Kosovo Government approves implementation plan (dailies)
Plan for implementation of agreement for normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia was approved yesterday by the Government of Kosovo which passed the document on to the Assembly for voting.
Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi said that for the second time, Kosovo has won one of the most difficult battles. “It was agreed for the association of municipalities to become functional only after local elections and security and justice structures to integrate immediately into the unified system of Kosovo police and justice but only after undergoing our procedures and laws”, said Thaçi at the meeting of the Government.
Agreement changed Western Balkans perspective (Zëri)
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fuele said that agreement between Kosovo and Serbia has changed the EU perspective of the whole Western Balkans region. He called the agreement “historic” and added that the enlargement process has maintained its momentum and will continue to persist even after Croatia’s admission to the bloc.
House arrest for “Drenica Group” (dailies)
Around 2 a.m. the judge of the court in Pristina issued the measure of house arrest against members of the so-called “Drenica Group” who stand accused of war crimes. The accused, including Skenderaj’s Mayor Sami Lushtaku and Kosovo’s Ambassador to Albania Sylejman Selimi, were not put under detention as was requested by the EULEX prosecutor but were ordered to remain under house arrest for a period of 30 days. Defence said they plan to appeal against the court’s decision considering it unjust and groundless.
The men, all former members and commanders of KLA, are being accused of committing war crimes against civilian population in 1998 in the prison camp of Likovc.
PDK concerned over allegations against KLA commanders (Koha Ditore)
Democratic Party of Kosovo has issued a statement regarding recent accusations against former KLA senior officials for committing war crimes. PDK said that the allegations against present Skenderaj Mayor Sami Lushtaku and Kosovo’s Ambassador to Albania Sylejman Selimi will not help the justice process and general situation. The party further noted that the recent allegations undermine “cooperative relations built with hard work between Kosovo and the international community”.
War associations to stage mass protest on Monday (dailies)
KLA war associations have decided to organize a mass protest on Monday in Pristina against the recent allegations against former KLA commanders. “The protest should not be of local character and held only in Skenderaj or Drenas but should take place in Pristina and have massive participation”, said one of the organizers.
PDK under “reformatting” process (Zëri)
The paper writes that the ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo is being “emptied” of its membership by the day with Dukagjin Gorani, advisor to PM Hashim Thaçi, being the recent official to leave the party. Gorani said he was resigning his advisor’s post for personal reasons.
Macedonia like Serbia (Epoka e Re)
Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj has criticized the failure of Macedonian authorities to invite President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga to the regional summit of heads of states in Ohrid. He said the move goes against the spirit of regional cooperation and is anti-European. “We find such a behavior unacceptable and we intend to inform all EU member states of the situation”, said Hoxhaj.
