Kosovo Armed Forces, after special court (Zeri)
The paper reports that the constitutional amendments that enable the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into the Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF) would be sent to the Assembly only after the vote on the establishment of the special court. The transformation of the KSF into the KAF requires a two-thirds majority but it also need to have a two-thirds majority of the Serb MPs. The majority of Serb MPs at the Assembly of Kosovo are from the Serbian List, and members of this party say that they oppose this. Members of the Committee for the Supervision of the KSF said that until now, that they had not received the draft law on transformation of the KSF into the KAF, adding that this process could be a subject of political bargains between the government and the Serbian List.
Petritsch: Vucic understands that Kosovo is no longer part of Serbia (Koha)
The former European Union Special Envoy and chief negotiator for Kosovo, Wolfgang Petritsch, in an interview for KTV said that Serbia is Kosovo’s largest and most important partner for the economic and political future. “Kosovo and Serbia will be together in the EU, so the work towards improving relations between Belgrade and Pristina is core, this is the most important issue that cannot be resolved tomorrow,” Petritsch said. According to him, Serbia’s Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vucic understands that Kosovo is no longer part of Serbia in practical terms. Petritsch added that the Pristina – Belgrade dialogue should never end. “Even after formal agreements have been reached, you must continue with the dialogue. But, on the other hand, of course, it is necessary to have progress,” he said. In regards to the special court, Petritsch said that the Kosovo Assembly should vote in favor of the establishment of the special court. “The aim should be that Kosovo takes its own responsibilities,” said Petritsch.
87 candidates applied for judges in the north (RTKLive)
RTK reports that 87 candidates have applied for the posts of judges in northern Kosovo. The head of the Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC), Enver Peci, said that 48 judges would be hired. “There are candidates who have previously worked in the parallel courts. 48 of them will be integrated and we hope that this process will be completed by September,” Peci said. He hopes that the interview process would be completed soon and that in August, Kosovo’s President Atifete Jahjaga will decree the new judges. Peci also said that once the new judges start working, the judicial system would be unified and there will be no parallel system.
Police detain AAK official (dailies)
Kosovo Police detained yesterday in Mitrovica an official of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Muhamet Kelmendi, as a witness in relation to a possible terrorist attack. Kelmendi was released shortly after and said that his arrest was politically motivated and ordered by the Interior Minister, Skender Hyseni.
