Austrian Deputy Foreign Minister visited OSCE Mission in Kosovo

(Ekonomia online)

Michael Linhart, representative of the Austrian 2017 OSCE Chairmanship and Austrian Deputy Foreign Minister, visited the OSCE Mission in Kosovo on Wednesday.

Linhart was received by the Head of Mission, Ambassador Jan Braathu, and senior management, who briefed him on the Mission’s activities.

“The OSCE Mission in Kosovo has been a crucial partner in reform efforts over the last 18 years. With its expertise and knowledge, it assists the institutions to make significant progress. The Mission enjoys the full support of the Austrian Chairmanship,” Linhart emphasised.

In particular, he referred to the work conducted by the Mission in areas such as the protection of community rights and protection of cultural and religious heritage, the promotion of human rights and the rule of law as well as the functioning of democratic institutions and civic participation in decision-making.

Linhart discussed the Chairmanship’s priorities and their impact on the Mission´s work. “As you know, we want to join forces in fighting radicalization and violent extremism. The increasing threat to domestic security posed by radicalization of mainly young people represents an imminent risk to the entire OSCE area. Therefore I particularly welcome the work that the Mission is doing to prevent violent extremism among youth and commend authorities in Prishtinë/Priština for the robust response to tackle this problem,” Linhart underlined.

Regarding the upcoming elections on 11 June, Ambassador Braathu informed about previous OSCE support in facilitating elections for non-majority communities.

Linhart underscored: “This is without any doubt one of the most visible success stories of the Mission. I can only congratulate Ambassador Braathu and his team for the pragmatic and flexible way they were able to assist during previous elections. I am very confident that the Mission will make an important contribution again on 11 June.”

“Let’s Do it Kosovo” clean-up campaign carried out

(KosovaPress)

For the sixth year in a row, the “Let’s Do it Kosovo” campaign was carried out on Wednesday, where about 50 thousand volunteers were involved in cleaning about 200 illegal dumpsites.

The official launch was made at an illegal dumpsite located close to the cemetery in “Arbëria” neighbourhood of Kosovo’s capital.

Coordinator of “Let’s Do It Kosovo”, Luan Hasanaj, expressed the concern of the group regarding the environment issues that Kosovo is facing. He said that Kosovo continues to have problems with the protection of environment.

On the other hand, Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, Ferat Shala, said they were supporting actions of “Let’s Do It Kosovo” Organisation for removal of over 200 illegal dumpsites.

He also said that this is a day that evokes raising of awareness toward environment issues, and that environment is a moral and legal obligation for all.

Ambassador of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Jan Braathu, said that since the first action that he participated he has noted a change and awareness, and that minds for the environment is changing for the better.

“I am really happy to be here again this year to support ‘Let’s Do it Kosovo’ in the clean-up campaign. As I understand there is a clean-up action going on in more than 200 locations all over Kosovo, and I think that more than 50.000 youngsters are involved in this. The years I have been in Kosovo, since 2011 actually, I have always been supporting this kind of clean-up campaign because environment is important. I remember the first campaign I participated in and comparing from then till now, I think people, especially young kids they are much more careful about their environment, they want things to be clean and to look nice, so I see a positive change. I think the minds are changing. People, especially young people, want their country to be beautiful and nice, and they care about it” Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jan Braathu said.

For implementation of Wednesday’s action, the Kosovo Security Force engaged its personnel and machinery, while they expressed their readiness to support such initiatives which are at country’s benefit. This was stated by the KSF lieutenant-colonel, Afrim Veseli.

Head of the Association of People with Special Needs in Kosovo, Agim Vatovci, also took part in Wednesday’s action. He said that people with special needs are aware of country’s cleaning since, according to him, the rubbish thrown everywhere is causing cancerous diseases.

The KosovaPress video footage from the clean-up campaign can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqJyHjEYtNs

KosovaPress reported that members of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo also participated in the clean-up campaign in Brezovica Ski Centre.

It quoted the OSCE’s Senior Democratization Officer, James Lyon, as saying that all citizens must co-operate and be responsible for a clean environment so that the beauties that Kosovo owns are preserved.

Serbs give up their candidatures due to blackmailing

(Klan Kosova)

They were looking forward to announcement of the Election Day and their opportunity to be part of election lists. But several candidates running for Members of Kosovo Assembly from Serb Progressive Democratic Party (SNS) ranks pulled out of the race. This happened for several reasons.

“One statement claimed that they were obliged to pull out of the list due to pressure. Another statement referred to the wrong leadership of the party. Here in Gracanica/Graçanica and other places, they are using this illegal mechanism to put pressure on people,” the SNS chairperson Nenad Rasic said.

He said that Serb community in Kosovo should not support only one political entity, because, as he said, Srpska List, which enjoys Belgrade’s support, would only benefit in this situation.

But the situation is far more serious in the Independent Liberal Party (SLS), led by Slobodan Petrovic. A SLS candidate, whose identity is known to Klan Kosova, has been blackmailed by his direct employer in Belgrade that he would lose his job if he does not pull out of the SLS list.

The blackmailed candidate informed the OSCE Mission in Prishtinë/Pristina about this. Officials of this Mission told Klan Kosova on Wednesday that this case will be submitted to the Central Election Commission, Police and Prosecution.

Although he does not speak with concrete names, the SLS chairperson said that almost all of the candidates in his party list are receiving blackmails and threats during these days.

“Situation is serious and should not be disregarded. We told our members and MP candidates to inform the Police about threats, be them threats for losing their jobs, or verbal and physical threats. We have many people who tell us about threats, but they do not have the courage to report them to the Police because they are afraid of their own personal safety,” said Petrovic.

He said that he does not want to believe that Serbia is directly involved in these political intimidations.

“If Serbia supports this method then this would be a surprise to us all. But, one thing is true, representatives of local institutions funded by Serbia and some of Kosovo institutions in Gracanica/Graçanicë municipality, misuse their duty and take over the sheriff’s role,” underlined Petrovic.

At the Municipality Gracanica/Graçanicë denied that any of their staff members is putting pressure on SLS candidates, or any other entity. They called on complainants to report their cases to rule of law bodies.

In the meantime, the U.S. Embassy and the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, through a joint press release, called upon political parties and their leaders to condemn all forms of intimidation or any misguided attempt to manipulate an important process such as 11 June elections.

Leposavic/Leposaviq mayor calls for intervention against parallel structures

(RTK1)

It has been three days already that members of Serb parallel structures in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north have blocked the office of the legitimate mayor of Leposavic/Leposaviq municipality, Dragan Jablanovic.

Since Monday, Jablanovic was not allowed to carry out his duty. The reason behind this action of parallel structures is that Jablanovic is cooperating with Kosovo institutions, RTK1 reported.

In an exclusive interview with RTK, Jablanovic explained the situation. According to him, all of this is coming from parallel structures, which are directly controlled by Belgrade, due to elections in Kosovo.

“To me, this is a classic terrorist act. I am certain that the reason behind is the electoral campaign because we have established two different political entities – Srpska List and the Kosovo Serb Party, which is led by my son. They are afraid that they will not get votes as they did in the previous elections. Besides this, these persons have threatened several Serb candidates to pull out of the lists for Members of Kosovo Assembly, whereas in fact few of them have pulled out after the threats,” Jablanovic explained.

He expressed his disappointment with the reaction of Kosovo security institutions. According to him, all this is happening to the knowledge and observance of Police members.

Jablanovic pins all his hopes on justice bodies in order for the normal work to resume, while he said that he will be forced to temporarily suspend the work of the municipality until this problem is solved.

Kosovo Police Deputy Commander for Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north region, Besim Hoti, through a phone call, told RTK that Police is aware of this situation and that it will act in compliance with law.

Simic: Srpska List is Serbia’s project, Jablanovic has failed

(KTV)

“Srpska List is a state project with the idea that we all act together, without political or party prejudice,” stated Srpska List chairperson, Slavko Simic, adding that representatives who decided to run independently in elections were offered participation in Srpska List but they did not accept it, KTV portal reported.

Speaking about the pulling out of some candidates for MP mandates, Simic said that the pull out came as a result of the meetings of Srpska List members had with the Head of Serbian state.

“The state stood behind Srpska List, and it made it clear that we should jointly run in early general elections. I am convinced that after this invitation, certain candidates in those lists have understood that we have a unified list and we should come out united in elections,” said Simic, denying that there were cases of threats against candidates of other Serb electoral lists.

Commenting the statement of Aleksandar Jablanovic, chairperson of Kosovo Serb Party, that ‘Srpska List is a failed and outdated project’, Simic said that these statements reveal Jablanovic, who, as he said, until recently fought to be at the forefront of Srpska List.

“He is a failed project. He led many functions and all failed because of his moves and decisions,” concluded Simic.

Vetëvendosje raises doubts about over 4.000 applications for voter registration from Serbia

(KTV)

The Central Elections Commission (CEC) has received 11 thousand and 800 applications from citizens abroad of Kosovo to register as voters. Until now, about 6 thousand and 857 of them have been approved as valid.

The CEC chairperson, Valdete Daka, justified the non-extension of the deadline for this application with the fact that these are early elections and extension of this deadline would automatically imply postponement of other processes.

She was accused by Vetëvendosje Movement that she is intentionally not extending this deadline.

“My response is that I am not a service of any party and I do not do favours to any party. For your information, this deadline served the same for all, for all the voters. We cannot know who voter of which party is, since it is a secret vote,” Daka said.

According to the applicable laws, ballots from abroad should arrive in Kosovo two days before the date of elections. Vetëvendosje member at the CEC has raised doubts about the manner how a single package with about 4.000 applications in it managed to arrive from Serbia.

According to the CEC rules, application for registration as a voter is done individually or by the close family members the farthest. Vetëvendosje member at CEC, Adnan Rrustemi, is asking for an investigation into the manner how this package arrived in Kosovo.

“I call on the Police to investigate the process how, not the content of applications, but the manner how these applications came into Kosovo, at the CEC’s post box. We should know this. We must verify it in the Kosovo Customs, the acceptance processes in Kosovo Post, and we must know who the person standing behind this shipment is, because we are no longer speaking about individual applications,” Rrustemi said.

But, chairperson Daka said that Voters’ Service is the body that will verify these applications, same as all the other ones.

“CEC does not approve them. So, these applications are not brought in front of the CEC. It is the Voters’ Service with professional staff that assesses if they fulfil the criteria or not, then the ballot packages are sent, which does not automatically mean that they will vote,” Daka underlined.

Around 8.000 ballots were sent by-mail from Serbia in the last elections, most of them filled in for the same party and the same candidates for MPs.

Hundred prosecutors to be engaged on E-Day

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

For the well-being of the early election process, State Prosecution, Kosovo Police and Central Election Commission held a meeting for coordination and cooperation, KTV reported.

State Prosecution announced that it will engage 100 prosecutors to ensure the efficiency and protection of the citizens’ vote.

The National Coordinator for Early Elections, Laura Pula, revealed the measures that will be imposed against those who attempt to violate the wellbeing of elections.

Taking into consideration the coordination with other relevant institutions, the Central Election Commission, expects successful elections.

Police pledged to do everything possible to implement the Constitution and laws in order to enable citizens to exercise their right.

Acting Prime Minister received by Federica Mogherini

(RTK1)

The Acting Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, was received on Wednesday by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini.

After the meeting, Prime Minister Mustafa gave a statement to the media, where he disclosed details of their conversation.

“We talked about the cooperation thus far, but also about the issues that await Kosovo and for cooperation with the European Union. I expressed the commitment of Kosovo to the European perspective and that we, regardless of the fact that we have entered the election process, we will follow the path that leads us to the European perspective. We remain committed to regional cooperation and advancement of our relations with the Western Balkan countries”, Mustafa highlighted.

He further said that they also talked about the need for continuity, taking into account that “some decisions that are of vital importance, such as the Demarcation, Association and dialogue have been initiated and are in the process”.

“On this occasion I shared the stance that I now represent the Head of the LDK, that we shall remain committed to these processes,” Mustafa added.

Kleçka Case trial concludes, Limaj and others acquitted

(TV21)

The Kleçka Case trial has concluded. Fatmir Limaj and nine other accused persons of war crimes in Kleçkë village have been finally declared innocent. Supreme Court refused the request of Prosecution for defence of legality in Kleçka case. The Prosecution had called for ruling down the decision of first instance which declared all the defendants in this case not guilty.

Florin Vërtopi, lawyer of one of the defendants – Naser Krasniqi, said that the just war of KLA was proved with this decision of Supreme Court. Aside from Fatmir Limaj, Naser Krasniqi, Naser Shala, Nexhmi Krasniqi, Arben Krasniqi, Sabit Shala, Refki Mazreku, Behlul Limaj, Shaban Shala, and Besim Shurdhaj were among the accused ones of war crimes in Kleçka village.

Germany to help unblocking energy agreement implementation

(KTV)

Germany, which is the main funder of the 400 kV power line between Kosovo and Albania, has taken over to help unblocking the energy agreement reached in Brussels.

Heike Backofen – Warnecke, Deputy Director for South East Europe, Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus at the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development in the German Government, made this promise in a meeting held with the Acting Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, and Head of KOSTT Mustafë Hasani.

In this meeting, Minister Tahiri said that disrespect of Brussels’ agreement on energy by Serbia is keeping hostage the efforts of the Berlin Process for integration of regional interconnectivity of the six Western Balkans countries.