Kosovo and Montenegro signed the Agreement on border demarcation

(Most monitored, KTV)

Kosovo and Montenegro concluded the agreement on border demarcation. The agreement was signed within the framework of the Western Balkans Summit in Vienna. Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and the minister of interior affairs, Skender Hyseni, signed the agreement on behalf of Kosovo while on behalf of Montenegro the agreement was signed by the minister of foreign affairs, Igor Luksic, and the minister of interior affairs, Rasko Konjevic.

Following the Agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro, Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister, and Hashim Thaçi said that Kosovo signed the border demarcation agreement, based on the borderline of 1974, based on the document of President Ahtisaari and Constitution of Kosovo.

Moreover, Thaçi said that now the border demarcation has been concluded with Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro and expressed his hope to conclude this issue, which still remains open, with Serbia, too.

On the other hand, all TV stations reported that hundreds of Pejë/Pec citizens protested on Wednesday against the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. The organizer of the protest, Ali Lajçi, said that Government is betraying the nation by signing the demarcation agreement. The protestors marched to the border with Montenegro and called for the dismissals of the Chairperson of Kosovo Commission for the Border Demarcation, Murat Meha. Moreover, they said that they will never agree to give to Montenegro over 12 thousands of hectares of Albanian land.  The one-hour protest ended peacefully, while the organizers announced that the next protest will be held after ten days, stressing that forthcoming protest might be of a different form.

Meucci and Kuçi agreed on the importance of prosecution of all war crimes

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

EULEX Head of Mission, Gabriele Meucci, and the Kosovo Minister of Justice, Hajredin Kuçi, met on Wednesday to discuss on-going issues on the judiciary in Kosovo.

“The Head of Mission and Minister of Justice agreed on the importance of prosecution of all war crimes, regardless of the political or ethnic background of the perpetrators”, read a press release issued by EULEX.

In addition, they discussed the impending end of EULEX’s current mandate in June 2016. 

U.S: Agreements respect Kosovo’s sovereignty and territorial integrity

(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)

U.S. Embassy in Prishtinë/Pristina congratulated the Government of Kosovo for concluding four agreements in Brussels.

“The agreements, which respect Kosovo’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, will improve the lives of all people in Kosovo and are a victory for all sides.  The United States strongly supports the dialogue process, understands that it requires difficult decisions from all sides, and recognizes the courage required to look toward the future” read a press release issued by the Embassy.

U.S Embassy emphasizes that these steps will strengthen regional stability, contribute to normalization of relations with Kosovo’s neighbors, and help Kosovo continue along its path to closer integration in Euro-Atlantic institutions.

KDI: Agreement on the Association creates a third level of government

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Agreement of the Serb Municipality Association does not create an organisation but a third level government. Civil society representatives stated that based on the articles of the Agreement, this Association goes beyond freedom of association according to the Constitutional order of Kosovo.

Full oversight on education, on health improvement, on local economic development, coordination of urban/rural planning and the permission to delegate power from the central level, are some of the reasons arguing that this Association is a third level of government between the municipality and the central government.

Jetmir Bakija of Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) said this Association does not constitute an NGO under Kosovo law for the following five reasons: The Association is allowed to initiate proceedings in the Constitutional Court; its workers will be civil servants under the Civil Service Law; the budget will be administered by the Law on Public Procurement; it will be audited by the General Auditor and the Association proposes the police commander for the northern region.

Meanwhile, Albert Krasniqi of KDI said that his entity represents a challenge for the state because it creates a mono-ethnic entity and violates the principles of multi-ethnicity which is guaranteed by the Constitution. According to Krasniqi, the Association deepens the ethnic divisions in Kosovo and also it represents an entity that is paramount to an ethnicity (Serbs) against other ethnicities living in Kosovo.

Moreover Krasniqi said that the Association prevents the integration of Serbs into Kosovo institutions and reverses the investment for the integration of the Serbs in Kosovo institutions.

On the other hand, that the professor and political/economic expert, Lumir Abdixhiku , commented on his Facebook account the content of the Agreement, considering it “in the simplest version, a model of broad economy in Kosovo.”

Vetëvendosje does not rule out even violence against the Association

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Brussels Agreement on the Association of Serb majority municipalities has incited harsh reactions.  Opposition parties called upon the people to stand up against the implementation of this Agreement. Vetëvendosje did not rule out even violence for opposing the Agreement on Association.

Vetëvendojsje representatives say that they will not choose means to oppose the Association. They called upon the people to rise up and firmly oppose the division of Kosovo signed, as they called it, ‘by the traitors’ Isa Mustafa and Hashim Thaçi.

Vetëvendosje chairperson, Visar Ymeri, said that this Association might become more powerful than the state and therefore, according to him, Prime Minister Isa Mustafa cannot any longer be the PM of Kosovo.

In the same way, AAK called upon the people to find a ways to bring Mustafa and Thaçi to accountability.

Nisma për Kosovën reacted also against the Association. “With this Agreement, Kosovo delegation ultimately signed the division of the country on ethnic bases”, reads a press release issued by Nisma.

PDK MP Nait Hasani said that he is against this Association, and expressed his readiness to join protests, event violent protests to prevent its establishment.

Tahiri: Barricade to be removed on 15 October

(KTV)

Kosovo Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, during an interview with KTV show “Rubikon” said that the barricade at the main bridge of Ibër will be removed on 15 October and the same day will start the construction work for revitalization of the bridge. The construction work on revitalization of the bridge will last until mid-2016, KTV reports.

Tahiri acknowledged that deadlines for removal of the so called “Park of Peace” were not respected, but she blamed the EU for the delays.

Kosovo and Austria signed cooperation agreement

(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)

Western Balkans Summit in Vienna has been opened on Wednesday.  At the opening of this Summit, Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hashim Thaçi and the Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sebastian Kurz signed a cooperation agreement in the sectors of science, research, education and arts.

Kosovo Deputy PM Thaç said that it is crucial that EU to sign quickly the Stabilisation Association Agreement with Kosovo and to recommend the liberalisation of visas for Kosovars.

Thaçi requested further support from Austria, especially regarding Kosovo’s request for membership in UNESCO and Interpol.

Austrian FM Kurz pledged that his country will continue to be a powerful advocate of Kosovo in its EU path.

Kosovo delegation, headed by Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and Deputy PM Hashim Thaçi, are expected to sign several cooperation agreements during this Summit.

The Summit will be hosted by Austrian Federal Chancellor Werner Faymannwith the participation of Prime Ministers Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as representatives of Germany, France, Italy, Croatia and Slovenia to the event, TV21 reported.