Haradinaj dismisses Demarcation Committee
(All monitored broadcasters, RTK1)
In its first meeting, the Government of Kosovo led by Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, dismissed the State Committee for Border Demarcation and Maintenance.
The dismissal happened without any vote against, and with two abstentions.
Demarcation was the first issue which Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj dealt with on his first day of work.
As one of former opposition leaders in the previous mandate, Haradinaj had addressed serious criticism against the then Committee concerning the border demarcation between Kosovo and Montenegro.
Now from Prime Minister’s position, Haradinaj requested dismissal of the State Demarcation Committee, and at the same time he proposed Shpejtim Bulliqi as the expert who shall form the team which will take over the responsibility to establish State Demarcation Committee.
On Monday afternoon, Haradinaj gathered his Government Cabinet, where he requested approval for dismissal of the Demarcation Committee.
“Kosovo has stagnated in this issue. It is related with liberalisation as well. We have plenty of reasons not to allow stagnation. I propose dismissal of this Committee…. I had a meeting with Bulliqi, and I asked him to take the lead ….” Haradinaj said.
This proposal was supported with a majority of votes by the Government Cabinet, except two ministers who abstained.
Further, Haradinaj requested from ministers of his Cabinet to come up with the Government programme by next Monday, giving the opportunity to ministers to present their proposals about the programme.
Each of them gave proposals regarding the Government priorities in their respective sectors. According to Haradinaj, the current priority is economic development; therefore, he requested a realistic programme for changing the economic situation.
“It is our task; we must draft a realistic government programme. We will do it within this week. This does not mean that we have not analysed it, but we need to link it with the reality. I count on each and everybody’s input… There is a lot of work to do…” he said.
Haradinaj also spoke about healthcare situation, announcing that in the coming days he will meet management representatives of the Kosovo University Clinic Centre to discuss those issues.
PM Haradinaj received Ambassador O’Connell
(TV21)
On the first day of his work, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj held a series of meetings. He received the United Kingdom Ambassador to Kosovo Ruairí O’Connell with whom he discussed the need for strengthening of democratic institutions, increase of citizens’ welfare, deepening of reforms, and international consolidation of Kosovo.
PM Haradinaj highly appreciates the support that UK has given to Kosovo throughout all its state-building stages.
Congratulating Prime Minister Haradinaj for his post, Ambassador O’Connell said that Kosovo will enjoy the support of his country in its agendas and the Euro-Atlantic path.
Inter-religious youth camp launched
(KTV)
Head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Kosovo Jan Braathu said on Monday that inter-cultural dialogue was necessary for ensuring a stable future.
He made these comments on the occasion of launching of a camp with around 40 youngsters of different religious communities, dedicated to cultural and religious diversity and inter-religious dialogue, as well as debates on the role that youngsters can play in prevention and combating violent extremism and radicalism, VoA reported.
“If society comprises people who do not know their neighbours, this is a very dangerous situation. By not understanding our neighbours, we fall prey to all kinds of stereotypes, all kinds of misunderstanding. Stereotypes and misunderstanding are the beginning of a very dangerous process,” Braathu said.
Kushtrim, one of the participants, says that this camp helps them overcome prejudice against each other, KTV portal reported.
“Initially, when we arrived, we had a lot of prejudice, especially against the Orthodox Serb community, because besides religion, we have a different language and culture with them, so we have various differences. But over time, we no longer have those problems,” he says.
Representatives of all religious communities in Kosovo attended launching of the camp. They emphasised the need for coordinated actions in combating violent extremism.
“BIK (Kosovo Islamic Community) has continuously worked in inciting youngsters to be active, to promote values in the spirit of coexistence, keeping far from any extreme, radicalism, or any harmful negative phenomenon,” Fitim Flugaj of the Kosovo Islamic Community said.
“It is our great responsibility to help our Muslim brothers, to support them in combating those phenomena and any type of extremism,” Teodosije Sibalic of the Serbian Orthodox Church stated.
Kosovo has faced the phenomenon of involvement of its citizens in foreign fights since beginning of the war in Syria. Ever since, about 317 Kosovo citizens are believed to have been involved in the Middle East conflicts, and about 60 persons lost their lives. Around 120 of them have returned, mostly disappointed with what they encountered there.
Representatives of organisations dealing with this issue say that legal actions in the efforts for prevention of radicalism of youngsters need to be followed by comprehensive local initiatives.
In Kosovo, dozens of youngsters of different religions are attending a five-day camp, organised by the Mission of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, dedicated to inter-religious dialogue. The camp includes activities that allow attendees to learn about different religions in Kosovo, and about the role which youngsters can play in prevention and combating violent extremism and radicalism.
CEC hasn’t decertified 86 convicted candidates
(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)
Central Election Commission (CEC) has not decertified 86 candidates who have been convicted by Kosovo court verdicts. CEC members requested that all candidates be carefully verified, in order to avoid removing anyone from the list due to some technical error.
In the CEC meeting it was said that 86 out of 7,000 candidates for mayors and municipal assembly councillors have been convicted by Kosovo court verdicts.
CEC members agreed that the meeting on this topic of the agenda should continue on Tuesday, in order to get rid of doubts in regard to all reported cases for decertification.
On Monday, CEC drew lottery to determine political entities’ ballot position in the October 22 local elections.
The lottery determined that PDK’s position on ballots will be 94, VV 10, LDK 47, AAK 50, Nisma për Kosovën 31, and AKR 30.
Zafir Berisha threatens President Thaçi
(Klan Kosova, KTV)
Candidate for Prizren Mayor of Nisma për Kosovën, Zafir Berisha, in a Facebook post explained the reason why CEC is looking into his name for decertification.
He thinks this is ridiculous, saying that it is not considered a criminal offence.
“140 euros for the reasons of Turkish-Kosovo mafia organisation – KEDS, which stands behind the suspicious privatization of energy distribution is the reason for removal from the race of 22 October elections. I do not know if it is a serious criminal offence, but three months ago, persuent to the same laws, I ran for general elections,” Berisha wrote in his reaction.
Nisma MP has even threatened the President Hashim Thaçi with Kanun [Monitor’s note: A set of traditional laws.]
“It is very clear to me why this happens, but all those that try to blackmail me like this should know that I will fight stronger than ever to liberate Prizren on 22 October… from mafia gangs of Pronto clan. With Zafir or without him, Hashim, do forget Prizren! Sooner or later, if you think you can run away the law, you will not be able to run away from the Kanun,” he wrote.
Veseli receives EU Election Observation Report
(RTK1)
The Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli received Alojz Peterle, Chief of the EU Observers, who were engaged to monitor the Assembly elections, held on 11th June 2017 in Kosovo.
On this occasion, Peterle handed in to Veseli the election report, which includes findings and recommendations of the European Union observers.
At the meeting with the Assembly Speaker Veseli, Chief of the EU Observers encouraged the Kosovo Assembly to conduct electoral reform, which, according to him, must ensure a broad political consensus.
The Assembly Speaker Veseli thanked the EU observers for their involvement in the June 11 elections in Kosovo.
Veseli highlighted that institutions of Kosovo would include recommendations of the EU observers’ report into their political and legislative system.
Both interlocutors agreed to continue cooperation, since the EU observers will also be engaged in the local elections scheduled to take place on 22nd October in Kosovo.
Serbia bans buses leaving Kosovo
(KTV)
From midnight on Sunday, several Kosovo buses have been blocked a few meters from the border crossing point in Merdar, in Serbia’s territory.
Although there is still nothing official, drivers of these blocked buses say that Serbian Police have verbally told them they have taken orders from Serbian authorities to block any bus from Kosovo or that is heading to Kosovo, as a reciprocity measure against the decision of Kosovar side to stop operation of Prishtinë/Pristina-Belgrade bus line.
Ismajl Muriqi, bus driver, requested from Kosovo institutions to undertake measures because, due to this blockade, they are forced to stay in Serbian territory to protect their buses.
One of the owners of a travel agency complained that so far nobody has come to their help.
Kohavision contacted the former Minister of Dialogue Edita Tahiri, but she refused to say anything about the situation created, addressing the responsibility to Kosovo Police officials, but the latter also said they are not responsible for such an issue.
At the Ministry of Infrastructure, which is authorized to issue international traffic permits, said they are dealing with this issue, but a response for the blockade will be given in coming days.
