Britain and Norway call on Kosovo to establish Special Court
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
“Kosovo must keep the promise and establish the Special Court.” This was the clear message that United Kingdom’s Minister of State and British Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Baroness Joyce Anelay, conveyed to Kosovo institutional leaders.
Baroness Anelay herself kept the promise. She said that she will convey only a single message in each meeting with Kosovo leaders, which is establishment of Special Court.
“My message is very clear. Kosovo has sent a clear message that it wants to play an active role in the international arena. The international community expects Kosovo to keep its promise and establish the Special Court and prove to the world that it wants to join international organizations as a member with full rights,” Anelay said.
On the other hand, Kosovo President, Atifete Jahjaga, said after the meeting that any delay in the establishment of the Special Court would have a negative effect on Kosovo’s development processes.
Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa also told Baroness Anelay that they are discussing with MPs to avoid voting from failure next time. Ms Anelay also met with the Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli.
The Norwegian Ambassador to Kosovo and Albania, Jan Braathu, has also called for establishment of Special Court. According to him, establishment of the Court is an inevitable reality. He underlined that the Court is not against the Kosovo Liberation Army, nor is it an ethnic court.
Braathu considers that non-voting of the Court is disappointing, as it has severely damaged Kosovo’s credibility.
Appeals Court President put under 48-hour detention
(TV21&Klan Kosova)
Kosovo Special Prosecution issued a 48-hour detention against Appeals Court President Sali Mekaj. This order has been issued based on grounded suspicion that Mekaj conducted criminal acts: Misuse of official position or authority and exercised influence, TV21 reported.
The Special Prosecution did not officially inform the Office of the Disciplinary Counsel about this case. Director of this Office, Zef Prendrecaj, said that based on information that the Office got from the media they have started to collect information from competent institutions to proceed further with this case.
Investigations of this Office are also very important to Kosovo Judicial Council to decide about the measures that they will take against Sali Mekaj, Klan Kosova reported.
At the Kosovo Judicial Council do not know why Mekaj is being suspected for.
Civil society is also recommending to KJC to take actions regarding this case, as it can have negative impact on judiciary system.
Together with Mekaj, the Police also arrested a woman with initials V.G. under the suspicion that she gave bribe.
Prizren Court misuses budget
(KTV)
While the judiciary continues to prove that it is not capable to fight negative phenomena and reduce cases in courts, finance managers in courts have proved to be very capable in spending public money. An example how citizens’ money was misused was given on Tuesday at the meeting of Assembly committee on oversight of public finances. The same parts of official vehicles that Court in Prizren bought cost way more than those bought by the courts in Prishtinë/Pristina or Pejë/Pec.
While reporting to the Assembly committee on oversight of public finances, the Kosovo Judicial Council leaders admitted these violations.
Members of the Assembly Committee called for a change in approach toward expenses, as such a practice is happening for several years now.
For the second time in a row, leaders of Kosovo Police and those of the Ministry of Integrations did not show up at this Committee, irrespective to their confirmation. They were given a deadline until next week to show up; otherwise the issue will be sent for discussion in one of the Assembly sessions.
KDI believes that non-election of Auditor General creates ground for corruption
(RTK2&TV21)
Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) considers that non-implementation of President’s proposal for election of the Auditor General is creating a suitable ground for corruption.
Manager of the KDI Transparency and Anticorruption Programme, Artan Canhasi, said that it is extremely needed that this unserious approach of the politics to change, as many institutions still continue to remain without leadership.
GAP: Over 91.000 people employed in institutions and public administration
(TV21)
A research carried out by the Institute for Advanced Studies GAP brings out that 91.000 people are employed in in state institutions and public administration of Kosovo, who only create enormous budgetary expenses to Kosovo.
During the presentation of this research it was said that Government must review the functionality and the need of existence of over 70 central bodies of the state administration, while the Assembly should also initiate the same procedures for revision of functionality and justifiability of existence of 34 independent agencies that compose the public administration.
