Steinmeier: Special Court establishment is in Kosovo’s favour
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in Kosovo. He was received in a meeting by President Atifete Jahjaga, where it was discussed about Kosovo’s integration processes, the necessity of implementing the agreements reached with Serbia, challenges related to Special Court’s establishment and strengthening the rule of law in Kosovo.
“Integration into the EU is the only alternative for Kosovo and the region; consequently, sustainability, and neighbourly relations will determine the integration dynamics,” Jahjaga was quoted as saying.
On the other hand, Steimeier welcomed dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia and implementation of agreements reached in the framework of this dialogue. He also underlined the importance of meeting the international obligation of Kosovo by establishing the Special Court, which, according to Steinmeier, needs an overall consensus in society.
Steinmeier reiterated the request for establishment of the Special Court to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa.
“The Court is not a favour that Kosovo is doing to internationals, but it rather is a favour that your country is doing to the history and new generations,” Steinemeier said.
On Tuesday morning, the German FM Steinmeier visited Belgrade where he talked about the necessity of improving relations with Kosovo.
Rape victims speak about their horrific experiences
(RTK1)
Consequences of the war are felt even 16 years after it. Serbian crimes have left traces that will hardly be cleared from memory. But, the situation becomes even worse when, despite the dolour they carry with them, these crimes are not spoken about. Women raped by the Serbs are in question. They carry both physical and psychological violence within them, which causes them pain. The cases when these women accept to confess are rare: however, some of them have decided to speak to RTK.
She was 28 and mother of three little children. Sixteen years ago, together with them, she was trying to escape the horror of war when she fell into hands of Serbian armed forces. She and other women will never forget the horror that they faced that day.
“We were 130 persons. They separated 50 of us in the co-operative. My sister, my sister in law and me shared the same fate. We screamed. They tore our clothes with knives and then the rape started for three hours. Than we lost our conscience, and I do not recall anything,” a woman behind a blurred image told RTK.
Another mother, 38-year old back then, has even a more horrific experience from the time of the war. Serbs broke into her house and raped her together with her three daughters, the youngest was only 13.
“Daughters screamed out, and I was telling them not to worry because they would not do anything bad to us, that they would only force us out of the house and we will join other people. Then, they sent us down to the basement of the house and maltreated us in every possible form.”
These women are still suffering consequences of these crimes. They are not managing to overcome the things that they have gone through.
RTK management returns two dismissed trade unionists to their jobs
(KTV)
Radio and Television of Kosovo (RTK) management decided to return RTK Trade Union chairperson Fadil Hoxha and his deputy Arsim Halili back to their jobs.
“RTK Management informed me today that they have decided to implement our decision and to return the two trade union representatives back to their posts,” Basri Ibrahimi, the chief of Labour Inspectorate, told Koha Ditore.
The Labour Inspectorate found that RTK management violated provisions of the regulation. Hoxha and Halili have called on the Assembly to investigate RTK’s mismanagement over the last year.
Government does not accept ultimatums of the opposition
(KTV)
Opposition parties still are not clear whether they will continue to go out in protests. Opposition says they are waiting for Government to reflect regarding their requests. They do not have a date or a decision about what will happen after the end of ultimatum they gave to Government.
In the last protest, opposition requested dismissal of Constitutional Court’s President, decrease of energy price, dismissal of public broadcaster managers, and dismissal of Minister of Justice, Hajredin Kuçi.
Nonetheless, the ultimatum given by the opposition hasn’t impressed Government much.
Minister of labour and social welfare and spokesperson of Kosovo Government, Arban Abrashi, currently in Croatia, said that ultimatums are not democratic means for achievement of political goals.
Shala: I met Thaçi to make Haradinaj a Prime Minister
(KTV)
Results of dialogue with Serbia will be noted in June this year, said coordinator of talks with Serbia, Blerim Shala.
Talking to KTV Rubicon show, Shala said that Association of Serb Municipalities will shortly be established, adding that it will not have executive functions.
Shala spoke widely about six months of the institutional deadlock and admitted that he met Hashim Thaçi trying to make Ramush Haradinaj a Prime Minister.
Prosecution starts investigations in Municipality of Pejë/Pec
(KTV)
Pejë/Pec Prosecution is investigating the Municipality of Pejë/Pec for misuses.
The Prosecutor Sehide Gashi confirmed to KTV that they have received anonymous information for potential misuses and that she has authorized the economic crime police to carry out preliminary investigation.
Under this investigation, according to Prosecutor Gashi, the audit reports were also requested. The Prosecutor did not give many details because of the stage that investigation is at.
During Tuesday the Municipality of Pejë/Pec suspended the director of internal audit office, Hysni Selmanaj, from his work.
Selmanaj has drafted the annual work report where he has identified many misuses in the Municipality of Pejë/Pec. This report was also taken by the Prosecution and it is carrying investigations against officials of audit office, and several municipal directors.
