• More than 60 thousand euro fines against parties for violations during elections, Srpska Lista leading (KTV)
• Kosnett calls for reporting of irregularities during elections (TV21)
• Srpska List leader Goran Rakic says political rivals afraid of election results (GazetaExpress)
• Kosovo Serb opposition airs campaign video in Albanian slamming Serb List (N1)
• Ivanovic’s murder: Kosovo Prosecution to interview Rada Trajkovic again (GazetaExpress)
• Finland asks revocation of tax, resumption of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (GazetaExpress)
• KSF cadets, including Serbs, begin training (KTV)
• Prosecution Office saw Molliqaj-Abazi footage for the first time on media (KTV)
• Haradinaj will not make post-electoral coalition with anyone that revokes tariff (Summary of KTV Rubicon show)

News

More than 60 thousand euro fines against parties for violations during elections, Srpska Lista leading

(KTV)

Since launching of election campaign on September 25, the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) has imposed fines on political parties, exceeding 58,000 euro.

Mul Desku, Head of the ECAP Secretariat, told Radio Free Europe that Srpska Lista is leading in terms of the amount of fines, followed by LDK and PDK.

“Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has been fined with 14.100 euro, Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) 6.100 euro, Srpska Lista with 30.000 euros, Coalition Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) – Social Democratic Party (PSD) with 6.000 euro, and Coalition Social Democratic Initiative – New Kosovo Alliance and Justice Party with 2.500 euro,” Desku said.

ECAP announced that most of the penalties are imposed for placement of posters in public areas, as well as other violations.

“The reasons are placement of posters in public areas, use of children in the campaign, pressure on voters to cast their ballot for a particular political entity. Then, use of public office for the purpose of gaining votes, use of hate speech, putting up stands with posters in public streets, building up tents with promotional materials in public streets, distributing videos on social networks, etc.,” he added.

Kosnett calls for reporting of irregularities during elections

(TV21)

The United States Ambassador to Kosovo Philip Kosnett continues to encourage holding of democratic elections in Kosovo.

On his Twitter account, Kosnett shared the link of Elections Complaints and Appeals Panel, saying that this institution takes seriously all complaints made by citizens.

“Part of fair elections include government institutions like the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel: http://pzap.rks-gov.net/?lang=en which takes all complaints made directly with them seriously,” the American Ambassador Philip Kosnett wrote.

During last week he called on political entities to conduct democratic electoral campaign.

Srpska List leader Goran Rakic says political rivals afraid of election results

(GazetaExpress)

Chairman of the Srpska List, Goran Rakic, has commented on allegations of the Kosovo Serb political opponents who accuse this Belgrade-backed political entity of intimidating and threatening political opponents.

Talking to T7 television Rakic said that leaders of other Kosovo Serb parties challenging the Srpska List on 6 October elections, Nenad Rasic, Slobodan Petrovic, Rada Trajkovic and Aleksandar Jablanovic are afraid of no one.

“They are afraid of the election results. So far no evidence was offered that they were threatened this is just their performance and they keep going to the Embassies of United States and Great Britain, complaining that allegedly they are receiving threats,” Rakic told T7.

Further Rakic said that the reason why other Kosovo Serb political entity are not holding election rally is the lack of supporters.

“Very few people turn out in their gatherings, and those present in these gatherings are close friends of these candidates,” said Rakic who is also mayor of Mitrovica North.

Rakic has commented also a fine that the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) imposed to Srpska List for their election campaign video claiming that Kosovo is part of Serbia. Rakic called the 30 thousand euro fine as meaningless.

Kosovo Serb opposition airs campaign video in Albanian slamming Serb List

(N1)

Kosovo Serb’s opposition coalition “Freedom” candidate for Prime Minister on October 6 early elections in Kosovo Nenad Rasic published a campaign video in Albanian, calling on people to vote for the coalition to “jointly renounce a political monster called Serb List,” the Beta news agency reported on Monday.

Serb List is the leading party gathering Kosovo Serbs and holds power in all municipalities in the north with a Serb majority. Belgrade openly supports the List as the only organisation local Serbs should vote for.

Rasic made a video in Prizren, in southern Kosovo, predominantly populated by local Albanians.

“With this sincere plea, I call on you to vote for the number 120 since with your vote we will together renounce this political monster called Serb List. I‘m Nenad Rasic, vote for the number 120,” he said, according to the Kosovo online website.

The “Freedom” coalition is made up of Rasic‘s Progressive-Democratic Party, New Party headed by Dejan Miric and independent candidates Rada Trajkovic and Slavica Petkovic.

Some former members of the opposition Civil Initiative SDP led by the assassinated opposition politician Oliver Ivanovic, including his closest ally Ksenija Bozovic,  joined the Serb List citing the need for the unity of the Kosovo Serbs.

Ivanovic’s murder: Kosovo Prosecution to interview Rada Trajkovic again

(GazetaExpress)

The Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo (SPRK) says they are looking into statements of the former member of Kosovo parliament, Rada Trajkovic, who stated that she was offered a video showing assassination of the Kosovo Serb leader, Oliver Ivanovic, who in January 2018 was gunned down in front of his political party offices in Mitrovica North.

Kosovo prosecutors say that they will call Trajkovic for an interview to explain her allegations. Trajkovic was interviewed earlier related to this case and she has not mentioned existence of such a video.

Special prosecutor, Syle Hoxhaj, who is dealing with Ivanovic’s murder, told Gazeta Express on Monday that Trajkovic was interviewed earlier in her capacity as a witness. But she has not mentioned existence of any video shedding light on Ivanovic’s murder.

“Yes, we have read Trajkovic’s statement. She was interviewed earlier in her capacity as a witness. What she said recently is something new. Earlier she has not mentioned existence of any additional evidence. I as a prosecutor of the case will deal with this and we are looking seriously into her statements,” Hoxhaj said.

According to the prosecutor Hoxhaj solving Ivanovic’s murder is difficult because potential witnesses of this case are living in northern part of Kosovo inhabited mainly by Serbs and is not fully controlled by authorities in Pristina.

Hoxhaj also accused Serbian authorities for not cooperating with Kosovo authorities related to Ivanovic’s murder. He said that investigations into Ivanovic’s case are ongoing, confirming that the SPRK has identified two new suspects who are wanted by Kosovo authorities.

Both of the suspects, according to Hoxhaj live in Mitrovica North and are known for their involvement in organised crime. Four people were arrested suspected of being involved in Ivanovic’s killing, and two of them were released. Kosovo authorities issued an international warrant against Kosovo Serb politician, Milan Radoicic, who has found a safe shelter in Belgrade.

Oliver Ivanovic, former minister and former member of the Kosovo Parliament was leader of the Civic Initiative, Freedom, Democracy Justice. He was shot dead in front of his political party’s office in Mitrovica North, on 16 January 2018.

Finland asks revocation of tax, resumption of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue

(GazetaExpress)

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto is visiting Pristina where he was received by his Kosovo counterpart, Behgjet Pacolli.

After the meeting Haavisto addressing media said that Finland fully supports visa liberalisation for Kosovo. “I think that cooperation between the two countries was very intensive. This is the first time I am visiting Kosovo. We should admire the way Kosovo is developing since the end of war. Congratulation for the good work,” Haavisto said.

“Finland has contributed to international missions here. The diaspora of Kosovo is very known in my country with its work and achievements,” he said. “We support the Independence of Kosovo and country’s participation into international organisations,” Finnish Foreign Minister said.

“When it comes to visa liberalisation, we should have all the opinions of the EU member states. Finland also supports the EU enlargement process,” he said. “But there are some problems preventing progress of the dialogue with Serbia. You have the full support to continue talks. We are concerned with the tariffs introduced to Serbian products and we hope to create conditions and resume the dialogue,” Haavisto stated. “Young people in Kosovo deserve a better future. I hope the entire Balkans one day will join the EU,” he said.

KSF cadets, including Serbs, begin training

(KTV)

Almost every day, 339 cadets who aim to join the Army, begin their march with motivation songs.

Amongst the cadets there are young persons from non-majority communities, such as Serbs, Turks, and Ashkalia.

During their nine-week stay at the Training Centre, cadets are strictly trained and inspected.

Mimoza Morina, an instructor, says that they are extremely strict to the cadets, so that eventually they can be ready to become soldiers.

In the course of nine weeks, cadets go through basic physical and psychological training.

This is the last group for this year, the members of which will join various units as soldiers.

From group one, 350 cadets successfully completed the training sessions.

Prosecution Office saw Molliqaj-Abazi footage for the first time on media

(KTV)

Two candidates for MPs, Dardan Molliqaj and Haki Abazi, fought with fists and feet after the show on T7 TV.

The footage shows Dardan Molliqaj of PSD along with his escort, who got involved in the fighting, and they both held and fisted Haki Abazi of Vetëvendosje.

Their physical clash was published by Sinjali portal, while after the incident; Dardan Molliqaj had denied to have been involved in a physical clash.

KTV learned that the Prishtinë/Pristina Basic Prosecution Office did not have the physical clashes video as evidence, as they saw it for the first time after it was published on the media.

Acting Chief Prosecutor at the Prishtinë/Pristina Basic Prosecution Office Kujtim Munishi was reluctant to speak about this case, but he only confirmed that the investigations have been going on.

The case prosecutor Fikrije Sylejmani also did not provide details on the investigations, saying that it could harm the process.

Jetmir Bakija of Democracy Plus says that the physical clashes between the two candidates for MPs may produce more similar situations in the future.

He has called on political entities to distance themselves from this incident.

Haradinaj will not make post-electoral coalition with anyone that revokes tariff

(Summary of KTV Rubicon show)

Following his return from the United States, the outgoing Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said on KTV Rubicon show that a lot was done so that the opinion of two Kosovos can prevail internationally.

According to Haradinaj, in the European Union and Washington, on the one hand they view the Kosovo of Haradinaj, which is identified as the blocking one, and on the other hand, they view the other Kosovo of other political parties, which is presented as more open and pragmatic.

Haradinaj implied that other parties are more open and more rational in their approach to the dialogue process, including the tariff.

“In the EU and Washington they see two Kosovos: one Kosovo represented by myself with the 100 percent state concept, which is proclaimed by Serbia as the Kosovo of unilateral actions, Kosovo which is not interested for dialogue and peace, but rather in making its own decisions, referring to the decision on the Army, tariff, Trepça; then they imply that all other political forces – PDK, LDK, VV – are open to a different, more pragmatic, more rational approach, that they are more open. They worked for a long time to create the belief that the obstacle to peace is Haradinaj and his AAK-PSD coalition, whereas the hope for peace is the other Kosovo. So, there are two of them: the one of Haradinaj and his concept that is blocking, and another one which is open, realistic, pragmatic,” he said.

Haradinaj reiterated that the tariff should not be lifted; on the contrary, he thinks that it should be empowered.

He said that Serbia should not ask for anything as an exchange for recognition, but it should recognise Kosovo and even apologize or pay for the damage.

“The tariff is an instrument of Kosovo to create an exchange value for recognition; we need to empower it as an exchange for recognition in this specific case. It is a great anomaly how can Serbia ask for something as an exchange for recognition. It should be us as the victims that would ask for something, recognition, and an apology or payment for the damage. But the opposite is happening here: in order for the executioner to recognise us, we, the victim, must give something away,” Haradinaj said.

Haradinaj said that the whole political class should take responsibilities for the decision-making stages.

The outgoing Prime Minister said that those political parties that are campaigning by referring to reciprocity are wrong.

In his view, reciprocity can happen between two countries that have good relations.

“If they want to hide themselves behind the friendship and our obligations to our allies, this means that they have started to make compromises too early, they have started to give away the Kosovo market even before they have been elected,” Haradinaj said, adding that in this way, Kosovo will end up not being recognised.

Haradinaj also commented on the statements that it was the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) that gave him the Prime Minister’s post.

Haradinaj spoke for the first time about this issue, saying the PDK made this move to save itself from going to opposition.

“How did they give me the Prime Minister’s post? In order for the PDK not to remain in opposition, at that time, they offered me this option. I knew what I was getting into,” he said.

He highlighted that as Prime Minister he showed who is master in Kosovo, and added that he managed to stop the idea of territory exchange, as well as push forward many other processes such as the Army, and Law on Trepça.

He reiterated that he “will not go back” to a new coalition with PDK.

Regarding the comments of his coalition partners for breaking the coalition without informing them, Haradinaj said he couldn’t tell them because he did not want the news to reach Vucic.

“Whenever my partners will not remain loyal to me regarding country’s interests, I will not be loyal to them,” he added.

The AAK-PSD nominee for Prime Minister said that by no means he will govern with someone who wants to lift the tariff on Serbian goods.

But, even if he will not be the first winner in the elections, Haradinaj said he will not join anyone who intends to lift the tariff.

“Why govern with someone who will lead to a blind alley. Even if I win elections tomorrow, I will need a partner and if that partner does not take over the obligation that the tariff will remain until recognition, I will not co-govern with him. We will not take part in a government that lacks clarity on positions of national interest,” he said.

According to Ramush Haradinaj, his rival in the race for Prime Minister, Albin Kurti of Vetëvendosje, has changed simply in order to win the elections. He said this is dangerous.

Haradinaj said he does not trust Vetëvendosje, because they have changed their opinion on the tariff.

Ramush Haradinaj said that his former governing partner Kadri Veseli of PDK is lying, when he says that he will fight corruption if he becomes Prime Minister.

According to him, by removing those with indictments from the election list, Veseli made an experiment with those members that he does not need. Haradinaj said that Veseli is only deceiving the people at the time of campaign.

“I think he has corrupted the fight against corruption. What he is doing is a major falsity. It is known what is happening in our country. Whom has he removed? He removed Besim Beqaj. He made an experiment with the needless people. We must implement the laws in force. We are a legal society. Create the law, if the law forbids him, he will not work. If Veseli wanted to help Kosovo, he could have issued an article somewhere stipulating that indicted officials will not be able to continue their jobs. That’s it,” he said.

According to Haradinaj, Veseli “is lying about this topic”.

“If we are talking about morality, the question is who has made this corruption for 20 years here in Kosovo? I cannot come here and lie openly. But he [Veseli] lies openly. They are deceiving the people for these three weeks…,” said Haradinaj.