Assembly passes constitutional amendments for Special Court
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
With 82 votes in favour, sufficient for constitutional amendments, the Assembly of Kosovo passed the Amendment 24 of the Constitution of Kosovo, thus opening way to the establishment of the Special Court which will try alleged KLA crimes.
Out of 88 MPs present in the session, five voted against and one MP abstained.
Addressing to the MPs after this voting, Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli said that constitutional amendments enter in force immediately after their approval at the Assembly of Kosovo.
KTV also reported that PDK MPs Xhevahire Izmaku, Blerta Deliu-Kodra and Fadil Beka were the ones that voted differently from last time, namely they voted in favour of Special Court establishment.
The debate regarding the constitutional amendments that enable establishment of Special Court was interminable. The opposition parties tried to prevent voting and the possibility to vote for these amendments.
Preliminarily the opposition put to voting a motion on recognition of Serbia’s genocide in Kosovo, but the Assembly did not pass it. Out of 115 MPs present in the Assembly room, 55 MPs voted against, 42 in favour, and five abstained from voting this motion.
Government and Assembly adopt Special Court draft laws
(RTK1&KTV)
In the evening hours of Monday, the Government of Kosovo adopted the draft law on Specialized Chambers and the Office of Specialized Prosecutor as well as the draft law on legal protection and financial support of the potentially accused persons in the trial processes of the Specialized Chambers.
Both these draft laws were submitted with quick procedure at the Assembly of Kosovo.
Branimir Stojanovic of Srpska List voted against the draft bill on financial support of potentially accused persons.
In the session that continued after 21:00hrs of Monday, with 61 votes in favour, 10 against and one abstention, the Assembly of Kosovo adopted these two draft laws in principle. Opposition MPs did not take part in this session.
The Kosovo Assembly Speaker announced another session on this issue at 23:15hrs where these two draft laws will undergo second reading. At this session, the Assembly also adopted these draft laws in their second reading.
Jahjaga welcomes promulgation of constitutional amendments
(RTK1& KTV, 23:00hrs)
Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga welcomes the decision of the Assembly of Kosovo to promulgate the constitutional amendments on establishment of Special Court, as a fulfilment of the international obligations of the country
President Jahjaga considers that establishment of Special Court, based upon legislative framework, demonstrates the dedication of Kosovo to the justice for all principle.
President Jahjaga points out that Special Court will address the allegations raised by the Council of Europe report and will not pass judgment on our collective endeavours for liberation and freedom.
Police confirms threats against Srpska List MPs
(Klan Kosova)
Kosovo Police (KP) confirmed that two Srpska List MPs have been threatened. Asked by Klan Kosova if Srpska List politicians have been threatened, KP spokesperson Baki Kelani said that respective police units have been engaged, after receiving the information that an unidentified individual has threatened two male victims over phone. Kelani said that the Prosecutor has been informed about the case.
Srpska List chairperson, Aleksandar Jablanovic, told to the media that several Srpska List MPs were threatened over the phone not to back the establishment of the Special Court.
Veterans toss bottles at Thaçi and call him a thief
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
While the Assembly of Kosovo was discussing if the Special Court should be voted or not, in front of the Government building, a number of former KLA members requested recognition of veteran’s statute.
Leader of the protesting KLA veterans, Xhevdet Qeriqi, and his friends were not there to protest against the Special Court, but said they strongly oppose it.
Qeriqi underlined that delay in non-publication of lists with war veterans’ names and recognition of their statute is intentionally being done.
The protesters got irritated when they saw Deputy Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and Agim Çeku, head of the commission for verification of KLA veterans, walk from the Government to Assembly building. They called them as thieves and tossed bottles at them.
