Jacobson: Party leaders will be held responsible for incidents in elections (koha.net)
“The international community will closely follow the process of run-off elections this Sunday,” US Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson said during an interview for KTV. “The November 3 local elections were a success story and the same should happen on Sunday. Leaders of political leaders will be held responsible for eventual incidents on election day.”
“I met political leaders recently. Intimidation, threats and accusations during the campaign are unacceptable. I called on political leaders to talk to their activists and people on the ground, because ultimately the international community will hold political parties responsible for the behavior of their activists during elections,” Jacobson said.
President Jahjaga to meet election stakeholders today (kosovapress.com)
Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga will meet today representatives of institutions in charge of organizing run-off elections in most Kosovo municipalities on Sunday. International representatives and leaders of institutions in Kosovo have called for a fair and free elections where citizens will be able to freely exercise their right to vote.
Cliff: Luxurious villas and vehicles, the shame of politicians (Zeri)
“It is exceptionally shameful if Kosovo politicians build villas and drive luxurious vehicles because it is clear that they cannot afford such expenses from their legitimate incomes,” British Ambassador Ian Cliff said in an interview for the paper. “A certain level of corruption is being tolerated, although this was not expected to happen in Kosovo … The absurdity is that politicians who officially receive only one salary and have become millionaires overnight say that moneys for the luxury life were sent by cousins living in Switzwerland.”
Cliff said the first round of local elections on November 3 was free and democratic, “and it is really important that in the run-off elections on December 1 political leaders to make it clear to their people on the ground that manipulations are completely unacceptable.”
The British ambassador also said that diplomatic observers will monitor several polling stations in Gjakova, Peja and Gracanica, in order to make sure that the necessary standards are met.
Withdrawal of French troops, in accordance with circumstances (koha.net)
Security experts argue that the French government’s decision to withdraw its military contingent in Kosovo (600 troops) is in accordance with security circumstance and that a large presence of KFOR in the country is no longer necessary.
Florian Qehaja, executive director of the Kosovo Center for Security Studies, told Radio Free Europe that the current number of KFOR troops is in accordance with the circumstances. “Kosovo Police has taken over security competencies from the international presence, but there is also a small police presence of EULEX,” he added.
Ahmet Isufi, chairman of the parliamentary committee for internal affairs and security, welcomed the decision of the French government to downsize the number of its troops in Kosovo.
Vulin in Kosovo today (indeksonline.net)
Serbian Minister for Kosovo Aleksandar Vulin will visit the northern part of Kosovo today. Belgrade-based B92 news agency reports that Vulin will visit the rehabilitation center for children with disabilities in Mitrovica. In Zubin Potok, he will attend the opening of a factory. Accompanied by the mayor of northern Mitrovica, Vulin will also address students of the Technical Faculty in Mitrovica.
