Cliff: Kosovo needs to clean up its reputation
(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)
Kosovo needs to clean up its reputation because of Dick Marty’s accusations, and that is why the Special Court is being established. This is what the British Ambassador to Kosovo Ian Cliff said in a debate with students of Pjetër Budi College.
In this debate, the British diplomat also referred to the Law on Elections which was adopted in principle in the Assembly, qualifying the Law as excluding.
“The way how Draft Law on Elections was passed in the first reading in the Kosovo Assembly implies that a large number of citizens will be excluded from the voting process, especially citizens in the north who still do not possess Kosovo identity cards, and displaced persons outside Kosovo. But many Albanians living in diaspora are excluded as well. At the same time, the Central Elections Commission (CEC) does not have much time to make the appropriate preparations,” Ambassador Cliff said.
Special Court establishment procedure starts
(KTV)
Procedure for establishment of Special Court with international composition has started. The Court will try perpetrators of war crimes that are claimed to have been committed by former KLA members.
With regard to this issue, Kosovo authorities have asked Brussels for assistance. President Jahjaga has sent a request to Brussels for extending EULEX’s mandate and for establishment of the Court. Roughly, the President described how this justice mechanism would look like. The President’s Office confirmed to Koha Ditore that the President has sent the letter to Baroness Ashton.
If meanwhile President Jahjaga sends her correspondence with Baroness Ashton to the Assembly, then with a decision of caucus leaders, the issue of Special Court establishment may discussed in Thursday’s Assembly session.
Trajkovic: Serb MPs should not vote for Constitutional amending related to armed force
(TV21)
Serb MP in the Kosovo Assembly Rada Trajkovic said that Serb MPs should not vote for any constitutional amendments related to armed force. Serb MPs say they will not this constitutional amending, even if they get assured that mandate of reserved seats will be extended.
On the other hand, in an interview with TV21, leader of the Progressive Democratic Party Nenad Rasic said that if the mandate of reserved seats is not extended, it would convey a bad message to those Kosovo areas that have not yet been integrated into the Kosovo system, the political cycle would not be completed successfully, and it would not create a positive image of Kosovo. Rasic stated that relevant stakeholders expressed their support for extension of reserved seats.
Rasic stated that from the very beginning he was convinced that if the international community joined this initiative, it would provide an additional guarantee which would bring a win-win situation. “Unfortunately, our political partners, Albanian political parties, did not understand this the way I thought they would, and unfortunately now we are in a lose-lose situation… we will lose if we lose our reserved seats, and I am sure that Albanian parties will also lose the support which they have enjoyed until now,” Rasic said.
Regarding Ms Trajkovic’s statement, Rasic said that Trajkovic tends to present her own individual positions. Nevertheless, Rasic said that his party has not said ‘no’ or ‘yes’ to establishment of armed force.
Another war crime Serb suspect arrested
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
The EULEX Police arrested another Serb suspect in north Kosovo, suspected of war crimes. Sources confirmed to KTV that the arrest is Nebojsa Vujocic, who is part of the ongoing trial against Oliver Ivanovic.
On Tuesday afternoon, pre-trial judge at the Mitrovica Basic Court ordered detention on remand for a period of one month.
“The defendant is suspected of committing criminal offences of Aggravated Murder, and Attempted Aggravated Murder in February 2000 in north Mitrovica/Mitrovicë,” EULEX’s press release reads.
Forum 2015: Impunity is increasing corruptive affairs
(RTK1)
Forum 2015 presented the following analysis prepared by Çohu organization on the topic “Culture of impunity in Kosovo”.
This document did not analyse the culture of impunity in the sociologic or cultural aspects, but it reviewed the most serious cases that demonstrate the deep roots of the culture of impunity in Kosovo.
According to the analysis, direct and aggressive interference of international diplomats in the performance of Kosovo institutions was often used as an excuse from local authorities to avoid their accountability.
