Mayoral elections in north Mitrovicë/Mitrovica on 23 February
(All monitored broadcasters, RTK1)
The Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga called new mayoral elections in north Mitrovicë/Mitrovica on 23rd February. Jahjaga instructed the Central Elections Commission (CEC) to take all necessary actions for organising and holding the elections in line with the law in force. President Jahjaga called on all eligible voters in north Mitrovicë/Mitrovica municipality to take part in elections by using their constitutional and legal right. According to Jahjaga, the elections should be fair, so that citizens can freely elect their legitimate representative.
Following this decision, CEC adopted operational plan for extraordinary mayoral elections in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica.
Officials of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo stated that they were willing to assist organisation of the election process in north Mitrovicë/Mitrovica. The OSCE spokesperson Nikola Gaon told RTK that the OSCE remained willing to implement the tasks it took over after the agreement reached in April last year in Brussels.
Assembly Presidency members against reserved seats
(All monitored broadcasters, RTK1)
Some of the Kosovo Assembly Presidency members reiterated their objection to extension of reserved seats for minority members. According to them, there is no need to change the Kosovo Constitution for extending reserved seats, because this issue has been well provided by the Ahtisaari Settlement Proposal. This was stated by the Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi.
According to the LDK caucus leader Ismet Beqiri, this would be dangerous and intolerable, since Kosovo grants the maximum rights to communities both at local and at national level.
Lunacek committed to support Kosovo’s EU integration
(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)
Rapporteur for Kosovo in the European Parliament Ulrike Lunacek is paying a visit to Prishtinë/Pristina. She was received by President Jahjaga and by Prime Minister Thaçi. Current political processes in Kosovo were the topic of discussion in the meetings that Lunacek had with the Kosovo leaders.
Lunacek congratulated Kosovo institutions for organising the latest local elections, and she promised her commitment to Kosovo’s EU integration process.
In her meeting with the Kosovo Minister of Justice Hajredin Kuçi, Lunacek discussed challenges in the justice system in Kosovo. She stated that judiciary’s independence, fight against corruption, and witness protection are issues on which more work is needed.
Lunacek also met the Prishtinë/Pristina mayor Shpend Ahmeti, and they discussed developmental projects in the capital.
New premises of Agency for Managing Confiscated Assets inaugurated
(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)
For two years since the Agency for Managing Sequestrated and Confiscated Assets has been working in full capacities, it has provided over EUR 4 million to the Kosovo budget.
Local and international senior officials attended inauguration ceremony of new premises of the Agency. They stated that building the new warehouse has completed the necessary capacities, and announced that they would work harder in fighting organised crime, including corrupted officials. These statements were made by the Kosovo Minister of Justice Hajredin Kuçi and by the US Treasury representative.
State Prosecutor received 35 criminal reports from KACA during 2013
(Most monitored broadcasters, Klan Kosova)
Over the course of 2013, the Kosovo State Prosecutor received criminal reports against thirty-five individuals from the Kosovo Anticorruption Agency (KACA) regarding non-declaration or false declaration of their assets.
Out of these 35 cases, criminal reports were filed against two persons, charges were raised against two other persons with request for issuing the punitive order, direct charges were raised against 16 persons, while following investigations charges were raised against nine persons. Meanwhile, cases are under procedure for six other persons.
On the other hand, over the last week of January the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council established the commission for verification of received information from Basic Courts regarding the criminal offences of corruption.
