Bahtiri takes credit for changing Tsar Lazar’s statue location
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
The statue of Tsar Lazar was placed on Sunday midnight in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north. It was placed at a roundabout in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north downtown. Albanian representatives in the north consider this action as a provocation against Albanians living in this area. Mitrovicë/Mitrovica south mayor Agim Bahtiri is taking the credit for change of statue’s location.
Everything is ready for Serbia to celebrate the so-called Battle of Kosovo at the northern part of the country, KTV reported. Works on the giant statue of Tsar Lazar’s are ending.
Albanian municipal councillors, who raised their voice against the decision of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north municipal assembly for placement of this statue, consider this a provocation and an attempt to tension relations between Albanians and Serbs.
Head of the Council for Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) branch in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica thinks that Kosovo Government is to be blamed for this situation in the north.
Mayor of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica south, Agim Bahtiri, does not like placement of this statue, either. Still, Bahtiri said he managed to stop placement of this statue in vicinity to the Ibër Bridge, which would not allow free movement with vehicles in both parts of the town. “That statue had to be built at the middle of Ibër Bridge. Works had already started on it. With my persistence and the persistence of the internationals it was removed from there,” Bahtiri stated.
For Kosovo Government officials, statues of the dead many centuries ago cannot return the living to Kosovo.
Faton Abdullahu, advisor to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, said that Kosovo Government is dedicated to respect culture and heritage of all communities of Kosovo, but always based on the laws, Constitution and principles upon which Kosovo was built.
Kosovo Government did not respond if the Director of the Serbian Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric, who will inaugurate Tzar Lazar’s statute, has permission to enter Kosovo.
Through a press release issued, Kosovo Police said that on 28 June, on the occasion of the Orthodox feast St. Vitus, it will redirect the traffic for vehicles Prishtinë/Pristina-Mitrovicë/Mitrovica road.
Tsar Lazar’s statue triggers reactions
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Vetëvendosje Movement chairperson, Visar Ymeri, reacted against the placement of Tsar Lazar’s statue in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north.
He said that this demonstrates the chauvinistic character of ‘Zajednica’, referring to the Association of Serb majority municipalities, as a project. According to Ymeri, these kinds of projects of Serbia would have no room in Kosovo without the troika of collaborators – Isa Mustafa, Kadri Veseli and Hashim Thaçi.
He believes that these politicians, for their personal authority, are paving the way to Serbian authority in Kosovo.
Former Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo Jakup Krasniqi also reacted against this statue. He accused PM Mustafa and President Hashim Thaçi making it possible for Serbs to place Tsar Lazar’s statue with the talks held with Serbia.
Kosovo MPs visit Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north
(RTK1)
Visits of Kosovo MPs to Mitrovica/Mitrovica north are rare. But on Monday, members of Kosovo Assembly Committee on Internal Affairs and Security decided to visit this part of Kosovo which is mainly inhabited by Serbs.
Escorted by Kosovo Police, during the meetings they had with security structures in the north, MPs expressed their interest on several issues related to this problematic part of Kosovo.
PDK MP Fadil Demaku inquired about the main challenges of Kosovo Police in this area. On the other hand, PDK MP Ganimete Musliu said that several vehicles without registration plates circulate in the north. She asked about the approach Kosovo Police will take against drivers of these vehicles.
Vetëvendosje Movement MP Rexhep Selimi said that the fact they had to be escorted by Police to the north demonstrates the real situation in this part of Kosovo. He considers the situation to be far from normal.
Nevertheless, Kosovo Police representatives welcomed the visit of MPs.
MPs promised further engagement to improve conditions for Kosovo Police. According to them, this directly impacts the improvement of security situation in this area.
KIPRED: Kosovo institutions failed to prevent Islamic radicalism
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
A research conducted by KIPRED Institute, dubbed “The impact of religion on the ethnic identity in the state-building period,” concluded that Kosovo institutions and political parties have failed to prevent Islamic radicalism, although they had a legal obligation to do so.
KIPRED executive director, Lulzim Peci, said that the law on religious communities should be adopted as soon as possible in order, which, according to him, should define the position of these communities in Kosovo’s secular constitutional order and their financial accountability.
“Government institutions and political leaders should present a common public discourse which would promote secular identity and religious coexistence among Kosovo Albanians,” Peci said.
Grujic leaves New Serb Party, announces establishment of a new political party
(Klan Kosova)
Aleksandar Grujic resigned the post of the head of New Serb Party of Kosovo. Grujic made this public through a statement where he says that he did not agree with his closest collaborators and that he will establish a new party.
Grujic said that 30 other branches have left the New Serb Party.
