On the other hand, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, a special guest on the ninth anniversary of Kosovo’s independence, addressing to the journalist after the solemn session, said that 17 February 2008 will be a special date always.

“It is an important day. The memories of the difficult days and of a past that is not so distant are still fresh,” said Rama.

However, he said that the independence celebrations in Prishtinë/Pristina this year are not complete without the presence of AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj.

“I wish to Ramush Haradinaj a quick return to his home.  Without his presence, this day is not complete and, on the other hand, his absence on this day is an invitation to all to reflect how much it’s left to be done,” said the Albanian PM.

Rama, known for his messages about multi-ethnicity in Kosovo, on Thursday again dedicated few words to this issue.

“It is sacred day not only for Albanians that live in Kosovo but also for Serbs and for all others. Because Kosovo is demonstrating that it is a role model of coexistence,” said Rama.

Rama did not forget to stress that he is proud to be part of the celebrations and celebrate the most important day in Kosovo’s history.

Thaçi:  MoU with UK violates the Law

(RTK1)

RTK got hold of a letter through which Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi informed Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli that the designated British company hired to assist Kosovo institutions to recruit people for senior leading positions, is illegal because the decision to select such a company was not followed up with the required legal amendments.

The actions of the British Company contradict the Law on Civil Servants, RTK reported. On 07 February, Thaçi addressed a letter to Speaker Veseli expressing his concerns for the functioning of the memorandum signed few months ago between Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli, Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and the UK Ambassador to Kosovo, Ruairi O’Connell. The letter states that this Memorandum of Understanding is not in compliance with the legislation in power because its goal has not been included in the respective legislation.

In his letter President Thaçi considers that regardless of the good intention of this memorandum, it was not followed up with the required legal amendments which, according to him, must have been done after the signature.

UK Embassy, on the other hand said that it not seen the letter yet.

“We have not seen the letter therefore we cannot answer to it in details. We can confirm that we have asked the Government of Kosovo to harmonize the Memorandum of Understanding with the legislation in power. We have anticipated that this project – which enables recruitment of the staff in senior positions based on merits, will face resistance from those who do not want to see the change. But we hope that it will continue, and ensure that Kosovo selects public servants that deserve to be selected,” reads the reaction of the UK Embassy to Kosovo.

This communication between the President and the Speaker happened at the time when the Director of Kosovo Customs has been selected based on an assessment deriving from this Memorandum.

No mass grave found near Ibër Bridge 

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Another excavator came to Ibër Bridge on Thursday and the area was surrounded with barricade tape of Kosovo Police.   Among many works launched in this area, no wall was demolished but a long forgotten process started. Excavations at a suspected mass grave location were carried out by a team of Kosovo Forensics Institute and EULEX experts. Despite the delays in this process, this step was considered as just.

Families of missing persons raised their concerns that the location where the excavations were launched was not where the foundation of Ibër Mosque used to be. They had little hope that this process would meet their expectations.

Excavation did not produce any results. Bajram Çerkini from the Association of missing persons told KTV that there will be no excavations in this location anymore, but according to him, additional eight suspected locations remain to be investigated at the earliest time possible.

Over 130 persons from Mitrovicë/Mitrovica continue to be considered as missing.

Haradinaj: More needs to be done for a better future of Kosovo

(RTK1)

AAK chairperson, Ramush Haradinaj in an interview for RTK1 said that 17 February 2008 is an important date in Kosovo’s history.  Haradinaj said that more needs to be done for better future of Kosovo, emphasizing that Europe and region benefit from a stable and strong Kosovo. He, among other issues, said that no one can play with Albanians nowadays.

Haradinaj, who is staying in France pending a final decision of a French court after being arrested on Serbia’s warrant, said that he did not recognise Serbia’s jurisdiction. He also expressed dissatisfied with delays by the French court in treating his case.

Court of Appeals orders Ivanovic’s retrial

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

The case Civic Initiative SDP leader, Oliver Ivanovic, convicted of war crimes for ordering the murder of ethnic Albanians in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica in 1999, has been sent for retrial.

The Court of Appeals in Prishtinë/Pristina announced on Thursday that a decision had been made to retry Ivanovic.

“The appeals of the defence counsels and by the defendant Oliver Ivanovic personally were partially granted in relation to the conviction for the criminal offence of war crimes against the civilian population,” the court said in a statement.

Delawie urges MPs to ratify demarcation with Montenegro

(Summary of KTV show – Rubicon)

US support for Balkan, in particular to Kosovo, will continue regardless of the fact if the most powerful country is led by Republicans or Democrats.  US Ambassador to Kosovo, Grew Delawie emphasized in KTV show ‘Rubicon’ that US is pursuing the same political approach as in the past.

He said that as it concerns Balkans and Kosovo in particular, US was consistent during the last decades, irrespective to the fact who was leading the White House

“I have not seen any indications that this will change… US will continue to support Kosovo’s independence, growth and its integration in European structures,” said Delawie.

Delawie emphasized that dialogue should continue. According to him, many agreements which benefit both sides have been reached through this dialogue.

“I think that the dialogue should continue. There were concreteachievementsin the dialogue: integration of police in north, collection of custom taxes in the border between Kosovo and Serbia, telephony code and I hope to see the opening of the bridge in about a month or so,” said Delawie.

He expressed his optimism as it concerns the revitalisation of the bridge. According to Delawie, compromise should be pursued in all other processes, as it was done with the bridge.

Delawie did not disclose any timeframe when the Ibër Bridge will be opened but said that the EU is continuing to work in this project.

The US Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie considered as a step forward the establishment of the new Commission to review the demarcation process with Montenegro. He emphasized that the stance of the US Embassy is that border defined by the Commission is identical to the borders of 1974. “These borders are in the Constitution of Kosovo, it is the border that is shown in Kosovo’s flag, it is the right border,” he said.  He urged MPs and state officials to ratify the Demarcation Agreement, adding that energy spent on this issue could have been spent in fighting corruption and unemployment.

Commenting the recent developments, Ambassador Delwaie considered as political violence the teargas and Molotov cocktails. The Ambassador stressed that he does not support this kind of actions

As it concerns the calls for early elections, Delawie considered the early election option as a bad idea.

Discussing about the transformation of Kosovo Security Forces into Kosovo Armed Forces, Delawie said that the US Embassy supports the transformation, but emphasized that the Army should be established in compliance with the required constitutional amendments.

Additionally, he called on Srpska List to return to in the Assembly.

As it concerns the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities, Delawie said that Brussels Agreement entirely clarifies this process.  He said that the Agreement must be implemented, as, according to him, the Association is the path to the dissolution of parallel structures.

Full interview of the US Ambassador to Kosovo in English can be found here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zXg0_OTF-Wo