Todosijevic appointed as MLGA Minister

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, appointed Ivan Todosijevic as the Minister of Local Government Administration (MLGA) on Thursday.

Until now, Todosijevic was part of parallel structures. He performs out the function of Head of the so-called Interim Body of Zvecan/Zveçan Municipality.

Furthermore, it was said that he is also a member of the Serbian Progressive Party. In the past, Todosijevic was also director of the municipal public enterprise in Zvecan/Zveçan.

Sprska List, which is part of the governing coalition with PDK and LDK, proposed Todosijevic for Minister.

In the meantime, Mirjana Jevtic was appointed at the post of Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare.

VV: Mustafa is fighting the state by appointing ministers from illegal structures

(RTK, KTV)

Vetëvendosje Movement (VV) has accused Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, of fighting the state of Kosovo by appointing ministers from the illegal structures, KTV portal reported.

“Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, without having the will and power to fight parallel structures, appointed today the Head of illegal structures Ivan Todosijevic as the Minister of Local Government Administration. Running of institutions by the illegal structures is a fight against the statehood and functioning of the Republic. Whilst, their appointment by the Prime Minister himself is unjustifiable and unpardonable,” VV reaction reads.

According to Vetëvendosje, the only thing that this Government, same as the earlier ones, has done with illegal structures is their amnestying and rehabilitation.

The AAK deputy chairman, Ardian Gjini, also reacted against appointment of Todosijevic as MLGA Minister, saying that Prime Minister of Kosovo is not managing to appoint or dismiss ministers without the approval of Serbia.

Gjini qualified Todosijevic’s appointment in Kosovo Government as a big shame, RTK portal reported.

On the latter news edition, KTV reported that Todosijevic is one of the initiators of the project for colonization of Kosovo north with Serbs, known as “Sunny Valley”.

KTV aired footage showing Todosijevic inaugurating the start of this controversial project, in the presence of the Serbian minister for Kosovo Marko Djuric and other clerics of the Serbian Orthodox Church. At that time, Todisijevic was the head of the so-called Interim Body of Zvecan/Zveçan Municipality.

As with the majority of Serbs living in Kosovo, also for the new minister who will be paid by Kosovo’s budget, “Kosovo and Metohija” as he calls, is an integral part of Serbia.

Moreover, in November of 2015, Todosijevic together with 150 other citizens protested in Rudare against the decision of Kosovo Constitutional Court to suspend the Agreement for the establishment of the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities, by blocking the roads with trucks, KTV reported. 

Statements of Rama and Thaçi for national unification considered unserious

(KTV)

While he was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hashim Thaçi, threatened with protests in front of the EU Office, as a sign of dissatisfaction for non-liberalisation of visas.

Since he took President’s seat, he did not leave a day pass by without accusing both country institutions and EU for injustice toward Kosovo.

Recently, President has sent messages to EU that in case Kosovo doors are closed, then all Albanians in the region will live in a single area.

These statements of Kosovar President were strengthened further by the Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, who said that in case there is no hope or perspective in Europe, then little unification can happen.

These statements triggered strong reaction in Serbia. But, in Prishtinë/Pristina this is being seen as possible, although not very serious for the time being.

In the meantime, political analysts consider the idea of Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, who is planning to request from EU to give visa liberalisation to Kosovo while Prishtinë/Pristina will pass Demarcation within a two-year deadline, as hardly achievable.

Mustafa in Brussels to request alternative visa liberalisation solutions

(RTK1)

Non-liberalisation of visas is hampering Kosovo’s development and its businesses. But, Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa is aiming to find a solution for this issue in Brussels, during his visit next week.

“We will try to find an alternative solution. It is important for us to find a political solution which allows to citizens to travel freely. Currently this is a severe limitation for our businesses and for our businessmen, who get visas for 2-3 days to attend different fairs,” said PM Mustafa during the visit to a local fair.

Picula expects early elections

(Klan Kosova)

On Thursday, guests from Brussels dominated a special session of Kosovo Assembly where the third meeting of the Joint Committee between Kosovo and the EU on Stabilisation Association Agreement (SAA) took place.

For the local chairperson, Xhavit Haliti, Prishtinë/Prishtina is working hard to implement SAA on the ground.

“Kosovo institutions are committed to fulfil obligations deriving from this contract, which is vital to Kosovo,” said Kosovo Deputy Assembly Speaker, Xhavit Haliti.

But Head of the European Parliament delegation, Tonino Picula, criticized Kosovo institutions, saying that developments related to rule of law, including justice, fight against corruption and organized crime, and freedom of the media are not impressive. Among others, Picula also spoke about elections.

“In the following months, your country will hold local elections and potentially general elections, too. It is no secret that the previous elections were criticized and incited political turmoil. I would like to raise two questions, hoping I will get answers: What have you done to have better elections in 2017, and how much has Kosovo fulfilled ODIHR’s recommendations?” Picula asked.

On the other hand, Kosovo Minister of Foreign Affairs Enver Hoxhaj said that Kosovo needs more support from the EU. Hoxhaj also stressed the need for Kosovo to have its own Army.

“It is a legitimate right of Kosovo to have its own Army and for Kosovo Security Forces to be transformed into Kosovo Armed Force,” said FM Hoxhaj.

Hoxhaj urged European countries to ignore Serbia’s arrest warrants and highlighted that Kosovo is close to fulfilling another condition, namely ratification of the Agreement on Border Demarcation with Montenegro, which would lead to abolishment of visa regime.

“It is the last criterion. I want to inform you that we are intensively working to secure support at the Assembly of Kosovo and ensure a political consensus to ratify such an agreement,” said Hoxhaj.

The European Union Special Representative in Kosovo, Nataliya Apostolova, said that Demarcation with Montenegro is not the only criterion that would potentially lead to abolishment of visa regime for Kosovo.

“Government and the leadership are holding the key to fulfilment of the two last remaining requests, namely ratification of Demarcation, and the fight against corruption and organized crime. I call upon political spectrum to find a national consensus to end isolation and enable visa liberalisation to Kosovo,” Apostolova said.

The session continued with speeches by Kosovo and European MPs.  In the meantime, Vetëvendosje Movement (VV) chairperson Visar Ymeri lamented that Kosovo is not being treated equally as a state and criticized the SAA agreement, which, according to him, was badly negotiated.

Deçan/Decane Mayor reacts against statement of EU Office

(KTV)

The European Union Office in Kosovo has called on Kosovo institutions to respect Constitutional Court’s decision of 20 May 2016 regarding 25 hectares of land of “Apiko” and “Iliria” enterprises in vicinity to Visoki Decani Monastery.

Reaction of this Office reads that EU condemns any actions that aim to block access to or otherwise disrupt life at the Monastery.

Municipality of Deçan and Kosovo Historians League (KHL) “Ali Hadri” reacted against this statement.

According to the Municipality of Deçan/Decane, this municipality and the two enterprises have continuously requested implementation of law regarding the property dispute alleged by the Decani Monastery.

Through a press release, Mayor of this Municipality Rasim Selmanaj asked how it is possible for the EU Office in Kosovo to be concerned regarding implementation of Constitutional Court’s decision, while it was never concerned about the fact that a decision of Milosevic’s era for giving away these properties to Decani Monastery is trying to be respected.

According to Selmanaj, the Municipality of Deçan/Decane was and is in favour of law implementation so that these enterprises enter privatisation same as all the other enterprises in Kosovo.

Demolli: We are waiting for political decision on KSF transformation

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Minister of Kosovo Security Force (KSF), Haki Demolli, stated that they are waiting for the approval of constitutional amendments by the Assembly of Kosovo regarding the process of KSF transformation into an armed force.

At the “KSF and partners” conference, Demolli said that intensification of cooperation of the Ministry he heads and its partners was the main goal of this event.

“We are waiting for the political decision, so approval of the constitutional amendments by the Assembly of Kosovo regarding the process of KSF transformation into an armed force. In continuity, together with NATO’s advisory body, we have worked in the most transparent manner possible in planning and overall preparation for the start and development of this process,” Minister Demolli stressed.

On the other hand, KSF Commander Rrahman Rama said that during this period as a Force they have marked great achievements based on NATO standards.

Lutfi Haziri: No signals for breaking of coalition

(Klan Kosova)

LDK deputy chairman Lutfi Haziri said that there are no signals for breaking of coalition because PDK is trying to maintain the coalition partnership, Klan Kosova portal reported.

“If we reach to the point of extraordinary elections, they are caused for 40 days. President is obliged to respect the Constitution. Then we should see if elections produce solutions,” Haziri said.

Invited in Klan Kosova’s Debate Zone show, Haziri said that agreement on principles of the coalition partners envisages that elections will be held in June 2018.

LDK deputy chairman emphasised that they are not against elections.

“We are in a political circumstance when we hear voices of individuals coming from PDK, which are MPs who want breaking of the coalition. We are not against elections by any means. The Assembly has been suffocated, but I would not also say the samr thing for the Government,” Haziri stated.

Haziri also said that Demarcation might pass at the Assembly of Kosovo.  At the contrary, he said that MPs should prepare for elections.