Special court could be put to vote this week (Zeri)
The paper reports on its front page that the constitutional amendments that enable the establishment of the special court could be put to vote this week. Unnamed sources within the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) parliamentary group told the paper that the PDK MPs have changed their position, and if the special court is submitted to the Assembly this week, the chances are it would receive the necessary votes to pass. However, Assembly Deputy Speaker Xhavit Haliti said that he has no information on whether the special court will be submitted to the Assembly this week.
Coordination for special court continues (Epoka e Re)
Besnik Berisha, legal adviser of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, said that the government is making required coordination in order to re-proceed the constitutional amendments that would open way to the establishment of the special court. Even though the executive does not have a precise date on when would the amendments reach the Assembly, Berisha said that support for establishment of the court is increasing. He added that remarks of the opposition parties that re-proceeding the amendments is in contradiction with the constitution of Kosovo, lack constitutional and legal grounds, and stressed that nothing forbids the re-proceeding of the amendments.
Osmani: Kosovo risks going back to the time of UNMIK (Kosova Sot)
Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MP Vjosa Osmani said that Kosovo risks going back to the time it was under UN administration if the special court is established by the UN Security Council. “As a result, all competencies in the field of justice and foreign policy would be with UNMIK”, said Osmani in an interview for RTV Dukagjini.
Dacic: Serbia will do outmost to prevent Kosovo joining UNESCO (Epoka e Re)
Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said that Serbia will do everything to keep Kosovo away from gaining membership of UNESCO. Dacic also said that Kosovo’s application to the organization is in violation to the Brussels agreement on normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.
Association/Community with civil servants (Zeri)
The paper reports that the working groups from Pristina and Belgrade, which are working intensively for the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities agreed that the employees of the Association/Community are to be given the status of civil servants. According to the paper, this has been Serbia’s request since the beginning. Marko Djuric, director of the Office for Kosovo in the Serbian government, told the paper that at the meeting of the Prime Ministers of Kosovo and Serbia is expected to happen by the end of this month. “The main topic of this meeting will be the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities, for which Belgrade will do its utmost to reach an agreement,” Djuric said.
KP finds Kalashnikov, masks and black clothes near Badovc Lake (Koha Ditore)
The Kosovo Police (KP) has found one Kalashnikov, ammunition and some items of black clothing near Badovc Lake on Sunday, only a few meters away from the place where five terrorist suspects were arrested last week, reports the paper. The KP denied the information published yesterday by media that explosive devices were also found in the area. The case prosecutor, Drita Hajdari, confirmed that the area was searched as part of the investigation.
Baroness Anelay to visit Kosovo today (Zeri)
The United Kingdom Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Baroness Joyce Anelay will visit Kosovo today. Baroness Anelay will meet with President Atifete Jahjaga, government officials and representatives of the civil society to discuss efforts that Kosovo is making in addressing the issues of sexual violence in conflict.
Collaku: We expect positive outcome on visa liberalization (Bota Sot)
The European Commission has sent to Pristina a fact-finding team of experts who will observe closely whether Pristina has met the necessary criteria for visa liberalization. Kosovo’s European Integration Minister, Bekim Collaku, is optimistic that the work that Kosovo has done to fulfill the criteria for visa liberalization will be evaluated correctly. He said he is confident that by the end of this year, Brussels will give the green light for visa liberalization for Kosovo.
