PM Mustafa calls opposition to dialogue

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, has called on the opposition to return to the Assembly, saying that they should give up violence and ultimatums.

But, as KTV quotes Mustafa, he said that there is nothing to be discussed with teargas, masks and rubber bullets, referring to Vetëvendosje Movement and things that police said it has found during the week at the offices of this political entity.

Mustafa said that Government he leads supports actions of the police, prosecution and judiciary.

Prime Minister Mustafa added that they will respect Constitutional Court’s verdict on the Association and underlined that everyone else should do this, too.

He reiterated that they are ready to establish a commission together with the opposition to present argument regarding the demarcation with Montenegro.

Mustafa conveyed a message to everyone, as he said intellectuals and civil society, not only in Kosovo, but Albania too, not to evoke any conflict in Kosovo.

Veseli: Political dialogue should be restored

(Klan Kosova & RTK1)

Kosovo Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli, concluded Monday’s plenary session with a call addressed to opposition parties to return in the Assembly.

On Tuesday, Speaker Veseli said that the need for political dialogue is urgent, saying that he will personally call it at the earliest time possible.

“Opposition should return to the Assembly. There is an urgent need to establish a political dialogue and the solution should be political, too. The abuse with the Assembly and violations of law should come to an end,” Speaker Veseli said. He announced that concrete initiatives will soon be taken in this regard.

During Tuesday’s meeting of the Government, Prime Minister Isa Mustafa called on opposition parties to return to the Assembly and to dialogue.

However, opposition parties say that they will not accept the dialogue at all and emphasized that they will try to block the work of the Assembly again.

Opposition announces manifestations throughout Kosovo against agreements

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Opposition parties have announced its first protests in Kosovo towns. Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) will organize, as it qualified it, a manifestation in Gjakovë/Djakovica on Saturday.

Vetëvendosje Movement, on the other hand, said that it will continue with mobilisation for protests.

In their reaction, a day after they were suspended from the Assembly of Kosovo, Vetëvendosje qualified the Assembly Presidency action as the end of democracy and a plunge to anarchy.

Vetëvendosje MP Fisnik Ismajli put under house arrest

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Vetëvendosje MP Fisnik Ismajli has been issued the 30-day house arrest measure. Ismajli announced this through Facebook social network, where he thanked his supporters.

Ismajli said that irrespective to the efforts to stain him as a public figure, they will not manage to stain his conscience.

Vetëvendosje reported that during Tuesday police also arrested one of its activists in Vushtrri/Vucitrn. Irrespective to this, as Vetëvendosje stated, these police persecutions will not stop them.

An indictment was also filed on Tuesday against a Vetëvendosje activist who tried to damage the tyres of Prime Minister’s car months earlier.

Constitutional Court forbids arrest of MPs within the Assembly building

(KTV)

The decision to collectively suspend the opposition from the Monday’s session is being considered unfair. Kosovo Democratic Institute, which closely monitors Kosovo Assembly’s work, considers that expulsion of the opposition was made based on the assumption what the opposition MPs might do.

Albert Krasniqi of KDI also said that the arrest of MPs within the Assembly building is forbidden even with the verdict of Constitutional Court on immunity of MPs.

While Petrit Zogaj of FOL Movement says that two concepts of democratic thinking cannot co-exist at the same time. According to him, there cannot be a democratic Kosovo as long as Members of the Kosovo Assembly are arrested.

After the entire situation created at the Assembly with the expulsion of opposition MPs with the arrest of three of them, the ruling parties continued their work peacefully without having anyone to oppose them in the points of agenda discussed. With this, the Assembly said it has fulfilled the whole legislative program submitted by the Government.

A press release issued by the Assembly of Kosovo reads that during Monday’s session, MPs discussed 16 draft laws, ratified two international economic agreements and discussed a number of reports on the work of different state agencies. With these 35 points of the agenda, the Assembly of Kosovo fulfilled its legislative program proceeded so far by the government of Kosovo.

“After the endorsement of the law on Kosovo’s budget for 2016, the Assembly does not have any pending draft law sent by the government for discussion and endorsement,” the release concludes.

However, KDI is considering this false, while FOL says it is absurd to think that a session was held on Monday night.

Former LDK candidate for MP becomes Constitutional Court judge

(KTV)

Absence of opposition MPs has enabled the Assembly to select two new members of the Constitutional Court at the late evening hours of Monday.

Due to absence of MPs, the Assembly with simple majority vote selected Selvete Gërxhaliu – Krasniqi and Gresa Caka as new members of this Institution.

If the opposition would be in the room, the Assembly would not be able to secure necessary votes. Irrespective to this politicized procedure, MPs decided to further politicize the Constitutional Court by appointing the former candidate for LDK MP Selvete Gërxhaliu- Krasniqi.

Kosovo Law Institute considers that politicization of the Constitutional Court puts the credibility of this institution under question mark.

Kerry to meet with Mustafa, Thaçi and Stojanovic

(RTK1)

US Secretary of State, John Kerry, during his Wednesday visit to Kosovo, will meet with Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and his deputies, Hashim Thaçi and Branimir Stojanovic.

US Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, confirmed Kerry’s agenda to RTK1. 

According to Delawie, Kerry will also meet with a group of Kosovo youth who studied in the United States, while he will conclude the visit with a press conference.

Moreover, Ambassador Delawie reiterated that the US has a strict stance: “We do not support violence.”

Four arrested in anti-terror operation in Italy and Kosovo

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Four persons arrested and several others on the search are the balance of an anti-terrorist operation carried out in Italy and Kosovo.

In a swift operation carried in Brescia and Prishtinë/Pristina, four Kosovo citizens were arrested for spreading jihadi propaganda. There are suspicions that they also planned to kill Pope Francis.

Kosovo Police confirmed the case and considered it as a successful operation in the framework of the fight against terrorism.