Symbolic protest of opposition on President’s inauguration day possible

(All monitored broadcasters, Klan Kosova & KTV)

Away from media, opposition leaders held a meeting at the AAK main offices. KohaVision learned that this meeting, which did not last longer than an hour, was called for consultations regarding the next protest of the opposition.

This was also confirmed by the AAK Spokesperson Muharrem Nitaj. “Further objection of the opposition was the topic of this meeting,” Nitaj told Kosovapress.

There is possibility that opposition will protest on the day of that Hashim Thaçi will be inaugurated as Kosovo President. In KTV’s Rubicon show, AAK MP Daut Haradinaj said that the protest might be symbolic.

On the other hand, Hashim Thaçi’s advisor Ardian Arifaj told Klan Kosova’s Info Magazine show that everything is ready for Thaçi’s inauguration. He said that everything has been planned to detail and that Thaçi will take oath in the Assembly of Kosovo on 07 April, whereas the inauguration ceremony will be organised the following day in Scanderbeg square of Prishtinë/Pristina.

In the actual Rubicon show aired shortly after the main KTV news edition, Daut Haradinaj also spoke about annulment of the opposition’s protest, saying that AAK could have gone on its own in the protest, but it wanted to preserve opposition’s unity which has been built for months now.

Haradinaj considers the ad hoc commission on demarcation established by Kosovo President unconstitutional, while he says that in order for the opposition to win elections they should enter elections with a single list.

Gorani community members would vote in Serbian elections

(KTV)

In case Serbian parliamentary elections will be allowed to be held in Kosovo, Gorani community citizens will vote in them. They say they will do so as they have lost their hope on Kosovar institutions, because, according to them, these institutions have not done anything for them.

“I will go out and vote because I recognise Serbia as a state, but if elections will not be organised in Gora, we will not be able to go to Strpce/Shtërpcë,  Gracanica/Graçanicë, or other places where elections will be held,” said a Gorani community member.

Although it is not officially known if Serbian elections will also be held in Kosovo, Serbian state officials have already launched their campaigning activities in areas with Serb population in Kosovo.  A day earlier, Director of Serbia’s Office for Kosovo Marko Djuric also said that Gorani people will take part in these elections.

Other Gorani residents do not know if they would turn out in elections. According to them, nobody is asking them about anything.

Different from the local inhabitants, in Gorani Community Initiative party say they have chosen to be part of Kosovo institutions and they will act in line with this.

Current Dragash/Dragas Mayor says they treat all citizens the same. According to him, about 40 per cent of the people in Dragash/Dragas belong to Gorani community.

Kosovo and US sign extradition agreement

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Kosovo and the United States will have it easier to catch and extradite criminals as they signed the extradition agreement on Tuesday.

Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga and the US Ambassador in Kosovo Greg Delawie said that this agreement supersedes the previous one between US and former Kingdom of Serbia signed over 100 years ago.

“With this agreement, Kosovo and US guarantee that criminals who pose a threat to our countries will be prosecuted and brought to law,” Jahjaga said.

No Kosovo citizen has gone to Syria or Iraq in last eight months

(All monitored broadcasters, TV21)

No Kosovo citizen has gone to Syria or Iraq in the last eight months while about 70 Kosovo citizens are still part of terrorist groups in those two countries. This was stated after a meeting of Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and Minister of Internal Affairs Skender Hyseni.

PM Mustafa and Minister Hyseni said they are pleased with the security situation in Kosovo. They also emphasized that security institutions are taking utmost efforts to prevent potential terrorist attacks in Kosovo.

On the other hand, TV21 reported that for the first time the term ‘Terrorist asset” has been defined in the Law on the Agency for Administration of Sequestrated or Confiscated Assets, which was adopted last week by Kosovo Assembly. This law allows confiscation of assets of those who get involved or prepare terrorist acts.

Assembly to review proposals for PPRB members on Wednesday

(TV21)

Kosovo Assembly is expected to elect the new members of the Public Procurement Review Body (PPRB) on its Wednesday’s plenary session.

Opposition considers that this process is delaying due to political interests of the two parties in power – PDK and LDK.

On the other hand, political analysts emphasize that the further prolongation of this process will seriously jeopardize Kosovo’s visa liberalization process.

Medicus Case convicts escape justice

(KTV)

The convicted persons in Medicus Case mark the third case when state officials escape justice, KTV reports. Prior to Lutfi Dervishi [one of the convicted in Medicus Case] Leme Xhema and Xhabir Zharku also escaped justice. Law experts say that Kosovo justice is proving inefficient in bringing all those convicted of crimes to law.

Betim Musliu of Kosovo Law Institute says there is fear that convicted persons in Medicus Case have chosen to escape.

Whereas, Arton Demhasaj of Çohu organisation says that judiciary has failed to do its job in this case, too.

New Head of Anti-Corruption Agency to be selected by September

(TV21)

Assembly Committee on legislation, mandates and oversight of Anti-Corruption Agency decided to call the vacancy for selection of the new Head of Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency (KACA).  The committee will submit this decision to Assembly Presidency which shall call the vacancy.

First deputy chairperson of this Committee, Selvije Halimi, said they are considering the options of shortening the mandate of KACA Head and not allowing potential reelection in the same post. The new Head should be selected by September.

Djuric: Lunacek is voicing her personal views on Kosovo

(Klan Kosova & RTK2)

Director of the Serbia’s Government Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric, said on Tuesday that a statement made by Vice-President of the European Parliament Ulrike Lunacek that Serbia could not join the EU before recognising Kosovo’s independence was just a personal view.

“When it comes to Ms Lunacek, I can only say that she is one of the hundreds of members in the European Parliament. I respect her opinion, but that is her personal view only,” Djuric said, emphasizing that Serbia’s position was completely different from the one of Lunacek.

Jevtic condemns incident in Sinajë village of Istog/Istok

(RTK2)

Unidentified persons set fire to over 1,000 bundles of hay belonging to the Serb returnee family of Velimir Zuvic from Sinajë village in Istog/Istok municipality.

Kosovo Minister for Communities and Return Dalibor Jevtic strongly condemned the incident and called on Kosovo Police to identify perpetrators as soon as possible.