Opposition MPs tried to block Assembly’s work with different methods

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Two teargas canisters were fired on Thursday’s session of the Kosovo Assembly. Vetëvendosje MP Sali Salihu was the person that did this twice during the plenary session. Except the teargas, opposition also used laser beams toward the Assembly chairperson Xhavit Haliti and the Minister of Interior Skender Hyseni.

Prime Minister Isa Mustafa was not saved either, as VV MP Mytaher Haskuka threw a glass of water at him. Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and PDK caucus leader Adem Grabovci demanded more responsibility from security institutions in Kosovo.

Using the Assembly podium, Vetëvendosje MP Ismajl Kurteshi called on the people to join opposition’s protest scheduled for 26 March. After his statement, opposition MPs left the chamber.

Without the opposition MPs in the chamber, MPs of the ruling parties adopted a number of draft laws, while the session is expected to continue on 15 March.

After these developments, Vetëvendosje, AAK and Nisma për Kosovën left the Assembly chamber announcing that there will be no normality in a country which is led by an anti-constitutional government. There were also clashes between opposition MPs with the police. Reports on fractions between the opposition parties were denied by their officials.

However, Nisma për Kosovën said that opposition is looking at the possibility of completely boycotting Assembly’s work. In case this happens, AAK said it will be a joint decision of the three opposition parties, which will be made public soon.

Vetëvendosje MPs, Sali Salihu and Mytaher Haskuka were arrested for releasing teargas in the Assembly, whereas the latter was arrested for throwing the water at Prime Minister Mustafa.

LDK considers throwing water at PM Mustafa indecent and unacceptable

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

LDK condemns throwing of water at the Prime Minister and chairperson of this political party, Isa Mustafa, by the VV MP Mytaher Haskuka. According to LDK, this is an indecent and unacceptable action.

“LDK demands from the competent authorities to take the necessary measures for prevention of such acts, while it calls on opposition MPs to give up from such vandal forms,” the LDK reaction states.

Haradinaj: Opposition MPs have decided to abandon the Assembly

(KTV) 

Chairman of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj said they have decided to abandon the Assembly.

Haradinaj said they were leaving the Assembly an indefinite period of time aiming to enter elections. However, he underlined that this does not mean that opposition MPs no longer have the MP mandate.

Haradinaj made these statements after a meeting he had with the leader of Democratic Party of Albania, Lulzim Basha.

Vetëvendosje’s press officer Adonis Tahiri told media that opposition still has not taken a joint decision if they will stay in the Assembly, or leave it.

Daka: Opposition MPs can be replaced from candidates of their entities

(TV21)

MPs of the three opposition parties said that they are looking into the possibility of giving up their MP mandates in the Assembly of Kosovo. They say that the Assembly has lost its legitimacy.

However, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC) chairperson Valdete Daka, all the MPs which have been certified by CEC can be replaced with other candidates from the candidates’ list of the respective political entity.

“If the opposition MPs decide to give up their mandates, they will have to hand it over to the Assembly Speaker, who will inform the President of Kosovo about this. The latter then requests from CEC to recommend replacement of these MPs. We will recommend replacements based on the number of votes for each candidate of the respective political entity. They will continue to be replaced as long as the opposition parties have candidates on their election list”, said Daka.

Whereas Albert Krasniqi, who monitors Kosovo Assembly’s work, thinks that opposition MPs can be replaced with MPs of the ruling coalition.

“If all of them refuse the mandate, then they must be replaced with other legal candidates from lists of other political parties represented in the Assembly,” Krasniqi said.

According to him, the Assembly can also function even without the opposition MPs but, as he said, this would diminish Assembly’s legitimacy.

Inter-ministerial committee for community affairs held its first meeting

(RTK2)

The newly established Inter-Ministerial Committee for Community Affairs held its first meeting on Thursday. This inter-ministerial group will monitor implementation of regulations related to protection of the rights of communities and amend regulations that are ineffective in protecting the rights of communities.

In its first meeting, this Committee defined its priority areas of operation. The most important issues that this Committee will deal with are better representation of communities in institutions, protection of property rights, the right on the use of language, improvement of working conditions in all segments of society, and safety situation.

The meeting was chaired by Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Branimir Stojanovic. Minister of Local Government Administration Ljubomir Maric, Minister for Return and Communities Dalibor Jevtic, Minister without Portfolio Rasim Demiri, Minister of Public Administration Mahir Yagcilar, and Director of Kosovo Government’s Office for Communities Ivan Tomic took part in this initial meeting.

Media freedom discussed in a roundtable

(Klan Kosova & RTK1)

Media freedom and the opportunities that Kosovo provides in regards to conditions for correct reporting and respect of the Code of Ethics on media was the topic of discussion in a roundtable organised by the UBT University on Thursday.

The Austrian diplomat Erhard Busek was also member of the panel, who said that the approach of media reporting on political and business sphere must be changed. He added that current state of media must be improved as soon as possible.

UBT University awarded the prize for excellent leadership to Mr Busek.

Serb house in Rahovec/Orahovac set on fire

(RTK2)

The house of Kosovo Serb, Toma Baljosevic, who was kidnapped and killed in July 1998, was set on fire on Wednesday in Rahovec/Orahovac.

The house was set on fire during the visit of Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Branimir Stojanovic and Director of the Office for Communities Ivan Tomic to Rahovec/Orahovac and Velika Hoca/Hoçë e Madhe village. The fire was noticed by neighbours who called the fire-fighters. No one was injured as the house is abandoned.

DPM Stojanovic strongly condemned the incident and considered it as an attack against Serb community in Rahovec/Orahovac.