Kosovo chances to have its army within two years are diminishing

(KTV)

The chances of Kosovo to have its Army within the two years are diminishing. Kosovo lost its last chance to convince the Serbs to give their votes for the establishment of Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF), at the moment Kosovo did not condition the establishment of the Association with this request.

This fact is considered as a political and strategic failure of Isa Mustafa, who for the second time makes the establishment of KAF impossible, because in the previous legislation he did not allow the establishment of KAF in exchange to the reserved seats for Serb MPs, KTV reported.

Serbs requested to apply the Police model also in the army, namely the establishment of an ethnic battalion or to have the position of the Deputy commander guaranteed.

Military expert, Naim Maloku, says that that this request would determine the issue of ethnic division of Kosovo.

“Obviously, the request will be made now that the Association will have all the elements of a mini-country. Serbs will insist to have a Serb battalion, but it is up to the Government to have a firm stand and make no compromise because with this Kosovo would be divided into ethnic lines’, Maloku said.

Also, the expert on security related issues, Florian Qehaja, considers this request as dangerous, as saying that this is a classic tendency for ethnic division of Kosovo.

Meanwhile, former Kosovo Security Force (KSF) Commander, General Kadri Kastrati, says that it should pass at least 20 years until the position of the deputy commander is given to the Serbs. According to Kastrati, a military officer should serve at least twenty years in the Army to receive the grade of the General, which is required for that post.

On the other hand, Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, in his personal Facebook account, said that there is a chance that KSF undertakes the responsibilities of KAF without becoming an Army.

Mustafa, in his Facebook post wrote that “In case of the lack of understanding for the constitutional amendments, which enable the transformation of KSF to KAF, the Government will proceed with amendment of the Law on KSF which would enable KSF to undertake all responsibilities that were envisaged to KAF and we will also change the name of the KSF Ministry”.

Government neglected the Assembly during Brussels talks

(KTV)

The Agreement of 25 August, reached in Brussels between the Prime Ministers Isa Mustafa and Aleksandar Vucic, is expected to be functionalized through a Governmental decree and not through ratification at the Assembly. The chairperson of the Assembly legislation committee, Albulena Haxhiu expressed against this procedure.

Haxhiu said that the Assembly of Kosovo, as the highest legislative institution, should have assessed if this dialogue should have been continued and that the Government should have reached new agreements.

She considers the Agreement on the establishment of the Association as non-constitutional, adding that the Assembly is being ignored whereas according to her a new Republika Srpska is being established in Kosovo.

Meanwhile, political commentator, Petrit Zogaj, considers as unnecessary to submit the Agreement of 25 August for ratification in the Assembly, since the Agreement of April 19 has been ratified once with a waste majority of votes in the Assembly of Kosovo.

While, the statement of Prime Minister Isa Mustafa that he will inform the MPs in the first autumn plenary session about the agreements reached in Brussels, Zogaj says that any sort of briefing will not be enough. According to him, the Government of Kosovo was never willing to submit these agreements at Assembly before signing or to be debated.

According to the agreement reached last week between the prime ministers in Brussels, is anticipated that the Association receives ‘the green light’ from the Government following a decree and not from the Assembly. Subsequently the decree will be reviewed by the Constitutional Court.

Muja’s retrial avoids potential early elections in Prizren

(KTV)

The Court of Appeals has annulled the decision of the Basic Court of Prizren dated 13 March 2014, and ordered retrial for Prizren Mayor, Ramadan Muja, KTV learned from its sources close to the case.

The decision for retrial, has avoided extraordinary mayoral elections in Prizren. Muja did not resigned, as it was requested during protest against him, saying that he will make such a decision after the Court of Appeals issues its final verdict.

In the 26-pages ruling reads that the Court of Appeals “has granted the request of the defence lawyer Ruzhdi Berisha on behalf of Ramadan Muja and the request of other defendants. The case will be sent back to the Basic Court of Prizren for retrial,” the ruling reads.

According to the ruling, the retrial was ordered because of the essential violations of the Article 384 of the Criminal procedure Code. Officials of the Court of Appeals confirmed to KTV that they have already forwarded the ruling to the basic Court of Prizren. The Basic Court of Prizren is expected to hand over the decision to the parties today.

Ramadan Muja was sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment with execution being suspended and an alternative punishment of prohibition of exercising public administration or public service functions for 30 months. He was found guilty of misuse of official duty or authority.

Family of Gracanica/Graqanicë municipal councilor threatened

(RTK2)

A threatening message reading “This is the last warning, next time something will be blown up’, was placed on Monday morning on the doors of the house of Predrag Kapetanovic, a municipal councilor in Gracanica/Graqanicë.

Kapetanovic reported the case to the Kosovo Police, who carried out investigations at the scene and submitted the letter containing the threatening message for further forensic investigation in Prishtinë/Pristina.

Kapetanovic told to RTK2 that he does not know the reasons why he has been threatened.

Gracanica/Graqanicë mayor Vladet Kostic reacted against this and requested from the law enforcement bodies to shed light on this case as soon as possible.

According to Kostic, this is an attack against the Municipality as well. “These threats are made by those who cannot accept the reality or by those that do not appreciate the efforts made by the Municipality,” Kostic said. 

Security measures increased at the building of Kosovo Government

(All monitored broadcasters, RTK1)

Extension of the fence at the building of the Government of Kosovo is one out of 12 new security measures implemented for the protection of Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa.

The new security measures have been implemented by the recommendation of Kosovo Police, namely the Special Unit which measures the risk at state institutions.

The spokesperson of the Government, Arban Abrashi, confirmed to ‘Gazetafjala’ that several alarms have been mounted within the premises of PM building. According to Abrashi, several areas with potential risk from which the PM might be attacked, have been closed.

Moreover, Abrashi informed that they have also drafted an emergency evacuation plan for the personnel.