EU does not comment Court’s decision, requests implementation of the Association

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV&TV21)

A day after the Constitutional Court granted interim measure to the Agreement on Association of Serb majority municipalities, Government of Kosovo stated that it remains committed to the Brussels dialogue on normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, and to the implementation of agreements reached in this process.

A press release issued by the Government states that the Constitutional Court’s interim measure is a normal procedure, and it suspends the implementation of the Agreement on General Principles / Main Elements of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, pending the Constitutional Court’s decision

In the meantime, the European Commission, not willing to comment the legal actions, says that Prishtinë/Pristina and Belgrade are responsible for implementation of the part of the Brussels Agreement on the Association.

Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson of the EU Foreign Policy Chief, Federica Mogherini said they do not comment the on-going judicial processes, but they expect that the 25 August Agreement will be implemented.

Irrespective to this measure, the opposition parties have said that they do not think of giving up actions for blocking the Assembly’s work.

However, political analysts called on the opposition members that together with the Constitutional Court’s measure, they also suspend their actions and return to work at the Assembly. They also called on Prime Minister to renegotiate agreements, as, according to them, this is possible.

Lunacek: Agreement on Association has some problematic issues

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Vice President of the European Parliament, Ulrike Lunacek, said that the Agreement on Association of Serb majority municipalities has some problematic issues. She said that the Assembly of Kosovo might vote for this Agreement.

Lunacek said that if the Constitutional Court decides that it is anti-constitutional than it should be renegotiated.

She considered the interim measure of the Constitutional Court as completely normal for a state, and said that it would be good for Kosovo to also refer this Agreement to the Venice Commission.

According to her, visa liberalisation regime for Kosovo might be removed next year, but this is not certain.

Haradinaj: Unblocking of the Assembly, only if the Agreements are annulled

(KTV)

“Unblocking of the Assembly will happen only if the Agreements in their current version are annulled,” the AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj told KTV Rubicon show, adding that the opposition is not against the international obligations.

Haradinaj said it is normal for EU countries to consider throwing of teargas as a heavy method, as in their countries throwing of teargas is not necessary, having in mind that they have politicians that defend their country.

According to Haradinaj, the Prime Minister has the same power as the Constitutional Court does to stop these agreements. According to him, Mustafa might annul them only if he has good political will to do so.

The AAK leader, who took over stopping of the ratification of the Agreement on Demarcation with Montenegro, once again called on the Government to mend this Agreement prior to bringing it to the Assembly.

Haradinaj said there were tendencies to present the opposition as crazy, but, according to him, opposition’s persistence is also bringing changes.

Srpska List request from EU to put pressure on Kosovo about the Association

(RTK2 & TV21)

Srpska List requests from the European Union to put pressure on Prishtinë/Pristina about the Association.

Kosovo minister for communities and return, Dalibor Jevtic, said on Wednesday that suspension of the Agreement on the Association of Serb majority municipalities by the Constitutional Court of Kosovo is an effort of Albanians to postpone its implementation. He is also convinced that this will impact on the return of Serbs.

Jevtic reminded that the international community is the guarantor for implementation of the Brussels Agreement.

Stojanovic: Court’s decision on Association is a healing for UNESCO

(RTK2 & Klan Kosova)

Few days ago, unidentified persons stole several cows from Vilic family of Llabjan village of Novobrdo/Novobërdë municipality. Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister, Branimir Stojanovic visited this family, and promised them that the case will be solved.

Stojanovic received complaints about security by Serbs in the neighbouring village of Parallovë. This made Mustafa’s deputy (Stojanovic) to think of an unpleasant alternative.

“If institutions do not do their jobs, then we should go back in time when we took care of our security by weapons and when everyone took care of his own fate. However, this is not a time that we want, and Police has promised increase of security in this region”, Stojanovic said.

Stojanovic said also that Serbs did not welcome Constitutional Court’s decision on interim suspension of the Agreement on Association.

“It is a technocratic decision, which would maybe heal the pain after what happened in UNESCO. I understand that the suspension is an interim thing. It is important for the Constitutional Court to issue the verdict on Association at the earliest time possible. I believe that the verdict will be positive,” Stojanovic underlined.

Asked what if the verdict will be negative, Stojanovic said that if the Association will not be established, then there will be no Brussels Agreement and no dialogue at all.

“We will go several steps backwards, and I know what I will do in that case. I will surely not cooperate any longer”, Stojanovic said

Before starting his visit to Anamorava region, Deputy PM Stojanovic visited the Mayor of Novobrdo/Novobërdë, Svetislav Ivanovic.

Speaker Veseli pledged Assembly’s support for RTK financing

(RTK2, RTK1)

Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli received in a meeting the RTK Board Chairperson Ismet Bexheti, who was escorted by the RTK Director General Mentor Shala and the Director of RTK Channel in Serbian, Zarko Joksimovic.

RTK’s financial situation for 2016 and possibilities of identifying a sustainable financial solution were topics of discussion in this meeting.

RTK Board Chairperson Ismet Bexheti expressed the concern of the Board, management and the entire RTK staff about non-inclusion of RTK in next year’s budget by Isa Mustafa’s Government. He called on Mr Veseli, as the Speaker of the Assembly, which is the founder of RTK, to find ways for RTK to have adequate financing for carrying out its activity as stipulated by Law.

On the other hand, Speaker Veseli said that he will not allow for the public broadcaster to remain without financing, since it is a legal obligation of the Assembly, as the founder, to protect institutional autonomy and guarantee adequate financing for accomplishment of the mission at the service of RTK’s audience.

RTK Director General Mentor Shala said that it worrying the fact how Isa Mustafa’s Government decides about non-inclusion of RTK in the budget at a time when RTK is planning to digitalize its broadcasting network, which is a very costly process.

RTK2 Director Zarko Joksimovic underlined the excellent cooperation between RTK2 staff with their colleagues from RTK1 and RTK3, and how he was categorically against the idea of some Serb politicians to displace this TV channel in Gracanica/Graçanicë.

Speaker Veseli said that RTK2 is a good example how communities in Kosovo can live and contribute together in building the country.

Prizren Mayor appoints his nephew as the acting municipal education director

(KTV)

Appointment of Simir Krasniqi as the acting education director is being considered as the next affair on the line of the Municipality of Prizren.

Opposition in this municipality claims that Krasniqi is the nephew of Mayor in office, Ramadan Muja, while it has started collecting signatures for an extraordinary session, where the dismissal of current education director Nexhat Çoçaj will initially be requested.

The Municipality of Prizren in a way denied the family relationship between Mayor Ramadan Muja and the acting education director Simir Krasniqi.

KLA veterans protested against statements of Pejë/Pec Mayor

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Allegations of Pejë/Pec Mayor, Gazmed Muhaxheri, against Ramush Haradinaj, and making him responsible for different murders during the time of the conflict have provoked a rough reaction of KLA veterans.

Hundreds of veterans gathered in Pejë/Pec, contradicting the allegations made by the Pejë/Pec Mayor. Veterans, who protested against Muhaxheri’s allegations, also addressed accusations against him, calling him a collaborator of Serbian regime.

Except the citizens, representatives of the KLA War Veterans Organization also took part in this protest. Protesters called for Gazmend Muhaxheri’s resignation.

Pejë/Pec Mayor did not consider it necessary to make a statement about the protest. In his cabinet said that everyone enjoys the right to protest and that Mayor Muhaxheri has no interest in making a statement about this issue.

Four candidates for Constitutional Court members selected

(TV21, Klan Kosova)

Commission for revision of candidates for Kosovo Constitutional Court members has selected four candidates for the two positions of judges in this justice body.

Candidates that received most points during the oral interview were Gresa Cakaj-Nimani, Rexhep Gashi, Selvete Gërxhaliu and Hashim Çollaku. These candidates will be forwarded to the Assembly of Kosovo for voting.