Greece supports Kosovo in its membership to international organizations
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Greece will continue to support Kosovo in its membership to regional and international organizations. This promise was given in Prishtinë/Pristina by the Greek foreign minister Nikolaos Kotzias.
He met with Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and foreign minister Hashim Thaçi and discussed the good cooperation that Kosovo and Greece share.
“Kosovo has already consolidated well enough as a state and it has built very good relations with its neighboring countries in the region. We soon expect to get involved in contractual relations with the EU through signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement and by receiving positive recommendation for visa liberalization. At the global level, Kosovo continues to be active part of the Global Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism,” Deputy Prime Minister Thaçi said.
Greek FM Kotzias said that opening of Kosovo Office in Athens might happen very soon, in order for Kosovo and Greece to also increase their economic cooperation.
Calls for establishment of Special Court continue
(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)
The international factor continues to insist on establishment of Special Court at the Assembly in order that this issue is not left to the UN Security Council. The United Kingdom Ambassador Ruairí O’Connell calls on Kosovo institutions to speed up their steps; otherwise, he does not rule out the opportunity that the international community will set the deadline for its establishment.
Following a meeting with Greek foreign minister in Prishtinë/Pristina on Tuesday, the Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister and foreign minister Hashim Thaçi also said that Special Court must be established as Kosovo cannot risk failing in this process.
Thaçi said that Kosovo will vote the Special Court, but, according to him, its voting will happen only after the votes of all MPs will be secured in order for this process not to fail.
TV21 also reported that the issue of voting for Special Court and SAA might postpone recess of Kosovo Assembly during August, a time when the Assembly concludes its spring session. However, this is still is not clear due to dynamics of development that are mainly related to Special Court’s establishment and package of SAA laws.
In the meantime, the Italian Ambassador to Kosovo Andreas Ferrarese said that international community might advise and give proposals to institutions regarding establishment of Special Court, but not also to influence on authorities to decide about this matter.
Other TV broadcasters also reported that the Vice President of the European Parliament and Rapporteur for Kosovo, Ulrike Lunacek, has called on ruling parties in Kosovo to resubmit to the Assembly the constitutional amendments that open way to establishment of Special Court. Lunacek says that Government of Kosovo must try the second chance to pass these constitutional amendments.
At a time when the international pressure for establishment of Special Court is increasing, opposition parties continue insisting against its establishment. Chairperson of Nisma për Kosovën, Fatmir Limaj, said that the Assembly has closed this issue and respect of this decision is an obligation for everyone.
Kosovo Police officer wounded
(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21&KTV)
A Kosovo Police officer got wounded by a person who is suspected to have been burglarizing a shop in Gorazhdevc village of Pejë/Pec. TV21 reported that the wounded officer is Albanian.
The incident happened at the early morning hours of Tuesday when a police patrol passing through Gorazhdevc noticed a person burglarizing a shop. The Police intervened, but the burglar shot with firearms on the police and wounded a police officer whose life is not in danger.
Ministry for communities and returns reacted immediately after this case, saying that Gorazhdevc inhabitants are intimidated.
Draft law on conflict of interest discussed
(Klan Kosova)
Prevention of conflict of interest is turning out to be a difficult issue in Kosovo. The new draft law dedicated to this phenomenon is not helping to solve the issue during performance of public function. This document has taken out political advisors from its domain; therefore civil society is saying that this draft law should be refused.
The EU officials are of the same opinion. Behlul Zeka, legal advisor in the EU Office, says that this draft law fails to address the issues raised earlier and due to this a full revision of this draft law should be done.
Refusal of this draft law, for which no representative of the Government was present in the debate to support it, is demanded by the Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency, too.
The issue with the political advisors results with the refusal of this draft law by MPs of the ruling party.
In this regards, the biggest criticizers are Vetëvendosje representatives.
All these remarks about the draft law on prevention of conflict of interest were made in a public discussion organized by the Assembly Legislation Committee and the Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS).
Many citizens sign petition for visa liberalization process
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Many citizens responded to the civil society call to sign the petition through which they aim to put pressure on the European Union and Government of Kosovo to speed up visa liberalization process.
The petition is part of “Time to end isolation for Kosovo” campaign and it will last two weeks throughout the territory of Kosovo.
Petition organizers have called on citizens to respond to their call for signing the petition, which will later be submitted to the European Commission and Government of Kosovo.
