OSCE Mission donates digital cameras to Kosovo Police

(Klan Kosova)

Kosovo Police (KP) officers from the north will be able to record crime scenes and document them more easily. On Wednesday, OSCE donated them ten digital cameras.

Showing video footage from a training room, Klan Kosova reported that the OSCE security expert was explaining the way that digital cameras function to police officers in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north. The reason for this is the donation of ten digital cameras that the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has brought for men and women in uniform.

The police officers, which are mainly Serbs, were told that this equipment will serve them to take photographic evidence of crime scenes as a manner to shed light on them.

“We are focusing our assistance to police in the spheres of fighting terrorism and organized crime, while we are also responding to training needs in specialized police areas,” said Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger.

It was announced that Kosovo Police Chief Shpend Maxhuni will take part in this event; however, he cancelled the visit and sent someone else instead of him.

“The OSCE’s continuous support was the key to success for achievements in Kosovo Police at one hand, as well as for achievement of the mission that Kosovo Police has throughout the territory of our state,” said Fahredin Vërbovci, Director of Kosovo Police Services.

It was said that new equipment donated will be needed a lot to Kosovo Police, in particular in the region of four northern municipalities, where incidents are not that rare.

Six imams of Islamic Community of Kosovo arrested

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Fifteen persons were arrested, six of them imams of the Islamic Community of Kosovo, including Shefqet Krasniqi and Fuad Ramiqi, leader of the religious-oriented party (LISBA).

Sixteen locations were searched in the wide-scale police action that was spread in several centres of Kosovo, while money and documents were seized from the houses of Shefqet Krasniqi and Fuad Ramiqi.

An ID of the Republic of Serbia was among many documents that were seized from Imam Shefqet Krasniqi’s house. His ID was issued in 2004 and it was valid until this year.

The arrests incited reaction of the Islamic Community of Kosovo and LISBA party.

LISBA said that the arrest of its leader, Fuad Ramiqi, and others was orchestrated by Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi. They consider the arrests entirely political. LISBA announced that it will organize protests and take measures for releasing the arrested persons.

According to a press release issued by the State Prosecution, the arrested persons are suspected of conducting criminal acts that are in contradiction with the constitutional order and security of the Republic of Kosovo.

“Following today’s action, the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo in coordination with other competent bodies will continue further procedures foreseen by the law,” the Prosecution’s release added.

Jahjaga: We are dedicated to upholding constitutional order

(All monitored broadcasters, TV21)

President of the Republic of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, expresses the dedication of the institutions to prevent incitement of inter-religious hatred and alleging of the citizens of Kosovo with extremist causes.

In a press statement issued by the Office of the President, on behalf of security and justice mechanisms, it was said that infringement of Constitutional order and national security will be impeded.

In relation to Thursday’s action of Kosovo Police, Office of the President said that it welcomes actions of security mechanisms to ensure a free, safe, peaceful and tolerant Kosovo which is not threatened by phenomena that aim to infringe the values and ideals upon which the state was built and the long-lasting tradition of religious harmony.

Meanwhile, in an interview with TV21, Kosovo interior minister said that Thursday’s action where 16 persons were arrested was carried as part of the efforts to prosecute suspects for incitement of inter-religious hatred and national division that is contradiction with Kosovo Constitution.

Jacobson commends Kosovo security authorities

(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)

The US Ambassador to Kosovo Tracey Ann Jacobson commended Kosovo for Thursday’s action, welcoming the approach of security authorities.

“Once again I commend Kosovo on its proactive approach against foreign fighters and extremism,” the US diplomat wrote on her Twitter profile.

Haradinaj: We are ready for Thursday’s session

(All monitored broadcasters, RTK)

AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj said that the LDK-AAK-Nisma and Vetëvendosje bloc is ready for Thursday’s constitutive session of the Assembly. According to him, the outcome is already known, that is PDK candidate for the Assembly Speaker will not pass the vote.

Haradinaj expressed his confidence that the bloc will be successful, but refused to reveal more details.

As far as Srpska List is concerned, Haradinaj said that they have the right to choose who to join, although, according to him, this List does not have any other option but to join LDK-AAK-Nisma and Vetëvendosje.

Srpska List does not support LAN with Vetëvendosje

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Srpska List has decided not to support LDK-AAK-Nisma and Vetëvendosje bloc.

Serb MPs had a meeting in Belgrade with the Serbian government, from where they sent the message that they do not want to be part of government that is made of Vetëvendosje, as well.

“The most important political criterion is that we do not want the Serb community to participate in a government consisting of individuals whose activities are against Serb interests. We do not have illusions about the fact that many people in Prishtinë/Pristina do not like Serbs and they do not care about our state interests; however, we cannot not be part of a government with those who openly object the survival of our people in Kosovo, who are against the establishment of the Association in the north and publicly state that they will never support the establishment of this Association. This is unacceptable to us. When I talk about these people, above all I speak about Albin Kurti’s Vetëvendosje Movement,” Director of the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo Marko Djuric said.

AKJ condemns threats against journalist Artan Haraqija

(KTV, TV21)

Association of Kosovo Journalists (AKJ) strongly condemns the threats that were made to Indeksonline portal journalist Artan Haraqija.

AKJ’s press statement reads that Haraqija has received death threats on Wednesday through different messages after his appearance on KTV’s Rubicon show where religious extremism was discussed.

Association of Kosovo Journalists calls on everyone to renounce their threats against journalists, while it calls on all competent bodies of Kosovo to seriously deal with investigation and prevention of these threats.

The press statement further adds that this is not the first time that the journalist, Artan Haraqija, was threatened in different forms for his public stances regarding religious radicalism in Kosovo.

AKJ also expressed its concern over the increasing number of reports related to threat.

The Association also encourages Haraqija and all other journalists to report such cases to rule of law authorities.