Regional cooperation required for return of displaced persons

(RTK2)

Third meeting in the row of the technical working group for identification of durable solutions for displaced persons from Kosovo was held on Wednesday in Prishtinë/Pristina. Institutional representatives from Prishtinë/Pristina, Belgrade, Podgorica and Skopje expressed their commitment to regional cooperation in offering assistance to the displaced persons from Kosovo.

This meeting represents continuation of the regional initiative for solution of issues of displaced persons from Kosovo. The overall goal of this project is to contribute to social and economic integration of displaced persons, who live in the margins of societies for a number of years and depend on the help of others, the UNHCR and OSCE representatives stated.

“The technical working groups looked into a number of issues, starting from property, to personal identification documents and safety of the displaced. We will make efforts to integrate all these issues into a joint draft document and start its implementation together,” said the UNHCR Regional Representative for South Eastern Europe, Andrew Mayne.

“This working group gives us the opportunity to review and develop activities in the field of data management. This meeting is vital for identification of displaced persons. Data exchange will ensure that all persons who are willing to return to Kosovo will be integrated in the areas they fled from,” stated Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Jean-Claude Schlumberger.

Minister for Communities and Returns at the Kosovo Government, Dalibor Jevtic, highlighted that until now it was worked without full coordination of all relevant institutions. “In order to reach tangible results, we have to work with joint efforts and approach this problem differently,” Jevtic considers.

Aside from the UNHCR, the OSCE and Kosovo officials, institutional representatives from Serbia, Montenegro and Skopje took part in this meeting.

“124 persons returned last year. There are some 400 displaced persons in Montenegro who want to return to Klinë/Klina or Pejë/Pec,” said Zeljko Sofranac, Director of the Montenegrin Directorate for Care of Refugees from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.

Except Prishtinë/Pristina, meetings were earlier organised in Skopje and Montenegro, whereas the next high political level meeting will be held in June in Belgrade.

Technical working group meetings will continue their work in Prishtinë/Pristina on Thursday.

Jevtic: We are working to return the displaced persons

(Klan Kosova)

During Wednesday’s session of Kosovo Assembly, PDK MP Raif Qela asked Kosovo Minister for Communities and Return, Dalibor Jevtic, about the measures taken to return the displaced Albanians from Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north.

“There are around 400 occupied flats of the Albanians in the northern part of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë town”, MP Qela said while addressing the question to Minister Jevtic.

Minister Jevtic did not provide a direct reply to this question.

“We are working with international organisations to solve this issue. Today and tomorrow we will have a regional conference on the issue of displaced persons, and we are working to return them to their properties”, Minister Jevtic said.

Assembly approves draft-law on prevention of money laundering

(All monitored broadcasters, TV21)

With 59 positive votes, 4 abstentions, and no vote against, the Assembly of Kosovo approved in principle the draft-law on prevention of money laundering and financing of terrorism.

Presenting the draft-law to MPs, Minister of Finances, Avdullah Hoti, said that fight against terrorism is closely related to Government program, which foresees a proactive approach on international cooperation for preventing money laundry.

Assembly also approved in principle the draft-law on Academy of Justice and the draft-law on driving license.

The afternoon part of the session was cancelled due to the lack of quorum in the chamber as only 57 MPs were present. Sabri Hamiti, chairman of the session, concluded that they cannot make any decision with only 57 MPs.

Commenting this situation, PDK caucus leader Adem Grabovci proposed that MPs who do not participate in the voting should not receive per diems.

At the end of the session, it was decided to continue with the remaining agenda points in the next plenary sessions.

Thaçi: Demarcation agreement will be ratified

(RTKLive)

During a visit to Gorazhdevc village of Pejë/Pec, President of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi said that Agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro will be ratified.

President Thaçi also added that everyone should look into the European agenda of Kosovo, and not the interest of the parties. Talking to Pejë citizens and businesses, Thaçi also said he does not consider the issue of demarcation as a cause.

Montenegrin Ambassador in Kosovo, Radovan Miljanic, also expressed his belief that this agreement. He said this issue will be in June in the Kosovo Assembly, and that he does not believe there will be any problems.

In this visit, Thaçi promised a new house to a Montenegrin family of Gorazhdevc, saying that it will start within a month and it will be financed by Kosovo institutions.

On the other hand, RTV21 reported that the opposition political parties continue to oppose this agreement, considering it harmful for Kosovo while the leaders of the ruling coalition parties say that the agreement must be approved by the Assembly.

US Congress urges administration to prepare Kosovo for Partnership for Peace

(Most monitored broadcasters, Klan Kosova)

US Congress, within the Defence Authorization Act framework, called on the American administration to work with Kosovo on preparing the latter to join NATO’s program Partnership for Peace (PfP), Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa announced through a post in his personal Facebook account.

“Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in Washington, informed me that the American Congress, within the framework of the Defence Authorization Act, yesterday called upon the American Administration to ‘work with the Republic of Kosovo and prepare the latter for admission in NATO’s program Partnership for Peace (PfP),” wrote PM Mustafa, expressing his gratitude to the US for their continuous support to Kosovo.

EBU to train RTK journalists

(RTK1)

Within the framework of the Journalism Academy of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), journalists of Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) will be trained by EBU trainers during the next six months, RTK reported.

According to Frederic Frantz of the Eurovision Academy, RTK senior journalists are being trained in order to become in-house trainers.

EBU representatives said that the main goal of these trainings is for RTK to have its own Journalism Academy and train its journalists.