OSCE organizes meeting of technical working group on durable solutions for displaced persons from Kosovo

(Klan Kosova, RTK2)

Organized by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the meeting of technical working group on displaced persons was held in Prishtinë/Pristina as the second step following last year’s regional conference held in Skopje.

Aside from representatives of UNHCR, European Union and the OSCE in Kosovo, government representatives from Belgrade, Podgorica, Prishtinë/Pristina and Skopje also took part in this meeting.

Meeting of the regional initiative for durable solutions in the process of return of displaced persons from Kosovo was held with the aim to concretize the deadlines and define fields under which the returnee issues will be solved.

Minister for Communities and Return Dalibor Jevtic underlined that it is very important to establish the group which will exclusively deal with the issue of documents and usurped property in Kosovo.

“I believe that the regional initiative also helps in other areas, and despite all the processes that take place at the political and technical level, this initiative and the process will certainly be helpful in other areas, too. Today we will talk about issues related to the usurpation of property, documents and all the things that in certain way affect the return process of displaced persons,” Jevtic underlined.

Јevtic emphasised that safety is an important segment in the return process, and that better cooperation of more institutions is necessary.

“There are many challenges and we face them every day. We need the help and support of institutions in charge, above all the help of those in charge of security. We also need the help and support of the international organizations,” Jevtic said.

Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger, considers that the issue of return, for which the greater cooperation of local and central government in Kosovo is needed, should be put at the forefront.

“The measures taken by various institutions in parts of this process will be very important. The municipal and local level is also very important in this process, hence the order of interaction between the central and local level of government in this process is also important,” Ambassador Schlumberger stated.

The role of regional representatives in the conference is not insignificant, as they can contribute to solution of the position of displaced persons with their commitment.

“We want to help those people that have remained in Macedonia, to better their situation, so they can return to Kosovo and have access to the same rights they had prior to their displacement,” representative of the technical group from Macedonia said.

Deputy Director of the Serbian Office for Kosovo, Dusan Kozarev, emphasised the importance of these kinds of meetings in contributing to the process of return of displaced persons.

The next high-level regional conference meeting has been planned for the first week of October, while two more meetings of the regional technical working group are expected to be held until then.

Queen Elizabeth II received Kosovo President Jahjaga

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

The President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, was received with the highest honours on Wednesday by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, in the Royal Court at Buckingham Palace in London.

President Jahjaga considered the meeting with Queen Elizabeth II as a historic meeting. On this occasion, Jahjaga spoke about the particular contribution that the United Kingdom has given to Kosovo liberation and achievement of peace.

“The United Kingdom was the driving force of these ideals and values which has given the opportunity to the young generations in Kosovo to work for a different future, and there were thousands of British soldiers who provided security to Kosovo, enabling the building of the institutions and a joint life,” Jahjaga stressed.

“The United Kingdom continues to be engaged in Kosovo and in the Balkan region in the establishment of the rule of law and order and in the achievement of peace between the countries of the region, on their path towards European integration,” President Jahjaga added.

President Jahjaga stressed that Kosovo and the United Kingdom have continued to do joint work in various fields. She said that the two countries have been engaged in the prevention of sexual violence during the war, the provision of medical and social support for the victims of violence and the attempt to integrate them into society. She said that a group of British experts, together with the authorities of Kosovo, have managed to provide to the victims of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo.

Kosovars are not more on target of terrorism than others

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Kosovars are not at the target of terrorism more than other countries, and this is a fact. This is the conclusion of the KFOR Commander, Francesco Paolo Figliuolo.

“I think that this is a threat all over the world. I believe that it is not a specific threat, but rather a global one, and Kosovo is not more on target than other countries”, COMKFOR Figliuolo said.

He spoke about the last week’s case when several persons suspected of terrorism were arrested at the Badovc Lake and commended Kosovo Police work.

Figliuolo made these comments in Deçan/Decane while inaugurating a bridge. Representatives of Visoki Decani Monastery, in whose vicinity the bridge was built, expressed their indifference and did not become part of the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Mustafa calls upon Ministers to be in Thursday’s session of the Assembly

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Following many remarks that ministers got for their non-presence at the Assembly of Kosovo during sessions, Prime Minister Isa Mustafa called upon all the ministers to be present in the Assembly session on Thursday, when the MPs will review the second reading of the draft-law on amendment of the Law on Budget 2015.

Addressing Government’ meeting, Mustafa said that each minister should be present in the Assembly session and respond to the queries of the MPs regarding the budget.

In the meantime, Serb ministers complained to PM Mustafa about security of Serb community in Kosovo. The local government minister, Ljubomir Maric, said that there are 60 attacks against this community since January this year, while the most serious case took place in the village of Dresnik, Klinë/Klina municipality.

Prime Minister Mustafa promised to cooperate with everyone to prevent attacks against any community.

RTK Independent Union elected its new representatives

(RTK1)

In its extraordinary convention held on Wednesday, the Radio and Television of Kosovo (RTK) Independent Union elected its new representatives.

With votes of the Union members, RTK1 and RTK2 TV station, radio and website staff elected Gëzim Bimbashi as the Head of the Union, while Vjosa Beqiri-Bala was elected as the Assembly Chairperson.

In the meantime, Daut Qylangjiu, Slavisa Jovanovic and Alketa Gashi were elected as Union deputy heads.

Police identifies a suspect for attack on the police officer in Gorazhdevc

(Klan Kosova)

Kosovo Police identified a suspect for wounding the police officer in Gorazhdevc village of Pejë/Pec.

Law enforcement authorities published the photo of Agim Madani, from Tropojë of Albania, who is believed to have attacked the police patrol. They called on citizens to report him.

Police arrests 12 suspects in alleged trafficking and prostitution case

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Kosovo Police arrested 12 persons alleged of trafficking in human beings in a search operation in Prizren region. During the operation coded “Matrix-M” one night club and two hotels were searched.

According to police, the suspects have managed to commit the criminal offence enabling of prostitution for illegal material benefit. The police identified a female, Albanian citizen, as a trafficking victim and it provided shelter to her.