- Caucus leaders sign statement on improvement of election system (Kosovo portals)
- EU Office and OSCE ready to contribute to strengthening of electoral process (GazetaExpress)
- Albanian language course started in Plemetin/Plementina (RTK2)
- EU reacts to Serbia’s denial of Reçak massacre (KTV)
- Serb soldiers say yes to Kosovo Army (RTK1)
- Rasic: Only Thaçi and Vucic know why elections in the north were called (KTV)
- Opposition warns Government that no-confidence motion is near (KTV)
- Haradinaj meets D’Addario, security situation calm (KTV)
- One suspect for war crimes in Kosovo arrested (RTK)
News
Caucus leaders sign statement on improvement of election system
(Kosovo portals)
The leaders of Kosovo Assembly caucuses signed on Thursday a joint statement, expressing their readiness and commitment to improving the election process.
They agreed to establish an ad hoc commission for improvement and strengthening of the election process, by addressing the recommendations of the EU Election Observation Mission issued as of 2013.
A press release issued by the Assembly reads, “Chairs of the caucuses will propose to the Assembly to create an ad hoc commission in one of the future sessions. They have also agreed to establish within the ad hoc commission an advisory working group composed of local and international experts. The Joint statement was signed at the presence of Head of the EUSR/EU Office Nataliya Apostolova and the OSCE Head of Mission, Ambassador Jan Braathu. The leaders of the caucuses called upon these two organisations to support and help in the efforts for improvement of the election legislative framework.”
EU Office and OSCE ready to contribute to strengthening of electoral process
(GazetaExpress)
The EU Office in Prishtinë/Pristina welcomed the initiative of Kosovo political parties to improve and strengthen the electoral process in Kosovo.
According to this Office, free, fair, transparent and credible election processes are the basis for the democratic functioning of institutions.
In regard to establishment of an ad hoc parliamentary committee, Nataliya Apostolova believes that it is important that this committee will have an advisory group composed of local and international experts and stakeholders.
“To this effect, we welcome the decision of the Assembly to establish an ad hoc parliamentary committee. It is important that this committee will have an advisory group composed of local and internationals experts and stakeholders. The EU and the OSCE will support and assist them in their work,” reads a press release issued.
According to this Office, strengthening and improving the electoral process is a permanent feature in every democracy, and a constant requirement for emerging democracies.
They said that engagement of all political parties is crucial for the success of this effort.
“Strengthening and improving the electoral process is a permanent feature in every democracy and a constant requirement for emerging democracies. In Kosovo, it needs to be based on findings and recommendations from EU Election Observation Missions from previous elections to secure the most democratic elections within the constitutional framework. The engagement of all political parties is crucial for the success of this effort,” press release ends.
Albanian language course started in Plemetin/Plementina
(RTK2)
With the aim of understanding the language of their fellow citizens, an Albanian language course started two weeks ago in Plemetin/Plementina. At the same time, Obiliq/Obilic residents are attending the Serbian language course.
Given that knowledge of languages is an important factor for good co-existence, an Albanian language course is running in Plemetin/Plementina. Not knowing the language of their fellow citizens is an issue that builds barriers in interpersonal relations, while knowing the language provides great opportunities.
“Some of them already have some basic skills, they can communicate in Albanian; some others are beginners; but we make a combination, we work interactively. Those who know more, help those who do not know enough, so I think it is a good start. This first level ends at the end of July, and as for the second level, it has been planned for September, but we will see. The group seems to be active, motivated and willing to learn,” the Albanian language professor Anyla Zajmi says.
According to the Deputy Mayor for Communities in Obiliq/Obilic municipality, the response of attendees is satisfactory.
The course attendees are members of all communities and of different cohorts.
“The non-Albanian community residents have the opportunity to learn what is very important for them in the future, that is, to know how to communicate with their peers with whom they live,” said Slavisa Jakovljevic, Deputy Mayor for Communities in Obiliq/Obilic.
“I am very satisfied with this Albanian language course. I must emphasize that I knew the language before this course, because I am active in the municipality and in some NGOs, but that was not enough,” said Abdyl Mustafa, one of the course attendees.
The project of learning Albanian and Serbian language has been organized by the OSCE, and besides Plemetin/Plementina and Obiliq/Obilic, it is planned that this project will be expanded to other areas in Kosovo, as well.
EU reacts to Serbia’s denial of Reçak massacre
(KTV)
The EU has reacted to the statements in Serbia that called the massacre of Reçak a fabrication.
In a response to journalists, the EU Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Maja Kocijancic said that there is no room for denial or relativisation of the events that occurred in Reçak, Kosovo, in January 1999.
“Denial and relativisation are in contradiction with the EU values and against the project for integration of the Western Balkans into the EU. By respecting victims, the authorities should comply with and work sincerely for an appropriate evaluation of the past. The region needs reconciliation, stability, and normalisation of relations,” the EU reaction says.
Serb soldiers say yes to Kosovo Army
(RTK1)
No Serb community soldier has quit the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) in 2019.
The Kosovo Ministry of Defence stated to Klan Kosova that after the last year’s wave, resignations have stopped since the New Year. This was stated by Ibrahim Shala, Spokesperson at the KSF Ministry.
Shala confirmed that many Serb community members applied at the latest recruitment process, but presently the officials have chosen not to tell the exact number of applicants.
Erolld Belegu, advisor to Prime Minister Haradinaj, thinks that awareness of Serb citizens has been raised, so that they no longer fall prey to the pressure of Serbian officials and other criminal structures.
He added that the gap that was created by resignation of Serb soldiers will be filled.
“KSF still is more multi-ethnic than ethnic composition of Kosovo, having over eight per cent of its soldiers from minorities,” Belegu said.
Belegu stressed that the 80 soldiers who resigned last year, were forced to do so due to the very high pressure put on them by Belgrade.
Former KSF commander Kadri Kastrati said that with its campaign for making as many Serb soldiers as possible to resign, Serbia intended to prevent transformation of KSF into an army.
“They know that the Republic of Kosovo is their own country. In addition, they have realised that it was a political goal, and they know that they should live here,” Kastrati said.
Kastrati emphasised that Kosovo did not respond to this issue with any strategy.
Rasic: Only Thaçi and Vucic know why elections in the north were called
(KTV)
Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party Nenad Rasic thinks that calling elections in four north municipalities was unnecessary, and that only the two presidents know what is in question.
Rasic stated to RTV Kim that calling the elections is an absurd, given that the Kosovo Government has refused resignations of the municipal representatives.
According to him, this is something that only the two presidents, Hashim Thaçi and Aleksandar Vucic are aware of. He added that they continue working based on their plan, which will be dangerous for all Serbs.
“I believe that their plan, which they are presenting in parts – specifically, Thaçi is presenting it broadly and hypothetically, while Vucic is not presenting it at all – is very dangerous for Serbs in south of Ibër, because we will still be victims of someone’s politics in which we are not included. This is another way of endangering Serbs not only in the north, but also in the south,” Rasic is quoted to have said.
With regard to participation of Srpska Lista in these elections, Rasic said that nothing surprises him.
“It has been said several times, unfortunately, first of all by President Aleksandar Vucic, and it is reflected at all levels. They have been designed so they can again take part in elections. I am interested in knowing it there is moral restriction in all of this, for example, for Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North. Rakic has resigned there and he will again be a candidate. This really does not make sense,” Rasic said.
What is absurd, Rasic says, is the fact that they will resign after the elections, and this is not a good sign.
Opposition warns Government that no-confidence motion is near
(KTV)
It is expected that MPs of all political parties will soon receive an invitation for a joint meeting, initiated by LDK.
At the meeting, MPs will be asked to put their signatures in favour of a no-confidence motion against the Government.
The LDK caucus leader Avdullah Hoti said that they have got signatures, but they are insufficient to overthrow the Government.
On the other hand, Vetëvendosje is intending to submit the motion to the Assembly as soon as possible, in order to find out what the stances on this matter are.
According to Albulena Haxhiu of Vetëvendosje, this will be accompanied by protests against what she called, the Government of scandals.
PSD MPs say that they have provided their signatures in favour of the motion one year ago.
The PSD caucus leader Dardan Sejdiu said that once the motion is put forward on the table, it will be seen who exactly is in favour of overthrowing of the Government.
However, ruling parties do not take seriously the statements of the opposition representatives.
MP Haxhi Shala of Nisma said that opposition is afraid of the motion more than those who are on power.
Meanwhile, as clashes between the Government and opposition continue, the Kosovo Assembly has lagged behind in its work.
According to opposition MPs, the reason why this situation has happened in the Assembly is that both the Assembly Speaker and MPs have been more focused on the political party agendas than on the Assembly performance.
Haradinaj meets D’Addario, security situation calm
(KTV)
Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj and KFOR Commander Lorenzo D’Addario have stated that the security situation in the country is calm.
On a Facebook post, Haradinaj announced that he met with Major General D’Addario, and they concluded that the cooperation between KFOR and the local security institutions is excellent.
“Institutions and all Kosovo security mechanisms are permanent and reliable partners of the NATO mission for peace and stability,” Haradinaj wrote.
Later during the evening, KTV portal quoted an announcement of KFOR for new exercises in the north, which read:
“In the following days KFOR will conduct scheduled training and exercises throughout Kosovo, particularly in the West and in the North. We are here to provide a safe and secure environment to all people. We exercise to be always ready. If you see us around feel safer!
One suspect for war crimes in Kosovo arrested
(RTK)
Kosovo Police, specifically the Sector for Investigation of War Crimes, arrested a suspected male person from the Egyptian community for war crimes in Kosovo in 1999.
Upon issuing of the decision on detention, the arrest was escorted to the detention centre.
The decision on detention of the arrested person was issued by the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo, on the grounded suspicion that he had committed the criminal offenses “War Crimes against Civilian Population”.
