ICK and CDHRF condemn attack against Velekincë mosque

(Most monitored broadcasters, Klan Kosova)

On Sunday afternoon hours, a Serb from Pasjan village demolished the minaret of the mosque in the nearby village of Velekincë.  The Imam of this mosque, Remzi Halimi, said that the perpetrator broke the door and entered into the mosque.

The perpetrator also offended the villagers in Serbian language, while demolishing the minaret.

Klan Kosova reported that on Monday OSCE members were also seen in Velekincë village, documenting the damages to the mosque.

Kosovo Mufti Naim Tërnava visited the mosque and strongly condemned this incident. Tërnava emphasized the fact that no local institution condemned this incident.

The case was confirmed by Kosovo Police, who said that the intervention of the Special Unit was necessary to put the situation under control.

Velekincë and Pasjan are two neighbouring villages in the municipality of Gjilan/Gnijlan, resided by Serb and Albanians, but so far they did not had such problems, Klan Kosova concluded.

Islamic Community of Kosovo (ICK) condemned the attack.

“Attacks against religious sites, irrespective of motives, are unacceptable and punishable acts. Such cases trigger hatred, impatience and violence, especially when religious or national symbols are attacked by a person from a different religion or nationality. We request from all to handle this case with due responsibility, by not silencing or inflating it,” the press release of ICK reads.

The Council for Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) also condemned this act.

“This vandalism carried out by an irresponsible person that insulted religious rights, as one of the fundamental human rights. We demand from the investigation authorities to take actions in line with the law,” reads CHDRF’s reaction.

Thaçi pays tribute to Serb youngsters killed 14 years ago

(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi paid a visit to the village of Gorazdevac/Gorazhdevc, Pejë/Pec municipality, where two Serb youngsters were killed about 14 years.

“Today, I laid a wreath at this memorial to recall the criminal attack against teenagers of the village of Gorazdevac/Gorazhdevc, 14 years ago, in which two youngsters were killed and another four wounded”, President Thaçi told journalists and added that “the right to life is a fundamental right for all”.

“The same right should also apply for about 400 Albanian children under the age of 15 who were killed by the Serbian state during the war”, President Thaçi said, stressing that “on the other hand, these children here were killed by criminal’s hand, not by the state”.

“Also, once again I insist that the fate of all missing persons, whether Albanian, Serb, Roma or any other community must be brought to light,” President Thaçi said.

During his visit to this village, President Thaçi met  and discussed with the Serb villagers, different from his previous visit in village of Grackë, Lipjan/Ljiplajne municipality, where local Serbs did not received  the President, Klan Kosova reported.

O’Connell: Nepotism and clientele destroy Kosovo

(All monitored broadcasters, RTK1)

On Monday, Kosovo Assembly and Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the British Embassy in Prishtinë/ Prishtina. The British Embassy will fund an independent company to lead the recruitment process for senior posts in public institutions of Kosovo. The goal of this memorandum is to strengthen the independence of public boards.

After the signature of this memorandum, the British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ruari O’Connell said that “nepotism and employment based on party’s relations is a cancer that is suffocating Kosovo”.

On the other hand, Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli, who was the central character of the wiretappings published on Monday, said that for sixteen years, nepotism has been a reality for Kosovo and urged for determination to change the current situation.

While Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, said that as of now only professionals will be leading Kosovo independent governmental agencies.

“It is in Kosovo’s interest to have qualified personnel. We are committed to working together and we will make changes based on the requests of our friends and public,” PM Mustafa emphasized.

Ambassador O’Connell said that the signature of this Memorandum will demonstrate if Kosovo leaders have the required determination to fight nepotism. He announced that the British company will make a short-list of candidates while Kosovo, as a sovereign state, shall have the responsibility to select the best candidates from the short-list of this company.

Talks on Kosovo telephony code continue in Brussels

(RTK1)

A new round of the technical dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia resumed on Monday in Brussels. Parties are discussing ways to unblock the agreement which enables Kosovo to get the telephony code 383.

RTK Brussels- based correspondent, Gjeraqina Tuhina said, during RTK’s main news edition, that after the agreement to remove the barricade on the main bridge over Ibër River, the telecom issue is the second most problematic as the agreement which has been reached is not being implemented.

According to Tuhina, if parties reach an agreement on this issue, the following topic to be discussed at the earliest time possible will be the agreement on energy, as Prishtinë/Pristina insisted that without the implementation of these agreements, they will not proceed further with other issues.  After 11 hours, the meeting is still underway, Tuhina reported.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden to visit Kosovo on Tuesday

(TV21)

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will visit Kosovo during 16-17 of August. Biden will meet with Kosovo President, Hashim Thaçi and Prime Minister Isa Mustafa.  He will also attend a ceremony in which a street will be renamed after his late son Beau.

Political analysts in Kosovo consider Biden’s visit as an US intervention in the demarcation issue between Kosovo and Montenegro, TV21 reported.

Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli, Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa and AAK chairperson Ramush Haradinaj welcomed the announced visit of Vice President Biden considering it as a historic for Kosovo.

On the other hand, Kosovo Police announced to have increased security measures on the occasion of Biden’s visit to Kosovo.

Kosovo Police spokesperson,  Daut Hoxha said to Radio Free Europe that Kosovo Police in cooperation with all other relevant institution and in coordination with the US security structures, responsible for the safety of Vice President Biden, have taken the necessary measures to increase the level of security during his visit, the online version of RTK reported.

KSF marks an increase of trust by Serbs, study finds

(TV21)

Kosovo Security Force (KSF) has marked an increase of trust by the Serb minority living in Kosovo. This was stated during the publication of a research study conducted by Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED).

The results of this research cover a period of three months, TV21 reported.

Bahtiri inspects works on revitalisation of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica Bridge

(RTK)

The Mayor of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica South, Agim Bahtiri, inspected the construction works for revitalisation of the main bridge over Ibër River, the online version of RTK reported.

Mayor Bahtiri requested from the implementing company to be responsible while carrying out the construction works and also offered his support to overcome any issue that they might face during the work.

“Although this project is funded by the EU and implemented in compliance with the agreement reached in Brussels, we are interested not to have any delays in finalisation of the works. We, as a municipality, have fulfilled all our obligations and we are ready to offer our further support for finalisation of the works as defined in the project”, Mayor Bahtiri said.

Veseli announces changes in the local government of Prizren

(Klan Kosova)

PDK chairperson, Kadri Veseli, said that there will be substantial changes in the local government of Prizren Municipality.

Veseli, in a press conference staged in Prizren, said that this city will become Kosovo’s main tourism centre, the online version of Klan Kosova reported.

He said that PDK will never shift its consideration from this city, as it is the strongest branch of PDK.  Veseli announced changes in the structure of the municipality in order, as he said to have a local strong government which will prioritize the economic development and tourism.