Participation in wars outside Kosovo serious crime (Koha Ditore)
The front page article of this daily reports that on Friday the Assembly of Kosovo endorsed the initial hearing of the law which sanctions participation of Kosovo citisens in armed conflicts outside Kosovo. The Ministry of Internal Affairs sponsors the law, which foresees sentencing those who do not obey it with up to 15 years in jail. The Assembly voted on the law in principal, with 48 votes pro, 10 against and four abstentions. However, the deputies who voted for the law requested further clarification about this Law, as well as changing its name.
Bushati, Hoxhaj sign joint diplomatic consulate agreement (Koha Ditore)
The Foreign Ministers of Kosovo and Albania, Enver Hoxhaj and Ditmir Bushati, respectively, signed the agreement on Friday to open joint consulates in Italy and Austria. Hoxhaj and Bushati also discussed the steps to implement the Partnership Document, which was signed by the two countries in Prizren and the preparations for the next joint meeting of the two Governments in Vlore, Albania. “The next meeting will be held in Vlore and it will be a good opportunity for the two Foreign Ministers to assess progress and shortages that we could have faced in practice,” stated Bushati.
PDK branch in Viti/Vitina disperses, Initiative for Kosovo establishes (Koha)
The leadership of the branch of the Democratic Party of Kosovo in Viti/Vitina said Friday that it would cease all its activities in this municipality. Head of this branch, who is also Deputy Minister of Justice, Daut Xhemajli, also announced his resignation. The branch secretary, Halim Halimi, confirmed the news to Kohavision. “The leadership of the PDK branch and representatives of the subbranches decided today, during an extraordinary meeting, to cease all political activities and to disperse. The decision was made based on recent developments at both the central and local levels,” said Halimi. He said that most of the members of this branch are willing to join the Initiative for Kosovo, which established its initiating council in Viti/Vitina that same day.
Ten polling stations in Kosovo for Serbia’s elections (Tribuna)
OSCE Mission in Kosovo has informed that ten polling stations and 15 branches will open on Sunday in Kosovo for Serbia’s national elections. The spokesperson of this mission, Nikola Gaon, told Tanjug that 400 OSCE representatives will enable Serb citisens to vote. This decision is challenging Kosovo authorities who opposed holding Serbia’s general elections in Kosovo.
Slobodan Sovrlic suspected for at least four criminal offenses (Koha Ditore)
Slobodan Sovrlic has been a police suspect for a long time; for committing many deeds, including endangering UN personnel in Kosovo and participation in different groups that are committing offenses. His supporters stormed the police station in Zubin Potok three nights ago and released him from prison; he is suspsected to have fled to Serbia. EULEX media office did not want to comment on the investigations on Svrlovic: “We cannot make comments on the ongoing investigations. He is suspected for a number of offenses, including endangering personnel of the United Nations in Kosovo and associated personnel, obstructing official persons in performing official duties, participating in a crowd that committed a criminal offense and damaged of movable property,” was the response of this office.
