CEC has no mandate to organize new elections

(KTV)

Even if the President would call new extraordinary elections, it would be impossible for the Central Elections Commission (CEC) to organize them. This institution would face problems in taking decisions, as the mandates of its members have expired.

In case of elections, the President would need to re-mandate its members, besides the one of AKR and the member of communities.

On the condition of anonymity, a CEC member told KTV that for over a month this institution has not held any meeting fearing the decision-taking, which, according to him, could be disputed.

President’s statements in favour of calling elections are only seen as act of pressure. Civil society activists proposed to President to come out with more concrete ideas for overcoming the current political deadlock.

Jahjaga might propose solutions, but, to dissolve the Assembly the MP majority vote would be required.

President Atifete Jahjaga might call early elections under two potential scenarios. The first scenario is dissolution of the Assembly with two-thirds of MP votes and the second is in case that proposal for Prime Minister fails two consecutive times.

KTV tried to speak with CEC officials and the ones from the Office of the President regarding the mandate of CEC members, but this was not possible.

President Jahjaga has reminded all leaders about the political situation that Kosovo is in. Jahjaga has alarmed about institutional and budgetary risks, in case that Kosovo will not have its institutions soon.

Cliff: International community, frustrated with political crisis

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

The international community is frustrated with institutional blockade in Kosovo and with non-establishment of the Government and the Parliament, four months after elections. This clear message was given by one of the Quint countries, namely the UK through its Ambassador to Kosovo Ian Cliff, when he spoke on Monday about EC Progress Report for Kosovo. The debate about EC Progress Report was organized by civil society, namely the Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS).

“It would be extremely good if this Progress Report was debated in the Parliament, but unfortunately we do not a have a Parliament to discuss about it. Kosovo should move faster and establish its Parliament, Government, and other institutions. One can notice that the frustration of Kosovo politicians, who are not capable to establish functional institutions, has increased and similar frustration can be noticed also in Brussels, London, Berlin, and many other countries,” Ambassador Cliff said.

Cliff mentioned that progress must happen in public administration, independence of judges and prosecutors, fight against corruption and crime, improvement of business climate and transparency in funding of political parties.

Meanwhile, Thomas Gnocchi, head of the political sector of the EU Office to Kosovo has stressed that in spite of the progress made with the liberalization of the visa regime, the failure to form the new institutions is an issue.

Civil society considers that Government never showed seriousness in addressing the findings of the EC Progress Report.

Zekirja Shabani, Head of the Association of Kosovo Journalists, said that during this year there were twenty reported cases of threats, blackmails and other obstacles in the work of journalists, which demonstrates an unfavourable situation for journalists.

Reactions against graffiti in Decani Monastery continue

(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK2&Klan Kosova)

“Caliphate”, “ISIS” and “KLA” and other graffiti are a threat for Decani Monastery. This was stated on Monday by Sava Janjic, Abbot of this Monastery.

“It is not normal if someone enters within the church walls and writes such things, because we take care of the livestock and do the land here. This frightens us,” Janjic said.

Such graffiti also brought in KFOR officers in charge to the Monastery. Nonetheless, Colonel Angelo Marinelli said that nothing can be said before collecting all evidence.

“Together with the police we have come out to collect evidence here, and we will also come out with a statement regarding this after their assessment is done. For now, it is too early to say who the perpetrator might be,” Marinelli said.

In an interview with Serbian programme of the Kosovo public broadcaster (RTK2), Kosovo interior minister Bajram Rexhepi said that these graffiti were inscribed by three minors. He said that this issue will be discussed with their parents, in order that similar graffiti are not inscribed again.

Deputy Prime Minister Slobodan Petrovic also visited Decani Monastery. He said that recent graffiti turn Kosovo back in time.

Deçan/Decane mayor Rasim Selmanaj said that the case is condemnable, but the leader of historians in this municipality Selim Lokaj said that these graffiti were inscribed by the Serbs themselves. According to him, graffiti were inscribed one-hundred metres away from KFOR checkpoint, therefore it is impossible for an Albanian to do this.

KFOR Commander, General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo also visited Decani Monastery and condemned the case.

The regional commander of Pejë/Pec Kosovo Police, Colonel Shaban Shala, stated the investigations on the case are ongoing in close cooperation with the regional operational support unit.

Djuric announces establishment of task force for return of IDPs

(RTK2)

Director of the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo Marko Djuric said that the time of big words has passed when it comes to solution of the status of displaced persons from Kosovo. He announced that a task force composed of representatives of relevant local and international institutions would be set up to deal with the issue of returns of IDPs.

Djuric, following the meeting with the representatives the OSCE, UNHCR, the United Nations Office in Belgrade, Office of the Personal Representative of the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union, the Serbian Commissariat for Refugees, Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Kosovo Ministry for return and communities, said that it is time for concrete actions regarding the return of internally displaced persons to Kosovo.

He said that representatives of all organisations agree that the return to Kosovo has so far been at a symbolic level, and they also agree that it is necessary to take additional steps.

Djuric added that as a result of Monday’s meeting, all these institutions agreed that they will take joint initiatives to form the working group that will meet regularly, define goals jointly and observe achievement of concrete results.

According to him, only 10% of the 250,000 IDPs returned to Kosovo, which is a very small number.

Head of the UNHCR Mission to Serbia Eduardo Arboleda welcomed the initiative to establish the task force and said that the organization itself was often dealing with the IDPs’ returns issue on its own.

Kosovo minister for communities and return, Dalibor Jevtic, also agreed with them. He considers Monday’s meeting as big step toward resolving the issue of IDPs.

Serbia starts drafting statute of the Association of Serb municipalities

(Klan Kosova)

Sources of Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) reported that Belgrade authorities have started drafting the statute of the Association of Serb majority municipalities in Kosovo.

According to these sources, the Serbian side is close to finalizing this draft statute, which needs to be presented in Brussels when Kosovo-Serbia talks resume.

Twelve mortuary remains returned from Serbia

(Most monitored broadcasters, Klan Kosova)

Mortuary remains of twelve Albanians killed during the war in Kosovo have been returned from Serbia on Tuesday. Rrustem Rukolli, who received bones of his father, blamed politicians for delays in their return.

“There are fifteen years since open graves are waiting for these mortuary remains. The local factor was not capable to do enough, while the international factor was not that much interested,” Rukolli said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri blamed the Serbian side and European Union for this delay.

Other TV broadcasters reported that EULEX also handed over mortuary remains of three Serbs to their family members.