Brovina under pressure for not calling Assembly’s constitutive session

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

It’s been 108 days since MPs of the fourth legislation shortened their mandate by dissolving Assembly of Kosovo; however, it is still unclear how many more days it will take to make the highest legislative body in the country functional, or the country will enter new early elections.

Pressure on the chairperson of the Assembly’s constitutive session Flora Brovina is not coming only from the post-electoral bloc. Civil society is also calling on Brovina not to prolong this issue any further. Civil society representatives also consider hasty the bloc’s statements that they will collect 40 required signatures, in case that session will not be called by Ms Brovina.

Fisnik Korenica of the Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS) said that people’s vote is also being violated by non-functionalization of the Assembly.

On the other hand, Albert Krasniqi of KIPRED Institute said that the (LDK-AAK-Nisma) bloc must demonstrate its patience after learning the lesson for taking hasty actions.

Meanwhile, Brovina called the leaders of political parties to a consultative meeting to discuss continuation of 17 June session. Brovina told Kosovapress that the meeting will be held this Thursday.

PDK also called on other parties to take part in this meeting.

Jahjaga calls on parties to find a solution for new institutions

(RTK1)

Nearly three months have passed since June 8 elections and the political parties still cannot agree on creation of new institutions. The President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga called on Assembly MPs to engage and find a solution for constitution of the Assembly.

President Jahjaga’s Spokesperson, Arbër Vllahiu told RTK1 over e-mail that: “President Jahjaga, since the beginning of her mandate, has played a role as a factor of unity and guarantor of democratic functioning of the institutions. While implementing its constitutional mandate, the President has also facilitated earlier meetings of political leaders in Kosovo in an effort to ensure constitutional functioning of institutions. In any case, President Jahjaga, within its constitutional powers will guarantee the unity of the people in the country. In particular, in case of endangering of functioning of institutions and processes through which the country is going through, the President Jahjaga does not exclude the possibility to facilitate discussions with political forces, by maintaining institutional independence and autonomy at all times.”

On the other hand, the Secretary of the Assembly of Kosovo, Ismet Krasniqi, told RTK1 that the Constitutional Court decision did not set a deadline for the inaugural session of the Assembly session.

State Prosecution investigates ‘big fish’

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

It is the so-called ‘big fish’ turn to be in Prosecution’s loop. Around fifty known political figures and big companies are being investigated by the State Prosecution, namely by the investigation team established under the strategic document adopted by the Prosecutorial Council, which is related to standard operating procedures in targeting serious crimes. This was confirmed by the Acting Chief State Prosecutor Sylë Hoxha.

At the State Prosecutor’s press conference staged on Tuesday was said that one the first cases of this investigation team, which mainly fights serious crimes, is HIB Petrol Company. National Coordinator for fighting economic crimes Shqipdon Fazliu said that Prosecution does not prejudge the final outcome of the investigation and if an indictment shall be filed or not.

Representative of the State Prosecutor’s Office in the investigation team, Elez Blakaj, said violations will not be allowed in any of the cases that will be investigated.

At this conference was said that work objective of this team will be to identify, investigate and prosecute the most serious cases through coordinated actions of competent authorities.

AKJ: Journalists threatened and assaulted

(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)

Kosovo journalists do not have an address where they can address their concerns. Furthermore, from April until July 2014, there were 10 cases when journalists and cameramen of Kosovo media were threatened and assaulted. The latest cases include publication of journalists’ communication, which is yet another public threat.

In addition to pressure exerted by political representatives, journalists are also facing the pressure carried out by the management of the media they work for. In a conference organized by the Association of Kosovo Journalists (AKJ) on Tuesday it was said that lately, the public broadcaster has also illegally suspended some editors.

As of Tuesday, journalists, cameramen, photo-reporters, editors, and editors-in-chief of all the media outlets, including those of minority communities may join the Association of Kosovo Journalists (AKJ) for the first time since its establishment.

Journalists are not only exposed to threats from outside, many of them lack basic conditions at their workplace, AKJ Chairperson Zekirja Shabani said in an interview with RTK.

Head of RTK disciplinary committee Liridon Cahani reacted to concerns raised by the AKJ about measures taken by committee he leads against journalists. Cahani refuted claims presented in the media regarding this matter.

On the other hand, RTK management calls on AKJ to give public explanation for, as it said, the public manipulation that was done on Tuesday which tends to ruin the image of Radio and Television of Kosovo (RTK).

Accusing Vetëvendosje of direct interference in its internal work, RTK management once again called on political parties to keep their hands off the public broadcaster.

VV reacts to President’s decree of international judges

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

From one violation to the other! This is how Vetëvendosje started its written reaction regarding the decree of international judges of the Constitutional Court by the President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga.

“The decreeing of three international judges by the President is an indication that sovereignty of the Republic is an imaginary notion and negligible by the very holders of constitutional powers,” reads Vetëvendosje’s reaction.

According to Vetëvendosje, the President has ignored the very content of the exchange of letters with the former EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton.

It is up to MPs of the fifth legislation to take care of this anti-constitutional process, the VV reaction adds.