Thaçi promises sooner establishment of the Association

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV) 

At a time when the teargas has been forgotten and intensity of opposition protest has fallen, Hashim Thaçi pledges that the Association of Serb majority municipalities will be implemented very soon.

During a meeting with Members of the European Parliament, he said that a special commission, based on the Kosovo Constitution and laws, will be created for establishment of the Association of Serb majority municipalities.

President Thaçi further highlighted that the Agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro, as an obligation prior to free movement of Kosovars, will also be ratified.

However, EU MPs were very much interested about another obligation of Kosovo.

“So far we are pleased with the enthusiasm and the will of Kosovars to tackle on these issues and it is no secret that the European Parliament, although divided, it supports European perspective of Kosovo. We are very interested to hear more about how the Kosovo government will fight organised crime and corruption, and how will it improve situation of judiciary in this country and how ill it solve issues related to freedom of the press. Of course, we also want to see how the agreement on demarcation with Montenegro will be achieved, as it is one of the visa liberalisation conditions,” stated Tonino Picula, representative of the European Parliament delegation.

The European Parliament MPs were also received by Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, who highlighted that Stabilisation and Association Agreement is the contractual bases of Kosovo with the European Union. In the meeting with the Prime Minister, discussions focused on concrete steps that the Government is taking on SAA implementation, in order for it to give the expected results in all spheres of life.

During Monday afternoon, EU MPs also met with Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli, who told them that Kosovo has started a new chapter in fulfilment of European integration aspirations.

Lunacek happy about European achievements of Kosovo

(All monitored broadcasters, TV21) 

During her visit to Kosovo, Vice President of the European Parliament Ulrike Lunacek said that Kosovo opposition should support issues which are related to the European integrations.

“I was really happy to see that Kosovo admitted in UEFA and FIFA with a convincing majority of votes. I hope that one day there will be a football match between Kosovo and Serbia without any protest, or something else. When it comes to the other positive thing, that is visa liberalisation, we are aware that the green light has been given by the European Commission. Now, the ball is in the hands of the Government and the Assembly of Kosovo to close these two necessary issues, delineation of the borderline with Montenegro, for which MPs of the Kosovo Assembly must vote, and prosecution and sentencing of high level corrupt officials. I hope we will be able to persuade all the MPs to take part in the decisions on the future of Kosovo and to end the blockade of important processes,” Lunacek stated.

Speaking about the process of talks with Serbia, Lunacek urged both countries to implement agreements reached thus far.

Lunacek also said that great progress has been achieved in Kosovo; however, according to her, lot more work needs to be done.

Krasniqi to Lunacek: Opposition is not obstructing integrations

(KTV) 

Head of Nisma për Kosovën National Council Jakup Krasniqi reacted against the statements of the European Parliament Member Ulrike Lunacek, who urged the opposition to support Kosovo’s integration processes

“Opposition has contributed in all the processes related with European issues. The problem does not lay with the opposition, but with the governing coalition, which has not dealt seriously with any European issues for a while”, Krasniqi stated.

“If take numbers into account, the opposition cannot make any single hindrance to the Government, as not even a vote of the opposition obstructs it in decision-making,” Krasniqi added in his reaction. 

Çitaku: Kosovo will implement each agreement achieved in Brussels

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Kosovo’s Ambassador in the United States, Vlora Çitaku, said that Kosovo will implement each agreement achieved in Brussels between Kosovo and Serbia. She made these comments in the United Nations Security Council’s meeting where the Kosovo report was discussed.

Çitaku also mentioned the statement of Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, who compared Kosovo to ISIS.

“How can we say that we are normalising relations when the Serbian President compares Kosovo to ISIS? Kosovo is a European country which aspires to become part of EU. The attempt to label us for something that we are not is low and inaccurate,” Çitaku stated.

The US Ambassador David Pressman also said that Kosovo’s comparison with ISIS is counterproductive and that US thanks Kosovo for its international fight against ISIS. He also said that the number of UNMIK employees in Kosovo must decrease.

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic once again complained that Prishtinë/Pristina is not undertaking the necessary steps to implement agreements reached in Brussels.

Dacic: Rights of Kosovo Serbs continue to be violated

(TV21)

Serbian Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic, in his speech in front of the United Nation Security Council members, said that the rights of Serbs in Kosovo continue to be violated, which, as he said, hampers also the return of displaced Serbs.

According to Dacic, the political crisis in Kosovo hinders the economic development and undermines the safety of Serbs.

Maric to explain his statements to PM Mustafa

(KTV)

Kosovo Minister of Local Government Administration, Ljubomir Maric, is expected to soon give explanations about his statements against Kosovo’s admission in UEFA and FIFA and criticism he made against his superior.

Bajram Gecaj, Deputy Minister of Local Government Administration, told KTV that Minister Maric’s statements are unacceptable and they go beyond his responsibilities; therefore, PM Isa Mustafa will meet him about this.

Political analysts find statements of the Minister Maric racist. They say that his dismissal should follow for this.

Lawyer Arianit Koci says that the Serb Minister is only articulating the stance of majority of Serbs in Kosovo. According to him, this is the easiest way to understand their aim.

Minister Maric’s dismissal was also requested by Fjala Party of MP Gëzim Kelmendi and the political analyst Lumir Abdixhhiku.

AAK looks into its decision for Assembly boycott

(RTK1)

AAK MP Pal Lekaj said that AAK will look into its decision whether to attend Assembly sessions on demarcation issue with Montenegro, or not.

“We have a decision that we will not attend Assembly sessions. In the next days we will consider if this decision needs to be changed for the better of the country,” said MP Lekaj.

On the other hand, PDK caucus leader Adem Grabovci called on opposition parties to give up boycott, and as he said, violence in the Assembly. He requested from the opposition parties to return to the Assembly and present facts about the demarcation issue.

Zgjim Hyseni of Vetëvendosje Movement said that they will try to prevent ratification of demarcation with Montenegro, by all means.