DNA tests from Raska mass grave show victims were Albanians (Koha Ditore)
DNA tests from the remains recovered from the mass grave in Rudnica, Raska indicate that the victims were Kosovo Albanians, the paper has learnt. The tests were carried out by forensic experts in Serbia and the results were received last week.
Chairperson of the Kosovo Government commission on missing persons, Prenk Gjetaj, confirmed the results of the DNA tests and said they were informed by the International Committee of the Red Cross. “We know about the results but we don’t know the names yet,” said Gjetaj.
There is suspicion that over 250 bodies were buried at the Rudnica site and last year, authorities exhumed remains of five persons.
LDK supports the creation of the Tribunal (Zeri)
Democratic League of Kosovo expressed support for the creation of a tribunal for alleged crimes perpetrated by the Kosovo Liberation Army. The party’s senior official who is also mayor of Peja, Gazmend Muhaxheri said LDK supports the view of the tribunal being based in Kosovo. “I think other political actors should be responsible with their obligations towards the state and not be concerned with their private interests,” said Muhaxheri.
Kosovo to apply for Council of Europe membership (Zeri, Tribuna)
Foreign Minister of Kosovo, Enver Hoxhaj, said Kosovo will apply this year for membership in the Council of Europe as it meets all political and technical criteria. He said denying Kosovo membership in CoE would constitute violation of human rights and would be against the European spirit that the organisation promotes. Hoxhaj made the comments in a debate in Pristina organised by civil society organisations.
Election law being delayed (Kosova Sot)
Although on Thursday, Assembly of Kosovo passed the proposal to include the voting on election law in the next session, yesterday the motion was not put to vote for the lack of quorum as majority of the ruling coalition were not present. Opposition accused the Government for intentionally creating a situation where the motion could not be voted while the chairman of the session, Xhavit Haliti, said the draft law will now have to be postponed for next week.
Nigeria has not recognised Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
Nigerian Foreign Minister, Aminu Wali, is quoted to have said that his country has never recognised independence of Kosovo. Wali is reported to have made the comments in a meeting with EU ambassadors accredited in Nigeria. “Our position has always been consistent about the nature of these issues of Kosovo. We have not recognised Kosovo and we are waiting for an agreement between Belgrade and Kosovo. We will remain at the same position until this happens,” said Wali.
