Haliti: International intervention is needed to settle the demarcation

(RTK1)

Kosovo Assembly Deputy Speaker, Xhavit Haliti doubts that the ruling coalition has the necessary votes to ratify the demarcation with Montenegro. In an interview with RTK1, Haliti considers the intervention of internationals on this issue as necessary.

“I don’t believe that the ruling coalition has the votes to ratify the demarcation. It is even difficult for the ruling coalition to pretend that it has the votes. If the demarcation is sent to the Assembly and it fails to receive the necessary votes, it will have severe consequences for Kosovo itself and for Kosovo politicians, who have dragged the international community on this matter,” said Deputy Speaker Haliti.

Moreover, he considers the intervention of internationals as necessary, noting that Kosovo will suffer consequences if it makes its relation worse with the international partners, including Montenegro.

“Montenegro is in NATO and whoever harms Montenegro, will be in trouble with NATO,” Haliti emphasized.

Hoxhaj: Verbal note of Turkey unacceptable

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Kosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj said that the verbal note of the Turkish Embassy in Prishtinë/Pristina sent to Foreign Ministry regarding Facebook comments of journalist Berat Buzhala is unusual, unacceptable, and an over-reaction.  Minister Hoxhaj told Radio Free Europe that Kosovo respects freedom of speech and freedom of expression. He considered Berat Buzhala’s Facebook comments as sarcastic and without any political goals.

Hoxhaj confirmed to have told to the Turkish Ambassador, that neither Kosovo Government nor anyone else can interfere in the work of judiciary.

He stressed that Kosovo is thankful to Turkey for its big support, but underlined that the verbal note is unacceptable.

Also Kosovo Chief State Prosecutor Aleksander Lumezi said that there are no criminal elements in the posting of Berat Buzhala.

Amendment of Criminal Code announced

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Kosovo Minister of Justice, Dhurata Hoxha, Chief State Prosecutor Aleksander Lumezi and Kosovo Prosecutorial Council head Blerim Isufaj have agreed to establish a working group for reforming Kosovo’s Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code.

Increasing of the cooperation between these institutions, further enhancement of the fight against corruption, organized crime and terrorism, were the main topics of the trilateral meeting.

Chief State Prosecutor Lumezi said that over 33 corruption cases are under investigation and according to him 19 corruption indictments have been filed to Kosovo courts, which will be processed with priority.

He also announced that Office for Interceptions within the Office of Chief Prosecution will be re-functionalised in September.

Srpska List continues to oppose the establishment of Kosovo Armed Forces

(KTV)

Kosovo might have an army with complete capacities, but it will not have the name Army nor Armed Forces.

Failure to convince Srpska List, the ruling partner of LDK and PDK, to vote the transformation of Kosovo Security Force (KSF) to Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF), forced Kosovo institutions to give up from naming the force temporarily, but rather aiming for this force to have the full capacities.

LDK MP Nuredin Ibishi, who is also a member of the Assembly Committee on Internal Affairs, Security and Oversight of KSF, said that  currently it is impossible to convince Srpska List to vote for transformation of the KSF into an KAF. According to Ibishi, this issue is likely to come soon to the Kosovo Assembly. He also said that maybe the name of the KSF will not be changed but only some laws, while the Constitution should not be amended.

But, Vetëvendosje MP Rexhep Selimi does not trust these statements. According to him political parties have continuously used this issue for their interests.  However, for Vetëvendosje, the name of the Force is not important but they would not accept anything less than an Army.

KTV tried to contact KSF Ministry and Government officials, but communication with them was impossible.

Few days ago, Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, related the transformation of KSF to KAF with the demarcation issue, but this was strongly opposed by opposition MPs and security experts. Moreover, even LDK MPs admitted that these two issues are not interlinked.

Seven opposition MPs to appear at the court soon 

(KTV)

According to a report of Kosovo Judicial Council, there are 1258 unsolved cases from 2015 in the Basic Court in Prishtinë/Pristina.

However, the case against four opposition MPs accused for firing teargas in the Assembly, was sent to the court immediately after the indictment was raised.  But only two sessions have been held since then on this case.

Court of Appeals reconfirmed decision to reject the complaints of the four defendants, which opened the way for the case to be sent to main court hearing, KTV reported.

To the Basic Court in Prishtinë/Pristina suspension of all proceedings since February 2016 in the case involving Vetëvendosje MPs Albin Kurti, Donika Kadaj-Bujupi, Albulena Haxhiu and Faton Topalli, is a regular procedure. The main hearing regarding this case, according to the Court is expected to be scheduled soon.

Besides these four Vetëvendosje MPs, prosecution has also raised charges against two other MPs of this political entity and an MP of Nisma but no session has been held so far. However, the Court confirmed that the trial will start after one month.

Prosecution accuses the seven opposition MPs for the following criminal acts: using dangerous gears and obstructing official persons in performing official duties.

Lack of quorum postpones Assembly Committee meeting

(RTK1)

The meeting of the Kosovo Assembly Budget and Finance Committee failed due to the lack of quorum. Out of 11 members of this Committee, only three members were present in the meeting.  Chairperson of this Committee, Naser Osmani said that the meeting has been postponed for 01 August.

Among other topics, the committee was planned to review and discuss the financial Report of the Radio Television Kosovo, for the period January-June 2016 and the Program of expenditures of RTK, for the period July-September 2016.

Postponement of this meeting concerned the management of RTK that expects the allocation of the funds for the second quarter to be done by Monday.

Mayor Ahmeti appoints three new municipal directors

(TV21)

The Mayor of Prishtinë/Pristina Municipality, Shpend Ahmeti, appointed three new directors in the municipality. Salih Zyba has been appointed as Director of the Inspectorate, Besart Vllahinja as Director of Culture and Ferat Makolli as Director of the Agriculture Directorate.