Mustafa and Veseli to discuss offer for the opposition
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Prime Minister Isa Mustafa announced a meeting with the Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli, who is also the Acting PDK chairperson, to discuss the concrete offer for the opposition.
However, PM Mustafa opposed the possibility of including early elections in this offer. He also said that government cabinet reshuffling might happen during this week, while he did not rule out the possibility that Minister of Justice Hajredin Kuçi to become the First Deputy Prime Minister.
PM Mustafa made these statements during a visit to Ministry of Trade and Industry. He announced publication of names of ministers who will be replaced.
Opposition to boycott Thursday’s session, too
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Another Assembly session will be held without the opposition parties. Vetëvendosje Movement, AAK and Nisma will not take part in Thursday’s session of the Assembly that will have ten points in its agenda.
In Vetëvendosje Movement said they will not be taking part in this session, but they did not want to discuss this issue further. Nisma për Kosovën will neither be part in Thursday’s session, while this decision will be valid until a new decision of the party, Bilall Sherifi of Nisma told KTV.
However, to AAK, the issue of taking or not taking part in sessions is a done deal since the day their leader Ramush Haradinaj said his party will no longer take part in sessions for this mandate. They are that firm that even if demarcation with Montenegro will be discussed at the Assembly, they will not go in the Assembly.
KTV and most other TV broadcasters reported that members of the Public Procurement Review Body (PPRB) are expected to be appointed in Thursday’s session.
Telephone code will initially be given to Serbia
(KTV)
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is expected to give +383 telephone code to Serbia, and Serbia will later give to Kosovo, KTV learned from its sources close to the process in the ITU.
This for the fact that Kosovo is not a member of this organization, but ITU will officially publish only the text as the parties have agreed in Brussels. The information was not denied or confirmed by the ITU.
Minister for dialogue, Edita Tahiri, insists on the opposite. She said that the telephone code will be given directly to Kosovo and it will administer this. She also said that Kosovo’s non-membership in ITU does not represent a problem.
Census in northern municipalities postponed
(RTK2)
During its regular meeting held on Wednesday, Kosovo Government decided to postpone the population and household census in the four northern municipalities, which did not participate in this process in 2011, for two weeks.
Prime Minister Isa Mustafa said the decision is related to technical issues.
Assembly committee proposes two options for RTK financing
(KTV & RTK1)
Kosovo Assembly media committee discussed ways of financing of Kosovo’s public broadcaster – Radio and Television of Kosovo. Committee members proposed two options for RTK financing, state budget and prepayment through electricity bills.
PDK MP Xhevahire Izmaku proposed allocation of 1.1 up to 1.2 per cent of Kosovo’s budget for RTK financing.
On the other hand, LDK MP Alma Lama proposed prepayment through electricity bills as an option. She said that if the prepayment would not cover RTK needs, then RTK could receive additional funds from the state budget.
LDK MP Sadri Ferati highlighted the urgency of this issue, saying that after two months RTK will remain without budget. Ferati also said that he supports both above-mentioned proposals.
Committee chairperson, Zenun Pajaziti, said that these two proposals will be included in the draft law on RTK, which will be submitted to the Government.
Kosovars arrested in Germany on terrorism suspicions released
(TV21)
Munich Prosecution is continuing to investigate three Kosovo citizens who were arrested on Tuesday at the German border with Austria while they were travelling in their car with Belgian plates.
Munich Prosecution confirmed that for now there are no signs of a possible link between of the arrested from Kosovo with Tuesday’s attacks in Brussels, Deutsche Welle reported.
Kosovo Police reported that it is working closely with German authorities regarding this case.
In its online version, RTV21 later reported that three Kosovars were released, after suspicions did not prove to be true.
Annual budgets for five municipalities approved
(RTK2 & Klan Kosova)
On Wednesday, Kosovo Assembly budget and finance committee reviewed the 2016 budget for the municipalities of Gllogovc/Glogovac, Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north, Leposavic/Leposaviq, Zubin Potok, and Zvecan/Zveçan. Although these municipalities had approved their budgets in February, the Committee approved them with some recommendations.
Committee members had several remarks, particularly about the high number of employees in education sector in northern municipalities. Committee members pledged to strictly monitor budgets of these municipalities.
The budgets were approved with the majority of votes. Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north municipality will have a budget of 4.97 million Euros, while the other northern municipalities will have smaller budgets.
Another Vetëvendosje activist arrested
(Klan Kosova)
Kosovo Police arrested Vetëvendosje activist Ramadan Deliu, who was taking part in a meeting in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica.
Vetëvendosje reported that the reason why Deliu was arrested for his participation in a political action against EULEX seven years ago.
