Kosovo Government wants EULEX as advisory mission (Koha Ditore)
The Kosovo Government presented its position to the EU in connection with the strategic review of EULEX by offering proposals involving competencies, the new mission’s function, the duration of its mandate, and its name. The Kosovo Government’s proposal for the new European presence is to be called the Advisory Mission for Rule of Law. Koha Ditore claims to have secured the document that the Government sent to Brussels in January.
“This assistance should be of a monitoring and advisory nature with special emphasis in the north of Kosovo,” reads the letter presenting the position of the Government, “In this aspect, the Kosovo Government proposes that […] its mandate begin on 15 June 2014 and end on 31 December 2015.” With this document, Kosovo institutions evaluate that the situation in Kosovo has changed in the last few years and that there is a new reality regarding the rule of law. Institutions also expressed readiness to take over the competencies for the tasks that are under EULEX’s present mandate.
Thaçi indicates new agreement with Dacic (Kosova Sot)
Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi said he will soon meet his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic in Brussels. “We will reach an agreement on the judicial system and northern Kosovo will be united and function like the rest of the European Kosovo,” Thaçi wrote on his Facebook account.
Serbia’s elections in Kosovo as in 2012 (Koha Ditore)
Sources say that Pristina and Belgrade, in principle, agreed that Serbian parliamentary elections take place in Kosovo according to the model used in 2012. The plan envisages OSCE opening 90 voting stations for about 36,000 Serb citisens. Kosovo Government officials neither rejected nor confirmed this, but stressed that two principles have to be respected: that Serbia will not organise elections in Kosovo and that conditions for voting are created by citisens with dual citisenship. “Serbia and Kosovo agree for Serbs with double citisenship to be enabled to vote in Parliamentary elections. In the recent consultation modality of 2012, elections have not been rejected by any party. Serbia is insisting more about this. While for Kosovo it is important that Serbia not organise elections in Kosovo and is ready to accept any role of the OSCE,” said the source.
Election law sent to Kosovo Assembly (dailies)
The legislation commission sent recommendations for the draft law on elections to the Kosovo Assembly presidency, which is expected to introduce it at the first reading. Members of the commission left the possibility open for many of the draft law’s articles being changed between the first and second readings.
The chairman of the commission, Arben Gashi, said up to 40 percent of the draft could be changed before it is actually passed by the Assembly. One of the voting proposals suggests that votes being cast for a certain political party will automatically go to their respective leaders. This was opposed by Vetevendosje, which argued that the leader of a party should be equal to all other candidates of the election list. The commission further decided to keep a five percent threshold for political parties and seven and a half for coalitions, and it recommends that the election campaign be shortened to 15 days.
NATO: Future of KSF in the hands of Kosovo institutions (dailies)
Citing unnamed sources, RTK reported on Wednesday that the Armed Forces of Kosovo will be formed with NATO’s blessing. The same sources said that every step in transforming the KSF into the Armed Forces of Kosovo was coordinated with international stakeholders. Kosovo leaders are expected to meet with NATO officials about the establishment of the Armed Forces in the second half of March. NATO officials said recently that the structure, mandate and mission of the KSF are not something for NATO to decide. “The future of KSF is an internal matter of Kosovo institutions,” they said.
Future legislature to decide on Tribunal (Epoka e Re)
Based on its reliable sources, Epoka e Re reports that the next legislature is expected to decide on whether to establish the international tribunal on war crimes in Kosovo. The same source told this daily that the current legislature will not deal with this issue due to the approach of the general elections. The head of the Association of War Veterans, Muharrem Xhemajli appealed to Kosovo institutions to strongly reject the establishment of such a tribunal.
Hoxhaj: EU more flexible toward Kosovo (Zeri)
Kosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj called on members of the European Parliament, namely on the EPP, the biggest group in parliament, to support Kosovo’s speedy integration in European institutions. During a visit in Strasbourg, Hoxhaj said the EU needs to step up the evaluation of Kosovo’s progress in visa liberalisation requirements. He also highlighted agreements reached between Pristina and Belgrade. “Kosovo will also engage in strengthening its statehood by getting new recognitions and by becoming a member of international organisations,” Hoxhaj added.
Number of municipal councilors increased in Zvecan, Zubin Potok (Koha)
The Central Elections Commission voted yesterday in favour of increasing the number of municipal councilors in two municipalities in the north, Zvecan and Zubin Potok. The decision came after the Ministry of Local Government requested their number be increased from the current 15 to 19.
