Demarcation to put the ruling coalition under test (Koha Ditore)
The paper anticipates that the ruling coalition between the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) will be put under strain once the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro is finalized due to the differences in view between the parties. The PDK has not yet come out with an official stance on the agreement although its former leader, Hashim Thaçi, was the one that signed the deal during his term in office as prime minister of Kosovo. Meanwhile, many PDK MPs have spoken out against the agreement with some even suggesting that the issue should be forwarded for international arbitration. The LDK, on the other hand, led by Isa Mustafa, has remained one of the staunchest and seemingly the only supporter of the border demarcation agreement.
Journalists condemn Turkey’s request to punish journalist Buzhala (dailies)
The Association of Kosovo Journalists (AKJ) reacted on Tuesday against the alleged request made by the Turkish embassy in Pristina to arrest Kosovo journalist Berat Buzhala for his Facebook comments on Turkey’s coup attempt. “The Association of Kosovo Journalists condemns the Turkish government request submitted by the Turkish embassy in Pristina to arrest and convict journalist Berat Buzhala. We consider this as a serious violation and we remind the Turkish embassy that journalists in Kosovo have the right to freedom of expression which should not be compromised by anyone since it is directly guaranteed by law and constitution. The Turkish embassy in Pristina should apologize for this outrageous act as soon as possible. We also urge the removal of the Turkish Ambassador Kilic Kivilcim from Kosovo, as an ambassador calling for the arrest and punishment of journalists is unacceptable to our community,” reads a statement by the AKJ.
Murtezaj: Kosovo acts in compliance with the law (Koha/RFE)
Kosovo’s Deputy Foreign Minister and advisor to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, Valon Murtezaj, told Radio Free Europe that Kosovo acts in compliance with its laws and regulations. Murtezaj’s statement followed an alleged request made by the Turkish embassy in Pristina to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo, to punish journalist Berat Buzhala with jail because of his Facebook comments on Turkey’s coup attempt. Reuters news agency claimed on Tuesday to have seen a note sent by the Turkish embassy urging for Buzhala’s punishment. On the other hand, Buzhala said his Facebook status where he calls on Kosovo holiday-makers in Turkey to align with the army, has had a sarcastic character. Also the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) through a press release condemned the Turkish embassy in Pristina for urging Buzhala’s arrest and punishment.
NISMA against the Croatia-Slovenia model of border demarcation (Bota Sot)
The statement of the head of Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) parliamentary group, Adem Grabovci, that the best solution for the border demarcation with Montenegro would be the Croatia-Slovenia model is being rejected by the opposition parties in Kosovo. Bilall Sherifi from the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) said that Grabovci does not know the details of the situation between Croatia and Slovenia with regards to their border demarcation and that no parallel can be drawn with the Kosovo-Montenegro case.
Mustafa and Veseli participate in International Leaders’ Forum (Epoka)
Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and Assembly President Kadri Veseli during their visit to the United States participated in the International Leaders’ Forum organized by the National Democratic Institute. This forum brings together international leaders to experience the convention and to learn about the U.S. political system. Mustafa and Veseli also met the former US Secretary Madeleine Albright and invited her to visit Kosovo and make a special address in the Kosovo Assembly.
“Kosovo government could have prevented the Kumanovo incident” (Telegrafi)
Kosovo Assembly Deputy Speaker and senior member of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Xhavit Haliti, during an interview with TV Dukagjini accused Interior Minister Skender Hyseni for ignoring the security commission and not clarifying things related to the armed incident that happened in Kumanovo, FYROM last year. Haliti said that the incident could have been prevented by the security institutions of Kosovo and FYR of Macedonia, adding that senior officials of both governments had information that could have prevented the incident. With regard to the border-demarcation agreement with Montenegro, Haliti said this issue should have been discussed and examined before it was signed by Kosovo officials. However, Haliti says he welcomes the debate on this issue scheduled for 3 August, because it may clarify a lot of things.
AAK and NISMA MPs risk losing their mandate (Zëri)
The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) MPs risk losing their mandates for not attending Kosovo Assembly sessions. It has been five months since these two parties are boycotting the work of the Assembly and if they don’t participate in any session during August, they will lose their mandates. Despite this, representatives of the AAK and NISMA told the paper they are not concerned over this issue. They explain that the reason for the boycott of the Assembly’s work is much more important than their mandate as MPs. According to the Constitution and Rules of the Assembly, the MP mandate ends if the member is absent from the Assembly for six months.
Kosovo takes action to prevent terrorist attacks (RFE/RTK)
Kosovo’s Interior Minister, Skender Hyseni, told Radio Free Europe that Kosovo has taken all necessary actions to “prevent possible terrorist attacks in the country.” Hyseni said there is no information for any plan for attacks within the territory of Kosovo, although he did not rule out the potential risk. “We have no concrete indication that Kosovo is endangered from such acts. In the meantime, we are cautious and are taking all measures to avoid any surprises,” Hyseni added.
