Four Serbs and no Albanian will draft Association’s statute
(Klan Kosova)
Two are from the south and two others from the north of Kosovo. None of them is an Albanian. The four of them are Serbs who have been appointed at the head of Management Group, which will draft the Statute of Association of Serb Majority Municipalities – ASMM.
The whole work of Vinka Radosavljevic, Dejan Radojkovic, Svetislav Durlevic and Igor Kalamar, will be done under the supervision of Government.
This is stated by Deputy Minister of Local Government Administration, Bajram Gecaj, who will be the coordinator between all the institutions and the Management Group in question.
Speaking of the time period as when they might come out with the ASMM’s draft statute, which was supposed to be presented since December 2015, Gecaj says that this is a difficult process, Klan Kosova reports.
“We should be careful and not destabilise the country with these processes. The main reasons for this prolongation are of political nature,” Gecaj said.
Aside from the Ministry of Local Government Administration, the OSCE will also be involved in drafting the document that puts the Association on paper. This was also confirmed by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo Spokesperson, Senad Sabovic, saying that that OSCE will provide technical assistance.
According to Deputy Minister Gecaj, this is being with a sole purpose: “We have the interest of extending our authority in the northern municipalities. Success has been achieved so far in several fields, but I say that we have not achieved full success.”
PM Mustafa starts meetings for demarcation
(RTK, KTV)
When the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, withdrew demarcation from the voting it was intimated that this was done due to Srpska List conditions. On that particular day, Prime Minister Mustafa accused a parliamentary group of conditioning. On Wednesday he said that he was not talking concretely about Srpska List, but he did not tell who was to be blamed about this. Mustafa categorically said he will not accept conditions from Srpska List, or anyone else.
However, Prime Minister has decided not to stay and do nothing until the Agreement will be resubmitted to the Assembly. During Wednesday, PM Mustafa met the mayors of Pejë/Pec, Istog/Istog, Deçan/Decane and Junik, while he will continue meeting with other parties, too.
He will also invite Vetëvendosje, AAK and Nisma to a meeting.
PDK leader, the Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli, did not want to talk with dates as when the Assembly will convene for demarcation, but he said that ‘folklorisms’ must be left aside and a solution between the parties must be identified.
On the other hand, AAK chairperson, Ramush Haradinaj, considers that the current version of the demarcation agreement with Montenegro is ‘dead’, RTK reported. He made these comments in Pejë/Pec, in the series of the meetings he is having with citizens in Kosovo municipalities.
Around 500 apartments remain usurped in Kosovo north
(RTK1)
Kosovo north remains country’s challenge since the end of the conflict. Over ten thousand Albanians were forced out of there. Around 500 apartments remain usurped by Serbs, while many houses have remained devastated, and that is not all. But, there are young Serbs who have started to accept the new reality in Kosovo, RTK1 reported.
Zeljko Bjelic, a 20-year Serb from Prokuplje, Serbia, came to study law at the University of Pristina in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North, which is inhabited with Serb majority. This young man from Serbia has started to accept the new reality in Kosovo. He does not hesitate to also recognize its independence.
“Yes! Citizens should declare themselves if they want to be independent or not,” he stressed.
Regarding the overall situation in the north, Bjelic says it is completely calm. He also has the same impression about the southern part inhabited with Albanian majority.
Situation would normalise even further in case Serbia would apologize to Kosovo for the deeds of 98-99 conflict, RTK continued. Mirka Djordjevic, a student of pedagogy in this University, finds this apology seeking completely normal.
Change in approach of northerners for Albanians is also noted among the merchants, who do not hesitate to also speak in Albanian. Milan Nikolic, a local merchant, is not against return of Albanians to their property.
Another Serb has a message for his compatriots. Milan Markovic says that no one should live in someone else’s property.
AKJ supports RTK Editor in Chief, condemns Vetëvendosje’s lynching
(RTK)
Association of Kosovo Journalists (AKJ) has received with great concern the information of their colleague from Radio and Television of Kosovo (RTK), Ridvan Berisha, that he has felt unsafe, as he says, by the latest lynching coming from the political entity “Vetëvendosje”.
AKJ supports Ridvan Berisha and condemns lynching against journalists in Kosovo, online version of RTK reported.
“At the same time, we request from political entities to stop attacks against journalists of the public broadcaster, as the pressure on them has just increased over the recent days. We will engage further on opposing any kind of lynch, attack, and blackmail against our fellow journalists,” AKJ highlights in its reaction.
Gecaj: VV to be declared terrorist organisation if charges will be confirmed
(RTK)
Kosovo Deputy Minister of Local Government Administration and advisor to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, Bajram Gecaj, said that if it will be confirmed that senior Vetëvendosje Movement officials have attacked the Assembly with grenades and torched the vehicle of his wife then, according to him, this Movement should be declared a terrorist organisation.
Gecaj made these comments in RTV Dukagjini, saying that he does not prejudge, but he expects the verdict of justice related to the arrest of Vetëvendosje activists, the online version of RTK reported.
“If they deal with such activities, as accused by the Prosecution, it should be seriously considered what to do with this organisation. If the charges will be confirmed, this should be declared a terrorist organisation. If it will be confirmed that senior officials of this political entity deal with such activities, I would consider them as a terrorist organisation,” said Gecaj.
Gjilan/Gnjilane Serbs dissatisfied with security situation
(RTK2)
Out of 18 per cent minority members in Kosovo Police in Gjilan/Gnjilane region, roughly 104 are Serbs. Lowest number of Serb police officers is in Viti/Vitina, with only four Serb police officers, and the biggest number is in Gjilan/Gnjilane with 22.
Although there are Serb police officers in Kosovo Police, residents of Serb municipalities from this region are not satisfied with the current security situation, RTK2 reported.
Residents of Parallovë and Shillovë told RTK2 that Police has failed to solve many robberies that have happened in these areas.
On Tuesday, Kosovo Police marked the 17th anniversary of its establishment, but no Serb representative of Kosovo Police was present in the official ceremony, RTK2 concluded.
