Hoxhaj assures Fajon regarding demarcation of ratification
(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)
During the Bled Forum in Slovenia, Kosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj met with Tanja Fajon, rapporteur for visa liberalisation of Kosovo at the European Parliament.
Minister Hoxhaj said that Fajon’s key message was that as long as Kosovo’s Assembly does not vote on ratification of the agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro, there will be no positive decision as far as visa liberalisation for Kosovo is concerned.
On the other hand, MEP Fajon said Minister Hoxhaj assured her that Kosovo Government will do everything possible regarding demarcation, same as for results on the fight against corruption.
Djukanovic: Demarcation is an internal issue of Kosovo
(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)
Montenegrin Prime Minister, Milo Djukanovic, stated on Tuesday that demarcation of the border between Montenegro and Kosovo is an internal issue of Kosovo.
“The issue is internal and it belongs to the internal politics of Kosovo,” Djukanovic said in Ulcinj, Beta news agency reported.
He further stressed that as far as the demarcation agreement is concerned, Montenegro has taken all the adequate steps and there are no disagreements with authorities in Prishtinë/Pristina regarding the borderline.
Other TV broadcasters quoted Djukanovic as saying that Montenegro has no territorial claims toward Kosovo.
Gecaj: Government will reach agreement with coalition partners, not Djuric
(Klan Kosova & RTK1)
Serbian Government reacted following the statements of Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, that MPs of Srpska List were guilty for non-ratification of demarcation with Montenegro on Assembly’s session of 01 September.
Office for Kosovo at the Serbian Government, which is led by Marko Djuric, told local media that Belgrade does not interfere directly on Srpska List decisions.
According to them, Kosovo Albanian politicians should not hide behind Srpska List MPs and put the blame to them, as they say, cowardly, for their failure and incapable as well as irresponsible politics to a small group of Serb community MPs who comprise less than 10 per cent of total number of MPs.
On the other hand, Bajram Gecaj, advisor to PM Mustafa, told RTK that Kosovo Government is discussing demarcation issue with all the coalition partners. He said that Government will agree with the coalition partners, and not Djuric.
According to Gecaj, coalition partners will also decide as when it is the most appropriate time for submitting ratification of the demarcation agreement to the Assembly.
Slobodan Petrovic, a Serb Member of Kosovo Assembly, supports ratification of demarcation, Klan Kosova reported.
Petrovic learned only on 01 September that Srpska List will not attend the plenary session that included ratification of demarcation with Montenegro. He told Klan Kosova that this was a strange decision for which they never met.
Çollaku leaves Ministry of Integration, becomes Thaçi’s advisor
(KTV)
Over the next days, Kosovo Minister of European Integration, Bekim Çollaku, will leave his post assessing that his mission has been completed. KTV learned that Çollaku will return to President Thaçi’s cabinet, as his first advisor.
Regardless of EU calls for concrete results in the fight against crime and corruption, Çollaku said this is not a condition for visa liberalisation, but, according to him, it is a job that should be done in continuity. According to him, demarcation with Montenegro is the key condition that has remained to be fulfilled before Kosovars can move freely in Schengen Zone.
Çollaku denied the possibility of constitutional changes regarding President’s mandate, stressing he was misunderstood when he said that he will be the number two after the President, when it is known that Kosovo is a parliamentary state.
North remains a challenge for Kosovo Police
(RTK1)
The north remains a challenge for Kosovo Police, too. Albanians and Serbs living there complain about inefficiency and ethnic discrimination of this security institution. Whereas, officials of Police station in the north calls for help of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North local government in order for the Police to have it easier to accomplish the mandate it has been assigned.
Most of the institutions in Kosovo north have been appropriated by the Serbs. But, the same thing did not also happen with the Kosovo Police Station in this area, RTK1 reported. The symbol of this security institution is written in Albanian, not excluding other official languages in Kosovo.
However, domination of Serbs in the northern station with majority of Serbs is being noted by Albanians, who complain of discrimination.
Serbs also have criticism for the work of Police in the north. Zoran Simic, a Serb, thinks that this security authority should do even more for gaining people’s trust in this part.
But, officials of the northern police station deny existence of discrimination and their inefficiency in this part of Kosovo.
Besim Hoti, Kosovo Police deputy director for the north region, admits that Police still has many challenges ahead until its full integration in this part. Hoti stressed that situation in the north has changed a lot compared to previous years.
Kosovo Police marks 17th anniversary of establishment
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Kosovo Police was applauded on 17th anniversary of establishment of this institution. In the ceremony held on this anniversary, Kosovo leaders highly assessed this institution.
To Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, this anniversary of Police is important for all Kosovo citizens. Minister of Interior Skender Hyseni had the same words as his superior.
Meanwhile, Police Director Shpend Maxhuni said that Kosovo Police is the most credible institution in the country.
On the other hand, Skender Perteshi of Kosovo Centre for Security Studies said that Police did not do much in the fight against crime and corruption, KTV reported.
Brussels dialogue resumes on Wednesday
(RTK1)
Technical dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia will resume on Wednesday in Brussels. Delegations from Kosovo and Serbia, for two consecutive days, will discuss freedom of movement, respectively the reciprocity on vehicle registration plates which was defined in the Agreement on Freedom of Movement in 2011.
Office of Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, announced that they will also discuss the issue of diplomas, cadastre and asses revitalisation process of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica Bridge after the removal of the barricade. Next meeting on the issue of Kosovo’s telephony code is scheduled for 13 September.
Tahiri denied that they will also discuss about the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities, as it was announced by the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo.
