Jahjaga consults political party leaders for the deadlock

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Nothing new came out of the meeting that President Atifete Jahjaga had with Kosovo political leaders on Tuesday. Both sides continue to insist on their right to establish new institutions, and the solution does not seem to be on the horizon.

LDK chair Isa Mustafa was the first to start meeting with the President, which was not made public for media.

At 13:00hrs, PDK leader Hashim Thaçi met with the President. He once again called on leaders to sit and find a solution, but always mentioning the fact that PDK is the winning party of 8 June elections. Thaçi considers the call of VLAN Bloc for Assembly session on Thursday illegal.

After an hour meeting with the President, AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj qualified Hashim Thaçi as a political monster.

“Thaçi’s case is a unique case. He is a sort of political monster. Why is this so? Because he does not have the majority and continues to govern the country with 44 votes at the Assembly,” Haradinaj said.

Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti considers that Tuesday’s meeting with President Jahjaga did not bring anything new from their last meeting. Kurti blamed the Constitutional Court and President Jahjaga for the current situation.

Nisma për Kosovën leader Fatmir Limaj responded to Hashim Thaçi’s call for compromise. He said that the four political entities of VLAN Bloc have the majority, and thus no new agreement was needed.

Meanwhile, chairperson of the Assembly constitutive session Flora Brovina decided to bring together political party leader to a consultative meeting on Wednesday noon. She expects that VLAN Bloc leaders, who boycotted her past two meetings, will also respond to this call.

Jahjaga: Kosovo has entered a critical phase

(KTV)

After the meeting with political party leaders, Office of the President of Kosovo issued a press statement reading that in separate meetings with the political leaders, Jahjaga stressed that Kosovo has entered into a critical phase and not establishing the institutions rapidly will hinder citizens’ lives, and will prevent the overall functioning of the state.

“Establishment of country institutions is an immediate need to fulfil the obligations that the state has initially to the citizens and the international obligations it has undertaken. Postponement of the solution will hinder the functioning of the institutions of the country and will lead the country into a financial and budgetary crisis,” the statement adds.

Further, the statement continues that President Jahjaga requested from the political leaders to demonstrate political maturity during these moments, to act in accordance with the constitutional framework and to provide solutions that will lead to sustainable institution building and promotion of democratic processes.

Vetëvendosje ironizes with Constitutional Court’s President

(KTV)

Vetëvendosje organized a symbolic action in front of the Government building where it ironized with the Constitutional Court’s President Enver Hasani and the two PDK leading figures Hashim Thaçi and Kadri Veseli.

They hung a sign reading “Enver Hasani” on a horse and charioteers had on their heads boxes with the photos of PDK chairperson Hashim Thaçi and his deputy Kadri Veseli.

Frashër Krasniqi from Vetëvendosje stated that Hasani is a vassal of the PDK.

Serb suspected of killing KP officer surrenders to EULEX

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

EULEX Police arrested the Serb Radomir Kasalovic, suspected of murdering Kosovo Police officer Enver Zymberi. The arrest happened after Kasalovic surrendered to EULEX police near Zubin Potok. Serbian media reported that he surrendered on Tuesday morning.

EULEX said in a release that Kasalovic surrendered voluntarily to police and he was taken to a EULEX logistics base, where he will be questioned by an international prosecutor of the Mitrovicë/Mitrovica Basic Prosecution Office.

Kasalovic is charged with killing Kosovo Police officer Enver Zymberi on July 26, 2011 during the Kosovo Police action in the north.

A total of six Serb nationality citizens are charged for the attack on Kosovo Police convoy, for which international arrest warrants have been issued.

No mass grave found in Gjakovë/Djakovica village

(All monitored broadcasters, RTV21)

There is no mass grave with Serbs in Piskotë village of Gjakovë/Djakovica. Works were carried all day on Tuesday and nothing was found. Excavations happened after the Office of Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor raised doubts about existence of a potential mass grave with bodies of Serb victims from the Kosovo war.

Kosovo team also joined the excavations in Piskotë village. They had remarks because they were not informed about this activity by EULEX, which ordered excavations, or the Serbian side. Nonetheless, representatives of Kosovo government committee on missing persons said that irrespective to this, they support the activity no matter the nationality that potential human remains would belong to.

Serb Kosovo Police members’ protests in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north

(RTV21)

It seems that Serbs of Kosovo north fear the rule of law. Tens of Kosovo Police members of Serb nationality protested Tuesday morning in front of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica Basic Court building against the arrests of two politicians from the north.

As Kosovapress reports, about 60 police officers in uniforms called on EULEX to stop asking for the arrest of former mayor of Zubin Potok Slavisa Ristic and his successor Stefan Vulovic. Their protest was calm and it ended without any incidents.

Correctional services to include alternative sanctions

(Klan Kosova)

There are more than 1.800 prisoners throughout Kosovo, but it is being aimed to decrease that number. This goal is expected to be achieved by applying alternative sanctions and with the assistance of internationals.

Christoph Stock of the EU Office in Kosovo said: “It is very important to develop the correctional service which has not a long tradition in Kosovo. I think that alternative sanctions for people that came into conflict with the law are much closer to European standards.”

For purposes of this project, they are also asking for the help of judges and prosecutors.

“We need to also convince prosecutors and judges that these sanctions achieve their goals, too. Alternative sanctions will mean more solutions for judges and prosecutors. Prison should be the last option,” Peter Best, leader of this project said.

On the other hand, deputy minister of justice Abdyl Imeri considers the correctional and probation service as the two key pillars.

Imeri said that a state cannot have an efficient justice system without an efficient correctional service which contributes to rehabilitation and reintegration of the convicted following completion of their punishment.

The project for empowering these two institutions, Kosovo correctional and probation services, will continue for 24 months and it will cost EUR 1.7 million.