Kosovo to sign SAA next week

(Klan Kosova)

A major and positive development for Kosovo is expected to happen at the beginning of next week. Klan Kosova learns that on 12 October afternoon, or in the morning hours of 13 October, in Brussels, there is likely that signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Kosovo and the European Union to happen.

This accord that would need to be signed by heads of the Government in Prishtinë/Pristina and those of the EU headquarters is made earlier than it was initially planned due to the recent situation in Kosovo.

Nonetheless, Klan Kosova also learns that there are two opinions within the European Commission as far as this development is concerned.

The first opinion is that with this gift that is made to Kosovo, Brussels wants to send clear signals that it has full trust on current Government and that it is on the right track; at least as far as the integration process is concerned.

The second opinion is that things must be well-weighed in these days that have remained prior to the SAA signing, as there are doubts if the Assembly of Kosovo will be able to ratify the agreement in question after this act, knowing that it is an international agreement and that two-thirds of votes of MPs are needed for it to pass.

According to Klan Kosova sources, with the existing situation of blockage at the Assembly, it is not certain that this will happen.

Nevertheless, Prime Minister Isa Mustafa will visit Brussels these days. Aside from Mustafa, his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic will also go there. They will meet together, but without the escort of their deputies, Hashim Thaçi and Ivica Dacic.

These two have not been invited because of Dacic. He is no longer wanted in Brussels because of his statements made last week where he said that Kosovo is like ISIS, which were not supported even by his superior – Vucic.

As Klan Kosova was told, Brussels expects that in the meeting between the two Prime Ministers to reach an accord on further steps that are related to achievement of the final agreement on normalization of relations between the two countries.

This kind of internationally important accord is believed to be achieved at the end of first quarter, or by the middle of second quarter next year.

As a reward for this, Kosovo, which has already signed the SAA, will also get visa liberalisation by May the latest, while Serbia will be removed any obstacle in its path toward being granted the status of candidate country for membership in EU.

Serb ministers request another Special Court

(RTK2&Klan Kosova)

Serb stakeholders in the Government of Kosovo are requesting a special judicial structure within Kosovo’s justice system. The one who raised this issue twice only during Wednesday was the Kosovo Minister for Communities and Returns, Dalibor Jevtic.

He prioritized this issue during the inter-ministerial group meeting, which was held behind closed doors.

“We are looking at possibilities for establishing a judiciary unit or panel that would exclusively deal with solution of usurped property issues. We will address this proposal to the most relevant instances that will clarify to us the legal options and financial costs that could derive from this body”, minister Jevtic said.

He said that this request is being addressed to solve usurped property issues for all Kosovo citizens, and not only those of the Serb community. Moreover, he said that he received support from the Minister of Justice Hajredin Kuçi about this initiative.

Speaking about this issue at the Government meeting held one hour before, Minister Kuçi said that everything should be solved within the existing courts.

Covering the meeting of the governmental inter-ministerial commission for return, RTK2 reported that minister Jevtic presented the general annual report for return, including the report of the working groups for the return in Kroi i Vitakut and Mushtisht areas, same as the report and recommendations of the regional conference held last month in Montenegro.

“The displaced persons must decide if they want to integrate in the areas they currently live in, or if they want to return to Kosovo. Hence, if they fulfil all the preconditions for return, we as institutions should assist them. Otherwise, the regional initiative conveys the most significant message, that is, the governments of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo jointly worked to solve an issue that to a great extent is a problem for the entire region”, he said.

Surroi: Kosovo is legalizing the autonomy of Serbs

(KTV)

Signatures from the agreements with Serbia cannot be withdrawn, but Kosovo leadership should team up and find the way not to allow autonomy of Serb municipalities, the publicist and writer Veton Surroi told KTV Rubikon show.

Surroi blames Kosovo negotiators for the situation that Kosovo is in, considering them as unprofessional and unprincipled persons.

Surroi said that Kosovo is legalizing the autonomy of Serbs and this should not be denied, but this fact should rather be faced with. He denied that the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities has derived from the Ahtisaari Package.

Although, according to Surroi, the ethnic division existed since the very first day of Kosovo liberation, legitimation of that division within the constitutional and legal system should not have happened.

Surroi refuted media speculations on his closeness to Vetëvendojse Movement.

Zbogar: Violence must not replace arguments

(RTK1)

The European Union Special Representative in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, has also spoken about the blockade of the Assembly and actions carried out against the Prime Minister Isa Mustafa.

During an interview with RTK, Zbogar said that opposition should return to the Assembly and it should have it clear that the decisions are taken by the majority.

“We are worried because we see that violence has been used at the Assembly, as pelting with eggs is violence. This is a very bad message for the citizens in general. The message is that if I do not have the power of arguments than I will use the argument of power,” Zbogar said.

Zbogar does not consider extraordinary elections in Kosovo an option.

On the other hand, the British Ambassador to Kosovo Ruairi O’Connell said that Kosovars are the ones that decide about the situation they want to have their country in. Asked about withdrawal of signatures from agreements, O’Connell reiterated that there is nothing harmful for Kosovo in the Agreement on Association of Serb Majority Municipalities.

Opposition firm against holding of Assembly sessions

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Nobody knows still the way that the Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli, will manage to continue with Assembly sessions, when the opposition parties are continuing to reiterate their stance that they will not allow regular sessions until signatures from the agreements with Serbia will be withdrawn. They reconfirmed their blockade in Wednesday, too.

Ylli Hoxha of Vetëvendosje and Bilall Sherifi of Nisma për Kosovën say that Speaker Veseli might call sessions as many times as he pleases, but these sessions will not be held, because opposition will not allow this.

Prime Minister Isa Mustafa has reiterated several times so far that there will be no withdrawal of signatures, and that this is an international obligation that Kosovo has taken over two years ago.

Kosovo Police arrests 15 Serbs in Brezovica

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

On Wednesday Kosovo Police arrested 15 Serbs in Brezovica under the grounded suspicion for commitment of criminal offences related to misuse of economic authorizations and destruction of forests.

This was confirmed to KTV by the Kosovo Police Spokesperson Baki Kelani.

Marko Djuric, the Head of Serbian Office for Kosovo, immediately reacted against their arrest.

According to Serbia media, Djuric said that this is a violation of Brussels Agreement and a direct provocation against all the Serbs. He added that he will convene a special meeting of the Serbian Government for this matter.

Demaku considers verdict unacceptable

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Prishtinë/Pristina Basic Court sentenced Nexhat Demaku, the mayor of Gllogovc/Glogovac municipality, to one year and half imprisonment. Together with Demaku, the other accused person, Mehdi Kurumeli, was also sentenced to one year imprisonment, while charges against Shefqet Morina were dropped.

Demaku said he is surprised with the verdict, considering it unacceptable.

On the other hand, the family that accused him expects that the verdict will be executed.

EULEX does not tell why Ramadan Muja’s retrial was annulled

(KTV)

Ramadan Muja, the mayor of Prizren municipality, together with five other officials had to appear in front of the court on Wednesday, now on retrial for misuse of official duty. However, EULEX has annulled resumption of retrial without giving any reason.

KohaVision asked EULEX about the reason for postponement, but spokesperson of this Mission said that Court in Prizren should be asked about this, although a EULEX judge presides the trial panel. But at the Prizren Basic Court say they are not aware why resumption of the mayor’s retrial has been annulled.

Court’s spokesperson, Afërdita Kicaj, told KTV that the Court has been completely disregarded by EULEX. She said that they have not been provided any information about postponement of the sessions, let alone the reason for this.

Nonetheless, according to Ramadan Muja’s lawyer, he is expected to return to the court next week.