One month detention for opposition MP, Kadaj-Bujupi (dailies)
The Basic Court in Pristina yesterday ruled one month detention for the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) MP, Donika Kadaj-Bujupi. The court’s ruling said the decision is based on reasonable doubt that Kadaj-Bujupi committed the criminal offense of “Use of weapon or the dangerous means” according to article 375 of the Criminal Code. Protests broke out in downtown Pristina following the court’s decision. According to media reports, protesters threw stones at the government building and burnt several official government vehicles. After several hours of clashes between protesters and police, Vetevendosje Movement officials announced the end of the protest, saying that similar protests may continue in the coming days. Opposition parties also said that the court’s decision was influenced by politics.
Prime Minister Mustafa calls on opposition to renounce violence (dailies)
Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa reacted after the violent protests yesterday in Pristina by stating that problems should be solved through debate and dialogue in the Kosovo Assembly and not in the streets or with violent methods. “We have to implement the rule of law,” Mustafa said, calling on the opposition parties to renounce violence. “Those who choose violence as a political instrument need to give up, because only votes and elections are democratic processes,” he added said.
Government condemns violent acts during Wednesday’s protest (dailies)
The Kosovo Government issued a press release on Wednesday condemning the violent acts during the protest organized by opposition parties. “The Government of Kosovo is extremely irritated with the violence against innocent citizens, members of the Kosovo Police, the material damages and the terrible scenes seen in Pristina yesterday. The hypocrisy of the opposition is that they supposedly are protesting to protect the Republic, but in the name of defending it they are trying to destroy it and are attacking its institutions. The Government of Kosovo expresses strong support for the Kosovo Police, which with devotion is defending the Republic of Kosovo from criminal acts orchestrated for exclusively political benefits,” read the press release.
Thaci: Power cannot be taken with violence (Zeri)
Kosovo’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, said yesterday that there will be no tolerance for the opposition’s violent actions. According to Thaci, it is the right of everyone to protest, but one should have reason to protest. “These damages to public property and Kosovo institutions are an attack on the state of Kosovo. The opposition’s violent acts are fascist actions. Power cannot be taken with violence, but with the vote of the citizens,” Thaci said.
Jahjaga: Violence unacceptable, order must be established (KosovaPress)
The President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga condemned Wednesday’s violence in Pristina streets which is affecting the rule of law, security and lives of the people. She appealed to the government and security forces to re-establish normality. “Violence against police and vandalism against public and private property cannot be justified in any case. Calmness and order should be re-established and the capital should return to normality. Citizens of Kosovo cannot become hostage of an unusual situation that is ruling in our country. Dialogue and institutions are the only way to overcome the created situation. We should act together on preventing any further escalation of the situation,” Jahjaga wrote on her Facebook page.
EU office condemns violence in the streets of Pristina (Bota Sot)
The EU Office in Kosovo has called on the opposition to show respect for Kosovo institutions and refrain from violent acts that threaten the security of the people and the normal functioning of schools and public services. The statement follows yesterday’s clashes between opposition supporters and the police.
Viets: Agreements are not the cause of this situation (Epoka e Re)
The German Ambassador to Kosovo, Angelika Viets, stated that the current situation in Kosovo is not related to the two agreements that the opposition parties are objecting to. She added that if this was the reason, the President’s initiative and the decision of the Constitutional Court would have been used as an opportunity to engage in a dialogue and discuss these issues. According to her, these developments could be an attempt to lead Kosovo toward the new elections, or postpone the functionalization of the Special Court. She noted that it is time to open the way for debate. “It is up to Kosovo politicians to find a solution for overcoming the situation created,” Viets said.
Austrian foreign minister calls for dialogue in Kosovo (Kosova Sot)
The Foreign Minister of Austria, Sebastian Kurtz, said in a Twitter post that he was worried about the outbreak of violence in the streets of Pristina and the institutional blockade. He said obstruction of parliamentary work is unacceptable. “Political disputes to be solved politically not through teargas or stones,” he tweeted.
Mustafa in Brussels, seeks support for visa liberalization (Zeri)
Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, met yesterday in Brussels with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini. Mustafa informed Mogherini that Pristina has met the criteria for visa liberalization and called on the EU to prepare a positive report on the matter. Mustafa and Mogherini also discussed the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, and both expressed the need to continue this dialogue. Mustafa in Brussels also met with European Parliament Vice-President and Rapporteur for Kosovo, Ulrike Lunacek, from whom he requested support for the European integration process and specifically for visa liberalization for the people of Kosovo.
Mogherini hails Kosovo leaders’ readiness to implement agreements (Koha)
The Office of European Union High Representative, Federica Mogherini, issued a press release after her meeting with Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and Deputy Prime Minister Hashim Thaci on Wednesday. Mogherini expressed her support for the engagement of Kosovo’s leaders to restore normal work in the Kosovo Assembly. “The latest acts of violence and obstruction in the work of the Assembly are unacceptable and the High Representative has highlighted the need for respecting democratic processes,” the press release said. “As far as the EU-brokered dialogue is concerned, the High Representative welcomed the Prime Minister’s commitment toward dialogue and implementing the agreements reached so far.”
Çitaku to represent Kosovo at the UN Security Council (Epoka/Kosovapress)
Based on a source within Kosovo’s Foreign Ministry, the paper reports that Kosovo’s Ambassador at the United States of America, Vlora Çitaku, will be representing Kosovo at the UN Security Council today (Thursday). The same source told this daily that Kosovo has lowered the level of representation at the UN Security Council and that from now on only ambassadors will be representing Kosovo, adding that this is sign that Kosovo does not want to give importance to the Security Council reports. UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon condemned in his latest report the violence of opposition parties at the Assembly of Kosovo. According to Kosovapress, Foreign Minister Thaci and countries that recognize Kosovo are lobbying for decreasing the frequency of the Security Council sessions on Kosovo while the lowering of the representation level by Kosovo is seen as an effort to weaken Kosovo’s ties with UNMIK and Resolution 1244. It is also aimed at showing that the situation in Kosovo has normalized and there is no need for reporting on quarterly basis.
Kosovo ranks 62 in global terrorism index (Kosova Sot)
According to the Institute of Economics and Peace’s Global Terrorism Index, which measures the level and impact of terror activity across the world, 32,658 persons died last year from terrorist acts and two terrorist groups, the Islamic State (IS) and Boko Haram are responsible for over half of casualties. The report ranked Kosovo 62nd alongside Germany, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Ireland and Czech Republic.
Hammond: Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, crucial for regional stability (Koha)
The British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, John Hammond, said during a visit to Tirana, Albania, on Wednesday, that dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels is crucial for regional stability. “This is a difficult region with many historical tensions and which requires management. I am very grateful to Prime Minister Edi Rama for his efforts to strengthen cooperation with Serbia and to support the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. We believe this dialogue to be crucial for stability and prosperity in the future,” Hammond said.
