Kostic: Army is an expensive toy
(RTK2, TV21)
Serbs prefer that Special Court is established by the United Nations Security Council, Gracanica/Graçanicë Mayor Vladeta Kostic stated in an interview with TV21.
On the other hand, he considers that establishment of Kosovo Army is an expensive toy.
“Army is an expensive toy, if I may say so. Budget and economic situation in Kosovo are not enviable. We think that funds that could be used for such a project should be used for economic development. We know that NATO also plays an important role on the path toward European integration. Such a decision is not easy at all for as Srpska List; therefore an initial consultation within the government coalition is needed,” Kostic emphasised.
Regarding establishment of Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF),Kostic said that neither LDK nor PDK have talked to Srpska List about this matter.
Kostic said Brussels Agreement stipulates that Association of Serb Municipalities will have competencies in the field of education, health, economic development and spatial planning. He underlined that if these fields will not be accepted than silent displacement of Serbs from Kosovo will go on, and, according to him, this will not be good for Kosovar society or the international community.
On the other hand, RTK2 quoted Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo Branimir Stojanovic saying that supposed processing of the Law on KAF and the Law on Association of Serb Municipalities as a package has ill-intentions.
Vetëvendosje against a Serb entity within KAF
(All monitored broadcasters, TV21)
Establishment of a Serb entity within the Kosovo Armed Forces would seal Kosovo’s division, Vetëvendosje Movement officials stated.
According to them, establishment of Kosovo Army belongs to all citizens irrespective to their ethnicity, and Kosovo Government should not allow Belgrade to have its influence on KAF establishment.
Transition of Kosovo Security Force (KSF) to Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF) is being considered as one of the biggest challenges, while Srpska List, which has nine seats at the Assembly of Kosovo, is one of the main obstacles for establishment of KAF. Chairperson of this List, Aleksandar Jablanovic, earlier said publically that their stance regarding KAF establishment depends on authorities in Belgrade.
According to Vetëvendosje MP Rexhep Selimi, Belgrade’s involvement in this issue is infringing Kosovo’s sovereignty. He reminded that KAF draft amendments were brought to earlier legislation, but these amendments were blocked by Serb community MPs. Selimi underlined that there is risk that Srpska List will condition, or eventually impede KAF establishment.
Selimi said that Government must not allow having an Army composed according to communities in Kosovo, as it happened with the police.
Two EULEX vehicles attacked with firearms in the north
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Two EULEX vehicles have been attacked with firearms in Soçanicë of Leposavic/Leposaviq in northern part of Kosovo.
No one has been injured by this attack. The news was made public to Koha.net by Besa Domi, spokesperson of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo.
“Around 14:00hrs two EULEX vehicles have been attacked by unidentified persons so far. Investigations regarding the case are going on,” Domi said.
EULEX admits that it worked with non-decreed judges
(KTV)
EULEX has admitted that its judges have worked without being decreed after June 2014.
KTV reported last week that this Mission, after revision of its mandate, did not comply with procedures for appointment of judges by the Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) and their subsequent decreeing by the Kosovo President.
The European Mission initially denied it, while now it says that it did this for human reasons. Nonetheless, the decision was not based on law. Furthermore, the European Mission Spokesperson was not happy with Kohavision reporting, saying that this was unduly qualified as a EULEX affair.
Kosovo Judicial Council was once again asked by KTV about the affair of non-decreed judges, but it did not reply.
Former KLA fighter killed in Kumanovo buried in Deçan/Decane
(KTV)
Last farewell was given to former KLA fighter Beg Rizaj, who was killed in 9th of May conflict in Kosovo. Rizaj was buried with great honours at the cemetery of the martyrs in Gllogjan. Earlier during Sunday, a gathering for him was held in Deçan/Decane square.
At noon, in the Palace of Culture ‘Jusuf Gërvalla’ in Deçan/Decane, homages were paid to honour him. Aside from numerous citizens, some of the AAK MPs also paid homage, but not also the AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj.
Deçan/Decane Mayor Rasim Selmanaj said that their heroism is not a legend, but a reality. According to him, Albanian parties in Macedonia have not worked enough to push forward the work of Beg Rizaj and his fellow fighters.
