Biden reconfirms the support of the US to Kosovo

(All monitored broadcasters, RTK1)

Kosovo President, Atifete Jahjaga is attending the Brdo-Brioni Summit in Zagreb in Croatia, upon an invitation by the President of the Republic of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor.

On Wednesday, within the framework of this summit, President Jahjaga also met on the Vice President of the United States of America, Joe Biden.

“President Jahjaga and Vice President Biden discussed the developments in Kosovo and in the region as well as the advances and aspirations in Euro-Atlantic and European integrations,” reads a press release issued by Jahjaga’s Office. “President Biden reconfirmed the support of the United States of America to advancement of Kosovo.” concludes the press release.

Stojanovic: If there is no Association, there is no Brussels’ Agreement

(RTK2)

The decision of the Constitutional Court on the Association of Serb majority municipalities must be positive, because if there is no Association than there is no Brussels agreement, said Kosovo deputy Prime Minister Branimis Stojanovic.

Just few days ago, Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa said that the future of the Association is on the hands of the Constitutional Court and if the Court considers that the Association is not in compliance with the Constitution, the agreement will be resent to Brussels for revision. 

On the other hand, Stojanovic said that these statements demonstrate that the Government does not want to make difficult decisions. 

“Establishment of the Association is being prolonged but we will not give up because that would mean to give up our lives,” Stojanovic said.

Kosovo minister for return and communities, Dalibor Jevtic considers that the agreement reached in Brussels should be implemented while pending the verdict of the court.

“I want to believe to PM Mustafa when he said that all Brussels agreements will be implemented. Expectations are that following the Constitutional Court verdict we finally start the establishment of the Association. We will see what the opinion of the Court will be or if they will ask for any amendment,” Jevtic said while urging a continuation of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

Veseli: Domestic violence should not be tolerated

(All monitored broadcasters, RTK1)

Domestic violence remains a major concern in Kosovo’s society. On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli and Women Caucus hosted a debate about the joint role of families and institutions in preventing this phenomenon.

Speaker Kadri Veseli said that any kind of violence exercised against women violates the core of the family.

Women Caucus requested from the President, Assembly Speaker and other relevant institutions a more serious approach to prevent domestic violence and a better treatment for the victims.

Speaking on behalf of Women Caucus, Blerta Deliu said that the case of Dijana Kastrati and Zejnepe Bytyçi-Berisha demonstrates the serious consequences for the victims of the domestic violence.

UNDP representative recommended to Kosovo society to work more with the children and raise them with the spirit of the gender equality.

On this occasion the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign was launched, too.

Within the activities of marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Speaker Veseli attended activities organized by Mitrovicë/Mitrovica municipality.

During his speech, Veseli said that domestic violence should not be tolerated in Kosovo. He emphasized that cases of domestic violence have marked an increase during the last four years while he promised the engagement of the Assembly to prevent this phenomenon.

Over 1,000 cases of domestic violence reported to Police

(RTK1)

Women that are victims of the domestic violence receive no support from Kosovo institutions.  Despite the fact that over 1,000 cases of domestic violence have been reported to the police, many other women face violence and do not report it because they do not trust to justice institutions.

Minire Bujupi from Gllogoc/Glogovac municipality speaks openly to RTK about the violence she has experienced from her husband.

Bujupi divorced her husband after 20 years of marriage. She says that the physical abuse by her husband was the reason for the divorce.

But three years have passed since she divorced her husband but she has not enjoyed any legal rights from institutions.  Bujupi said that she did not receive the ownership of a part of the joint property, she has not received any alimentation and stresses that the Court’s order has been disrespected.

There are over 1,000 cases similar to Bujupi which have been reported to Kosovo Police.

The director of the Prishtinë/Pristina shelter, Naime Sherifi, blames the Government for these injustices against women.  She says that Government has not invested much in the reintegration of domestic violence victims.

On the other hand, in a debate in RTK3, Kosovo Ombudsperson, Hilmi Jashari and the Director of Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN), Igballe Rogova said that Kosovo institutions have failed to prevent violence against women. They stated that silence should be broken about this issue and called for a more dignitary treatment of the victims.

Serbs from the north request a list of Albanians that want to return

(Klan Kosova)

Serbs have presented some conditions about the return of Albanians in the north. They have requested to a list with persons that want to return in Kroi i Vitakut.

The mayor of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica South, Agim Bahtiri said that a meeting of an inter-ministerial group took place in Prishtinë/Pristina to discuss the return of Albanians in the northern part.

Despite the fact that the agreement for construction of the houses of Albanians in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north of has not been implemented so far,  Bahtiri said that this process will restart on 07 December, but this time a request of the northern Serbs will be respected.

Bahtiri said that until 07 December, a list with families that want to return to the north will be drafted which will be shared with the northern Serbs. Bahtiri also said that this list will enable Albanians to return in this neighborhood gradually and without incidents.

The inter-ministerial meeting was attended by the mayor of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north, Goran Rakic, Kosovo minister for return and communities, Dalibor Jevtic, minister of local government administration, Ljubomir Maric and representatives of Serbs and Albanian residents of that area. 

Serb MPs will not attend Assembly sessions if incidents happen

(RTK2)

Srpska List MPs met to discuss the agenda of the next plenary session of the Assembly of Kosovo, scheduled for 30 November but also discussed other issues that the Serb community is facing in Kosovo.

Serb MPs concluded that they will not attend the future sessions of the Assembly if they consider that incidents might occur.  They also discussed 2016 draft-budget.

Srpska List chairperson, Slavko Simic, said that they will try through the Assembly budget and finance committee to introduce some amendments to the draft-budget in order that the Serb majority municipalities receive more funds.

As it regards the way out of the current political deadlock, Simic said that the proposal drafted by MPs Ilir Deda and Vjosa Osmani will not end the crisis, because as he said, the proposal has not been supported by the international organizations nor by the Albanian leaders.

Serbs representatives also stated that they believe that no incidents will happen during the announced protest of the opposition for 28 November.

Kusari-Lila announces establishment of a new political entity

(KTV)

The mayor of Gjakovë/Djakovica municipality, Mimoza Kusari-Lila announced the establishment of a new political entity that will regroup individuals from her current party, the Alliance New Kosovo (AKR), which was established by Behxhet Pacolli, KTV reports.

During an interview with KTV’s show ‘Rubikon’, Kusari-Lila admitted that her party is falling apart and announced radical changes within the AKR. She also said that there are networks of organized crimes Gjakovë/Djakovica involving also police, prosecution office and former mayor, Pal Lekaj.