EU pledges EUR 600 million for regional infrastructure projects

(All monitored broadcasters, RTK1&Klan Kosova)

On Thursday, the Western Balkans Summit Vienna 2015 concluded its session with the participation of the leaders of Western Balkan and the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel.

At the end of the Summit, the Prime Ministers of the region issued a joint statement   pledging to further cooperate in exchange of students, to take concrete steps towards lasting reconciliation based on the Franco-German model, to establish a regional office for regional youth cooperation, to encourage the youth to fight racism and xenophobia and to establish an educational platform in the sectors of IT and tourism, RTK1 reported.

Moreover, all TV stations reported that it has been agreed during the Summit that the EU will allocate EUR 600 million for regional infrastructure projects.

At a press conference held after the Summit, the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, hailed the last agreement between Serbia and Kosovo reached with EU mediation in Brussels, as saying that the recent agreement gave hope for the region.

On the other hand, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Frederica Mogherini, said that Prime Ministers Isa Mustafa and Aleksandar Vucic have demonstrated leadership and courage for their people and the region by reaching the agreement.

While, Serbian PM Vucic, that was representing the Western Balkan countries in the press conference, said that the regional countries came forward with joint projects.

“ It was interesting to see, how Serbians and Albanians work together in order to convince the Europeans to assist in finalising crucial infrastructural projects, such as the Nis-Prishtinë/Pristina- Durrës highway and the railway between Belgrade-Sarajevo”, said PM Vucic.

Meanwhile, Government of Kosovo informed that Kosovo PM Isa Mustafa addressing to the Summit participants, emphasized that Kosovo is doing a lot for the peace in the region and considered as injustice the fact that Kosovars are not able yet to travel without visas.

Klan Kosova reported that Western Balkan countries also took on an obligation in Vienna to avoid blocking each other’s EU paths and to try and invest greater efforts in the progress in internal reforms.

Government clarifies Kosovo’s advantages out of Brussels deals

(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)

Government of Kosovo clarified, through a press release, that the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities will not have any civil servants but regular employees.

“Association cannot offer services to citizens but only to the member municipalities. Kosovo laws allow the establishment of more than one Association therefore the establishment of this Association is in line with Kosovo laws and the European Charter of Local Self-Government”, reads the press release.

Besides this agreement, Government disclosed details for the three other agreements reached in Brussels, namely the agreement on energy, telephony code and the removal of the barricade in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica Bridge.

Moreover, Government of Kosovo confirmed that on 15 October 2015, the so called ‘Peace Park’ will be removed with EU’s assistance.

As it regards the telecomm agreement, Government of Kosovo emphasized that Kosovo will have its international telephony code “+383”.

According to the Government, another achievement reached in Brussels will be the removal of obstacles in the energy sector by Serbia and also the recognition of energy state boundaries.

Government, through this press release, expressed its stance that by the agreed agreements Kosovo enforced its state sovereignty and its territorial integrity and also advanced its international ranking.

Ymeri: Mustafa is cunning and mean, as much as he is ridiculous and naive

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Even two days following the signature of the Agreement for the Association of Serb Majority municipalities, Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, is trying to convince the citizens of Kosovo that the Association was a good but not an ideal solution. He considers the refusals of the opposition parties or even those of citizens as ‘frustrations’, KTV reports.

PM Mustafa in his Facebook account said it is true that through the Association the Serb municipalities would have full access to education, healthcare, local economic development, as well as local and urban development. However, Mustafa reminded the fact that Kosovo citizens have experienced themselves in the past how hard it was to be denied proper schooling and healthcare service.

Reacting to this statement, Vetëvendosje chairperson, Visar Ymeri, in his personal Facebook account, considers that Kosovo Prime Minister “is cunning and mean, as much as he is ridiculous and naïve.”

According to Ymeri, Mustafa equals Republic of Kosovo with Milosevic’s Serbia, by drawing parallels between genocidal and fascistic repression of Milosevic against Albanians with the manner how Serbs were treated in Kosovo until the establishment of “Association”.

Petrit Zogaj of ‘FOL’ movement reacted also against Mustafa’s opinion. He considers as unfair the comparison that Mustafa made, because, as Zogaj said, Kosovo did not chase or declared war to Serbs but it protects them by the Constitution.

Meanwhile, KTV reported that in another Facebook post, Kosovo PM Mustafa insulted badly the former chairperson of Vetëvendosje, Albin Kurti.  Mustafa in his Facebook post did not mention Kurti’s name but he clearly refers to him asking “Does anybody knows what this donkey has to do with my sons??? He lost his way.”

Kurti, in his personal Facebook account, earlier during the day wrote about the Association. Amongst other Kurti said that ‘Serbia’s Zajednica in Kosovo is enabled by the Zajednica of Thaçi’s brother together with Isa’s sons”.

Gracanica/Graçanicë Serbs skeptical about Association

(KTV)

The Association of Serb Majority Municipalities will be spread in two thousand and 257 square kilometer, KTV reports.

In total there are ten municipalities with Serb majority that is expected to come together in the Association.  Besides the four northern municipalities, namely: Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north, Leposavic/Leposaviq, Zvecan/Zveçan, Zubin Potok, the following Serb majority municipalities are expected to join to the Association: Gracanica/Graçanicë, Strpce/Shtërpce, Novobrdo/Novobërd, Partes/Partesh, Ranilug/Ranillug and Klokot/Kllokot.

The mayor of Gracanica/Graçanicë, Vladeta Kostic, already hailed the establishment of the Association and considered the Brussels agreement as very positive for the Serbs.  Kostic said that from now on they will enjoy the institutional support from the Association of Serb majority Municipalities.

Meanwhile, Gracanica/Graçanicë residents have different views about the Association. They consider it as very positive for the politicians but they are skeptical that it will improve their life, decrease the poverty or create new jobs.

International Day of the Disappeared to be marked with activities

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Associations gathering family members of the missing persons and Government’s Committee on Missing People started activities marking the International Day of Disappeared on 30 August.

In a press conference held on Thursday, family members of the missing people during the war in Kosovo, told media that there is no political willingness of locals and internationals to shed the light for their loved ones.

The representative of families of missing persons, Bajram Qerkinaj said that the family members are exhausted from waiting and also complained about the lack of institutional support.

Four correctional officers suspended

(RTK1)

In the course of combating negative phenomena in Kosovo Correctional Service (KCS), Director General of the Correctional Service, Emrush Thaci, has decided to suspend the four correctional officers at the Detention Centre in Prizren, suspected of abuse of official position in the case of escape of the prisoner M.K. and the finding of smuggled goods in this institution, RTK1 reported.

Potential retrial for Prizren mayor

(RTK1)

The Court of Appeals is expected to order retrial for the Prizren Mayor Ramadan Muja who was found guilty by the first instance court on misuse of official duty or authority, sources told RTK1.

According to RTK1, the Court of Appeals, as the second instance court, on 31 August is expected to publish the ruling, which according to a source will order Ramadan Mujaj’s retrial.

The source said that the Court of Appeals will rejected the guilty verdict of the Basic Court of Prizren. Arber Jashari spokesperson to the Court of Appeals confirmed to RTK1 that on 31 August the decision will be handed over to the parties without giving further details.