Šabović: OSCE is technically ready to conduct vote collection process in Kosovo

(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK2)

Spokesperson of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Senad Šabović, stated on Wednesday that consultations on holding of Serbian presidential elections in Kosovo’s territory are underway.

“As soon as we clarify all details, we will inform the public,” Šabović stated for Serbian news agency Beta.

According to him, the OSCE is technically ready to conduct the vote collection process in Kosovo.

Roads blocked to prevent Serbian elections campaign in Kosovo

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Although the Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic cancelled his visit for campaigning in Leposavic/Leposaviq, there were also blockades of roads for Kosovo Serbs who tried to go there.

Prosecutor Arben Ismaili was among the ones who were blocked in his official vehicle in Llabjan of Novo Brdo/Novobërdë in Gjilan/Gnjilane-Prishtinë/Pristina road on his way to the next meeting of Kosovo Prosecutorial Council.

Only the vehicles heading to Kosovo University Clinical Centre could move on Wednesday morning in this area, since the road was blocked with a truck and several mini vans. Protesters, headed by KLA veterans in Gjilan/Gnjilane and Vetëvendosje activists in this town, opposed the election campaign of Serbian state in Kosovo and did not allow traffic of buses with Serbs who were heading to the north.

Serbs said they were intimidated and worried about what they call pressure which, according to them, has started with the election campaign in Serbia.

KTV learned that at least four more buses were in the territory of Gjilan/Gnjilane waiting for the end of this protest.

Nevertheless, KLA veterans in Gjilan/Gnjilane do not accept their goal was to hinder the buses, but only to oppose the [Serbian] election campaign in Kosovo.

However, Kosovo Police said that the goal was not to allow movement of buses with Serbs.

After about an hour, the road was open for movement of vehicles.

A similar protest was also held in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica-Prishtinë/Pristina road and in villages of Hoçë e Madhe in Rahovec/Orahovac, and Padalishtë in Istog/Istog municipality.

Through a press statement issued, Kosovo Police reported that there were no incidents and that some of the buses with Serbs were returned to the locations they live, while some others continued toward Leposavic/Leposaviq without problems.

Blocking of roads condemned

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

The European Union has requested from relevant authorities in Kosovo to secure conditions for people who want to take part in the electoral rallies in northern part of Kosovo, EU Spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic stated.

She said that Brussels is closely following developments in relation to the Serbian officials’ visits ahead of Serbian presidential elections set to be held this Sunday in Serbia.

“We support such visits planned according to the agreements harmonized during the EU-facilitated dialogue,” she added.

EU concluded that non-implementation of agreements that allow such visits are bad news.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi also reacted against the blockade of roads in several parts of Kosovo. He said that the logic of blocking of roads is unacceptable and it harms the interests of Kosovo.

Yee: No elections in Kosovo ahead of their schedule

(RTK)

In an interview with the Radio and Television of Kosovo, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Hoyt Brian Yee said that early parliamentary elections are not the right option, and that Kosovo institutions should respect the legal schedule for holding them.

“It is our view, the United States view, that Kosovo has many important challenges before it, many important initiatives that the people of Kosovo are expecting the Government to face directly, not to postpone or delay. Elections unfortunately have the effect of delaying reforms, of delaying hard decisions. It is an important sign again of democratic development, political maturity for a state, to have elections according to the schedule. So, according to the schedule, elections should not take place not for another two years. This will give more time to the Government and the Assembly to do its job, pass legislation pass reforms, adopt Border Demarcation Agreement, make progress on normalization, improve relations with neighbors, fight corruption and this is one of the biggest problems in Kosovo that leaders need to face,” he stated.

Yee said that transformation of Kosovo Security Force must be done through constitutional amendments and that all involved parties in this important process should be coordinated and consulted.

“We think it is extremely important for such a significant step, formation of an Army, that all the country leaders who will have anything to do with the process of transformation, will be affected by the transformation, that all these parties are consulted as fully as possible. So far, the consultation process has not been adequate, in our view. And, that is why we are asking the Government, the Speaker of Parliament and others involved in this initiative to withdraw the legislation until the consultation process, the coordination process can take place appropriately, according to the roadmap. Again, we support the goal of eventually Kosovo having an army. We feel this is a normal process for any sovereign state. But, there is a right way to do it, and there has to be consultation. That is what we want to take place,” the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State said.

“There should be a period of time in which there is debate among interested parties and stakeholders, so that concerns can be taken into account and that the necessary steps within the roadmap can take place in full transparency, without any secrecy. There is no need to have any secrecy on such a matter. Our view is that the transformation should take place with the constitutional amendment,” Yee underlined.

Among others, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State added that Border Demarcation Agreement with Montenegro is professionally prepared and planned, and he hopes that it will be voted at the Assembly.

He called on all political leaders to do their job, to sit down and find solutions, and not only score political points.

Other TV broadcasters reported that during Wednesday Hoyt Brian Yee met with Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi and Minister of Kosovo Security Force, Haki Demolli.

Beqaj: Serbian elections are violating both Kosovo and Serbia Constitutions

(TV21)

To discuss Serbian presidential elections, the election campaign and their organization in Kosovo, TV21 interviewed the political analyst Behlul Beqaj.

Asked if Serbian presidential elections and the campaign should be allowed to happen in Kosovo, Beqaj said the international community in this case is violating both the Constitution of Kosovo and Constitution of Serbia.

Referring to a statement of Central Elections Commission (CEC) chairperson, Valdete Daka, who said that Serbian elections are inexistent in Kosovo, Beqaj said this is not true because of the fact that CEC is the only constitutional body that organizes elections in Kosovo.

On the other hand, according to him, these elections represent a violation of Serbian Constitution because, among others, the Serbian Central Election Commission (RIK) in case the security in polling stations, which are about 90, is jeopardized is given the opportunity to transport ballots for counting in another polling center in Nis or Raska. Beqaj said that by doing so, violation of Serbian Constitution is being allowed to happen.

He considers that the manner that this process is being supported is anti-constitutional and in favor of a political entity.

Government ready to start drafting Association’s statute

(KTV)

Government of Kosovo is ready to start drafting the statute of Association of Serb Majority Municipalities, government officials confirmed, KTV portal reported.

Kosovo Deputy Minister of Local Government Administration (MLGA), Bajram Gecaj, told Radio Free Europe that after the return of Srpska List MPs to the Assembly of Kosovo, government officials expect to start discussions by next week with Sprska List representatives regarding their return to Government, as well.

According to Gecaj, they will also discuss potential replacement of individuals who will represent Srpska List in the Government.

“As soon this happens, we have the names of Management Team, of four Serbs, who should coordinate with the MLGA, where I work as Deputy Minister, and the new Minister, who will be decided by Srpska List. Then, this coordination should also be done with the OSCE and the European Union, in order for us to start work on drafting the Statute of the Association, which I believe, will take some time. Then, when we have a draft of the Statute, if needed, we can also discuss this draft in Brussels,” said Gecaj.

On 23 December 2015, Kosovo Constitutional Court ruled that the General Principles of the Association are not entirely in compliance with the spirit of Kosovo Constitution, and that these principles must be in compliance with constitutional standards of Kosovo.

But, Kosovo legal experts are skeptical about implementation of the Agreement on Association.

Vigan Qorolli, international law professor in University of Pristina, considers that non-implementation of this agreement is hostage of political bargaining.

“Its non-implementation since December 2015 implies that Kosovo Government is not able, because it is hostage of a political bargain with Srpska List, with the Government in Belgrade and with a dialogue, which is disproportional with the Serbian Government – to implement this ruling and to allow establishment of the Association in question,” Qorroli said.

On the other hand, Deputy Minister Gecaj confirms that at the end of the process, the Association’s Statute will again be submitted to the Constitutional Court.

“After drafting the status, the same one, with a decree of the Government of Republic of Kosovo will be submitted to the Constitutional Court. The Constitutional Court will have the final say in it,” said Gecaj.

But, professor Qorrolli says that it is impossible to have a statute which will be in compliance with the Constitutional Court’s ruling and in line with Srpska List’s requests regarding the Association’s competencies.

Delawie: Kosovo Army to be established through constitutional amendments

(All monitored broadcasters, TV21)

The U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, reiterated that Kosovo should establish its Army, but only with the support of the U.S. and other strategic partners. He emphasized that maintaining of relations with the U.S and NATO is essential to Kosovo.

“We are worried that establishment of the Army through the Law would harm Kosovo’s relation with international partners, namely NATO and others, and these relations are essential to Kosovo,” Delawie said.

Ambassador Delawie said that the U.S. has a clear and firm stance on this matter.

“Kosovo might establish its Army in 2017, through a general consensus and constitutional amendments,” Delawie underlined.

Commenting the initiative of Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi for decriminalization of political scene, Ambassador Delawie said that he would support any initiative that excludes indicted individuals from the electoral lists.

“I do not want to see indicted people in electoral lists,” stressed Delawie, adding that all Kosovars should fight corruption and organized crime.

Delawie reiterated that Agreement on Demarcation with Montenegro is fair and that this agreement should be ratified by Kosovo Assembly.

Ambassador Delawie made these comments during the discussion in “Speak Freely’ forum, organized by FOL Movement.