RIK adopted instruction on voting in Kosovo
(Klan Kosova& RTK2)
Serbia’s Republic Election Commission (RIK) adopted the Instruction on voting in the elections for the President of Serbia in Kosovo. The instruction notes that it will not be possible to safely hold elections in Kosovo without support from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
OSCE Mission in Kosovo, through a written response, stated that consultations are underway about this issue and that OSCE is technically prepared to support the implementation of elections.
Srpska List caucus leader, Slavko Simic told Radio Free Europe that elections will be held as in the previous years and that OSCE will take care of the voting process in Kosovo.
Engel urges U.S. to support establishment of Kosovo’s Army
(All monitored broadcasters, RTK1)
Congressman Eliot Engel requested from U.S. to fully support the establishment of Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF). Engel, addressing to the Congress, emphasized that Kosovo as new country should have its own Army, noting, on the other hand, that Russia is constantly providing weapons to Serbia.
“It might come as a surprise to you Mr. Speaker, but nine years after independence, Kosovo, a sovereign nation-state does not have its own Army. Kosovo has a security force, lightly armed while Russia is arming its neighbor,” said Engel.
Congressman Engel noted that in beginning of March, Kosovo made a small step towards the establishment of its Army by submitting the bill to the Assembly.
“How Kosovo’s Army will look like? It will be multi-ethnic similar to the Kosovo Security Force and Kosovo Police. It will be partner to Western countries and NATO in pursue regional and international stability,” said Engel.
He emphasized that currently the U.S. is against Kosovo’s Army.
“Kosovo, a country that we support and that supports us, demands its right which any other country in the world has it: A basic army, through which its citizens can serve to their country and maybe even to our Army, if they would have the chance. But what do we do? We criticize them and issue diplomatic threats. We are making clear that we do not support the establishment of Kosovo’s Army now. This is absurd and it is a stance that we must quickly change,’ said Engel.
Congressman Engel also called on French authorities to release AAK leader, Ramush Haradinaj as soon as possible.
Gecaj: No Association without the return of Srpska List in institutions
(RTK1)
The stance of Kosovo Government regarding the establishment of the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities is firm. According to Kosovo Deputy Minister of Local Government Administration (MLGA), Bajram Gecaj, Srpska List must return in institutions in order to launch the process for the establishment of the Association.
Gecaj told RTK1 that Association cannot be established by ‘a magic wand’ but, as he said, Statute of the Association should be drafted before its establishment. According to him, all parties, except Belgrade, are interested to establish it.
“We have invited them to discuss this issue and we are ready to move forward with process. However, in order to move forward with process, they should return in institutions because we cannot talk to walls but we have to talk to them. Association is in the interest of the Serb community in Kosovo,” said Gecaj.
On the other hand, Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister, Branimir Stojanovic stated on Wednesday that they are not planning to return in institutions. But Gecaj said that they were about to convince Srpska List to return in institutions, but Belgrade’s destructive stance postponed this process.
Gecaj also indicated the potential timing when Srpska List might return in institutions.
“Currently I don’t believe that they will return because it seems that they have linked their return with Serbia’s presidential electoral campaign. Therefore, the chances for their return before the elections in Serbia are unrealistic. We were anticipating, in particular after the discussion about the wall, that they would soon return but this did not happen. Now, I don’t know, I hope they will return and we are working in this direction because their return it is in the interest of Kosovo and the Serb community, because they were elected to work and not to boycott,” said Gecaj.
Jevtic commends EU’s stance on Association
(RTK2)
Kosovo Minister for Communities and Return, Dalibor Jevtic welcomed the stance of the European Union, who called on Kosovo Government representatives to stop any further delays in the establishment of the Association Serb Majority Municipalities. “There are no more excuses or justifications to delay this process”, said Jevtic.
“Message conveyed by the EU is clear and came at a moment when all have understood that there are no obstacles to the establishment of Association, which will provide better life quality to Serbs,” said Jevtic, adding that the Association will, among other, prevent youth from leaving Kosovo.
Jevtic emphasized the competencies which Association shall have in relation to education, healthcare, economic development, which, according to him, will make the Serb community stronger.
“We don’t accept any excuse anymore and I can only commend the message of the EU, who is the guarantor of the dialogue between Prishtinë/Pristina and Belgrade. We are ready to start with the establishment of the Association as soon as possible, incompliance with Brussels dialogue,” Jevtic concluded.
EU officials have called on representatives of the Kosovo government to abandon any further delays in establishing the Association. This was announced after a meeting in Brussels of the special group on normalization of relations with Serbia under the EU-Kosovo Stabilization and Association Agreement.
RTK2 reported also about Jevtic’s visit to Rahovec/Orahovac. During his visit Jevtic discussed with the representatives of local Serbs and visited an elementary school. Minister Jevtic promised to Serbs that the Ministry will construct ten houses for returnees during this year.
Serbs, on the other hand, requested from Minister Jevtic a bigger number of police officers in this region to improve security. Jevtic pledged to convey the request to Kosovo Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Albanians do not allow Seselj’s MPs to campaign in Velika Hoca/Hoçë e Madhe
(Klan Kosova)
On Thursday, a group of local Albanians blocked the road which leads to Velika Hoca/Hoçë e Madhe village of Rahovec/Orahovac municipality because two Serbian MPs of the Serbian Radical Party (SRP), Nemanja Sarovic and Zoran Krasic had planned to host an electoral campaign in this village for the Serbian presidential elections.
For the unwanted guests, the protestors had clear messages.
“Persons that are coming today in Velika Hoca/Hoçë e Madhe, have beaten us, have slaughtered us and have done everything bad to us therefore their visit is unacceptable,” said Halil Mullabazi, one of the protestors.
However, the Albanian protestors did not block the road for the local Serb residents of Velika Hoca/Hoçë e Madhe. Additionally, the protestors said that they have nothing against their Serb neighbors.
“Our opposition is related to Seselj’s MPs while with the local Serbs we live together and we have no issues at all with the Serb residents of Velika Hoca/Hoçë e Madhe,” said Mentor Veliu, another protestor.
In the evening hours the Serbian MPs arrived but after they saw the protestors they turned back while a Kosovo Police officer explained to them that they cannot go into the village, Klan Kosova reported.
Nisma and AAK to have a joint electoral list
(KTV)
Nisma and AAK will run with a joint electoral list in the forthcoming elections. AAK MP, Bali Muharremaj in KTV show ‘ Rubicon’ left open the option for a potential return of Vetëvendosje Movement, saying that they might reach a new agreement in the future.
“We are not separated as we are all in opposition and we can still sit and discuss our cooperation again,” said Muharremaj.
On the other hand, the other participant in this show, LDK deputy chairperson, Agim Kikaj expressed his confidence that LDK is the biggest party in Kosovo. He emphasized that LDK has marked a growing trend. According to Kikaj, LDK success will be reflected initially in the local elections. Furthermore, he disputed the recent poll of Vetëvendosje, which ranks LDK as the third party while Vetëvendosje as first.
Five body remains found in Prizren
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
On Thursday, five body remains were exhumed from the Orthodox Cemetery in Prizren. KTV reported that the bodies belong to Serb citizens but that their identity will only be known following DNA analysis.
Prenke Gjetaj, chairman of the Government Committee on Missing Persons, said that exhumed bodes belong to the period before, during and after the conflict in Kosovo.
