Jahjaga: Special court not to undermine Kosovo’s constitutional order (Epoka)
In an interview with the paper, Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga said that Kosovo is at a stage where it has to prove that rule of law functions and that everyone is equal before the law. She said the establishment of the special court needs the broad consensus of the society and stressed that the court will not deal with Kosovo’s collective fight for freedom and independence but with individual cases. Jahjaga rejected the idea of the special court undermining Kosovo’s constitutional order. “It would be undermined if the special court would be established by another instance, by ignoring our country’s institutions and by functioning outside our judicial system,” she said.
Cliff: Too many political appointments (Koha)
In a front-page interview, the outgoing British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ian Cliff, said one of the biggest problems that Kosovo faces is excessive political appointments. “You cannot move forward with economic development and the European agenda if you don’t have professional and independent people in ministries and other organizations. This is crucial for the future of Kosovo,” he said. Cliff argued that it is a horrible fact that the majority of people live in poverty as a result of the gap between politicians and the people. The British Ambassador also said that the biggest success in the last couple of years is dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. Cliff said that if Kosovo fails to establish the specialized chambers for addressing war crimes allegations, then Russia will raise the issue at the United Nations Security Council. “It will then be difficult for the United States, the United Kingdom and France to refuse this process, if Kosovo refuses to establish the court,” he added.
AAK: Government is playing games with creation of Armed Forces (Zeri)
The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) issued a press release on Wednesday reacting against statements by Kosovo and Serbia senior officials in regards to the establishment of the Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF). “The Kosovo Army has to be established fully and move freely throughout the territory of Kosovo,” the AAK press release noted. Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, said on Wednesday that the Kosovo Armed Forces would go to the northern part of Kosovo only in agreement with NATO.
Mustafa, Gallucci discuss Kosovo’s membership of Council of Europe (Bota)
Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, met on Wednesday with head of the Council of Europe Office in Pristina, Isabelle Servoz Gallucci. Gallucci said that she offers her support to Kosovo’s European integration, adding that Kosovo has made progress in this regard. Mustafa and Gallucci discussed Kosovo’s membership of the Council of Europe and fulfillment of the criteria for membership. “We are committed to work intensively to fulfill all our international obligations,” Mustafa said. Gallucci also met with Kosovo’s Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli.
Dacic: Serbia’s constitution should be changed (Zeri)
The paper writes that Serbia’s Constitutional Court considers that the Agreement on border crossings between Kosovo and Serbia is not in compliance with the Constitution of Serbia. This decision has come as a result of questions by the opposition parties in Serbia related to the Pristina-Belgrade agreements in Brussels. Serbia’s Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic, said on Wednesday that the Constitution of Serbia should be amended, especially an article for good neighbourly relations with all countries in the Western Balkans.
Kosovo more isolated than North Korea (Kosova Sot)
Henley & Partners, a global consultancy company specialized in residence and citizenship planning has prepared a data index on visa restrictions that citizens of countries around the world face when travelling. The index lists Kosovo at 87th place jointly with Iran and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Furthermore, Kosovo is at a lower position when it comes to free travel than the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
