Opposition submits its petition at President’s Office

(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21&KTV)

On Monday, the three opposition parties submitted to the President of Kosovo the petition with 205,000 signatures against the agreement with Serbia on establishment of the Association of Serb majority Municipalities and against the agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro.

Representatives of the opposition parties said that the President should take into consideration the request of citizens and reflect to the ruling parties for annulling these agreements.

Glauk Konjufca of Vetëvendosje said that with these 205,000 signatures, President Jahjaga has an additional argument to justify the disapproval of these agreements to government and to MPs that endorse those.

Pal Lekaj of AAK said that this petition has not been submitted to the Presidency to be latter processed to the Assembly but, as he said, President Jahjaga, as a representative of the unity of the people Kosovo, should take into consideration the will of 205,000 citizens that she represents.

On the other hand, Valdete Bajrami from Nisma për Kosovën said that the opposition welcomed the fact that the Assembly Presidency has not scheduled any plenary session before 28 November.

Opposition parties consider the recent alarms for terrorist threats as a tendency to intimidate citizens not to join the announced rally of opposition scheduled for 28 November.

The petition against agreements with Serbia and Montenegro had been initially submitted by the opposition parties to the Assembly of Kosovo on 30 October but latter, the opposition withdrew it from the Assembly without proceeding it at all.

President Jahjaga confirms receipt of opposition’s petition

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, confirmed the acceptance of the petition organised by the parties of the opposition about the Association and demarcation.

President Jahjaga emphasized that in compliance with her constitutional competencies and without prejudice, she has by now addressed the Constitutional Court to ask for interpretation of compliance of principles of Association with the Constitution of Kosovo.

President Jahjaga reiterated her call for the whole political spectrum to respond to her invitation for political dialogue in order to overcome the situation created in the country.

Mustafa: EU concerned about violent scenes from Kosovo Assembly

(Most monitored broadcasters, Klan Kosova)

On Monday, Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, during a meeting of the Government, informed his cabinet about the results of his visit to Brussels and the meetings he had with EU senior officials.

PM Mustafa said that the European Union expressed concerned with the situation in Kosovo. According to Mustafa, the visit in Brussels was related to visa liberalization process. He also said that they expect a positive report at the end of the year so that next year Kosovo’s citizens would to move freely without a visa.

Moreover, PM Mustafa has announced a press conference for Tuesday. Sources told Klan Kosova that PM Mustafa will, amongst other topics, speak also about the visit of the Serbian General Dinkovic to Prishtinë/Pristina.

Next Assembly session scheduled for Monday

(All monitored broadcasters, Klan Kosova)

The Assembly’s Presidency has scheduled the next plenary session for 30 November (Monday). This was made public by the Kosovo Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli, who said that this session will be held in the main Assembly room where 35 points of the agenda will be discussed.

Speaker Veseli harshly criticized the violent actions of opposition during last week and the decision of opposition parties to organise a manifestation on November 28. He called upon opposition parties to give up teargas and violent actions at the Assembly.

Speaker Veseli expressed his full support to the proposal for political agreement initiated by Kosovo MPs Vjosa Osmani and Ilir Deda.

On the other hand, opposition parties considered as a positive step the decision of the Assembly Presidency not to schedule any plenary session for this week.

Twelve new houses for Roma returnees built in Gjakovë/Djakovica

(RTK2&KTV)

Keys to the newly constructed houses have been handed to twelve families of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities that have returned from Montenegro to Gjakovë/Djakovica municipality. The project was funded by the European Union, and supported by the UNHCR, Kosovo Ministry of Communities and Returns and Gjakovë/Djakovica municipality.

During the inauguration ceremony, the mayor of Gjakovë/Djakovica municipality, Mimoza Kusari-Lila expressed the readiness of the municipality to assist the communities. She emphasized that the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to Gjakovë/Djakovica is a basic fundamental right.

The Head of Cooperation Section in the EU Office/EUSR, Christof Stock welcomed the returnees and underlined that the return is a basic human right. He expressed his hope that the returnees will be able to normally continue with their lives in their place of birth.

On the other hand, the UNHCR Kosovo’s Chief of Mission, Narasimha Rao said that an excellent work has been done for returning these families from Montenegro. He noted that there were several stakeholders that have assisted in this project. Rao also thanked the returned families for their cooperation.

The EU project for returning these communities to Kosovo has found durable solutions for 61 families of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians, in different areas of Kosovo.

KWN presented “No More Excuses” report on domestic violence

(TV21&Klan Kosova)

The murder of Zejnepe Bytyçi-Berisha by her husband in Suharekë/Suva Reka, touched Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN). They decided to name their newest report on domestic violence: “No More Excuses: An Analysis of Attitudes, Incidence, and Institutional Responses to Domestic Violence in Kosovo” as a message to the institutions that are responsible to protect these victims.

The executive director of KWN, Igballe Rugova said, during the launch of the report that they want to convey the message to all institutions that there are no excuses anymore.

These remarks were accepted by Kosovo Deputy Minister of Justice, Lirak Çelaj, who was in invited in the capacity of the national coordinator against domestic violence.

Çelaj said that there is no room for justification anymore. He announced that they are in process of drafting a strategy with zero tolerance to the cases of domestic violence.

According to the report, 68 per cent of women are affected by domestic violence while 36 per cent of men have experienced violence.

However, KWN officials said that some progress has been marked since their report of 2008.

According to KWN, Kosovo has passed a number of laws and policies in response to domestic violence cases while courts have prioritized the cases of domestic violence.

Prosecution files indictment against 15 for smuggling with migrants

(KTV)

Special Prosecution of Kosovo (SPRK) has filed indictment against 15 persons suspected for smuggling with migrants.

According to the indictment, the defendants have acted in complicity as members of the criminal group, with the sole aim to profit directly from the illegal entrance of Kosovo citizens to EU member states, without respecting the required legal conditions to enter to the EU countries.