Opposition without date for next protest (Koha)
The paper reports on its front page that the opposition has yet to decide on a date for its next protest against what it calls “the capturing of the state”. Opposition parties have warned that they will intensify their actions to convince the Kosovo government to meet their demands. Citing unofficial sources, the paper reports that there will be no protest this week. Meanwhile, political analysts in Pristina argue that the opposition will find it difficult to convince the people to join them on the streets, because the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), “were part of previous governments”.
Teachers suspend strike (Zeri)
The Trade Union of Education decided on Sunday to suspend the teachers’ strike, giving the Kosovo government a deadline until June to improve mistakes made in the teachers’ payroll lists. According to union representatives, as a result of these mistakes, three to seven years of work experience were not calculated in the teachers’ salaries.
The missing left outside Pristina – Belgrade dialogue (Zeri)
The paper writes that the Kosovo authorities are failing to include in the agenda of the Pristina –Belgrade dialogue the issue of missing persons, regardless of the promises that they made to families of missing persons. Kosovo government officials said that Prime Minister Isa Mustafa is urging that the matter be the subject of discussion in Brussels but that this does not depend only on the Kosovo side. The Minister without portfolio, Edita Tahiri, said the next meeting in Brussels will focus on telecoms, energy and the removal of barricades over the Iber/Ibar River.
Kosovo journalists mark World Press Freedom Day (dailies)
With the motto “Speak, don’t be afraid”, the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK), on Sunday marked World Press Freedom Day. The head of the AJK, Zekirja Shabani, urged the Kosovo institutions to put in place legal mechanisms to create a suitable environment for the development of freedom of expression, as an important instrument for the development of democracy. Zeri writes that last year there were 24 recorded cases when journalists were threatened and physically assaulted during the performance of their duties. Since the beginning of this year, the AJK has recorded six cases of assaults against journalists.
ISIS targeting minors in Kosovo (Zeri)
The paper on its front page writes about two teenagers from Vitia municipality who planned to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The girls were stopped by the Kosovo Police while trying to illegally cross the border with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). The families of these teenagers claim to know nothing of their daughters’ plans to join ISIS. Meanwhile, the paper reports that some imams in Kosovo claim that the Kosovo institutions and the Islamic Community of Kosovo are responsible for the growth of religious extremism in Kosovo.
Police arrest two Vetevendosje activists (Kosovapress)
Kosovo Police arrested two members of Vetevendosje last night as they were entering Kosovo from Albania. Kosovapress writes that the activists, Frasher Krasniqi and Etleva Malushaj, are believed to have been detained for their role in earlier Vetevendosje protests.
