New law on census in the north incites polemics
(KTV)
The refusal to respond to the census conducted five years ago has made initiation of a new law only for the Serbs of northern municipalities. However, this has incited many polemics and voices that this initiative is another step toward colonization of Kosovo from Serbia and that it is anti-constitutional.
Chairman of the Kosovo Assembly Committee on Public Administration, Zenun Pajaziti, says this census must happen as soon as possible. Moreover, he says that allocation of the budget for northern municipalities should be put under question as long as there is no accurate statistics about the number of people in these municipalities.
Demographists consider that a special census only for Serbs of northern municipalities can cause a crisis and that a similar practice, when censuses for specific ethnicities are conducted, is not recognised in any European country.
LDK MP Melihate Tërmkolli is also against a special law, which envisages registration of Serbs of the north.
Aside from being a recommendation of the EU, Government considers registration of Serbs in the northern Kosovo as integration of Serbs in the municipalities they live in, and where they make a majority.
CEC violates law on civil service
(KTV)
Since 2013 the Central Elections Commission (CEC) continues to function with acting civil servants in six managing positions. Whilst, according to the Law on Civil Service, the acting civil servants cannot work more than three months.
This is stated in the Auditor General’s report for 2015, which highlights that CEC has fully implemented only a little number of recommendations that Auditor General gave to it in 2015.
CEC, also, has not developed formal and documented procedures of identification and as a result of this a concrete register of risks is lacking.
The Auditor General’s Report also notes shortcomings in management of contracts in CEC, including the six managing positions, which continue to be held by the acting civil servants since 2013.
Volunteers work on “Sunny Valley”, despite Ministry’s decision
(Klan Kosova)
Decision of the Kosovo Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning to halt the works for construction of 300 houses, known as the “Sunny Valley” settlement, for the displaced Serbs is not being respected in Zvecan/Zveçan. Volunteers worked on Sunday in this location.
Except the volunteering students, residents of Zvecan/Zveçan also joined the works at the “Sunny Valley” settlement. One of them said that it was the reaction of Kosovo institutions that provoked him to do this work.
Director of Serbian Government Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric, said he was happy with this initiative. According to him, since the construction of this settlement was announced, dozens of people have offered voluntary work.
Haradinaj urges new negotiations regarding demarcation with Montenegro
(TV21)
The AAK MP Daut Haradinaj once again has urged negotiations regarding the border demarcation with Montenegro. He also requested from the Government to dismiss Murat Meha, Head of the Government’s commission for border demarcation, and to restart negotiations with Montenegro.
Haradinaj said that in case that demarcation issue will fail at the Assembly of Kosovo, then Montenegro might appeal at the Court of Arbitrary.
Deçan/Decane historians announce collective lawsuit again Constitutional Court judges
(TV21)
Chairmanship of the League of Historians “Ali Hadri” branch in Deçan/Decane will prepare a collective lawsuit against the Constitutional Court judges in relation to the decision of property dispute between the Municipality of Deçan/Decane and Apiko as well as Iliria enterprises at one hand, and Visoki Decani Monastery at the other hand.
