Kosovo fails to become a member of UNESCO

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Kosovo failed to become a member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for three votes. 92 states voted in favour of Kosovo’s membership and 50 were against, while 29 other states abstained.

Irrespective to this, Kosovo foreign minister Hashim Thaçi said majority of the world was in favour of Kosovo. He promised that they will not stop until Kosovo will become a member of this Organization.

The next voting for Kosovo can be done in two years, namely in 2017.

Reactions after the failure of Kosovo to become a member of UNESCO were immediate.  Kosovo leaders qualified Kosovo defeat in this battle as depressing and disappointing.

Opposition officials blame Kosovo foreign ministry, which, according to them, failed to convince countries that have recognized Kosovo to vote in its favour.

Through a press statement issued, Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga said that non-membership of Kosovo in UNESCO is a missed chance for the advancement of vision, values and ambitions towards which this UN agency aims and towards promotion of these values in Kosovo.

“Today it was made clear that our state enjoys the unwavering support of the free and democratic world. I am encouraged by the support of 92 countries for Kosovo and for our vision. Their vote in support of Kosovo is a reiteration of the promise which we have given to ourselves and to our friends.  Kosovo has made undeniable progress. As we have demonstrated to date, our citizens will not back down from their persistence to be equal with the rest of the states in protection of the common values,” Jahjaga said.

On the other hand, Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli said that result in UNESCO should not be discouraging.

Talking from Lithuania, Prime Minister Isa Mustafa expressed his lament for non-admission of Kosovo in UNESCO. His deputy, Hashim Thaçi, said they gave their maximum to become a member in this Organization.

The United States Ambassador in Prishtinë/Pristina, Greg Delawie, said that vote in UNESCO is disappointing.

Meanwhile, Vice President of the European Parliament, Ulrike Lunacek, said that Kosovo’s refusal in UNESCO is an insult for its ambitions.

Kosovo opposition parties consider this failure of Kosovo as a failure of Kosovo diplomacy and bad news for the country.

On the other hand, after the refusal of Kosovo’s admission in UNESCO, Visoki Decani Monastery priest, Sava Janjic, said that it is not time for emotions, but for establishment of dialogue.

Covering the same story Klan Kosova reported that Serbs of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north were very happy with UNESCO’s decision on Kosovo. They marched with their vehicles carrying Serbian flag and symbols in their hands.

In the meantime, Srpska List chairperson, Slavko Simic, said that the result of voting for Kosovo’s admission in UNESCO has demonstrated the dominance of reason, and that no one should consider this as a victory or defeat. He thanked the policy that is being led by Serbian PM Aleksandar Vucic, as he said, for the efforts to protect cultural and religious heritage in Kosovo.

Lunacek: Kosovo to request change in dialogue

(Klan Kosova)

Kosovo lost a battle. But, its friends have not gone away. Vice President of the European Parliament, Ulrike Lunacek, told University of Prishtinë/Pristina students she is sad that Kosovo did not become a member of UNESCO.

“This is a day that makes me sad and angry. The voting for Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO should have gone differently. I am very angry with some of my colleagues and some countries that have already recognized Kosovo, but did not vote in favour of its membership,” Lunacek said.

Nevertheless, she encouraged Kosovars not to give up. But, she recommended a change in approach toward the dialogue with Serbia. Lunacek even said how she would do this if she was in the position of Prime Minister Isa Mustafa.

“If I were the Prime Minister of Austria, after these things that happened, I would go to Belgrade and tell them this is not the way it goes. Then, I would also go to Brussels where I would request from the chief of talks, Federica Mogherini, to change the approach of talks and put pressure on Serbia to be more constructive, and not to become an obstacle to Kosovo’s moving forward, as these actions will not bring benefit to any party,” she advised.

Addressing the students, Lunacek also spoke about visa liberalisation. She considers that European Union is making an injustice to Kosovo with this process, as, according to her, Kosovo is an independent state.

Court of Appeal leaves two PDK MPs without mandate

(KTV)

The ruling announced by the Court of Appeal regarding the MPs Rrustem Mustafa and Latif Gashi has automatically left these two PDK MPs without their mandates.  This is stipulated with the Criminal Procedure Code, the Law on Rights and Responsibilities of MPs and the Assembly’s work regulation.

The Criminal Procedure Code considers the second degree verdict as definitive; while the Law on Rights and Responsibilities of MPs stipulates that a mandate is lost with a final court ruling for imprisonment is issued.

Latif Gashi has been sentenced to six years of imprisonment while Rrustem Mustafa to four years of imprisonment for war crimes in the court case known as “Llapi Group”, which started in 2002.

Kohavision contacted with the cabinet of Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli, who said that they still have not received any request from the court.

At the Basic Court, which is authorized to execute orders, did not want to talk with justification that EULEX is responsible for this matter.

Vetëvendosje municipal councillor Ylli Hoxha released

(Klan Kosova & KTV)

Vetëvendosje’s municipal councillor in Prishtinë/Pristina Municipal Assembly, Ylli Hoxha, has been released. He was arrested on 12 October after the protest of opposition parties for release of Vetëvendosje MP Albin Kurti.

On 15 October 2015, the Basic Court of Prishtinë/Pristina ordered the 30-detention measure to Premton Ibërdemaj, Ylli Hoxha, Uran Hasani, Arbër Kaqoraj, and Armend Loshaj from the date of their arrest.

Candidates for Constitutional Court members took written test

(RTK1)

Candidates for Constitutional Court members took a written test organized by the Commission for interviewing the candidates. Fourteen candidates took the written test on Monday, while on Wednesday they will be interviewed.

It was reported that Hava Ismajli, one of the candidates for Constitutional Court members, has expressed her dissatisfaction regarding the manners of interviewing that are being done to candidates. She accused Constitutional Court’s President, Arta Ramaj Hajrizi of falsification.