Kosovo and Albania sign eleven agreements
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
The second joint meeting between the governments of Kosovo and Albania was held on Monday with the motto, “One land, one nation, one dream”. Ministers of both governments signed eleven agreements, memorandums and protocols in the fields of economy, security, health and other fields.
The Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said that unification between the two countries is being demonstrated with Monday’s agreements, and that the unification will happen through the European Union.
However, Rama criticized EU and considered its decision to keep Kosovo under visa regime shameful.
Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa said that governments are realizing the dream for unconstrained communication. As an expert of economy, Mustafa considers that economic relations between Albania and Kosovo are lagging behind the other fields. However, he expressed his belief that both governments will remove the economic barriers so that cooperation becomes more fruitful.
PM Mustafa also spoke about Srpska List which still has not returned to the Assembly. He said that their return will happen shortly.
Meanwhile, the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said that it is important that the Serbs have their seats in the Kosovo Assembly, TV21 reported.
Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo from Srpska List, Branimir Stojanovic, told Radio Free Europe that the decision for their return to Kosovo institutions, or not, might be taken shortly.
Speaker Veseli responds to Bajram Rexhepi’s accusations
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Former Head of Kosovo Intelligence Service (SHIK) and current Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli responded to accusations of his fellow party member Bajram Rexhepi, who, talking to KTV Rubicon show, said that SHIK initially captured PDK and now it has captured the state.
Veseli ironized with Rexhepi, saying that he has no caramels to give to anybody.
Veseli said that PDK needs deep reforms and new people. He made these statements following the Assembly Presidency meeting, where it was decided that the Assembly will have two sessions this week.
Kosovo Government submits report on dialogue with Serbia
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Kosovo government submitted to the European Union a report on Brussels dialogue and the implementation process of the agreements for the October 2014-March 2015 period.
The report signed by Edita Tahiri, chief-negotiator in the Brussels dialogue, presents Kosovo Government’s assessment on the progress and challenges in the implementation process of dialogue agreements on the normalization of interstate relations between Kosovo and Serbia, as well as the technical dialogue, facilitated by the EU.
“The Government of Kosovo wants to emphasize that implementation of agreements are what counts for full success to this dialogue and provides rationale for its continuation. We highly appreciate the European Union’s facilitation and guarantees of the dialogue outcomes as well as the United States full support for it. However, we strongly believe that policies of performance measurement and consequent incentives and conditionality for both states in their euro-integration path, make mechanisms necessary to ensure required progress in the dialogue,” the report notes.
KPC calls vacancy for 15 Serb prosecutors
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
The first vacancy for recruitment of judiciary staff on ethnic grounds has been called. This vacancy derives from the last agreement on justice signed by Kosovo and Serbia Prime Ministers in Brussels.
Fifteen prosecutors will be recruited with the only condition, to be Serbs. The vacancy will be called on 25 March and it will be closed two months after. Their selection is different from standard procedures, as EULEX will take part in their recruitment.
The vacancy is called for nine posts in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica Basic Court, one post for Ferizaj/Urosevac, one post in Gjilan/Gnjilane, one post for Prishtinë/Pristina, one post for the Appellate Prosecution, one for the Special Prosecution, and one post for Office of the State Prosecutor.
This was considered as insulting by the KPC member from other minority communities.
“There is also a Bosniak Mahala in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica. Does not this tell you that Bosniak community prosecutors should also be among those nine prosecutors envisaged for Serbs? This is insulting to me, and I believe that other nationalities should also be represented among these nine prosecutors with at least three of them,” stated KPC member Idaim Smajli.
This decision was taken during the urgent meeting of the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council (KPC) held on Monday.
A similar vacancy on ethnic grounds will also be announced within the same period of time by the Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) for recruitment of Serb judges.
Cliff: There are dictatorial mayors in Kosovo
(KTV)
The outgoing United Kingdom Ambassador to Kosovo, Ian Cliff, called on new Kosovo Government to unblock the Privatization Agency, which has been left without a Board, and solve the status of many socially owned enterprises.
While being awarded the prize for local government by the Local Government Institute (LGI), Cliff said that there are dictatorial mayors in Kosovo.
To Cliff, who prior to coming to Kosovo, used to work in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Association of Serb Municipalities does not present a risk for creation of a sort of Republika Srpska, as the municipalities that are part of it existed earlier. According to him, the power of this Association should be discussed in the new round of Kosovo-Serbia talks.
Arifaj: Dacic will visit Kosovo as Serbia’s minister of foreign affairs
(Klan Kosova)
The advisor to Kosovo minister of foreign affairs Ardian Arifaj said that there is an official confirmation that the Serbian minister of foreign affairs Ivica Dacic will come to the conference of six Western Balkan countries.
Arifaj said that Dacic is expected to come to Kosovo only at the capacity of Serbia’s minister of foreign affairs, adding that there are no conditions for his presence. According to Arifaj, conditions are unacceptable.
On Monday, media reported that Dacic has set up some conditions, and that he has requested that no Kosovo flag should be placed nor in the meeting room, or in the streets.
Week of Women launched
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Week of Women was launched on Monday in Kosovo. Attending this activity organized by the USAID, NDI and Kosovo Assembly Women MPs, Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga said that women are the pillar of the entire society.
According to Jahjaga, this year holds importance on the global agenda of advancement of women’s rights in all fields of life, as it marks the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which represents a powerful initiative with strong support from all corners of the world.
“The battle for guaranteeing of gender equality is a battle of the whole society, of men and women, as its positive effects touch the society as a whole, irrespective of gender. Respect for human rights is a civic and institutional obligation and its implementation belongs equally to both men and women,” President Jahjaga stated.
