US embassy condemns violence in Kosovo Assembly (dailies)
The Embassy of the United States of America in Kosovo condemned in a press statement the violence in the Kosovo Assembly yesterday. “Weapons have no place in parliaments. The appalling conduct of certain opposition MPs, which necessitated medical attention for other MPs, as well as international observers, including staff from the U.S. Embassy, makes a mockery of one of Kosovo’s most important democratic institutions. Today’s violence, together with that of the previous three weeks, has prevented the Assembly from fulfilling its mandate to improve the lives of Kosovo’s citizens. This is not democracy. This is obstruction of the democratic process. As we have in the past, the United States strongly urges the opposition to renounce the use of violence as a political tactic and to constructively engage in the important work of the Assembly to advance the interests of the Kosovo people.”
EU Office and embassies condemn violence in the Assembly (dailies)
The European Union Office and the embassies of the EU member states in Kosovo issued a joint statement condemning the violence used by some MPs yesterday in the Assembly. “The violent actions in the Assembly today are deplorable. While everyone is free to voice their opinion and defend their position, using violence is unacceptable. It does not solve any of Kosovo’s problems but rather increases them. We condemn the actions of the opposition in the Assembly today and we appeal to them to respect the basic principles of democracy, and allow for a free and open debate in the Assembly on all issues regarding Kosovo. Reckless behaviour like the one today has no place in a democracy and is impermissible. It has to be understood that in a democracy even the opposition must abide by the majority vote. We are committed to working with the Kosovo institutions and do not accept violence and calls for violence as a legitimate political tool,” said the statement.
EU condemns violence in the Kosovo Assembly (dailies)
The European Union condemned the violence used yesterday in the Kosovo Assembly and called for the return of normality in the work of the legislative. Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said that the EU condemns any action that prevents the functioning of the Assembly, violence and in particular the EU condemns any calls for violence. “We call on the opposition parties to respect the basic principles of democracy, and to allow a free and open debate on all issues affecting Kosovo Assembly, according to procedures,” Kocijancic said. RTK reports that also other EU officials repeated that there is no return to point zero, there is no withdrawal from the agreements reached in the Pristina – Belgrade dialogue, and what should be discussed now is how to move forward in the process of implementing these agreements.
Lunacek shocked by “violent behaviour” in Kosovo Assembly (Koha)
Ulrike Lunacek, the Vice President of the European Parliament, condemned on Thursday the incidents in the Kosovo Assembly. “I was shocked by the violent behaviour and I strongly condemn the attack which went beyond every limit of any parliamentarian debate. Kosovo’s progress in the country and toward the European Union has been damaged by the irresponsible violence used by politicians of the opposition party Vetevendosje. I also regret the fact that Kosovo’s image has been damaged by this incident. As a close friend of the new Republic, I call on the Vetevendosje leadership and MPs to resort to the peaceful path of negotiations and constructive policymaking as an opposition instead of violence actions,” Lunacek said.
British ambassador: Violence has no place in democracy (dailies)
The British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ruairi O’Connell, reacted to yesterday’s developments in the Kosovo Assembly. “I am appalled by the scenes at the Kosovo Assembly on Thursday. This was violence. It has no place in a democracy. I was disturbed by use of violence, especially within the Assembly. Kosovo faces many challenges. It is in our common interest, Britain and Kosovo, to address these challenges. So, I call on the opposition parties to refrain from violence, and to respect the institutions that they themselves made sacrifices to create,” O’Connell said.
German diplomat criticizes opposition (Zeri)
Ernst Reichel, a senior official at the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reacted on the latest developments in the Kosovo Assembly. “So, the opposition does not agree with the government something that usually happens. But in democracy, tools to change the policy should be those that convince voters in order to win the next elections,” Reichel said, noting that if the opposition attacks the Assembly with teargas, what kind of violence might be used in the future.
Thaci: Opposition is alone in its blindness (Kosovapress/Epoka)
Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, expressed deep disappointment over the yesterday’s events in the Assembly, considering that with these actions, “the opposition is not only violating the democracy, but has now begun to also violate the personal integrity, dignity and even the health of MPs.” “I am deeply disappointed with the violence in the Assembly of Kosovo. By attacking the MPs, obstructing the work of the Assembly, the opposition is acting directly against the state of Kosovo and its citizens. I only feel slightly relieved when I see that this unacceptable behaviour is being condemned by everyone in Kosovo, leaving the opposition alone in its blindness. I commend the members of my party as well as those from the ruling coalition and the Presidency of the Assembly, who are constantly are being cautious, careful, with dignity, and turned away from provocations and violence. There will be no expansion of the coalition, the next elections will be in 2018, there will be no withdrawal from the recent agreements and we will be even more determined to work for Kosovo’s integration in the EU and NATO and maintain a permanent friendship with the United States. No pressure, blackmail or violence by anyone, will prevent the consolidation of the state of Kosovo,” Thaci said. He said that the ruling coalition has the necessary numbers and support to push through all the processes.
Ymeri: Withdrawal from the agreements is essential (RTK)
The leader of the Vetevendosje Movement, Visar Ymeri, said yesterday that Vetevendosje’s activists are and will remain active in the defence of the Republic. “The threats of Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and his policemen and judges do not repel us,” Ymeri said. According to him, withdrawal from the recent agreements with Serbia is necessary, helpful and can be done. “Mustafa, Thaci, Veseli and no one else will be able to implement these agreements.”
OSCE: Incidents undermine democracy (Kosova Sot)
The head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger, condemned the violent acts in the Assembly of Kosovo yesterday saying they are unacceptable and detrimental for democracy. “The disturbing images of tear gas being used, Assembly members requiring medical assistance and other incidents undermine the perceptions of democratic progress in Kosovo. At the same time, the institutional blockade is harmful for progress and reforms,” said Ambassador Schlumberger who further called on all parties to use available mechanisms in Kosovo for a pluralistic debate.
AAK: President Jahjaga should not fuel the fire (Kosovapress)
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) has reacted to the statement of Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga in calling the actions of the opposition “ugly.” AAK said President Jahjaga’s statement are politically wrong and only serve to further fuel the fire. Instead, suggested the AAK, Jahjaga should address the reasons that led the opposition take such action.
Next Assembly session on 15 October (Kosovapress)
The Presidency of the Kosovo Assembly decided that the next plenary session should be held on 15 October. The Deputy Speaker, Xhavit Haliti, said that the Presidency needs time to analyse the situation in the Assembly. The opposition parties’ parliamentary groups chiefs did not attend the meeting of the Presidency yesterday afternoon. Haliti said that the leadership must see how the security functioned yesterday and how the opposition entered the Assembly with such ‘tools’. According to him, the Assembly should urgently buy two scanners in order to take measures and control whether anyone wants to enter with equipment that might hurt other MPs. The President of the Assembly, Kadri Veseli, the behaviour of the opposition parties puts into question the development of democracy. Veseli said that bringing teargas and scalpels to the Assembly might even bring victims.
Missing persons issue dragging on, Belgrade uncooperative (Kosovapress)
Chairman of the Kosovo government’s commission for missing persons Prenk Gjetaj accused the Serbian side of dragging out the process for determining the fate of missing persons during the Kosovo conflict. Gjetaj said Serbia remains the main address for seeking the missing persons and expressed belief that there are more undiscovered mass graves in its territory. Gjetaj made the comments at a meeting of the missing persons commission where he spoke about Kosovo’s participation at the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
