Analysts: Serbia conditions Kosovo with Association of Serb Municipalities

(TV21)

Justice experts consider the failure of Justice Agreement as an attempt of Serbia to impede extension of Kosovo’s sovereignty to north and to condition Kosovo with establishment of the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities. According to them, failure of the Agreement is a failure of the EU, which was unable to oblige Serbia to implement the Agreement.

“On the other hand, this is Serbia’s way of conveying the message that Kosovo institutions are not serious, and that they can easily fall prey to Serbia’s deception. This is the third time that Serb judges and prosecutors failed to be decreed, upon Serbia’s request,” Ehat Miftaraj of the Kosovo Law Institute said.

Artan Demhasaj of Çohu NGO thinks that since Kosovo has not established the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities, which is one of the Brussels agreements, Serbia responded with the same means, implying that as long as Kosovo has not implemented this Agreement, Serbia will not implement Justice Agreement in turn.

Both Miftaraj and Demhasaj believe that Serbia is trying to show that it has a crucial and leading role in the Brussels dialogue.

“This indicates that the dialogue is considered quite a failure, since both sides are not implementing the agreements reached in the process. This is providing amnesty to possible criminals, by closing their court cases,” Demhasaj said.

Vucic: Brussels is not reacting to Association’s delay

(RTK2, Klan Kosova) 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Wednesday did not consider postponement of implementation of the Agreement on Justice in Kosovo as a major problem. He said that this will happen on Friday or Monday, because Serbia is a reliable partner.

Commenting on the statement of European Union that it regrets the failure to implement Agreement on Justice in Kosovo, Vucic said that Brussels also is not reacting when establishment of the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities is delaying, although the agreement was signed in April 2013.

Jevtic announces establishment of Association of Serb Municipalities

(RTK2)

During his visit to Ranilug/Ranillug municipality, Minister of Communities and Return Dalibor Jevtic said that Association of Serb Majority Municipalities will be established. Jevtic added that the goal of the Association first of all is to improve lives of people in all Serb majority municipalities in Kosovo.

“Association of Serb Municipalities should be established not because of politics and political demands, but because of life demands, so that Serbs can remain and return to Kosovo,” Minister Jevtic concluded.

Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities most vulnerable

(RTK1, RTK2)

On International Day of the Eradication of Poverty, data from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare indicate that there are 29.3 percent poor people living in Kosovo; 10.2 percent of citizens live in extreme poverty, and over 15 percent of Kosovo citizens are covered by one of the types of social protection.

Stojanovic family from Gracanica/Graçanicë, consisting of seven members, live in very difficult conditions. The monthly income of 100 euro does not cover even their basic needs. As if this misfortune was not enough, one part of their house was burnt a few days ago.

According to the data of Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, the number of those who receive social assistance has dropped compared with previous years. Nevertheless, they say that high unemployment rate is impacting the large number of social assistance users.

Fehmi Ibrahimi of the Department for Social Policy and Family said that around 10 percent of Kosovo Serbs have been covered by social assistance.

According to statistics, the most vulnerable group of Kosovo residents are Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptians.

At the Prishtinë/Pristina held conference on resolving problems at social housing where Roma live, it was emphasised that the situation for members of those communities is extremely bad. Firebreak which occurred in 2010, destroyed six apartments in a building in Plemetin, and in September this year, strong wind removed one part of roof.

“Roma live in very bad conditions. That is at the edge of humanitarian disaster, when we talk about buildings in Plemetin in which Roma live. I personally had the opportunity to visit that building. There are 180 people currently living in those apartments. I must say that their living conditions are not acceptable. We must find a solution to their problem as soon as possible,” Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo Jan Braathu stated.

Gazmend Salijevic, chairperson of Consultative Council for Communities said that almost no Roma people are employed by local or public institutions, and most of them do not receive any social assistance.

Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare officials explain that socially vulnerable groups include single parents and people who live alone, Roma and internally displaced persons, people with severe disabilities, and elderly people without incomes.

Zeka accuses RTK of not reporting on his fight with Krasniqi

(RTK, KTV)

Milaim Zeka, who has been put under house arrest, took part at the meeting of the Assembly Committee for Public Administration, Local Government, and Media.

Zeka, who is suspected of involvement in organised crime, criticised RTK of not reporting on the other scandal, in which Zeka was involved in fighting with MP Frashër Krasniqi.

At this meeting, MP Shqipe Pantina argued with the RTK Managing Director Mentor Shala.

Shala mentioned attacks on RTK and on his own house, which, according to him, has frightened journalists.

Pantina and the other Committee member from Vetëvendosje, Valon Ramadani, quit the meeting.

Despite that, besides the 2016 RTK annual report, the Committee discussed and proceeded to the Assembly reports of the Independent Oversight Board for Civil Service, and report of the Independent Media Commission.

Tahiri: Integration process of Kosovo north unstoppable

(Klan Kosova, RTK1)

During his official visit to Presevo Valley, asked by reporters regarding the refusal of Serb judges from Kosovo north to take oath before President Hashim Thaçi, Minister of Justice Abelard Tahiri said that integration process of the north is unstoppable.

“There might be delays and problems on the way, but this is something that will happen. Courts in the north will be functionalised, rule of law will also prevail in that part of Kosovo,” Tahiri stated.

On the other hand, Mayor of Bujanovac Municipality Shaip Kamberi said they are requesting return of Basic Court to Presevo.