CEC: Elections in May or June challenging
(KTV)
The Central Elections Commission (CEC) considers organization of elections in May or June challenging, although it expresses its commitment for a qualitative process.
Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) is willing to help with dissolving of the Assembly in order for elections to be held on June 8 or 15 this year. This means that Kosovo will enter elections without adoption of the Law on Elections.
Civil society is considering that no one is expressing interest for technical issues, which puts the quality of elections under question mark.
Article 4 of the Law on General Elections reads that early elections may not be held earlier than thirty days and no later than forty-five days after the dissolution of the Assembly.
Unclear if Assembly will discuss Special Court on Thursday
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
The material for the Special Court still hasn’t reached the Assembly of Kosovo and that is why it is still unclear if it will be voted for it during this week.
Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi said that if the President will send the material, than it could be inserted as topic of the agenda for Thursday with a decision of caucus leaders.
Otherwise, it still is not certain if Assembly MPs will be able to vote for transition of Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into Kosovo Armed Force (KSF) as the minority community MPs are conditioning this with the reserved seats.
KLA war veterans call on MPs to vote against Special Court’s setting up and extension of EULEX mandate.
Minority communities condition transition of KSF into KAF
(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)
Whether Kosovo will have its Armed Force within this legislative mandate or not, this will utterly depend on the communities represented at the Assembly. This is at least what the AAK caucus leader Ardian Gjini stated.
The Kosovo Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi also spoke about the unwillingness of minority community MPs to vote in favour of Kosovo Security Force (KSF) transition into Kosovo Armed Force (KAF) without guaranteeing their reserved mandates at the Assembly for at least one more mandate.
Krasniqi said that minority community are not willing to do this, and that there is no reason to address this topic of the agenda to the Assembly prior to reaching an agreement about it.
Ismet Beqiri, the chief of the LDK caucus, said that they do not accept such a condition.
“We consider there is no reason to violate the Constitution and the Ahtisaari Package. We do not accept extension of reserved seats,” Beqiri added.
Borchardt: Special Court’s set up shows that Kosovo does not fear justice
(RTK1)
Head of EULEX Bernd Borchardt said that setting up of Special Court for KLA alleged war crimes shows that Kosovo does not fear justice. Borchardt made these comments in RTK1 show ‘Debate’, where, among others, he also spoke about EULEX’s mandate.
“Initially, the monthly report was published by the Council of Europe and allegations in it were very serious. I strongly believe that these allegations will not go away by themselves. They will not be forgotten; so this has to be clarified once and for all. We will need to find out whether the Court can dismiss these allegations or whether the Court finds individuals guilty of the alleged crimes. So, setting up of this Court shows that Kosovo does not fear it and gives very positive signals for the international community,” Borchardt said.
“The second issue is that this process is focused on individuals and it is not focusing on a country, or in the army (KLA). This cannot rewrite history. History is known. The facts are known,” he added.
BD municipal councillor accuses Prizren mayor Muja
(Klan Kosova)
The Democratic Union (BD) municipal councillor Bashkim Hajdari officially accused Prizren municipality mayor Ramadan Muja of threating him. Muja is being accused of threatening him during a debate at the municipal assembly.
Hajdari told Klan Kosova that 41 municipal councillors, representatives of media, Kosovo Democratic Institute, OSCE and others have witnessed Muja’s threat.
Klan Kosova TV camera operator physically attacked
(Klan Kosova)
Klan Kosova TV crew came across difficulties while reporting about a traffic accident in Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje. TV camera operator Vlora Dërvodeli was provoked by arrogant behaviour of a person.
He threatened Ms Dërvodeli that he will break down the equipment she was carrying and started exercising physical violence against her.
Police identified the suspect and escorted him to local police station. Upon prosecutor’s order he was kept in detention.
