Janicijevic’s murder condemned (All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Dimitrije Janicijevic, municipal councillor in north Mitrovica/Mitrovicë, was shot dead in front of his house overnight. Kosovo Police is at the stage of collecting data on the incident, but there are still no suspects.
Janicijevic’s murder has been strongly condemned by local and international officials. The Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga qualified it as a coward act aiming to destabilise Kosovo and to intimidate citizens. “The murder is an attempt to prevent the endeavours of institutions of the Republic of Kosovo and its citizens to establish the rule of law and to stabilise and normalise each corner in the territory of the country,” President’s reaction reads.
Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi said that no motive can justify taking a citizen’s life. “I was shocked by the news on the municipal councillor’s murder,” Thaçi wrote on his Facebook profile.
The murder was also condemned by the EU representative in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar. “”Whenever a life is lost, we should feel compassion. But in a situation so complex as it is now in the north of Kosovo, in the moment when fully legitimate and democratic institutions are being formed, such murder should be condemned and should not remain unresolved,” Zbogar said.
“Political figures in northern Kosovo have been subject to numerous attacks and assaults in the run up to the elections, but none had such a grave consequence. It is absolutely unacceptable that in this day and age elected officials are being targeted in this way,” wrote Jean-Claude Schlumberger, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.
Janicijevic’s murder was also condemned by the Ministry of Local Government Administration (MLGA). MLGA believes that this act is an attack against democracy and the local self-governance system in Kosovo.
Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic condemned Janicijevic’s murder, and offered Serbia’s assistance to EULEX and KFOR in the investigation process.
The late Janicijevic ran as a candidate for mayor of north Mitrovica/Mitrovicë as SLS candidate in the recently held elections.
Legislative Committee might be involved in election reform process (RTK1)
The epilogue of the election reform debate might be so that the issue will be decided in the Assembly Legislative Committee. At least this was stated by officials, who presently are not willing to speak up openly about this option. Arsim Bajrami of PDK says that although Prime Minister Thaçi has proposed to request advice from the Venice Commission on the election reform, that is not possible given that the Commission provides constitutional, not legal advice, and the advice is provided only to the EU Member Countries.
On the other hand, Haki Demolli of LDK said that it was the PDK leader Thaçi who has been procrastinating completion of the election reform. Moreover, Demolli believes that even Thaçi’s idea about the Venice Commission intends to prolong the process. Once again, Demolli expressed his position against extension of reserved seats for minorities in the Kosovo Assembly for another mandate.
Other opposition party representatives also accused governing party for prolongation of the election reform process.
EP adopts draft resolution on Kosovo (All monitored broadcasters, RTK1)
The European Parliament (EP) adopted a draft resolution on Kosovo. According to the author of this document Ulrike Lunacek, adoption of the document proves that the EU integration is the only future of Kosovo.
The document hails the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia which is taking place at the level of Prime Ministers, as well as the achievements in the dialogue.
The EU MPs also welcome the European Commission’s decision for starting the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) negotiations between Brussels and Prishtinë/Pristina.
Once again, EP calls on the remaining five EU Member Countries to recognise Kosovo’s independence.
The EU MPs believe that local elections represented a significant step for the democracy in Kosovo.
The document highlights that transfer of powers from EULEX to the local authorities should happen gradually, and it calls for involvement of civil society.
