Mitrovicë/Mitrovica Mayor physically assaulted

(Most monitored broadcasters, Klan Kosova&RTK1)

Mitrovicë/Mitrovica Mayor Agim Bahtiri has been physically assaulted. The news was confirmed to RTK by the Mitrovicë/Mitrovica Kosovo Police Spokesperson Avni Zahiti.

According to him, at about 15:00 hrs. of Monday, a person around 26-year old entered the municipality building and assaulted Mitrovicë/Mitrovica Mayor Agim Bahtiri, while the latter was carrying out his official duty.

The assaulter was arrested by the Police, while legal measures are expected to be taken against him. The motives of the assault still have not been known.

In an interview with Klan Kosova, Bahtiri said that motives behind the assault were political. Furthermore, he doubts that this came from the political party that was earlier in power in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica, namely PDK.

Bahtiri said that this was not the first threat by this assaulter. Not willing to talk about details, Bahtiri said that this was the second case that he was assaulted by this person.

Kostic: Belgrade and Prishtinë/Pristina will not impact on Srpska List’s decision

(RTK2&TV21)

Neither Belgrade politics, nor the politics of Prishtinë/Pristina will have impact in Srpska List’s decision for return to Kosovo institutions, or not. This was stated by Vladeta Kostic, one of the Srpska List leaders.

He announced that the decision for return to Kosovo institutions will be taken after the meeting which will be held on Wednesday in Gracanica/Graçanicë, where all the mayors of Serb-dominated municipalities, municipal councillors and ministers as well as MPs of Srpska List will gather.

Meanwhile, Srpska List chairperson Aleksandar Jablanovic expects from Albanian parties of the governing coalition, PDK and LDK, to respect the coalition agreement, RTK2 reported.

Jablanovic told Radio Kosovo 2 in Serbian that further participation of Srpska List in Kosovo institutions will be uncertain if the coalition agreement will remain only a ‘dead letter’.

Chairperson of the Serb Progressive Party and Kosovo Assembly MP Nenad Rasic has a message for Srpska List. He told TV21 that Srpska List should return to the Assembly of Kosovo and seek their rights there.

In an interview with RTV21, Rasic also said that he is favour of Special Court’s set up, considering it as something necessary.

Asked if the Association of Serb Municipalities should have executive functions or not, Rasic said that he does not consider this applicable within the existing Kosovo laws and Constitution; however, he does not rule this out, saying that everything is possible in politics.

FOL: About 2,000 corruption cases unsolved in 2014

(All monitored broadcasters, TV21)

About 2,000 corruption cases have not been solved by the prosecution and courts in 2014. These data were presented by FOL Movement on Monday, who considers that over the course of last year, justice institutions were not efficient at all in fighting corruption.

During 2014, Kosovo Police, prosecution and courts have received and reviewed 3,526 corruption cases in total, stated Fidan Kalaja of FOL Movement. He said that their efficiency is only 30 per cent.

On the other hand, President of Prishtinë/Pristina Basic Court Hamdi Ibrahimi said that 2014 was dominating as far as solution of corruption cases is concerned. According to him, these cases were given priority irrespective to little number of judges.

FOL Movement representatives said that no senior officials are among the ones being investigated of corruption.

KACA: 12 per cent of officials have declared their property

(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)

Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency speaks about a satisfactory process of verification of senior officials’ property. Until Friday, over 473 senior public officials have declared their property to the Anti-Corruption Agency, thus positively responding to their legal obligation that they have according to the Law on declaration, origin and control of property of senior public officials, as well as declaration, origin and control of gifts of all public officials.

These data were published in the official portal of the Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency. The deadline for declaration of property by senior public officials ends at the end of March.

Justice and police institutions discuss fight against organized crime

(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)

Acting Chief State Prosecutor Sylë Hoxha chaired the joint meeting between institutional leaders of justice, Kosovo and EULEX Police held on Monday.

The Kosovo Judicial Council President Enver Peci, Kosovo Police Director Shpend Maxhuni, Supreme Court representative, and leaders of EULEX judges and prosecutors were part of the meeting chaired by Hoxha.

They discussed about deepening of cooperation and exchange of information in the fight against organized crime and corruption.

In the meantime, KJC President Peci was also received by interior minister Skender Hyseni. The aim of this meeting was also to coordinate efforts between the two institutions to provide better services to Kosovo citizens.

Civil society representatives criticize institutions

(KTV)

It has been three months since Kosovo constituted its leading institutions, but even after this long period of time, the executive and legislative look like they are still in vacation.

Even the six-month crisis after elections, did not start up the engines of the leading institutions. Since its constitution, the Government has proceeded very few laws to the Assembly, while lacking discussion material the plenary sessions turn into battles of accusation and counter-accusation, KTV reported.

This approach of Government and the Assembly is being criticized by those that monitor work of institutions.

Driton Selmanaj of Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) qualified Isa Mustafa’s Government as a lazy one, while he says that with the with the current dynamic of work he does not expect to see adoption of even 30 per cent of the legislative plan.

Petrit Zogaj of FOL Moment also strongly criticized the slow work dynamic performed by the Government and Assembly. He considers that pre-electoral crisis still has not ended and that the institutional negligence is only going on.

Reconstruction of cultural heritage buildings discussed

(RTK)

Issues related to reconstruction of cultural heritage buildings in the territory of Kosovo were topic of a three-hour meeting held at the Kosovo Government building. Two Kosovo ministers, minister of environment Ferid Agani and minister of culture Kujtim Shala, hosted the meeting and discussed with representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo.

According to RTK unofficial sources, the Serb party requested special role for Orthodox religious institutions in Brussels talks, with special emphasis on protection of zones around religious sites, meaning non-allowance of constructions in their vicinity.

In the meantime, environment minister’s advisor Bashkim Bekolli said that it was discussed about implementation of the Law on Historic Centre of Prizren and the Law on Velika Hoca/Hoçë e Madhe, continuation of monitoring special protective zones, as well as future cooperation of all the parties in this process.

Despite RTK’s persistence to get a pronouncement about this issue, representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church did not accept to talk about details and their request addressed in the meeting.

Gracanica/Graçanicë streets named after nationalist Serb figures or events

(Klan Kosova)

Albanians are dissatisfied with street names in Gracanica/Graçanicë municipality. They consider that all the streets are named after nationalist figures and events of the new and ancient history of Serbia.

Director of urbanism and cadastre in Gracanica/Graçanicë municipality, Dejan Jovanovic, said that they did not name the streets based on their nationality, but rather based on the historic contribution.

Jovanovic said that individuals that do not agree with the street names can file complaints at the municipality. According to him, all complaints will be sent to the respective offices for review. If the complaints are reasonable, we will correct the names, Jovanovic said.

The advisor for minority issues to the Mayor of Gracanica/Graçanicë, Fatmir Sheholli said that the street names and the placement of monuments in this municipality was done in compliance with Kosovo laws.

But Albanians residents, that are minority in this town, do not agree with these street names and they have other complaints too.

Kadri Llapashtica, a villager from Kishnicë told Klan Kosova that the streets should be bilingual. Moreover Llapashtica said the he does not agree with some street names that are named after individuals that were against Albanians.

Meanwhile, a Serb woman of Gracanica/Graçanicë said that both side should have the right to name streets.

Elektrokosmet issues invoices to Albanian resident in the north

(RTK1)

Albanian residents of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë face the same request at the end of each month. They receive the electricity bills from the so-called “Elektrokosmet”. Albanians refuse to pay them; while representatives of the illegal Serb operator threaten them with disconnection from the electric power network.

“It has no stamp or anything. It only contains the Elektrokosovo logo…,” said a local Albanian resident while showing these electricity bills.

Representative of Kodra e Minatorëve neighbourhood, Gani Hysenaj, says that Albanians will not pay for electricity until Serbs do not do the same.

Hysenaj called on Albanian citizens of the north not to pay for their consumed electricity.

“Until it writes Republic of Kosovo in it, I will tell my Albanian citizens not to pay for it,” Hysenaj said.

In the meantime, Albanian municipal councillors promised that they will raise this issue at the Municipal Assembly of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north.

Zbogar: EU will always support Kosovo journalists

(RTK2, RTK1)

The European Union will always support Kosovo journalists, every time that they will demonstrate professionalism and courage. This was stated by the EU Special Representative in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar.

Zbogar added that Kosovo should be proud of its journalists. He made these comments while launching the competition of the EU Award for Investigative Journalism, which will remain open until 12 April, 2015.

On this occasion, Zbogar also spoke about the Kosovo public broadcaster – RTK.

“The situation is still far from ideal. The public broadcaster does not have sustainable financing, which would guarantee its independence, while commercial media are dependent on the poor market and accumulation of debts. The digitalization process has delayed,” Zbogar said.

On Monday, RTK and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a cooperation agreement. This memorandum envisages a donation for the public broadcaster at the value of EUR 1.3 million. This investment is related to advancement of technology and training.

Evangelical Church Pastor and Ombudsperson disagree about LGBT community

(Klan Kosova)

Institutions support LGBT community members both by law and morally; however the representative of a religious community in Kosovo does not consider them as decent people. Furthermore, Kosovo Evangelical Church pastor Faik Cakolli considers them to be in the same group with criminals.

‘Based on our Christian religion, based on the Holy Bible, individuals belonging to this community are qualified as sinners… Same as murderers and rapists’, said Cakolli.

Kosovo Ombudsperson Sami Kurteshi does not agree with these conclusions, emphasizing that the rights in Kosovo are protected by Law.

“The way of life in this country, that we call Kosovo is regulated by the Constitution. The Bible and Qur’an do not come into consideration”, Kurteshi said.

Moreover, Kurteshi underlined that Kosovo is also obliged by the international laws which guarantee the rights of LGBT community members.

On the other hand the non-governmental organisation ‘Centre for Development of Social Groups’ announced a national conference for Tuesday, where it will discuss about inclusion of LBGT community in politics.