Mustafa: I will neither resign, nor there will be elections

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa expressed more than convinced that he will continue his term as Prime Minister until 2018.

PM Mustafa stated that his resignation or the early elections are not real options, while he called upon opposition to resign from violence and teargas.

“We are not planning to resign or to go to elections, because the elections will be held in 2018”, PM Mustafa stated.

Nevertheless, PM Mustafa said that he is not afraid of the 09 January protest, which the opposition considers as the end of his Government.

“Based on the protests held so far, the opposition parties do not enjoy support. The number of people in the protests has been limited and I expect the same to happen on 09 January. However, I would prefer to change this method of expressing the dissatisfactions. I would prefer to do this in the Assembly through the dialogue.” Mustafa said.

In the last conference of 2015, PM Mustafa besides highlighting the achievements of his Government, he spoke also about the opposition parties and the blockade of the institutional life by the three opposition parties.

He said that through violent actions, opposition parties destroyed public property, injured police officers and citizens and attacked members of the Government.

Prime Minister Mustafa said that he still does not know the date when he will travel to Brussels for the next meeting with his Serbian counterpart, because as he said, this issue is related to the visa liberalization process.

PM Mustafa separately highlighted all the successes of his Government during this year, but he expressed conscious that they have done less than the expectations of the citizens. He expressed his hope that Kosovo in 2016 will have its own army and that Kosovars will move without visas in Europe.

He stated that his cabinet, despite the circumstances, has successfully accomplished the mission. He said that leadership has been demonstrated because crucial decisions, which were not easy, were made. However, PM Mustafa acknowledges that not everything went well with the ruling partner and that they had different stances several times.

Government adopts the regulation on recognition of the status of war rape victims

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

During its last meeting of 2015, Kosovo Governmen adopted the regulation for defining the procedures on recognition and verification status of the victims of sexual violence during the last conflict in Kosovo.

Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga welcomed this decision.

In a press release issued by President’s Office it is stated that adoption of this Regulation marks a step forward in offering institutional support for all survivors of the sexual violence during the war, and paves the way for recognizing and verifying their status.

“President Jahjaga remains committed in continuation of the institutional support for all the victims of the war,” it is stated in the press release.

Government also approved its annual plan for 2016, which focuses on the economic development, employment, welfare, rule of law, and European agenda.

President Jahjaga decreed two judges of the Constitutional Court

(KTV)

President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, decreed the appointment two judges of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kosovo.

“President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, in compliance with the Constitution, the Law and based upon the decision of Kosovo Assembly, decreed the appointment of Gresa Caka-Nimani and Selvete Gërxhaliu as judges of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo”, reads a press release issued by the Office of the President.

Judges Gresa Caka-Nimani and Selvete Gërxhaliu swore the oath in front of President Jahjaga, thus completing the all nine judges of this court.

However, civil society and opposition parties opposed the appointment of Selvete Gërxhaliu as a judge of Constitutional Court and according to them this appointment was entirely political, since Gërxhaliu was a former candidate for LDK MP.

Former Lipjan/Lipljan mayor found guilty

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Former mayor of Lipjan/Lipljan municipality, Shukri Buja, has been sentenced to four months imprisonment, with execution being suspended for one year of verification period if the defendant does not commit another criminal offence and fined to EUR 2,000.

Prosecution accused Buja for not reporting or false reporting of assets. The judge justified her verdict, saying that the defendant could not justify why he did not declare the assets within the stipulated legal deadline.

Leading judge, Suzana Çerkini, did not allow KTV’s cameraman to film within the court room, when she announced the verdict. Her justification, which is in contradiction with Kosovo Criminal Code, was that she does not feel comfortable in front of camera, KTV reported.

Buja considered Court’s verdict as tendentious while his lawyer announced filing a complaint at the Court of Appeals

Also, the former mayor of Lipjan/Lipljan municipality, Shukri Buja, who used to be a commander in Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), said that the Serb Prosecutor Javorka Perlincevic was tendentious against him because he was part of KLA.

Vetëvendosje MPs, Konjufca and Dërguti under house arrest

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

The Basic Court of Pristhtinë/Pristina changed the measure against two Vetëvendosje MPs, Glauk Konjufca and Aida Dërguti with house arrest.

According to the Court, Konjufca and Dërguti have disrespected the previous order to appear in police station. Starting from Wednesday, the two opposition MPs will remain in house arrest until 14 January 2016.

On the other hand, The Basic Court of Prishtinë/Pristina announced that they have lifted the house detention measure against the two other Vetëvendosje MPs, Ismajl Kurteshi and Fisnik Ismajli.

According to the Court the prosecutor of the case proposed no new measures against the defendants.

Both Kurteshi and Ismajli are suspected of throwing tear gas in the Assembly chamber.

KDI: Assembly failed to fulfill its legislative agenda

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

On Wednesday, the Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) presented the end-of-year report on the work of the Assembly, where it was said that the year 2015 was a year of inefficient work of the Assembly.  With only 34 per cent of the adopted draft-laws, the Assembly failed to fulfill its legislative agenda.

Albert Krasniqi from KDI said that that their reports demonstrates extreme polarization of the ruling and opposition MPs and this enabled the Government to influence legislative body’s work.

According to KDI the first quarter of 2015 is associated with low level of work of this institution.  On the other hand, according to him, the autumn session is characterized by clashes between government and opposition as a result of the agreements reached between Kosovo and Serbia.