EU confirms Mogherini’s visit
(RTK1&KTV)
European Union has confirmed the visit to the region, including Kosovo, of the High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini.
According to the press release, Mogherini will visit Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
“For the European Union the work with the Western Balkans, a region in the heart of Europe, is a key priority. I work to see every single one of the Western Balkans partners move forward on the reform path, towards the European Union, to ensure the process is irreversible. Regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations remain essential in this context,” Mogherini said.
In Kosovo, she will meet the President and Prime Minister same as she will take part in a lunch with leaders of parliamentary political parties.
However, the main goal of the visit will be to inaugurate conclusion of works over Ibër River in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica.
On the other hand, Mitrovicë/Mitrovica citizens are sceptical that free movement of people in both sides of the town will happen on 03 March, Kosovo’s public broadcaster reported.
Veseli: KSF will soon become an Army
(RTK1)
In an interview with Radio and Television of Kosovo, Speaker of Kosovo Assembly Kadri Veseli said that Kosovo Army will be done very soon and that they have American support for this.
He said it is not true that governing coalition has said they do not have the international support for establishment of Kosovo Army but, according to him, this will be done when the moment comes.
“There is no dilemma about KSF’s transformation into Army of the country and this will happen very soon, at a suitable moment,” Veseli underlined.
As far as demarcation is concerned, Veseli said it is of strategic interest to conclude demarcation as it will open many roads for Kosovo. According to him, demarcation will be done in all parts of the country, including the northern part.
With regards to elections, Veseli said they have a good coalition and international support: however, according to him; they can take any decision with consensus and in compliance with law.
Veseli also commented the photos published with the US President, Donald Trump. He said that US will have special care for Kosovo. Veseli also said that Kosovo and its citizens should be proud of US support. “We are blessed by God for this,” he ended.
Three communities say they were never honoured by Kosovo President
(KTV)
The moment that he became a President, Hashim Thaçi did not hesitate to pay tribute to war victims belonging to Serb community.
However, there are three other minority communities which say that they were never honoured by the country President, no matter that their murdered ones were victims of both sides, Serbs and Albanians.
Veton Berisha, an Egyptian MP at the Assembly of Kosovo, told KTV how insulted they felt by the fact that the President neglected them.
In the meantime, in its annual report, the international organisation for human rights “Amnesty International” assesses that human rights all over the world are at risk, due to politicians who are using “poisoning and inhuman” rhetoric against the ethnic or religious minorities, with the aim of strengthening their authority.
In the part that it speaks about Kosovo, the report highlights that Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities have continued to suffer institutional discrimination, in particular in access to sustainable housing solutions and employment.
This year’s report was dubbed – The State of the World’s Human Rights. Denial of the right of family members to know about the fate of over 1,600 people, who went missing since the last war in Kosovo, was emphasised.
The report also highlights that no new mass graves were found during 2016 in Serbia or Kosovo.
Hoxhaj: Kosovo will establish Association of Serb Municipalities
(RTK2)
Kosovo Minister of Foreign Affairs, Enver Hoxhaj, said that Prishtinë/Pristina will implement Brussels Agreement and establish the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities.
“It is in our interest and in the interest of Serb community in Kosovo to have a body that can support, coordinate, help them improve their lives, and facilitate their integration into Kosovo’s state structure, politics, economy and civil society,” said Hoxhaj to N1.
Hoxhaj said that Association must be established in compliance with Brussels Agreement and the judgement of Kosovo Constitutional Court.
Kosovo MP receives death threats about demarcation
(RTK1)
An MP of the ruling coalition received death threats on the verge of voting the Agreement on Demarcation with Montenegro, online version of RTK reported.
“This will be the fate of MPs and political leaders if Demarcation will be passed!” reads a photography containing sensitive images that has been as threat to a female MP of Kosovo Assembly from the ranks of the ruling coalition.
“This time treason will be punished. Without any trial…In the name of the people,” reads the death message received by the MP.
Law on RTK to be put at public hearing
(RTK1)
Wednesday’s agenda of the Assembly Committee for Public Services, Local Administration and Media included harmonization of amendments on RTK law. However, this did not happen because members of this Committee proposed to have a public hearing about the Law before harmonizing the amendments.
PDK MP Zenun Pajaziti emphasized the fact that the Law on RTK is the only Law that has been dragged for years.
Chairperson of this Committee, Xhevahire Izmaku, said that a public hearing will be organized within the next 10 days.
Lumezi requests from prosecutors to review murder cases of public figures
(RTK1)
Chief State Prosecutor, Aleksandër Lumezi, requested from all chief prosecutors of Basic Prosecutions and Special Prosecution to review murder cases of public figures and take necessary actions to shed light on these cases, although most of these cases were treated at the time that the criminal offences were committed and the identity of their perpetrators was not managed to be discovered.
During the meeting that Lumezi held on Wednesday with prosecutors of Kosovo prosecutions it was reported about the work of all prosecutions they lead for January this year, same as about the work of each prosecutor of the particular prosecution.
Online Platform for Public Consultations presented
(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)
Office of Good Governance presented the Online Platform for Public Consultations. Prime Minister Isa Mustafa said that the goal of this Platform is to help government ministries on public consultations and to have the possibility of cooperation for all the interested ones, the civil society and citizens.
On the other hand, Head of EU Office in Kosovo, Nataliya Apostolova, said that the aim of public consultation is to ensure transparency and accountability.
“In the context of fulfilling the obligations from SAA, meaningful public consultations and involvement of civil society in policy making are essential preconditions for ensuring effective public administration reform,” said Apostolova.
Civil society organisations welcomed the online platform, considering it as an important step of Government.
With the support of European Commission and Government of Kosovo, the NGO Network Civikos and Kosovar Civil Society Foundation (KSCF) contributed to development of this online platform.
Kroi i Vitakut resident beaten up by two young Serbs
(TV21)
Two young Serbs have beaten up Sadat Rama, a resident of Kroi i Vitakut neighbourhood, until he lost his consciousness.
Rama reported the case to Kosovo Police station in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north. He informed leaders of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north municipality that the attack happened at the entrance of Doctors’ Valley neighbourhood.
Mayor of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica south, Agim Bahtiri, and his deputy Faruk Mujka have condemned the incident and called on prosecution bodies to arrest and bring perpetrators to law.
Parish house burglarized
(RTK2)
On Tuesday night, unidentified perpetrators broke into the parish house in Boston village of Novo Brdo/Novobërdë municipality and took away money that belonged to Serbian Orthodox Church. This incident has caused distress among the local population.
Kosovo Police has launched investigations into this incident, RTK2 reported.
