Djuric requests mechanism for return of usurped property to IDPs

(RTK2)

Regional conference on durable solutions for internally displaced persons from Kosovo is being held in Belgrade. Director of the Serbian Office for Kosovo Marko Djuric, Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia Peter Burkhard, and the UNHCR Representative for the Southeast Europe, Andrew Mayne attended the conference.

Djuric said that currently there are 204,049 IDPs from Kosovo in Serbia. He stressed that the return of Serbs and other non-Albanians is limited lacking a mechanism for the return of usurped property.

On the other hand, online edition of KTV quoted Djuric as saying that ‘Sunny Valley’ project is being implemented together with the Kosovo Ministry for Communities and Return, Raska-Prizren Eparchy, and the local authorities. He emphasized that ‘Sunny Valley’ project is also supported by the international community

Kosovo Minister for Communities and Return Dalibor Jevtic said that “Sunny Valley’ project provides positive answers to all key questions raised by IDPs such as: where and in what conditions will they live, will they have employment opportunities, -and will they be safe and secure to return.

According to UNHCR Representative for the Southeast Europe, Andrew Mayne, the international stakeholders should take over the responsibility for this process, draft clear strategies and assist in capacity building and coordination of activities.

The Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Peter Burkhard, considers implementation of the Skopje Initiative as the most important part of the process that will lead to tangible solutions for Kosovo IDPs.

Burkhard said that the OSCE Mission will continue its commitment to this inter-institutional initiative.

This is the third high level regional conference. The second one was held last year in Budva, while the first one was held in 2014 in Skopje.

Agreement for extension of EULEX mandate reached

(Klan Kosova)

Online version of Klan Kosova reported that an agreement between the institutions of Kosovo and EULEX for extending the mandate of this Mission has been achieved.

According to this TV broadcaster, Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi and Prime Minister Isa Mustafa have reached agreement with the international representatives about modalities of future EULEX mandate.

Council of the European Union extends EULEX mandate

(All monitored broadcasters, RTK1 & KTV)

On Tuesday, Council of the European Union approved the decision to extend the mandate of EULEX in Kosovo, while it expects to continue negotiations with Kosovo authorities to explain details regarding this mandate.

With this decision, EU says it has concluded the internal part of its procedures to extend this mandate, KTV reported.

The EU sources said that the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, will respond to the letter sent by the President of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi regarding the extension on EULEX mandate.

According to EU, this exchange of letters is an already established procedure. In EU said that EULEX stance will be neutral to Kosovo status.

In the meantime, Kosovo public broadcaster (RTK) reported that EULEX’s budget will be 63.6 million Euros, which will be used for necessary operations until the end of the year, while from 14 December 2016 until 14 June 2017; the budget will be used for Specialist Chambers and Special Prosecutor’s Office.

From its sources within the Assembly, RTK learned that the draft law approved by the Government will not be proceeded for adoption at the Assembly as such, but the process should start from the beginning. As a result, the Government should meet again to approve the letter exchange and proceed it at the Assembly as an international agreement. The Assembly Presidency meeting is expected to be held after the letter exchange between Thaçi and Mogherini. MPs were announced to be ready for an extraordinary session.

National TV stations request change of regulation on broadcasters

(KTV)

Media disciplining of distributors is only one of the goals of the changes made in the drafting of regulation on Distribution of Audio and Audio-Visual Services, KTV reports.

Compilers of this draft said they have maximally tried to take earlier raised concerns into account. However, non-classification of the channels, which should enter the first list of channels by the cable operators was considers as injustice by media managers.

With the aim to avoid troubles in the future, changes were requested in Article 4 on author rights. There were also requests to also include other TV stations in the first channels’ list.

The issue of advertisement arrangement was criticized in this last public hearing. It was said that Radio and Television of Kosovo (RTK), which is paid by citizens’ taxes, should not be allowed to broadcast advertisements, as it is damaging private media.

The issue of signal transfer, which should be done by media itself, was also criticized.

KDI and AKJ launch manual for prevention of corruption in procurement

(KTV)

Corruption continues to remain the one of the key challenges of Kosovo’s state-building, affecting almost every aspect of it, KTV reported.

Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) says that public procurement is among these challenges. Starting from the procedural violations up to preparation of tenders, which, according to KDI, are rigged at the start for certain companies to win, are some of the issues which the public procurement encounters.

According to KDI, every year over 50 per cent of the state budget is spent in capital investments, goods and services, funds which are spent through procurement procedures.

Artan Canhasi of KDI considers the fight against corruption in this field of crucial importance. Therefore, KDI in co-operation with Association of Kosovo Journalists (AKJ) have launched the manual for prevention of corruption in public procurement.

AKJ chairperson Shkëlqim Hysenaj said that journalists should make use of the Law on Access to Official Documents and get acquainted with the Law on Public Procurement.

401 million Euros from the state budget have been spent through public procurement procedures over the course of last year.

Meucci: EULEX Mission cannot be qualified as failed

(TV21)

The outgoing Head of EULEX Mission in Kosovo, Gabrielle Meucci, told Radio Free Europe that ‘Kosovo laws and Constitution do not write that if you were a KLA commander you can commit any crime you want.

Meucci said that level of corruption in Kosovo does not differ from the other countries.

He also said that EULEX Mission cannot be called as failed, because any failure would also imply failure of Kosovo, which has this Mission attached to its justice system.

Daka ignores Assembly Committee

(Klan Kosova, RTV21)

Central Election Commission (CEC) chairperson Valdete Daka did not show up at the meeting of Kosovo Assembly Legislation Committee to report about CEC work.

Daka justified her absence by saying that she was not in Kosovo. This is the second time that Daka failed to report to this Committee about the work of the institution she leads.

On the other hand, the Committee approved several points of agenda, including the proposal of the Chief State Prosecutor for appointing the new member in the Steering Council of Kosovo Judicial Institute. Committee also discussed about the new member of Kosovo Judicial Council, who shall be elected by the Assembly of Kosovo.