Over 100 participants to attend the debate on demarcation
(TV21)
The Office of the Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli confirmed to TV21 that over 100 participants, including MPs, experts and members of civil society will attend the debate on demarcation with Montenegro scheduled to be held on 3rd of August in the Assembly of Kosovo. All the participants have confirmed their participation, including the head of the Governmental Commission for Border Demarcation with Montenegro, Murat Meha.
“50 participants are senior members from Kosovo’s highest institutions, who were involved in the demarcation process with Montenegro in one way or the other, while the other 50 participants are MPs of Kosovo Assembly”, reads the written statement of the Speaker’s Office to TV21, disclosing also details of the event.
“The head of the Governmental Commission for Border Demarcation with Montenegro, Murat Meha has positively responded to the invitation. At the beginning of the debate, members of this Commission will elaborate their work in front of other participants. After this, the group of experts proposed by MP Shpejtim Bulliqi, will present their arguments against the current version of the agreement and in the end, the professional debate will be open for comments from other experts and MPs. The debate will start at 10:00”, clarifies the Office of Speaker Veseli.
TV21 reported that the invitations have been sent out on behalf of Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli.
On the other hand, opposition parties continue to insist that they have facts which indicate that the current agreement on demarcation violates Kosovo’s territoriality.
Turkey asks Kosovo to punish journalist over coup comments
(All monitored broadcasters, TV21)
The Embassy of Turkey to Kosovo urged Kosovo authorities to arrest the owner of the news-portal ‘Gazeta Express’ Berat Buzhala, and punish him for the satirical comments he made against the Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan during the military coup in Turkey.
On 20 July, Turkey’s Embassy in Prishtinë/Pristina, through an official letter, requested from Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take action against the journalist Berat Buzhala for the Facebook comments he made about the failed military coup in Turkey.
As the failed coup unfolded on July 15, Buzhala, a leading Kosovo journalist known for his satirical comments, wrote on Facebook: “I invite the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo who are holidaying in Turkey to align with the army.”
On the other hand, t Buzhala says that he does not feel threatened by such a request.
“They were satirical comments. I simply do not like Erdogan and satire is the only way to show their real face,” Buzhala said.
The Association of Kosovo Journalists (AKJ) through a press release issued on Tuesday strongly condemned the request of the Turkish Government which calls Kosovo authorities to arrest and punish journalist Berat Buzhala.
AKJ called upon the authorities to expel Turkish Ambassador to Kosovo, Kivilcim Kiliç. “An ambassador, who calls for journalists to be arrested and punished, is unacceptable to our community,” reads AKJ’s condemnation.
AAK and the Prishtinë/Pristina-based media group ‘Koha’ have also strongly condemned the request of the Turkish Government.
Kosovo’s Foreign Ministry did not want to comment on the issue. Deputy FM Valon Muretzaj said that the Foreign Ministry is a gateway for communication with all embassies which operate in Prishtinë/Pristina and, according to him this issue is now with the responsible institutions.
International media outlets, such as Reuters, Daily Mail, New York Times and other media, reported about the request of the Turkish Government to arrest journalist Berat Buzhala.
Kosovo Assembly Committee criticizes the Government
(KTV)
The current Government of Kosovo has not proceeded any security related draft-law. Assembly Committee for Security and Supervision of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) did not handled any new law, KTV reported. Vetëvendosje MP Rexhep Selimi, who is also member of this Committee, blamed the Government for the situation, while emphasizing the importance of the Law on transformation of KSF to Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF) and the law for early retirement of policemen.
According to Selimi, the Committee could have done more in the legislation for the transformation of KSF to KAF. “We are ready to do more if the government would be ready to proceed the laws,” Selimi said.
But the presiding chairperson of this committee, Fadil Demaku reacted promptly. He said that the Committee has fulfilled its agenda and there were no delays.
According to Demaku the transformation of KSF to KAF is mainly a political issue and it’s not so much dependent on the Committee.
On the other hand, LDK MP Nuredin Ibishi said, regarding the transformation of KSF to KAF, that convincing Srpska List is the main issue as they are under pressure by Belgrade.
Idrizi: Courts in north to be reopen by October
(KTV &Klan Kosova)
Over 1.500 persons have applied for 115 administrative vacancies in the Basic Court in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë. Almost all applicants are Serbs who according to the Agreement on judiciary are eligible to work there. There is huge interest from the Serb minority about the judge and prosecutor vacancies, but Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) failed so far to appoint the 48 judges as most of the candidates did not met the required criteria.
Therefore, KJC has opened the call for 14 vacancies for judges, Klan Kosova reported.
The implementation of the Agreement on integrating the north into Kosovo’s justice system has been delayed as the deadline for their opening was November 2015.
KJC chairperson, Nehat Idrizi, said that preparations on reopening of the courts are ongoing.
“This process will be finalized by October,” said Idrizi, after a meeting he had on Tuesday with Kosovo Minister of Justice, Dhurata Hoxha.
On the other hand, MinisterHoxha said that the Agreement on judiciary reached between Prishtinë/Pristina and Belgrade in Brussels is in compliance with the applicable laws of Kosovo and the Constitution. She also emphasized that Kosovo judiciary is independent from the politics.
Asked about the announced amendment of the Criminal Code, Minister Hoxha said that there will be a revision of the difficulties in implementing some of the articles, and, according to her, after this revision the necessary changes will be proposed, KTV reported.
Police arrests two terrorism suspects
(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)
Kosovo Police carried out two raids in Pejë/Pec region on Tuesday and arrested two individuals suspected of inciting terrorism. Police confirmed the operation.
The two arrested individuals are suspected of propagating and inciting terrorism in Kosovo and influencing Kosovo citizens to join terrorist groups.
