Kosovo Assembly approves budget for 2015 (Kosova Sot)
The Assembly of Kosovo approved on Monday the law on the budget for 2015. The budget will amount to around 1.5 billion euros. It was approved after a long debate between opposition and ruling-coalition MPs. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hashim Thaci said that this is a big step for the financial consolidation of Kosovo and the creation of new jobs.
Thaci: We’ll overcome the present social crisis together (Gazeta Blic)
Hashim Thaci, Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, said in an interview for TV Klan that the social crisis in Kosovo should not be used by politicians to score political points. He stressed that Kosovo’s current situation is not any worse than the situations faced by other countries in transition. He added that the number of the people currently leaving Kosovo is minimal, compared to the massive emigrations from Bulgaria and Romania in the past. Thaci refused to comment on the recent arrest of Serbian citizen and terror suspect Slobodan Gavric, saying that “we should help the relevant institutions by not interfering in their work.” Thaci blamed the six-month stalemate in Kosovo for the fact that public sector salaries have not been raised. He said he had sacrificed himself to overcome that stalemate. “It would have been much more difficult to see the country blocked than to sacrifice my personal post,” said Thaci.
EULEX could take over Gavric’s case (koha.net)
The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) has not denied the possibility of taking over the case of Serbian citizen and terror suspect Slobodan Gavric, who has been detained in Pristina by Kosovo Police. Currently, Kosovo Prosecutor Drita Hajdari is investigating the charges that Gavric was preparing a terrorist attack. Meanwhile, Serbia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has not said if it plans to request Gavric’s extradition to Serbia. Currently, no such agreement exists between Kosovo and Serbia.
Ombudsperson: 2014 a complete failure for the judiciary (Telegrafi)
Kosovo Ombudsperson Sami Kurteshi said on Monday that the reforms that had been applied in the judiciary over the past two to three years proved to be useless. According to Kurteshi, the special court will be created as a result of the failure of the judiciary. “The local judges, in particular the leading ones, have neither the courage nor the knowledge to lead a court,” he said. According to Kurteshi, it is because of the judiciary’s failures that the people of Kosovo have started to leave. “People are desperate, and they do not expect improvements,” said Kurteshi.
