Biden: Kosovo to move forward with the demarcation and the Association

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

After meetings with Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi and Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, the U.S. Vice President Joe Biden conveyed clear political messages to Kosovo leadership. According to Biden, Kosovo must conclude the demarcation process, despite the fact that a small segment opposes it.

He urged Kosovo leadership to establish the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities, carry on the dialogue with Serbia, continue the fight against corruption and organized crime and to further support the global fight against terrorism.

On Wednesday morning, the U.S Vice President Biden started the meetings with Kosovo institutional leaders. Biden was received by Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli, in the entrance of Kosovo Assembly. Vice President Biden briefly greeted Speaker Veseli and continued the meetings with the President and PM.

The meeting between the U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi lasted one and a half hours.

Biden, considering the people of Kosovo as the best ones, said that the photography of the late President Rugova gave to him the hope that centuries of hostility can be overcome.

At a press conference staged on Wednesday, after the meeting with President Thaçi, the U.S Vice President Joe Biden conveyed the messages he brought to Kosovo.

Firstly, according to him, Kosovo must conclude the demarcation process, despite the fact that a small portion opposes this process. He encouraged Kosovo leadership to be determined in the decision making processes, even if those decisions as difficult, as he considered the establishment of the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities, but he emphasized that this the only for Kosovo to move forward.

“The agreement on border-demarcation with Montenegro is a fair deal and will have a positive impact on the region,” Biden said. While in regards to the Association, he said Kosovo must enable the establishment of this Association and should move forward and respect the rights of all citizens.

He encouraged President Thaçi to continue the dialogue with Serbia.

“President and Prime Minister have expressed their readiness to continue the EU-mediated dialogue with Serbia. It will be difficult, but necessary. I have spoken to the Serbian PM Vucic about this issue, too. You have the responsibility to fulfil the commitments arising from this dialogue. These are essential for Kosovo’s European future. The United States will continue to help Kosovo,” Biden emphasized during a joint press conference with President Hashim Thaçi.

Biden highlighted the importance of fighting against corruption and organized crime, describing corruption as a cancer.

He said that it is absolutely essential that the government continues to fight corruption by closing loopholes in the Criminal Code.

The U.S Vice President concluded his speech by commending Kosovo for its fight against terrorism.

On the other hand, Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi considered Biden’s visit as historic. He assured the U.S Vice President that Kosovo will fulfil its obligations.

“Kosovo was, is, and will be, your committed ally in combating these phenomena.   Because, first of all our people are determined for a secular republic and religious tolerance,” Thaçi stated.

He reconfirmed his commitment to the dialogue with Serbia and ‘reach, as soon as possible, the viable reconciliation between the two nations”. Thaci assured US Vice President that the issue of the border with Montenegro will be completed soon.

During VP Biden’s visit in Kosovo, his wife Jill Biden and his two grandchildren have visited the Monastery in Gracanica/Graçanicë and met the Patriarch Theodosius, but the media did not have access even during the visit of the US delegation at the premises the monastery.

On the evening hours of Wednesday, VP Biden concluded his visit to Kosovo and was accompanied to the airport by Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli.

Opposition threatens with protests against demarcation and Association

(TV21)

The visit of the U.S Vice President Joe Biden to Kosovo has been commended by Kosovo opposition parties, despite the fact that they did not have the chance to meet him.  According to the opposition, Biden’s request to fight corruption is hardly achievable by institutions which, as they say, feed the corruption themselves.  Biden’s appeal to ratify the demarcation does not move the stance of opposition against this agreement.

The biggest opposition party, Vetëvendosje Movement (VV) strongly supports Biden’s request but considers that is difficult to be achieved.

Frashër Krasniqi from VV said that VP Biden met on Wednesday with two people who are in the centre of the recent wiretaps affair and are the heads of the crime in Kosovo.  He considers Biden’s call to fight corruption and organized crime as fair, but said that this cannot be done through people who are creating the corruption and the organized crime.

VP Biden also urged Kosovo to ratify the agreement on demarcation with Montenegro and also to enable the establishment of the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities.

On the other hand, AAK admits to have insisted since one year for a solution to the demarcation issue.

“The visit of the U.S Vice President Joe Biden is an extraordinary event for Kosovo. We respect his stance about the issues that Kosovo is facing. In fact, this has been AAK’s stance also, we have requested for over a year to solve the issue of the demarcation as soon as possible, which is in the interests of the stability and prosperity of Kosovo and the region. The Government so far had the chance to solve this issue but delayed it.  We believe that there is still time and room to correct the mistakes in the border demarcation and to ratify the agreement,” reads AAK’s written statement to TV21.

As it regards the demarcation with Montenegro, VV once again emphasized that it will oppose the ratification of the current version with protests.

Despite VP Biden’s statements, Frashër Krasniqi reiterated that the agreement on border demarcation and the agreement on Association continue to be unacceptable to Vetëvendosje Movement.  He emphasized that they will oppose both of the agreements through mass protests in the Assembly and outside.

During his visit to Kosovo, VP Biden did not meet with any of the opposition parties.

Biden opens Kosovo street named after his late son

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

U.S Vice President Joe Biden and his family attended a ceremony in village Sogojevë of Ferizaj/Urosevac municipality to unveil a street named after the vice president’s son, Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015.

In his emotional speech, Vice President Biden emphasized that there is lots of work for Kosovo in the future.  He said that Kosovo should move forward but emphasized that no one should be above the law.

On the other hand, Kosovo institutional leaders thanked the U.S for their contribution to Kosovo.

“U.S has and continues to support the rebuilding of Kosovo. Our gratitude for the assistance given to us is our development. Our people will overcome the obstacles and will make Kosovo a decent place for all communities and religions”, said Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa.

Special Prosecution to file indictment against Azem Syla

(KTV)

Azem Syla and other suspects in the land scam case will face indictment by the Special Prosecution, KTV reported.

EULEX prosecutor, Danilo Cecarelli said that in the next detention hearing he would file an indictment against the 8 suspects involved in this case.During Wednesday’s hearing, the prosecutor has asked for the extension of detention for three more months for Syla and others. The Basic Court of Prishtinë/Pristina will decide whether to extend detention on remand.

Tome Gashi, defence lawyer of Syla, said that the prosecutor said that the two protected witnesses in the case have been threatened. But according to Gashi, the prosecutor did not say by who threatened the witnesses.

Azem Syla, named as the group’s leader, is accused of organized crime, money laundering, and abuse of office. He is accused of being involved in the alleged land scam that cost the state 30 million Euros.