Ballots of Serbian presidential elections to be counted in Kosovo
(RTK2)
In 2012, 2014 and 2016 the OSCE Mission facilitated holding of Serbian elections in Kosovo. Upon the request of Belgrade, this Mission will also technically organize the new Serbian presidential elections scheduled for 02 April. The novelty is that ballot papers will not be counted in Raska and Vranje, as it happened during the earlier years, but in the territory of Kosovo, the Serbian Constitutional Court announced.
Civil society representative, Nenad Maksimovic, considers that the OSCE did not manage the best on organisation of Serbian elections so far.
“All the elections that the OSCE recently organised were either accompanied by serious deficiencies and lack of the necessary control over the electoral process. It is encouraging that the Serbian Constitutional Court ruled that counting of ballots in Raska is unconstitutional, which probably lowers the possibility of abuse of the election process and substitution of election material to a certain extent,” Maksimovic stated.
Election campaign for Serbian President is underway. According to the analyst and member of the Serbian National Forum, Momcilo Trajkovic, Kosovo is being used as the filthiest instrument of the election campaign.
“I think that the filthiest campaign is related with Kosovo. Statements of certain parties, presidential candidates against others, underestimation, insults, judgments, qualification of each other as traitors because of their different stances are something that do not contribute to solution of our problem, and it certainly does not contribute to better life of us here in Kosovo,” Trajkovic considers.
Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Jan Braathu, explained that Kosovo institutions do not want carrying out of Serbian official elections in Kosovo; therefore, the OSCE must find the way and enable voting to Serbs who live in Kosovo.
In this regard, Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Branimir Stojanovic, said he sees no reason for elections to be held in Kosovo, too.
“I absolutely see no problem for elections to be conducted, and I absolutely expect that they will be conducted,” he said.
From the OSCE was stated that they still do not know details regarding organisation of elections and that their representatives are in consultation with all the parties, and they look forward to a positive outcome.
Thaçi: Kosovo will not seek permission from Serbia for its sovereign decisions
(TV21)
Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi said that local and internationals were informed about Kosovo Security Force (KSF) transformation into an Army for three years now.
“This action could be considered unilateral only if someone from the international community intimates that Kosovo needs to seek permission from Serbia for its sovereign decisions. Let me be clear: this will not happen,” Thaçi insisted.
Konjufca: Thaçi made up KSF issue to divert attention from ASMM
(RTK2)
Vetëvendosje Movement caucus leader, Glauk Konjufca, accused President of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi of making up the issue of Kosovo Security Forces’ transformation to divert attention from the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities (ASMM) and the agreement on Demarcation with Montenegro.
“Kosovo Army is a fiction because it is not an authentic project of Thaçi,” said Konjufca, Klan Kosova reported.
Arbana Xharra reacts against lynching by Vetëvendosje members
(RTK1)
The cases where journalists are lynched by different political entities have recently increased.
Arbana Xharra, Zëri newspaper editor in chief, is the last one who says she was publically lynched by Vetëvendosje Movement. According to her, this lynching started when she came out with a stance regarding demarcation with Montenegro.
Xharra says that if this campaign is not stopped by respective bodies the cases when journalists in Kosovo will be lynched will only add up.
“Through its allegedly sarcastic portal, the biggest opposition party has constantly campaigned against me. While yesterday I responded to one of the members of this party for an accusation that I would allegedly give away Kosovo land, today a big number, almost the whole party is dealing with me. This manner of treatment is distressful. If they have anything, they can send the reaction,” Xharra told RTK1.
This campaign, according to the other journalist, Imer Mushkolaj, should not be tolerated. According to him, these calls are quite dangerous.
“The calls for lynch of public personae, in this case I am speaking about journalists or people who work in media, are extremely concerning and unacceptable. For anyone who does not agree with the manner of someone’s reporting, respectively that he/she does not agree even with a status in social networks, there are legal ways that need to be followed and solve the issue. But, no one has the right that in the name of any idea or belief to make calls for lynching anybody,” Mushkolaj said.
Kosovo Journalists’ Association (KJA) still has not come out with a stance about this. The KJA Board will convene on Thursday and it will subsequently have a stance on Xharra case.
Ranilug/Ranillug Mayor Gradimir Mikic arrested
(RTK2)
Kosovo Police arrested the Mayor of Ranilug/Ranillug, Gradimir Mikic, because he was transporting propaganda material for presidential elections in Serbia with the municipal official vehicle, online version of RTK2 reported late on Wednesday.
This was confirmed by Kosovo Police spokesperson Baki Kelani for Indeksonline portal.
“While controlling the official vehicle we found promotional material for elections in Serbia”, Kelani stated for Indeksonline.
Sources within the Police told this portal that the Mayor was arrested and proceeding against him were being carried out.
Indictment filed against Minister Jevtic and two other officials
(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)
Special Prosecution of Kosovo filed an indictment against Minister for Communities and Return, Dalibor Jevtic, Secretary General of this Ministry Nenad Stojcetovic and the Director of Finance and General Services Department of the same Ministry, Mihajlo Prilencevic.
All of them are indicted for misuse of official position with the aim of material gain to the harm of the Ministry.
According to the indictment, Minister Jevtic decided to give an official vehicle at permanent usage to Radio KiM TV Centar in Çagllavicë.
Women want more equality in decision-making positions
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Seats of ministers and MPs were filled on Wednesday with women from all over Kosovo. From the plenary session it was demanded equality in representation and budgeting for women, but all these demands were heard only by the women.
Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli, was there for a few minutes only. He left the chamber the moment he ended his speech. He said that there is no society emancipation without emancipation of women.
Women MPs voiced their concern that the decision-making positions keep on being reserved seats for men.
Ferizaj/Urosevac Mayor threatens and insults a woman municipal councillor
(KTV)
One day after March 8th, Mayor of Ferizaj/Urosevac, Muharrem Sfarqa, has seriously insulted a woman municipal councillor. Mayor addressed the PDK member, Kristina Gashi-Bytyqi with the words “I would rip your mouth, but you are a woman,” KTV reported.
After the session ended he apologized for the language used. This is at least said by Mimoza Sojeva-Pajaziti, chairperson of women caucus in the Municipal Assembly of Ferizaj/Urosevac, who, together with other women of Ferizaj/Urosevac Municipal Assembly, will protest on Thursday in front of the municipality building.
According to her, the language used by Mayor Sfarqa is threatening and insulting.
Mayor Muharrem Sfarqa was not accessible all day on Wednesday to speak about this case. The protagonist herself, Kristina Gashi Bytyqi, did not like to speak in front of camera either.
