OSCE confirms consultations on holding of Serbian elections in Kosovo

(RTK2)

Spokesperson of the OSCE Mission in Prishtinё/Pristina, Senad Sabovic, said that consultations on the ways of holding the Serbian parliamentary elections in Kosovo are underway, where details on how these elections would be implemented would be determined.

Sabovic confirmed that responsible bodies from Serbia have sent a request to the OSCE regarding holding of elections on 24 April and consultations about this are underway, but he cannot reveal how these elections would be held.

However, there is experience from 2012 and 2014, Sabovic stated for Tanjug.

Jevtic: Political instability affects the return process

(Klan Kosova & RTK2)

A two-day meeting of the Technical Working Group for durable solutions of displaced persons chaired by the Kosovo Minister for Communities and Return Dalibor Jevtic is being held in Prishtinë/Pristina. The main topics of this meeting are security, dialogue and reintegration.

Minister Jevtic said that the unstable political situation in Kosovo affects return process of displaced persons to Kosovo, adding that the protests of the opposition are directed against Serbs and that everything that comes out of the Serb side is considered as negative.

“Main responsibility in this process, particularly about the security, lies with Kosovo institutions and the Albanian majority in Kosovo. I always emphasize this because Albanians as a majority must accept that displaced persons are entitled to return to their houses,” Jevtic said.

Jevtic considers the spread of Islamic radicalism in Kosovo particularly problematic threat for Kosovo society as a whole.

Jevtic said that Monday’s meeting aims to provide recommendations and determine the measures to solve all problems faced by returnees.

The OSCE representatives attended the meeting. They expressed their confidence that this year will be operational and it will bring concrete solutions regarding the issue of return of displaced people to Kosovo.

Senad Sabovic of OSCE said that the main topic of Monday’s meeting was to discuss framework documents adopted last year in Budva, which were defined as particularly important for the return and durable solutions for the displaced persons.

The main of goal of this meeting is to solve all issues the returnees face, including security and anything that is considered to be a negative phenomenon in returnee areas.

Apart from, Minister Jevtic, this  meeting is attended by representatives of the OSCE, UNHCR, Commissariat for Refugees and Displaced Persons of Serbia, representatives of the Office of the Government of Serbia for Kosovo, several representatives of Kosovo ministries, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare of Montenegro and Macedonia.

This conference will conclude on Tuesday. It is planned that technical working groups will meet several times during this year, whereas two meetings will be held at the high political level.

OSCE roundtable discussion on RTK financing held in Prizren

(RTK1)

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo invited civil society representatives and citizens in Prizren to debate finding of the ways for sustainable financing for the Kosovo public broadcaster. It was stated that this way should be in compliance with the European Union’s right for media.

Arben Hajredinaj of the OSCE Mission summarized some of the recommendations that were given by participants during the roundtable meetings.

“Recommendations are that Radio and Television of Kosovo (RTK) should be paid by the people; the Law on RTK to be adopted and the property to be returned to it, more precisely the RTV Prishtinë/Pristina property to be transferred to RTK; millions of Euros that are needed to RTK to be allocated by the budget, and to have presence of RTK staff members in each municipality,” Hajredinaj said.

On the other hand, the RTK Development Manager Menduh Hysa said that sustainable financing of the public broadcaster would impact on revitalisation and improvement of quality in programs of this medium.

RTK Deputy Director Elvana Prekazi elaborated the state of public broadcaster’s financing since its establishment. Except the financing issues, Prekazi also said that property issues are also following RTK.

PM Mustafa denounced to police for threatening reporter

(All monitored broadcasters, TV21)

Reporter Vehbi Kajtazi, founder of Insajderi portal, denounced Prime Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa to the police for threatening him after publication of the news that PM’s brother applied for asylum in France and Germany.

On the other hand, PM Mustafa denied to have threatened reporter Kajtazi, adding that he wants to have good relations with the media.

Association of Kosovo Journalists (AKJ) has called a protest for Tuesday to oppose the threat of PM Mustafa made against reporter Kajtazi. In their later news editions, broadcasters reported that AKJ will hold a peaceful protest on Monday at 11:30hrs in front of the Kosovo Government building, in Scanderbeg square of Prishtinë/Pristina.

Police did not want to comment this issue.

Opposition insists on government’s resignation

(TV21&KTV)

Kosovo opposition will not accept any other offer from the authority, except the date of early elections.

Acting PDK chairperson Kadri Veseli, who is also Kosovo Assembly Speaker, said last week that opposition will soon have a serious offer it will hardly refuse and that this will lead to solution of the political crisis in Kosovo.

Vetëvendosje Movement representatives qualify Veseli’s statements as statements of a person who is trying to impose himself as a leader. VV says that opposition is not there to make deals with offers, and that early elections are the only way out of the crisis. It expects on Government to reflect about this.

The AAK caucus leader Donika Kadaj-Bujupi said that the only thing that the authority could possibly offer is Government’s resignation, and the date of early elections.

When asked if the offer also implies extraordinary elections, Kadri Veseli did not confirm or deny this. KTV tried to contact PDK officials, but a response from them was impossible.

Quoting its sources, Koha Ditore reported that Kadri Veseli’s offer for opposition does not exclude early elections, but this offer will be made to opposition only after Hashim Thaçi becomes Kosovo President and Kadri Veseli is elected as PDK chairman.

Constitutional Court did not find violations in President’s election

(Klan Kosova)

The Constitutional Court is expected to publish its verdict on opposition’s request regarding election of Hashim Thaçi for Kosovo President on 26 February.

Klan Kosova learns that the verdict which will be made public soon will conclude that there were no violations of procedures and constitutionality during the voting of Thaçi for President. According to this broadcaster, this decision will open way to exchange of leadership in the Office of Kosovo President.

KIPRED: Kosovo justice with selective approach

(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)

High-level corruption continues to remain a challenge for Kosovo institutions. Fight of corruption is one of the conditions for visa liberalisation.

According to a report published by the Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED), which was published on Monday, the lack of lack of willingness to punish senior public officials and the selective approach of judiciary have brought Kosovo to a very unfavourable position in the fight against corruption.

These are the findings of KIPRED’s report “Non-punishment in Kosovo: Fight against High Profile Corruption.”

Ariana Qosja of KIPRED also said that Kosovo has problems in implementation of the Law on illegally gained assets. KIPRED report recommends that Special Prosecutors increase their transparency and accountability, in particular of prosecution of high-profile corruption cases.

Amendment of the Law on minor offences discussed

(Klan Kosova)

Kosovo Assembly committee on legislation, mandates and immunities reviewed the draft-law on minor offences. Aiming to improve this Law, the committee invited representatives of civil society, Ministry of Justice and Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) to a public hearing.

Committee deputy chairperson, Selvije Halimi considered this draft-law of particular importance. She advocated for amendment that regulates removal of prison sentence for minor offences and its substitution with another amendment which stipulates softer punishment measure.

Ministry of Justice representatives expressed their willingness to cooperate closer with this Committee on this matter, and considered substantial amendment of this draft-law necessary.

Welcoming the initiative for amendment of the Law in force, KJC representatives expressed their concern with the backlog of minor offence cases.