Zbogar: Ratification should not be done only for the visa liberalisation

(KTV)

EU Special Representative in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, said in an interview with KTV’s show Rubikon that the ratification of the agreement on demarcation with Montenegro should not be done only for visa liberalization, as, according to him, this would damage the European Union.

Zbogar said that ratification of the demarcation should be done only if all parties are convinced that everything is fine with the agreement. Among other topics, Zbogar said that Brussels dialogue will resume as soon as the new Government in Serbia is established, noting that the elections in Serbia and the political crisis in Kosovo have delayed this process.

He also said that all the conditions for the establishment of the Special Court have been fulfilled, except the ratification of this agreement by the Netherlands.

Haradinaj threatens with protests against demarcation

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

 AAK chairperson, Ramush Haradinaj announced new wave of protest against the ratification of the current agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro.   He said that Kosovo Prime Minister Mustafa is panicking, as, according to him, he is aware that the demarcation will not be ratified.

 During a press conference held on Tuesday, Haradinaj reiterated that the border with Montenegro has been moved within the territory of Kosovo. However, he expressed his confidence that PM Mustafa and the other MPs will be convinced of this fact on the debate which will be held on August 3.

 Haradinaj considered the news that was earlier reported in the media that allegedly the demarcation with Montenegro was decided and set up by NATO, as Government’s propaganda.

 Nevertheless, Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa continues to insist that Kosovo and Pejë/Pec will not lose any square meter from the current demarcation.  PM Mustafa called upon all, to carefully read the basic documents of the declaration of independence, which was declared on the basis of territory that Kosovo had in the boundary lines of 31 December 1988.

 President Thaçi receives the credentials from the new ambassador of Italy

(Most monitored broadcasters, RTV21)

 Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi received on Tuesday the credentials from the new Italian Ambassador to Kosovo, Piero Cristoforo Sardi.

 According to a press release issued by the President’s Office, Thaçi welcomed Ambassador Sardi whom he congratulated on assuming the new post and expressed his readiness to deepen the good relations with Italy.

 The new Italian ambassador to Kosovo, Sardi thanked President Thaçi for the hospitality and said that Italy will continue to support Kosovo in its Euro-Atlantic path.

 Ethnically motivated incidents hamper reconciliation

(RTK2)

 Ethnically motivated incidents in Kosovo, greatly contribute to a climate of fear and limited freedom of movement and to the access to basic rights for non-majority communities, in particular for the Serb community, was stated in a debate held in Prishtinë/Pristina, during the presentation of a report called “Potentially Ethnically Motivated Incidents in Kosovo – an ugly story that has never been told”.

 The author of this report, Nenad Maksimovic, who is also the executive director of the non-governmental organization “Centre for Peace and Tolerance”, said that the aim of the report is to shed some light on hate crimes in Kosovo, which, as he said, are hampering reconciliation and the inter-ethnic cooperation. Maksimovic emphasized that justice institutions do not properly investigate hate crimes.

 Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister, Branimir Stojanovic also called on judiciary system to react faster and more efficiently to hate crimes.

 Representative of Kosovo Police, Colonel Fahredin Verbovci, requested a greater partnership between citizens and other institutions in order, as, he said, to have more efficient results in fighting this phenomenon. He emphasized the need to carefully deal with this issue, as, according to him, quite often non-ethnically motivated incidents are regarded as hate crimes.

 On the other hand, Deputy PM Stojanovic said that Serb citizens do not trust Kosovo Police, noting that 65 % of Gracanica/Graçanicë residents do not trust law enforcement institutions.

 The report recommends to the international organisations in Kosovo to make available to the public, the number and type of ethnically motivated incidents. While, to the Government of Kosovo, the report recommends the establishment of a special investigative unit within Kosovo Police that will deal with the ethnically motivated attacks.

 Government denies any involvement in drafting a media regulation

(KTV)

 Government of Kosovo denied to have launched a legislative initiative on child protection in the reports of audio-visual, print and online media.  The draft-regulation which was sent by UNICEF to the Association of Kosovo Journalists (AKJ) and Press Council of Kosovo (PCK) has been harshly opposed by these two institutions, as they consider it illegal and as an attempt to exercise control over the media.

 The international organisation that also works in Kosovo since the end of conflict, UNICEF has acted against the law, while drafting a regulation for protection of children in media reports, KTV reported.

 Article five of the Law for legal initiatives stipulates that a legislative initiative can be undertaken by the President, Assembly, Government and at least 10,000 citizens with the right to vote.

 However, during Tuesday, UNICEF was not ready to provide any clarification on this issue, KTV reported. But, legal experts consider this regulation as unnecessary.

 AKJ says that the Government should instead support more the Press Council of Kosovo (PCK), which already has a regulation on child protection.

 Representative of the Coalition of NGOs for Child Protection in Kosovo – KOMF, said that they have not been invited to give their contribution in drafting this regulation, however they emphasize that such regulations should be drafted after the Law has been approved.

 On the other hand, Kosovo Government denied any involvement in drafting this regulation, while AKJ states that they did not receive any official clarification from the Government on this issue.

 Head of AKJ, Shkelqim Hysenaj said that the Government should report the usage of its logo and the name of Prime Minister Isa Mustafa by UNICEF in this regulation.