• OSCE support asked in early elections in north (Klan Kosova, RTK1)
• Hahn: Tariff must be at least suspended (KTV)
• Macron and Merkel to make a concrete proposal on Kosovo-Serbia final deal (GazetaExpress)
• Denying war crimes insults memory of victims, US Embassy states (Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
• Minister Hodzic says she feels sorry about all victims of war in Kosovo (KTV)
• Two Serbs arrested recently, more wanted for war crimes (KTV)
• New Criminal Code enters into force (KTV)
• Tahiri: PDK will nominate Veseli for Prime Minister (RTK1)

News

OSCE support asked in early elections in north

(Klan Kosova, RTK1)

Involvement of the OSCE on Election Day in the north has been considered necessary by the Central Elections Commission (CEC). CEC members said they have asked for OSCE to provide technical assistance to enhance transparency in this process.

CEC has decided to invite the OSCE to provide technical assistance during early elections in four Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo north.

“I believe that since we have early elections and very tight deadlines, and having in mind the specifics in these four municipalities, I believe that there is still the need for the OSCE to be involved there,” CEC chairperson Valdete Daka stated.

The OSCE support was considered crucial for municipal election commissions and polling station committees.

I think this does not do any harm, because it is in function of transparency in municipalities. It is not an executive role in terms of organisation of elections, as it had not such a role in the past,” Daka said.

“I support it, I am not against it, but I emphasise that the CEC bodies are the ones that will organise and administer the entire electoral process from this phase through the final phase there,” CEC member of Vetëvendosje Adnan Rrustemi said.

CEC chairperson Daka responded: “It will only be involved in providing technical advice to Municipal Elections Commissions and Polling Station Committees on the Election Day. So, it has no executive role or in the function of organising elections.”

LDK CEC member Sami Hamiti said that the OSCE will have the same role as in last elections and provide technical advice and support, stressing that LDK supports it in principle.

CEC chairperson Valdete Daka was asked to hold intensive meetings with security institutions in that area. Daka said that she had already started communication with the Police in order to ensure calm and fair elections.

 Hahn: Tariff must be at least suspended

(KTV)

 After meeting with Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Johannes Hahn requested at least suspension of the tariff on Serbian goods.

“Good meeting with President Hashim Thaçi. Important that the dialogue Serbia-Kosovo resumes rapidly, also in the interest of broader regional stability and progress. I reiterated the EU position that the counterproductive Kosovo tariffs must be at least suspended,” he posted on Twitter.

On Monday, Hahn also said that borders should also be discussed in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, if the sides agree.

Macron and Merkel to make a concrete proposal on Kosovo-Serbia final deal

(GazetaExpress)

During the meeting of the Western Balkan leaders on 29 April set to be held in Berlin, hosted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, a draft agreement between Kosovo and Serbia is expected to be proposed. The meeting will be attended by presidents and prime ministers of both Kosovo and Serbia.

German Chancellor Merkel is opposing to the idea on redrawing borders in Balkans, and is personally dealing with the Kosovo issue. Gazeta Express has learned that during the meeting in Berlin will be proposed a draft agreement aimed at reaching a final deal between Kosovo and Serbia. The new frame agreement does not include land swap as promoted by Kosovo president Hashim Thaci, but will not be the in favour of Kosovo. Most likely it will be proposed that Serbia exercise a sort of sovereignty in certain territories of Kosovo.

The German Government in an answer to Gazeta Express has confirmed that the aim of Chancellor Merkel and French President Macron is stability in the region, focusing on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. “Stability and positive developments in the region are of a great importance to Chancellor and President. Their aim is discussing with the guests on special challenges the region is facing, focusing on Kosovo-Serbia relations,” a German Government spokesperson told Gazeta Express.

Kosovo president Hashim Thaci and Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj are going to Brussels without a unified stance. Thaci met on Monday EU’s Commissioner Johannes Hahn, whereas Haradinaj from Kosovo accused Hahn and the EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, for wasting a year with their statements on exchange of territories between Kosovo and Serbia.

Meliza Haradinaj, advisor to Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, in a Facebook post on Monday said that Kosovo issue will be on the focus of the Berlin regional meeting, and called on institutional leaders to be represented with a unified stance before Merkel and Macron.

Denying war crimes insults memory of victims, US Embassy states

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

The United States Embassy to Kosovo stated that denying of war atrocities in Kosovo insults the memory of victims and undermines progress in building a democratic, multi-ethnic state.

In its reaction, the Embassy urged Kosovo’s leaders from all communities to refrain from incendiary rhetoric.

“A commitment to the truth about the wartime past is vital for a peaceful future,” the statement reads further.

This reaction of USA came few days after Ivan Todosijevic was dismissed from Minister’s post in Kosovo Government and after he qualified Reçak massacre a fabrication.

This is the full statement of US Embassy in Prishtinë/Pristina:

As Kosovo commemorates the 20th anniversary of wartime atrocities, the U.S. Embassy extends sincere condolences to the families of victims. Denying that atrocities occurred insults the memory of victims, further traumatizes families, and undermines progress in building a democratic, multi-ethnic state.  We also urge Kosovo’s leaders from all communities to refrain from incendiary rhetoric.  A commitment to the truth about the wartime past is vital for a peaceful future.

Minister Hodzic says she feels sorry about all victims of war in Kosovo

(KTV)

It is her first working day at the helm of the Ministry of Local Government Administration. Adrijana Hodzic has become the third woman with post of a minister in the Government of Kosovo.

Following dismissal of the Minister of Local Government Ivan Todosijevic, who called the Reçak massacre a fabrication and Albanians as terrorist on Friday, Hodzic was appointed to this post by Prime Minister Haradinaj.

She pledges to lead the Ministry of Local Government with accountability, by providing support to all 38 municipalities in the country.

Hodzic says she does not belong to any political party, and that allegations against her of collaborating and supporting Srpska Lista are groundless.

 Two Serbs arrested recently, more wanted for war crimes

(KTV)

A few months after war crime cases were transferred to the Prosecution Office by the EULEX Mission, the Special Prosecution Office has intensified work in this respect.

The courage to return to the location where they are suspected to have committed crimes during the war, made the two suspects be arrested by the War Crimes Department.

Over the course of three days, with citizens’ assistance, Kosovo Police arrested an Egyptian and a Serb as war crime suspects, the former in Klinë/Klina, and the latter in the village of Nerodime e Epërme, Ferizaj/Urosevac.

But other suspects as accomplices remain out of reach to the Special Prosecution Office.

Concerning a Serb with initials Z.K, who is suspected to have taken part in the killings in Nuha family, Ferizaj/Urosevac, the Prosecution Office so far has interviewed three witnesses.

To this point in the investigation, the Prosecution Office believes that it has got hold of sufficient evidence.

Sylë Hoxha of the Kosovo Special Prosecution Office said that they have been collecting evidence about other war crime cases in Kosovo, as well.

He highlighted that within this year, it is expected that there will be more results in shedding light on war crime cases.

According to the Humanitarian Law Centre (HLC), 60 Serbs have been convicted for war crimes in Kosovo.

Referring to HLC, more than 13,000 persons were killed during the war, and 1,640 persons are still missing.

New Criminal Code enters into force

(KTV)

Since Sunday, the new Criminal Code has entered into force.

On this occasion, Minister of Justice Abelard Tahiri informed citizens about the new measures, and called upon them to comply with the Law and with the social norms on which our society functions.

“From now onwards, a new era begins for the justice that is applied in our Republic, where citizens will be more protected by law, whereas perpetrators will get a deserved response for the damage they cause to our social order in all its dimensions,” statement of the Ministry of Justice says.

“Those who abuse the money of our taxpayers, the corrupt, and those who are involved in organised crime, will face harsh sanctions that they have never encountered before, and they will not be able to avoid them,” the statement added.

 Tahiri: PDK will nominate Veseli for Prime Minister

(RTK1)

Minister of Justice Abelard Tahiri spoke about the clashes that occurred in the PDK branch in Skenderaj/Srbica.

According to Tahiri, this was an isolated case, and what happened was only verbal confrontation.

“The election process has not been damaged. The minor incidents cannot damage this process, which has been fair and democratic. PDK will hold its convention soon,” Tahiri said.

Tahiri is confident that Kadri Veseli will be the PDK’s candidate for Prime Minister in the next elections.

“Kadri Veseli, of course. 100 per cent Kadri Veseli,” Tahiri stated to T7.