Assembly adopts in principle Draft Law on Elections
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
On Thursday, the Kosovo Assembly adopted in principle Draft Law on General Elections. Although during the debate LDK strongly criticised the governing party of having blocked this process for three years, LDK MPs were absent when the voting took place. Vetëvendosje MPs abstained, while even some MPs of governing parties voted against. During the debate, opposition party representatives exchanged mutual accusations.
Some Serb minority MPs said that the Law on Elections should include another mandate for reserved seats.
In the meantime, during a visit to Gracanica/Graçanicë on Thursday, the Serbian minister without portfolio Aleksandar Vulin said that adoption of the Kosovo law on general elections is a violation of the Brussels Agreement, RTK2 reported.
In the morning hours of Thursday, Gracanica/Graçanicë municipality staff held a 30-minute protest in front of the municipal building. They called upon the representatives of minority communities not to take part in the Assembly session, unless the draft law on elections is taken out of the agenda.
Bahtiri and Jevtic agree on return of displaced persons
(RTK2, Klan Kosova)
In their Thursday’s meeting, the south Mitrovicë/Mitrovica mayor Agim Bahtiri and Minister of returns and communities Dalibor Jevtic agreed that Albanians should return to their property in north and Serbs to south of the town. For this reason, Minister Jevtic is working to arrange a meeting between mayors of both Ibër River banks within two weeks.
Jevtic said that prohibition of constructing Albanian houses in Kroi i Vitakut will not happen. According to him, this process should happen carefully, in order to avoid conflicts.
Bahtiri, on the other hand, pledges that he will provide conditions for Serbs who will return, especially in the village of Frasher.
In the meantime, during a visit to Gracanica/Graçanicë on Thursday, the Serbian minister without portfolio Aleksandar Vulin said that adoption of the Kosovo law on general elections is a violation of the Brussels Agreement, RTK2 reported.
In the morning hours of Thursday, Gracanica/Graçanicë municipality staff held a 30-minute protest in front of the municipal building. They called upon the representatives of minority communities to not take part in the Assembly session until it removes the draft law on elections from its agenda.
Ten Prishtinë/Pristina municipality officials arrested
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Kosovo Police arrested eleven persons suspected for involvement in an organised criminal group and for abusing their positions. Ten of the arrests are Prishtinë/Pristina municipality officials led by the chief inspector Ismet Haliti, while the eleventh one is the owner of Pozhegu Brothers Company, who is suspected of document forging.
KTV learned that it was relatives of the Company owners who were reported of planning murder attempt on the Prishtinë/Pristina mayor Shpend Ahmeti. After the report, Police has been providing security protection Ahmeti.
Zbogar: Reports on meeting visa liberalisation requirements to be issued soon
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Head of the EU Office in Kosovo Samuel Zbogar said that the report of two European Commission’s (EC) evaluation missions on fulfilment of visa liberalisation requirements will be issued soon. He said that the reports would serve the Government in carrying out the necessary reform. “It will set the grounds for further work and for the reform that will be taken by the Kosovo Government from the Twinning, from our Office, from EULEX, just to support the Kosovo Government in order to allow travelling without a visa regime,” Zbogar explained.
On the other hand, Minister of EU Integration Vlora Citaku said that even after the visa regime is lifted, duties and responsibilities of Kosovo institutions will be increased, particularly in terms of border safety and preventing illegal migration.
These statements were made on the occasion of launching of Twinning Project between Kosovo, Germany, and Bulgaria. The project title is Empowerment of Capacities for Criminal Investigations against Organised Crime and Corruption. The project will be implemented in 30 months by Germany and Bulgaria, it is estimated to EUR 1.8 million, and it aims to support Kosovo Police and law enforcement institutions in preventing organised crime and corruption.
Moore: EULEX has a future in Kosovo
(RTK2, RTK1)
In an exclusive interview with RTK, Director for Central and South-eastern Europe and the US State Department Jonathan Moore said that EULEX has a future in Kosovo, and that one of the steps that need to be taken by the present Assembly composition is decision on EULEX’s new mandate.
With regard to visa liberalisation, Moor said that there are several requirements that must be met.
As far as corruption is concerned, Moor stated that Kosovo is not a unique case. “This issue is discussed everywhere, in all countries in the world. It is normal that political parties accuse each other, especially before elections in campaigns,” Moor said.
Moor hopes that after elections in Kosovo, there will be a coalition which will deal with such issues as continuation of the dialogue with Serbia and the Euro-Atlantic integration process, transformation of KSF into Kosovo Armed Forces, and first of all with economic development and creating new jobs.
