- U.S. does not endorse any candidate (KTV)
- Heldt: We do not endorse any party or candidate in elections (Klan Kosova)
- Whitaker: Vote for Veseli as he strengthens friendship with U.S., the rest jeopardise it (KTV)
- Ombudsperson’s lawsuit against CEC dropped (KTV)
- Vucic calls Kosovo Serbs to vote for Serb List (N1)
- Rasic: Serb people in Kosovo intimidated by Vucic (RTK)
- Kosovo electoral roll registers 117,000 Serbs with voting right (N1)
- Kastrati calls on political parties to stop pressure on RTK (RTK)
- Parties asked not to use fake news to gain votes (KTV)
- Protests against MHPP in Strpce: Matkos Group halted construction on private land plots (Kossev)
News
U.S. does not endorse any candidate
(KTV)
The United States Embassy in Kosovo said that it does not endorse any candidate or party for October 6th elections.
This reaction is believed to have come following reports that PDK is being supported by “Trump’s man”.
“The U.S. government does not endorse or support any political party or candidates in this week’s election. We respect the right and responsibility of the voters of Kosovo to choose their future,” the announcement reads.
A month ago in a press statement, Ambassadors of Quint countries had said that they do not support any party of candidate in October 6th elections.
Ambassadors of France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom and the USA said that the upcoming election is a crucial opportunity for the citizens of Kosovo to decide the direction of the country.
In that statement, Quint had said that it does not support a particular party or candidate and any suggestion that this happens is incorrect.
“Kosovo citizens deserve the promise of a peaceful, prosperous future, and the only way to secure this future is through the will of the Kosovo people expressed in these elections. We represent nations deeply committed to a democratic and independent Kosovo. Any suggestion that our governments support a particular party or candidate in the election is incorrect. As in past elections, we will join with other local and international bodies to help ensure a free and fair environment,” the reaction of Ambassadors of Quint countries read.
The full U.S. Embassy statement regarding upcoming elections can be read at the following link: https://xk.usembassy.gov/u-s-embassy-statement-regarding-the-upcoming-elections/
Heldt: We do not endorse any party or candidate in elections
(Klan Kosova)
The German Ambassador to Kosovo Christian Heldt supported the statement of U.S. Ambassador Phillip Kosnett that they do not endorse any candidate or party in October 6 elections.
On this occasion Heldt reminded that his country sticks to position and understanding of how democracy works.
“Seems difficult for some to understand that we stick to positions and understanding of how democracy works. Thanks for recalling what we already jointly laid out a month ago, U.S. Embassy in Kosovo. Still a good read,” Heldt wrote on Twitter.
He also shared the following tweet of U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Philip Kosnett:
“The U.S. government does not endorse or support any political party or candidates in this week’s election. We respect the right and responsibility of the voters of Kosovo to choose their future.”
Whitaker: Vote for Veseli as he strengthens friendship with U.S., the rest jeopardise it
(KTV)
Matt Whitaker, former US official in Donald Trump’s term, electrified atmosphere at the PDK’s electoral rally in Gjilan/Gnjilane.
He said that the U.S. supports those people who fight corruption and who strengthen friendship with the allies, PDK’s press release says.
Whitaker has called upon Kosovo citizens to vote for Veseli and his party that strengthens the relation with America, not for somebody that isolates and jeopardises the relations.
“So, it seems to me that the choice for the people of Kosovo is quite clear, and you have a very important decision to make. In this election, the choice is between a government that will strengthen cooperation with us, the United States, in fighting corruption and developing your economy in order to provide wellbeing and success for all. Your alternative opportunities represent a threat – it is about a government led by politicians who might isolate Kosovo and harm your relations with us, a government which is unable to fight corruption,” Whitaker said.
He added that in order for the US businesses and investors to come here; they need to trust your leaders and governments. “The prerequisite is fighting corruption, as a necessary criterion. Up to now, Americans have hesitated to invest in Kosovo because of their fear from corruption. Kadri Veseli does not represent any risk in this respect. He is a reformer. Kadri Veseli is a friend of the United States and a friend of Iowa,” he said.
Ombudsperson’s lawsuit against CEC dropped
(KTV)
Women MPs in 2017 raised more issues than their men colleagues, in terms of policy changes.
This is one of the data that the Kosovo Women’s Network has included in the leaflets that have been disseminated Kosovo-wide.
Igballe Rogova, Director of the Kosovo Women’s Network, blames political party leaders, who, according to her, still do not trust women’s potential in decision-making.
Following repetitive violation of the Law on Gender Equality and Law on Protection from Discrimination, Ombudsperson filed lawsuit against the Central Election Commission (CEC), because it certified lists of candidates.
Ombudsperson Hilmi Jashari reminded that in 2015, it was lawmakers that sought equal representation in the institutions.
In addition, the Ombudsperson’s lawsuit requested imposition of a temporary measure in the election process, namely to suspend the process until CEC revises the lists and makes them in line with provisions of the Law on Gender Equality.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Court responded negatively to Ombudsperson’s claim.
Responding to the claim of Ombudsperson and civil society, CEC officials came out with the justification that they had adhered to the quota as set out by the Law on General Elections.
CEC has certified 1,067 candidates for MPs in total, only 343 of them are women.
Vucic calls Kosovo Serbs to vote for Serb List
(N1)
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Tuesday called Kosovo Serbs to vote for the Serb List at the October 6 parliamentary elections because that party “is the only one working with Belgrade and central Serbia”.
The President told the Serbian state TV (RTS) that a vote for the Serb List “is the only way to remain linked” and added that anything else means severing links and stopping possible support from Belgrade.
“The Serbs can vote for whoever they want but I am asking them to choose the Serb List because it is the only one working with Belgrade. Turn out for the elections in big numbers so that we can vote for our survival in our homes, for Serbian salaries in schools, hospitals… All that will be revoked unless the voice of the Serb List is heard,” Vucic said.
Asked if he would try to join in the election campaign in Kosovo, Vucic said that he won’t have time for that because of a number of scheduled meetings with foreign officials and a trip to Prague but added that he does not want to bring danger to the Serbs by going to Kosovo.
He said he would invite the Serb List candidates to Belgrade to symbolically show that Belgrade is their capital.
Rasic: Serb people in Kosovo intimidated by Vucic
(RTK)
The nominee for Prime Minister of the Serb party’s coalition “Sloboda” (Freedom), Nenad Rasic, has addressed his concerns about the pressure which Aleksandar Vucic is putting on Kosovo Serbs to vote for Srpska Lista.
Rasic said on RTV Dukagjini that no-one could predict that Serb people in Kosovo would be captured to this extent by Vucic.
He called Vucic an ordinary liar, saying that even today the Serbian President threatened healthcare and education Serb employees in Kosovo that they will cease receiving their salaries in case Srpska Lista does not win.
Rasic says that gathering healthcare and education staff and asking them to vote for Srpska Lista is an action which cannot happen anywhere else in Europe, except Kosovo.
According to Rasic, Srpska Lista does not represent interests of Serb people in Kosovo, but only the interests of Vucic.
“It is a horrible situation. I have one concern only: that the elections happen without incidents. It is known what price Oliver Ivanovic paid,” he said.
“People are extremely scared,” he concluded.
Kosovo electoral roll registers 117,000 Serbs with voting right
(N1)
In the Sunday’s early general election in Kosovo 117,000 local Serbs will have the right to cast the ballot, almost a half of them living in the north, the KoSSev website reported.
Dusan Radakovic of the Democracy in Work (DnD) coalition of the NGOs that will monitor the elections says there are 58,000 eligible Serb voters in the north of Kosovo and that they will be able to cast the ballot at 86 polling stations.
The right to vote will have all those who once possessed the UN civil mission, UNMIK, documents and now have Kosovo-issued IDs, Radakovic said.
Kastrati calls on political parties to stop pressure on RTK
(RTK)
RTK’s General Director Ngadhnjim Kastrati has reacted to a statement issued by LDK, which addressed criticism to the public broadcaster (RTK) for applying censorship.
“RTK calls on political parties to stop their pressure on the public broadcaster, and to deal with their campaigns instead. RTK is working with the same staff that covered the previous election campaigns, a staff that has gained a great experience in covering election campaigns,” Kastrati’s reaction says.
According to him, the attack on RTK only a few days before the Election Day, is nothing else but a pure political pressure and an intention to interfere in RTK’s editorial policies.
“Consequently, we call on the EU mechanisms as well as on associations of journalists to condemn this attack on the public broadcaster,” the reaction says.
Parties asked not to use fake news to gain votes
(KTV)
With only a few days left until the end of the election campaign, a lot of propaganda news and photos are being shared on social media.
“Vote for Kadri, is a vote for SHIK”, “Vote for Vetëvendosje is a vote for PDK leftovers”, and the like, are just some of the calls that are being spread online and which are sponsored on Facebook.
The dissemination of fake news and messages was the topic of discussion at a roundtable organized by the KAS Foundation and Democracy Plus.
Participants of this roundtable called on political parties to distance themselves from fake news.
For the cyber security expert Driart Elshani, in countries like Kosovo, dissemination of fake news is even more sensitive.
In order to raise the awareness of the citizens about fake news and how they can be identified, an informational brochure was also published.
Protests against MHPP in Strpce: Matkos Group halted construction on private land plots
(Kossev)
For ten months now, the citizens of Strpce have been unsuccessfully trying to prevent the construction of mini hydroelectric power plants in this municipality. They are still not giving up on what can only be described as a quixotic fight. They were able to temporarily halt the construction in Bitinja today, given that the works were being carried out on privately owned parcels of land – Strpce resident, Radoica Mrdjinac told KoSSev.
„The owners of the land parcels where the construction was carried out made copies of the cadastral parcels and title deeds, and compared them with the title deeds and copies of the plans of the Matkos Group. Inconsistencies were noted in those plans, and the Matkos Group then decided to allegedly suspend the construction,“ Mrdjinac explained.
About a hundred people, both Serbs and Albanians, attended the protest in Bitinja today. ROSU police units were once again present at the rally – he added.
„If they send water into pipes, every spring, every well will go dry“
Mrdjinac said that seven mini hydroelectric power plants were already built in the municipality. He also expressed concern over the rumours that the company plans to build 13 mini hydroelectric power plants.
„This would mean that all rivers, starting from the Lepenac, will have mini hydroelectric power stations built on each tributary,“ he explained.
According to Mrdjinac, the damage caused by the MHPPs affects the entire region because the environment is thus jeopardized and the entire ecosystem is affected.
„This is not just about how much Strpce is suffering, these works will lead to serious changes in the development of wildlife, it is a great disaster,“ he said, adding:
„Secondly, these are all spring waters from which the entire population is supplied – precisely from these rivers. If they send water into pipes, every spring, every well will go dry.”
„Although forbidden by law, works continued in the first zone of the national park“
Mrdjinac also spoke about the recent construction on Brezovica, Durlov Potok and Berevacki Potok located within the National Park of the Sara Mountain.
He claimed that the works continue „despite the fact that this company does not have valid documentation for the construction of mini hydroelectric power plants, because, especially when it comes to Brezovica, the works are carried out in the first zone of the national park where construction is prohibited by law“.
This Strpce resident further claimed that the police have a document on the prohibition of works in the national park, adding that they still did not prevent the construction of the MHPPs by the Matkos Group.
Local self-government has been „silent“ the entire time – he added.
“Local government is not reacting for one simple reason that it is trying to get something for itself out of this situation. They have sold the rivers, and since they have sold the rivers, they have to respect the price which they have agreed with the investor. It’s all corrupted. It was all done because of money, otherwise it has no economic justification,“ he said.
KoSSev has been trying to get answers from competent institutions, both in Pristina and Belgrade, as well as from international bodies for a month now. None of our written queries has been answered by anyone so far.
Shara Mountain was registered on the register of the Republic of Serbia, while the Kosovo institutions took over the premises of this national park in Brezovica in December 2015 and arrested the employees of the company. Shara was declared a National Park in 1984 and in December 2012, according to Kosovo sources, it was expanded under the new (Kosovo) law on the Shara National Park. The Brezovica ski resort is also part of the national park. This region is mostly inhabited by Serbs.
