- Haradinaj: No tariff revocation without recognition (RTK)
- Hoti: We’re working in text of no confidence motion (RTK)
- Rakic refers to Kosovo leaders as ‘war criminals’ (GazetaExpress)
- EU’s Mogherini says Tuesday’s events show a Kosovo-Serbia agreement is needed (GazetaExpress)
- Çitaku: Russia is once again using its machinery to twist the truth (KTV)
- Germany against correction of border between Kosovo and Serbia (GazetaExpress)
- Kandic: Mass grave in Rudnica is the monument for Dikovic (KTV)
- Serbian authorities release KTA officer Marjan Gjoka (KTV)
- Serbs continue protesting against ‘Mirëdita, Dobar Dan’ festival (KTV)
- LDK members fight again, four arrested (KTV)
News
Haradinaj: No tariff revocation without recognition
(RTK)
The Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj called findings of the Progress Report on Kosovo as a mixture, and he reiterated that the tariff on Serbia will only be revoked once a comprehensive agreement on mutual Kosovo-Serbia recognition will have been reached.
Following his meeting with Head of the EU Office in Kosovo Nataliya Apostolova, who handed him in the Progress Report for Kosovo, Prime Minister Haradinaj called the document a mixed reflection of findings on the stagnation and progress made over a year.
On the other hand, Apostolova said that the Progress Report reconfirmed EU perspective of the six partners in the Western Balkans, including Kosovo, and at the same time it indicates problems in the region, which one day is expected to be part of the EU.
Asked about possible revocation of the tariff on Serbian products, Haradinaj again insisted on recognition of Kosovo by Serbia.
Concerning the number of current deputy ministers, which is mentioned in the Progress Report, Haradinaj said that it was discussed in the Law on Government, which will resolve this issue for all governments in the future.
Haradinaj said that journalists made him uncomfortable, when they asked him where the border crossing with Montenegro was.
Hoti: We’re working in text of no confidence motion
(RTK)
The LDK caucus leader Avdullah Hoti said they have been working in the no confidence motion for the Government.
On Wednesday, he spoke on RTK Imazh show.
“We are missing four more signatures. A few days ago, chairman Mustafa met with the chairman of Vetëvendosje, it is expected that he will also meet with the PSD chairman, and we will consult MPs, as well. We are preparing the text of the motion,” Hoti said.
“There is a general perception that this Government needs to be changed,” he added.
Rakic refers to Kosovo leaders as ‘war criminals’
(GazetaExpress)
Kosovo Serbs staged a protest Wednesday in Mitrovica North a day after the Kosovo Police carried out a wide operation against organised crime and smuggling resulting with the arrest of 19 policemen and dozens of local Serbs. The operation has increased tensions in this Serb-dominated area.
The protest was called by Srpska List, the main political party representing Serbs in Kosovo. Head of Srpska List, Goran Rakic, addressing the protestors said that Kosovo Serbs are not afraid and they will not leave the north. Rakic addressing the crowd at one point referred to Kosovo leaders as “war criminals.”
“My message to war criminals is that initially they need to clean their own yard. My fellow Serbs, we are witnessing a great injustice which is not going to end. You will probably agree with me that it is difficult for us to remain calm in these difficult and challenging times, but please avoid provocations cooked in western kitchens,” Rakic said.
“As long as we are here Kosovo is Serbian and will always remain Serbian, therefore we should fight and be united because our Fatherland Serbia is always with us,” Rakic said.
EU’s Mogherini says Tuesday’s events show a Kosovo-Serbia agreement is needed
(GazetaExpress)
The EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini has commented Tuesday’s operation of the Kosovo Police in the north, which resulted in arresting 19 police officers suspected of smuggling and organised crime.
Mogherini said in Brussels on Wednesday that yesterday’s events in Kosovo showed the status quo in Kosovo-Serbia relations wasn’t sustainable and that the two sides should resume the talks to reach an agreement on normalisation of relations.
She added she had been in permanent contact with both sides and was convinced a solution was possible.
“I’m sure that an agreement is possible if the conditions for the continuation of the dialogue at the highest level are met. But, it is necessary to fulfil the pre-conditions, primarily to abolish the taxes,” Mogherini said.
She added she had talks with both presidents Hashim Thaci of Kosovo and Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia in Tirana three weeks ago, and that she was convinced that “both sides are aware of their interests.”
Çitaku: Russia is once again using its machinery to twist the truth
(KTV)
Kosovo’s Ambassador to Washington Vlora Çitaku commented on the arrest of the Russian citizen in Kosovo north.
On a Facebook post, she wrote that Russian state is once again using its machinery to twist the truth, KTV portal reported.
“So, the Russian state is once again using its machinery to twist the truth. A (Russian) member of the UN mission in Kosovo used a UN official vehicle to sabotage a Kosovo police operation against criminal groups in Kosovo by joining violent gangs in creating roadblocks. Shame!” Çitaku wrote.
Germany against correction of border between Kosovo and Serbia
(GazetaExpress)
German Government official, Christiane Hullman, has reiterated today in Pristina the official stance of Berlin against the idea on correction of border between Kosovo and Serbia.
“Germany does not support such an idea,” Hullman said attending a debate organised by the Balkan Policy Group, Gazeta Express reports. She said that such an idea would destabilise the region. “The idea on exchange of territories and correction of borders destabilises the entire region,” Hullman said.
The idea promoted by presidents of both Kosovo Hashim Thaci and Serbia Aleksandar Vucic is being opposed by German chancellor Angela Merkel, who stated that such an idea is dangerous and she does not support it.
Kandic: Mass grave in Rudnica is the monument for Dikovic
(KTV)
The mass grave with bodies of Albanian civilians killed by the Serbian army is the “monument” for the acts of Serbian General Ljubisa Dikovic. This is what the well-known Serbian activist for human rights and the truth about the wars in the former Yugoslavia, Natasa Kandic, said.
In a statement to Koha.net, after Dikovic’s interview where he claims that instead of filing war crimes indictments against him in Kosovo, “they should erect him a monument there,” Kandic said that there already is a “monument” for Dikovic’s crimes, and it is located in Rudnica, Serbia.
“The monument that has perpetuated the acts of the wartime commander of the 37th Yugoslav Army motorized brigade against civilians in Kosovo is the mass grave in Rudnica, where the mortal remains of murdered villagers in Çikatovë e Vjetër and Rrezallë, in April 1999, were hidden for 15 years,” Kandic told Koha.net.
Natasa Kandic added that she still believes in justice, and that it will be received also in the place where the mass grave was opened.
“I believe that one day that place will be marked with the words of shame for the crime committed against civilians and the pain that it has caused to the families of the victims,” said Kandic, who is the founder of the Humanitarian Law Centre, an organization that has documented Dikovic’s responsibility for the crimes committed against Albanian civilians during the war in Kosovo in spring 1999.
Serbian authorities release KTA officer Marjan Gjoka
(KTV)
Kosovo Tax Administration (KTA) officer Marjan Gjoka has been released from detention in Serbia.
Gjoka was arrested on Sunday at border crossing between Croatia and Serbia, under suspicion of committing criminal offence of terrorism. He was put to 48-hour detention.
The news of his release was announced by Kristë Gjokaj, Police Commander in Gjakovë/Djakovica.
The Kosovo Minister of Foreign Affairs Behgjet Pacolli stated that release of Marjan Gjoka by Serbian state is good news.
He said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was strongly engaged for his release, through diplomatic channels and through the Special Mission in Belgrade.
Serbs continue protesting against ‘Mirëdita, Dobar Dan’ festival
(KTV)
A small group of around 20 persons in Serbia protested against the ‘Mirëdita, dobar dan’ festival, which is taking place in Belgrade.
Protesters tried to approach the premises where the festival was being held, but the Police prevented them.
The ‘Mirëdita, dobar dan!’ festival, aims to break barriers between Kosovo and Serbia.
“Kosovo is Serbia,” “We do not allow festivals while Serbs in Kosovo are mistreated,” called the protesters, who also played nationalist songs.
Milica Djurdjevic, the protest organiser, said that it was intolerable that Kosovo is presented in Belgrade as a state.
“It is intolerable that Kosovo is presented as a state here. The festival will screen films that portray Serb police officers as terrorists,” she said.
LDK members fight again, four arrested
(KTV)
Fighting occurred in the sub-branch of LDK in Ferizaj/Urosevac, and four people were arrested on this occasion.
This was confirmed to Koha.net by the Police Major in Ferizaj/Urosevac, Mehmetali Hajdini.
“I can confirm that four people have been arrested so far, and another suspect is currently in UCCK for further medical treatment,” said Hajdini.
Recently, physical clashes happened amongst LDK members also in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica.
