Kosovo officials continue lobbying for UNESCO membership
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
On the verge of the voting at UNESCO General Conference for Kosovo’s admission in this Organisation, Kosovo Government officials said that they are continuing with lobbying activities.
Deputy Minister of foreign affairs, Petrit Selimi, said that Kosovo faces a difficult challenge on Monday.
“It is clear that most of the world wants Kosovo in UNESCO, but Kosovo faces with a high threshold, that is two-thirds of all the votes, and we are focusing on making the biggest number of states to take the right decision and allow Kosovo to become the 196th member of UNESCO on the 70th anniversary of the Organisation,” Selimi said.
At a time when there only one day has been left for Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO; reactions and contradictions of the Serbian side have increased. The latest reaction came in from Aleksandar Vulin, Serbian minister of labour, employment, veteran and social policy, who said that Serbia will fight against any decision. According to him, the fight will continue even after the voting happens.
Opposition’s petition has not reached the Assembly
(All monitored broadcasters, Klan Kosova, KTV&TV21)
Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli said he is ready to receive the petition of the opposition with citizens’ signatures against the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities and Demarcation with Montenegro, if it will be submitted to the Assembly.
Asked about the behaviour of opposition MPs at the Assembly of Kosovo during the past sessions, Veseli said that MPs should be solely responsible for their behaviour, while he also announced holding of a solemn session during the next week.
On the other hand, KTV reported that on Speaker Veseli’s initiative glass-cases containing copies of artefacts that were stolen by Serbia in 1999 were placed on in the Assembly’s hall. Veseli said this was being done a day prior to voting for Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO.
KTV also reported that opposition parties refuted statements of Speaker Veseli, who said that last Saturday’s clash between security and the opposition at the Assembly happened because of opposition’s fault. Opposition members say that it was the order from Speaker’s cabinet that the opposition members and the petition must not be allowed to enter the Assembly, and that it why such a reaction of the opposition leaders was needed.
They clarified that they brought the petition to the Assembly only to present it to journalists, and not to also submit it.
Opposition announced that it will soon submit the petition signed by over 203.000 citizens to local institutions and embassies with most in influences in Kosovo, Klan Kosova reported
AAK accuses PDK-LDK governance
(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) accused PDK-LDK governance of making people lose their trust and hopes for a better life with their policies.
AAK considers that 2016 budget will increase poverty and unemployment rate.
Otherwise, the opposition parties have announced that they will not support or vote the budget without fulfilment of their request, which is annulment of agreements with Serbia and Montenegro.
Speaking on behalf of the three opposition parties, this position was presented by Haki Shatri of AAK.
Ombudsperson: Violence against women present
(Klan Kosova)
Ombudsperson Hilmi Jashari said that violence against women is present in Kosovo. In an interview with Zëri newspaper, Jashari said that violence against women is more present in villages, but it is not reported to authorities, while this form of violence is less present in towns. He said that women in towns do not hesitate to report violence against them.
Ombudsperson further said that this form of violence is a serious violation of human rights.
Jashari also said that he has started investigations regarding the most recent case in Suharekë/Suva Reka, to see if the legal proceedings period implemented in institutions was effective, and if there were any obstacles in these proceedings.
Ombudsperson Jasharai added that if there are obstacles in adequate proceedings or implementation of law, than the state is held responsible for the abuse that happened, and family members are entitled to compensation.
