Jevtic and Schlumberger discussed return process

(RTK2)

Kosovo Minister for Communities and Returns, Dalibor Jevtic, during a meeting on Monday, conveyed to the OSCE Ambassador in Kosovo Jean-Claude Schlumberger his concerns over the latest incidents in returnees’ areas, particularly those in Gorazdevac/Gorazhdevc, Sërbobran/Srbobran, Berkovё/Berkovo and the last one in the village of Petriç i Poshtёm/Donji Petric in the municipality of Klinё/Klina.

“If we want to move ahead to the better future and coexistence, we need to prevent incidents, as it is the only way to make Kosovo safe place for all, regardless of any affiliation. Damaging returnee areas is a shameful act, and it is especially shameful to attack and intimidate elderly and disabled people in these places,” Minister Jevtic said during the meeting.

Ambassador Schlumberger praised the commitment of the Minister Jevtic to improve the return process and said that the OSCE Mission will continue to support this process within the framework of its mandate.

OSCE Mission in Kosovo trains former ‘Civil Protection’ members

(Klan Kosova & RTK2)

The OSCE Mission is organizing a training course for 378 former members of the ‘Civilian Protection’ from northern Kosovo on the institutional and legal framework in Kosovo, including community rights. The 378 trainees have recently signed their contracts and will be working in various ministries and agencies in Kosovo.

The six-week course is organized at the request of the Kosovo Ministry for Dialogue and takes place at the Public Safety Academy in Vushtrri/Vucitrn.

“The OSCE Mission is providing this training course as part of its effort to support the implementation of Brussels Agreements reached between Prishtinë/Pristina and Belgrade under the facilitation of the European Union,” said the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo Jean-Claude Schlumberger.

No results from the leaders meeting called by President Jahjaga

(KTV)

Without Visar Ymeri of Vetëvendosje and Fatmir Limaj of Nisma për Kosovën, leaders of Kosovo political parties sat at the same table for the first time since the political crisis started. Nevertheless, this was the only novelty of this meeting as it did not have any results. Parties presented their unwavering positions. Coalition partners consider that the only solution is at the Assembly, and elections are out of the question.

LDK chairperson, Isa Mustafa, said that the Constitutional Court has given its opinion for the Association of Serb majority municipalities. He said that doors are open to opposition to discuss both the Agreement on Association and the Agreement on Border Demarcation with Montenegro.

According to PDK chairperson Hashim Thaçi, Haradinaj took the first positive step as during the entire meeting he did not raise concerns for Agreements on Demarcation and the one on the Association. Thaçi said they invited AAK to at least become part of the commission for this matter.

Ramush Haradinaj of AAK, as the only from the opposition that accepted to take part in this meeting, said that he expressed his concern about the serious situation in the Kosovo. He requested dissolution of the Assembly and calling of early elections, as the only way to overcome the current crisis. Haradinaj also requested election of the President with direct vote.

Chairperson of Srpska List and Turkish Democratic Party, Slavko Simic and Mahir Yagcilar, were also part in the meeting. US Ambassador, Greg Delawie and Head of EU Office in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, were also in this meeting.

Through a brief press statement issued, President Atifete Jahjaga thanked the leaders for participation in the meeting to re-establish dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties, as a way of consensus in Kosovo.

Vetëvendosje chairperson Visar Ymeri considers involvement of AAK chairperson, Ramush Haradinaj, in this harmful. He said that they are interested to cooperate, but, according to him this cooperation must be done for resistance until this Government is brought down. Bilall Sherifi of Nisma për Kosovën also says that opposition remains united and they do not dare to kill the hope they have revived among the people for six months.

Most TV broadcasters reported that although the Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli was invited to take part in the meeting with political leaders, he did not respond to avoid its failure, after the AAK chairperson opposed his presence because of the meeting format.

Using his Facebook account Prime Minister Isa Mustafa called on Kosovo citizens not to take part in 17 February protest of the opposition, TV broadcasters reported in their later news editions.

President Jahjaga’s efforts supported by Delawie and Zbogar

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

The US Ambassador in Kosovo, Greg Delawie, welcomed the efforts of Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga to identify a solution to the current political deadlock through dialogue.

“I look forward to the next meeting,” Ambassador Delawie wrote on Twitter social network after today’s meeting of the President with leaders of parliamentary parties.

On the other hand, the Head of EU Office in Kosovo Samuel Zbogar said that solutions for such complex political difference cannot be found in one meeting only. Zbogar also added that dialogue is a European way of solving problems.

Political crisis is also reflecting at the municipal level

(Most monitored broadcasters, RTV21)

Prime Minister Isa Mustafa organised a meeting with mayors of Kosovo municipalities. Mayors attending this meeting complained that the current political crisis is also reflecting at the local level.

Mustafa reiterated that this situation should only be solved through dialogue in institutions. He emphasised that violence is damaging Kosovo’s image. He called on mayors to meet their obligations.

In the meantime, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hashim Thaçi, said that dialogue between local and central level government is very much needed at this time. A number of mayors, including the mayor of Prishtinë/Pristina Shpend Ahmeti, did not take part in this meeting.

Tahiri: Prishtinë/Pristina will draft the statute of the Association

(RTK2)

Kosovo minister for dialogue, Edita Tahiri, said that the statute of the Association of Serb majority municipalities will be drafted as soon as Serbia dissolves its parallel structures in Kosovo. In an interview for RTK2, Minister Tahiri said that the Statute will be drafted by Kosovo institutions.

According to Tahiri, the dialogue between Prishtinë/Pristina and Belgrade which is taking place in Brussels is a long-lasting process, and, according to her, it’s difficult to exactly predict the date of the establishment of the Association of Serb majority municipalities.

“Much depends on Serbia, on the changes of its behaviour and the contribution to remove these structures. Serbia should stop paying salaries to employees in parallel structures and terminate their contracts. Government of Kosovo will draft the statue of the Association as soon as Serbia completes these tasks”, stated Tahiri.

She explicitly said that Prishtinë/Pristina is the one that should draft the statute of the Association of Serb majority municipalities and not Belgrade, adding that this statute will once again be submitted to the Constitutional Court for review.

“The statute will be a valid legal act only at the moment that the Constitutional Court confirms that it is in compliance with the Constitution,” Tahiri said.