Foreign Affairs MEPs call for visa free travel for Kosovo
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
MPs of Kosovo Assembly discussed on Thursday, among other topics, the issue of demarcation with Montenegro, which is one of the two remaining conditions for visa liberalisation. However the debate escalated into accusations between Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli and Vetëvendosje Movement chairperson, Visar Ymeri, KTV reported.
The debate on demarcation was initiated by Vetëvendosje MPs during the issues raised beyond the parliamentary agenda.
LDK MP Shpejtim Bulliqi requested from Speaker Veseli to organise a meeting between the state commission on demarcation, MPs and civil society. According to him, they would analyse all the facts in order to find a solution to the issue.
Replying to him, Veseli said that the issue of demarcation will reach the Assembly soon and he is ready to organise a roundtable on this matter. However, he stressed that they have not received any material on the border demarcation from the Government.
The statement of Speaker Veseli triggered the reaction of Vetëvendosje chairperson Visar Ymeri. He accused the institutional leaders of Kosovo for reaching the agreement on demarcation for personal profits.
Ymeri stressed that the agreement on demarcation should not be not be ratified and, as he said, it must not be submitted to the Assembly, too.
After Ymeri’s speech, Speaker Veseli complained that opposition MPs are not allowing MPs of the ruling coalition to express freely. According to him, parliamentary decisions should be made after the debate on certain issues has been exhausted and no one can impose decisions to MPs.
All broadcasters reported that in Thursday’s session, the MPs approved on first reading Amendment to the budget law for 2016.
The debate on the Assembly of Kosovo occurred on the same day when the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) voted in favour of granting Kosovo a visa free regime with EU, all broadcasters reported.
European Parliament’s Vice-President Ulrike Lunacek, after the voting, called upon Kosovo politicians to make the necessary final steps and to open the door for visa-free travel.
“Now the ball is in the court of Kosovo parliament and government. I really regret that there is no sufficient progress as regards the fulfilment of the last two criteria: First of all this is the still pending ratification of the border agreement with Montenegro in the Assembly. And the Kosovo government has to deliver further progress on the track record of high level convictions for corruption and organized crime,” said Lunacek.
AFET’s opinion was welcomed by Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi, Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and European Integration Minister, Bekim Çollaku.
On the other hand, Assembly speaker Kadri Veseli had a telephone conversation with EP Visa Liberalisation Rapporteur Tanja Fajon about visa liberalisation. Veseli stressed that this process should be concluded as soon as possible and added that Fajon repeated her readiness to help Kosovo face with the challenges ahead.
214 Serb to return to Kosovo
(RTK2 & Klan Kosova)
Kosovo Ministry for Returns and Communities announced that it authorized the return of 214 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in municipalities of Strpce/Shtërpcë, Pej/Pec and Gjilan/Gnijlane and also authorized the construction of ten houses for Serb families in the village of Mushtisht, Suhareka/Suvareka municipality.
The ministry, through a press release issued on Thursday, announced that in the next period it will also approve the list of 50 Serb IDP families that will return to the municipalities of Istog/Istok and Obiliq/Obilic. According to the ministry, the number of houses which will be built for Serbs IDPs in the next months will be over 100.
The return of IDPs was approved in Thursday’s meeting of the Steering Council of the project “Return and Reintegration in Kosovo”, which was attended by Kosovo Minister for Returns and Communities Dalibor Jevtic.
Minister Jevtic said that concrete steps have been agreed with Kosovo Police Director, Shpend Maxhuni, to improve the security situation in areas of returnees.
Assembly committee interviews Alma Lama and Hajdin Abazi
(KTV)
Kosovo Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee interviewed on Thursday the proposed candidates for Kosovo Ambassadors in Italy and Sweden, namely Alma Lama and Hajdin Abazi.
LDK MP Alma Lama refused to answer the questions made by Committee member, Vetëvendosje MP Puhije Demaku. Lama said that MP Demaku has not distanced herself from, according to her, the sexist language of a Vetëvendosje MP used against her. She did not reveal which Vetëvendosje MP she was referring, but it is believed that she was suggesting on Fisnik Ismajli, KTV reported.
On the other hand, MP Demaku expressed her disbelief that this was the real reason behind Lama’s refusal. According to Demaku, Lama is not well prepared for the Ambassador’s position.
While Hajdin Abazi, proposed for Kosovo’s Ambassador to Sweden, said that he was satisfied with the interview.
He said that his political past will not present any problem in his performance as Ambassador, adding that he will be open for cooperation.
Rrahmani requests resignation of all of managers involved in ‘stent’ affair
(KTV)
Kosovo Minister of Health, Imet Rahmani, openly requested resignation of all clinical managers, who are accused in the ‘stent’ affair for misuse of official position.
Minister Rrahmani, talking to KTV’s ‘Rubikon’ show, publicly urged managers of all medical clinics involved in the affair, to resign, as he said, for the sake of accountability. He expressed his belief that process is influenced by politics or individuals for their personal gain.
