VV strongly opposes Thaçi’s nomination for President
(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)
Vetëvendosje opposes election of Hashim Thaçi for President. They say that he does not represent the unifying political figure. Vetëvendosje caucus leader Glauk Konjufca said that Thaçi is a bad example for President and he does not represent the unifying figure of the state.
Asked if they would support current President Atifete Jahjaga for another term, or if they will propose a counter candidate, Konjufca briefly said that they do not have any candidate.
“Joint opposition has no proposal for a potential counter candidate for the President,” Konjufca said.
On the other hand, Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) considers that Vetëvendosje’s goal is to cause a lack of quorum in the plenary session for election of the President, consequently push the country toward early elections.
On Tuesday, Hashim Thaçi stated that the ruling coalition is in a close contact regarding his election as the President and this process is in its final phase. He expressed his belief that he will be elected as the President in February. “All the constitutional procedures will be respected. My election will empower Kosovo institutions,” Thaçi said.
Commenting on his meeting with the US Secretary of State John Kerry, Thaçi said that the US support Kosovo institutions, Brussels Agreements, and the process for election of the President.
No visa liberalisation if eight criteria are not met in February
(KTV)
If the requested criteria will not be met during February, than there will be no visa liberalisation for Kosovo this year. This is the message that Kosovo Assembly integration committee has received in Brussels, while Vetëvendosje MP Ilir Deda said this in the Committee’s meeting held on Tuesday.
“If the eight criteria are not fully met during February, than there is no liberalisation. I do not know why we are saying that there will be visa liberalisation this year. Why are we deceiving the citizens? If the Assembly does not do its jobs in February, there is no political agreement and Kosovo does not move forward, there is no liberalisation. If the Ombudsperson is not placed in the new building and the Constitutional Court is not in the other building… if these things are not happening, than why are talking about liberalisation,” Deda told other members of this committee.
Saying that political developments in Kosovo are impeding Kosovo’s moving forward in integration processes, LDK MP Teuta Sahatqija said it is final time to solve this crisis.
Deda said they were told in Brussels that both the Government and the opposition are responsible for the political situation in Kosovo.
KIA oversight committee requests report on recent developments
(KTV)
Members of the Kosovo Assembly committee monitoring the work of Kosovo Intelligence Agency requested from officials of the latter to report on recent developments related to national security.
LDK member of this committee Melihate Tërmkolli said that it is not appropriate for them to be informed about these cases media outlets. She said that this should be done by the institutions responsible of these matters.
Srpska List MP, member of this committee, Nenad Rasic, also demanded information on a number of cases, such as the arrest of four individuals close to Visoki Decani Monastery.
Tërmkolli reacted against this and called on Rasic not to politicize and prejudge any case. She said that not only the safety of Serbs should be discussed, but rather the security of Kosovo as a whole.
Haliti: New plenary session soon
(TV21)
Kosovo Assembly Deputy Speaker from PDK, Xhavit Haliti, stated that they are waiting for MPs to return from their official visits abroad to set the date for the new Assembly plenary session as soon as possible.
“We are determined to continue the work according to the duty that was entrusted to us by Kosovo citizens. Where the session will take place, is completely a different issue. We might start in the upper floor and come down or the contrary, in case that teargas is fired. I hope that the opposition will give up this manner of communication with the ruling parties. They have all the options to debate in the Assembly room,” Haliti said.
One month detention for suspects arrested near Visoki Decani Monastery
(RTK2&KlanKosova)
Basic Court in Pejë/Pec has set one-month detention against measure against four suspects who were halted close to Visoki Decani Monastery on Saturday by the Kosovo Police.
Pejë/Pec Basic Court judge, Violeta Husaj-Rugova, confirmed the 30-day detention measure.
She told to Radio Free Europe that the detainees are suspected of illegal carrying of weapons.
The case prosecutor, Valbona Haxhosaj, also said that the four suspects are being investigated only for illegal possession of weapons.
“There is no grounded suspicion that they are related to terrorism and this has not been confirmed,” Haxhosaj said.
CEC signs Memorandum of Cooperation with several institutions
(RTK2 & Klan Kosova)
Democracy for Development (D4D) Institute hosted the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Cooperation for election process between the Central Election Commission, Kosovo Police, State Prosecution, the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel and Kosovo Judicial Council.
The Memorandum of Cooperation aims to improve and uphold the cooperation with institutions involved in election processes, ensuring that this is done in the period prior to elections, during and after the elections.
The complexity of the entire electoral cycle and irregularities identified in previous election processes have raised the need for continuous coordination to improve the environment that leads to a regular elections process.
Participants of the ceremony highlighted the importance of coordination among these institutions for the whole election process.
