OSCE will organise Serbia’s elections in Kosovo
(RTK2)
The OSCE will organize Serbia’s parliamentary elections in Kosovo, daily Koha Ditore writes. According to this daily, Kosovo Government officials underlined that they will not allow establishment of polling centres for Serbia’s elections in Kosovo as in 2012, but only collection and transportation centres.
The entire process will be organized by the OSCE, in line with agreement that will be reached with Kosovo institutions.
CEC needs more time for reforms
(TV21, RTK1)
Central Elections Commission (CEC) needs some time to prepare the recommendations on electoral reform given that the draft-law is voluminous and a lot of changes have been made to it.
“Today we could at least forward some recommendations, because if they decide to do the electoral reform, they will do it with or without us. Nonetheless, it would be better for us if we could forward some recommendations. This is a CEC decision. If the CEC considers that we do not need to send any recommendations and these recommendations will be given by their political entities at the (Assembly) Committee, than it is all the same for me, because, as you are all aware, I have only one vote here and I cannot take all this burden on me,” CEC chairperson Valdete Daka said.
In Monday’s meeting, the CEC approved replacement of 14 members of Municipal Assemblies of different political parties. The CEC also approved the recommendations on the appointment of the polling station committees for the extraordinary mayoral elections in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north that will be held on 23 February.
Students call Prof Krasniqi racist
(Klan Kosova, KTV)
Students Political Group carried out an action at the University of Prishtina (UP) Faculty of Journalism, where they interrupted professor and Head of the Department Milazim Krasniqi in managing an exam. On this occasion, students called Krasniqi a racist and a fascist. The Students Political Group had written an explanation for the professor on the meaning of the term racist, and they threw the explanation paper in the room where the exam was taking place.
Students said they organised the action because Prof Krasniqi criticised the protests that took place in front of the UP Rectorate, and called the protest organisers sons of Serb women (a derogatory language for Serb women was used).
In those explanation papers, students write that racism generalises, stigmatises, excludes, and does not give opportunities to judge people based on their work and individual differences, but rather based on their group origin.
Opposition parties unable to bring down Government
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Opposition parties fail to join their forces in bringing down Thaçi Government, although they have never hidden their wish and will to do so.
While an agreement amongst opposition parties LDK, AAK, and Vetëvendosje on bringing down Thaçi Government started to be discussed recently, the opposition representatives admit they are powerless in this respect.
Ismet Beqiri of LDK says that his political party will start such an initiative only at a time when it is able to accomplish it.
Ardian Gjini thinks that the Government cannot be brought down as long as the opposition does not have 61 votes in the Assembly.
Vetëvendosje, on the other hand, believes that there are enough votes, but what is lacking is willingness of the opposition parties.
The Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi was reluctant to comment on this issue.
Adem Grabovci and Myzejene Selmani of governing parties say that the Government will not fall down. Selmani said that her political party will not request vote of confidence for the Government, while Grabovci is convinced that PDK will be in power for another four years.
Legislation Committee has done nothing in amending Election Law
(Klan Kosova, KTV)
The Kosovo Assembly Legislation Committee still has not taken any step in amending Law on Elections. The Committee, which around two weeks ago took over the mandate to complete Law on Elections, is still dealing with drafting work plan, and nothing specific has been discussed.
The Committee has turned to an arena of clashes amongst political parties
The Committee will convene this Friday.
LDK nominates Isa Mustafa as candidate for Prime Minister
(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)
Isa Mustafa will be LDK’s candidate for Prime Minister in next elections, whenever they will be held. With 99 votes in favour and with one vote against, Isa Mustafa was nominated as LDK’s candidate for Prime Minister of Kosovo.
In the meantime, the AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj sent an official letter to the Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga, requesting from her to call extraordinary elections due to the political circumstances in Kosovo. This was confirmed to RTK1 by sources within AAK.
Government requests establishment of ad hoc war crime tribunal
(Klan Kosova)
The Prishtinë/Pristina Government is asking for the EU assistance in establishing an ad hoc tribunal which will deal with crimes committed during and after the war in the period 1998-2000 that are mainly related with Dick Marty’s report. A draft statute for this proposal is already available, defining its scope.
Klan Kosova got hold of a copy of this document, which states that the tribunal will be independent, it will not be part of the Kosovo judiciary, and it will be prioritised compared with the local justice institutions.
Applicable laws for the tribunal will be those that were in force at the time when crimes were committed, as well as the international common law.
The tribunal will not skip trying even those who were already judged for war crimes in Kosovo, if it is considered that procedures were not impartial and if they were in contradiction with the International Law. Even amnesty will not be taken into consideration in such cases.
The tribunal will consist of 15 international judges, who will work in three separate chambers. The tribunal will also have its own Prosecutor’s Office and register office.
Those who are found guilty may be sentenced up to life imprisonment.
The tribunal will have a body for witness and victim protection as well.
