Community MPs request clarification of Constitutional Court’s verdict
(All monitored broadcasters, RTK1&KTV)
A letter from the majority of MPs from the minority communities has reached the table of Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga. Through this letter, they call on the President to address a request for additional information to the Constitutional Court regarding Point 127 of this Court’s verdict.
Bosniak MP Duda Balje reiterated that they are against elections, while, according to her, the solution is at the Assembly.
However, there are disagreements between the minority MPs, as well. Emilija Redzepi and Nenad Rasic refused to sign the letter addressed by most of the minority community MPs. Rasic is also in favour of elections, as, according to him, Srpska List did extreme manipulations in the last elections.
Although such a request was expected to be sent to President by the post-electoral bloc, the VLAN bloc PM designate Ramush Haradinaj said that minorities also enjoy this right.
Haradinaj did not rule out a meeting with PDK, but he underlined that there will be no agreement with them. He said that no one can force them to make coalition with PDK, because the EC Progress Report shows how PDK governance destroyed Kosovo.
In the meantime, President’s advisor Arbër Vllahiu confirmed to RTK1 over e-mail that request of minority MPs has reached the Office of the President, and that they will get a reply about it within a short timeframe.
Zbogar: Kosovars should find the solution
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Head of the European Union Office in Kosovo Samuel Zbogar stated on Monday that solution to the political deadlock should be found by Kosovars.
He reiterated this during his visit to Pejë/Pec, where he took part in inauguration of an energy efficiency project in “8 Marsi” primary school of this town.
“My job is to encourage political leaders, who have received responsibilities from the people, to break the deadlock. We support the efforts of President Atifete Jahjaga to push them towards achievement of an agreement. Time is passing by, but we cannot do the work of your leaders. Solution is important for Kosovo as well as for us, but it has to be found by Kosovars themselves,” Zbogar stated.
Ombudsperson: We challenged President’s decree on mandate of international judges
(TV21)
Kosovo Ombudsperson Sami Kurteshi says that he has challenged the decree of President Atifete Jahjaga for extending the mandate for three international judges by addressing this case to Constitutional Court for interpretation.
Kurteshi underlined that he has nothing against the recently-appointed international judges, but he considers that Constitution was infringed in this case. He also expects that the Constitutional Court will take a just decision.
Emphasising that the Ombudsperson’s Institution is independent, Mr. Kurteshi said that addressing of this request is not related to reports in some media outlets, which say that he is working on the basis of a certain political parties’ agendas.
Kurteshi insisted that Ombudsperson’s Institution does not take instructions from anyone.
Djuric urges UNMIK chief to encourage KFOR and EULEX
(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK2)
Director of the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo Marko Djuric urged Farid Zarif, Head of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to additionally encourage KFOR, EULEX and the Prishtinë/Pristina authorities to ensure security for Serbs in Kosovo.
After a meeting with Zarif, Djuric told reporters that the incidents in the wake of the recent Serbia-Albania football match in Belgrade – targeting Serbs in Kosovo, as well as ethnic Albanians in other parts of Serbia, are worthy of every form of condemnation. He emphasized that Serbia is committed to Kosovo stability and good neighbouring relations with Albania.
In the meantime, speaking at the conference on the participation of Western Balkans countries in UN peacekeeping operations in Belgrade, Serbian foreign Minister Ivica Dacic expressed his hope that UNMIK will remain in Kosovo and it will continue to perform its important role, especially with regard to non-Albanian population.
On the other hand, Head of the UN department of peacekeeping operations Herve Ladsous said that the UNMIK Mission will remain in Kosovo, due to the importance it has for citizens.
Children voice their concerns to Ombudsperson about violence in schools
(Most monitored broadcasters, Klan Kosova)
Schoolchildren came from Pejë/Pec to Prishtinë/Pristina to voice their concerns to Kosovo Ombudsperson Sami Kurteshi. They are having trouble with some of their peers, a group called ‘Peanuts’, who are exercising violence against them.
They told Ombudsperson Kurteshi that they are being racketeered and threatened by members of this group. According to these schoolchildren, they are also carrying cold weapons with them.
Kurteshi said that he was not aware of this case, but he promised to deal with it. He assured children that the Institution he runs will also raise this issue with the municipality of Pejë/Pec.
A letter containing the main concerns of children and concrete recommendations for their solution was also handed over to Ombudsperson Kurteshi.
Other TV broadcasters reported that this visit was organized under the auspices of the “Week against child violence” campaign, which is being carried out by NGO Syri i Vizionit and Save the Children.
Nine health officials remain in detention
(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)
The Court of Appeal, through a press release informed that it refused the appeal of the defence and decided that the health officials will remain in detention.
These officials are suspected of different criminal offences, including: participation or organizing an organized criminal group, misuse of official position or authority, bribe and unlawful exercise of medical and pharmaceutical activities.
