Meeting between ruling and opposition parties ends without agreement
(RTK)
The meeting held between ruling and opposition political parties late on Monday has ended without agreement after several hours of debate held far from media.
Demarcation, Army, Association and elections were discussed in this meeting, RTK portal reported.
After the meeting, AAK deputy chairman Adrian Gjini told Kosovapress that no agreement was reached.
Glauk Konjufca of Vetëvendosje Movement also said that there were many discussions in the meeting, but Vetëvendosje defended its positions.
Bilall Sherifi of Nisma also stated that no agreement was reached in this meeting.
On the other hand, representatives of ruling parties were not willing to make any statements.
This is one of the following meetings that ruling and opposition parties have held out of Kosovo institutions, but, same as before, they did not manage to reach agreement for the discussed topics, since differences between them were major. This is the first time that the issue of Kosovo Security Force transformation into an Army was tackled.
PM Mustafa does not tell if they have votes for Demarcation
(KTV)
Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, did not tell if the Agreement on Demarcation with Montenegro will be on Kosovo Assembly’s agenda for 06 April session.
During a visit to a potato a cultivation factory in Vushtrri/Vucitrn, Mustafa preferred to only discuss about potatoes and economic development factors in Kosovo.
“Today I see no reason to talk about any other issue, besides the marvellous work that this is company is doing,” Mustafa told reporters.
PM Mustafa refused to tell if the governing coalition has secured the votes for passing this Agreement, while he ironized with the question if election of Aleksandar Vucic as President of Serbia can have any impact on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue in Brussels.
“It will not have any effect on the production of potatoes,” Mustafa said.
On the other hand, Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj said that Demarcation with Montenegro must be ratified as soon as possible.
Witness in Astrit Dehari’s case dies in prison
(KTV Interactive)
Five months after the death of Astrit Dehari in Prizren prison, the convict that shared the cell with him died on Monday in Lipjan/Lipljane prison. Kosovo Correctional Service informed about the death of N.M. in this prison during Monday without giving details about the circumstances how it happened.
However, Vetëvendosje officials said that Naser Makolli, who was the first one to enter the cell that Astrit lost his life in October last year, is in question.
“Naser Makolli was the first prisoner to enter Astrit’s cell on the tragic night. He died today in Lipjan/Lipljane prison. Even before the start of investigations by an independent international institute proposed by the family, the key witness died. Difficult not to have doubts on dark scenarios of this criminal authority,” Vetëvendosje official Hysen Dërmishi wrote.
Other officials of this party said that Makolli was the key witness in investigations regarding the circumstances of Dehari’s death.
Late on Monday the Kosovo Correctional Service issued a press release confirming Naser Makolli’s death and said that he had health problems.
Return of Srpska List retracts Draft Law on High Education from Assembly
(KTV)
Minister of Education, Arsim Bajrami, stated earlier that Draft Law on High Education will be reviewed the moment that Srpska List will return to the Assembly, but this did not happen.
Retraction of this draft law was requested by the chairman of Education Committee, Nait Hasani, but in fact other members of the Committee think that this was a request of Minister Bajrami himself, who did not have the courage to do it publically.
On the other hand, Arton Demhasaj of “Çohu” organisation says that this draft law was retracted from the Assembly only to bargain with Srpska List.
Minister’s assistant, Faton Fetahu, says it is not true that the Minister has requested it, since he personally asked for sooner submission of this draft law to the Assembly.
MPs signing in and leaving plenary sessions not being punished
(KTV)
It has become a normal thing for the Assembly of Kosovo to quit session due to lack of quorum. There is neither punishment for MPs who sign in for per diems and do not stay in the plenary session.
But, analyst Driton Selmanaj says that punishment should come from the citizens.
Artan Murati of Kosovo Democratic Institute listed thousands of absences that MPs have done only during 2016, saying that this is very concerning.
On the other hand, analyst Imer Mushkolaj says that it would be fairer if the leaders would decide for election as long as the highest law-making body in the country is not functional.
Otherwise, it is not clear when the session that failed last Friday due to lack of quorum will continue, since the Assembly Presidency did not convene this Monday at all about it.
Assembly Presidency convenes on Tuesday, Demarcation possible on agenda
(KTV Interactive)
Although the Kosovo Assembly Presidency usually convenes on Mondays, this did not happen on 03 April; however, KTV learned that the meeting will be held on Tuesday.
Nevertheless, the time or the agenda were not set.
“Presidency meeting tomorrow. Agenda and the time of its holding tomorrow,” writes the SMS that members of the Assembly Presidency received, KTV learned.
It is possible that ratification of Demarcation at the Assembly will be put on the agenda as of this week.
