Schwendiman pledges fair work and without fear

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

David Schwendiman, the new Prosecutor of Special Investigative Task Force (SITF), which investigates alleged war crimes during 1998-99, said that he will work fairly, vigorously, and without fear or favour.

The investigation might include some of the key politicians of Kosovo, KTV reported.

At his first press conference as Chief Prosecutor of SITF, David Schwendiman said it is too early to tell the suspects.

“As I said, there is more to do, more to come, before everything is in place that will allow me to make formal charging decisions. My responsibility now is to conduct myself and to pursue the investigation and prosecution of whatever charges I decide to bring independently and professionally.  I will make decisions based solely on the facts we have and will continue to collect and our best reading of the law; not on whether what I decide to do has political, diplomatic or other implications or consequences. I am aware of the political sensitivity of what I am doing, but I repeat – I will be guided only by the facts and the law,” Schwendiman told reporters.

The 2011 report of Council of Europe relates key figures, including President Hashim Thaçi, with crimes against civilians by taking their human organs for selling them in the black market. Thaçi has continuously refuted the allegations.

Fidelma Donlon, Registrar of the Specialist Chambers, expressed her hope that the Court will technically start work on the first part of 2017, before Schwendiman makes public the charges against any suspect. She also said that the Court is in the process of recruitment of judges, who will set the rules.

Online version of KTV reported that judges of the Special Court shall not take oath before the Kosovo President.  According to Koha Ditore correspondent, Agustin Palokaj, Schwendiman said during his Thursday’s conference that this will not happen ‘because this is a Special Court.’

Democracy Day marked

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Democracy Day opened the doors of Kosovo Assembly on Thursday. Hundreds of citizens walked at the place where a functioning crisis has been present for more than a year, closely looking into the work of highest law-making body in the country.

He had four written pages with him to read in front of the students and citizens, but Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli, gave up on them. However, in his brief speech, Veseli gave clear messages.

“There is no force or goal that can stop us on our course toward strengthening of the rule of law state, democracy, and our independent and sovereign state,” Speaker Veseli stated.

Head of USAID in Kosovo, James Hope, said that the big room with lots of voices is the best example of democracy functioning. Whilst, Ismet Kryeziu of Kosovo Democratic Institute handed over the dossier of Assembly monitoring reports for two years.

A speech from the opposition was not planned to happen, but Vetëvendosje MP Faton Topalli took the floor.

“364 days we do not have democracy and only one day we do democracy,” Topalli stated.

AAK caucus leader, Pal Lekaj, said that this Day finds Kosovo with a political system which has not been well-defined.

Numerous students and citizens continued their visit in the plenary chamber, from where they said that democracy in the Assembly exists. Down, at the Assembly hall, students staged a play, while the NGO Fair was held in Assembly’s yard.

Works on Orthodox Church halted

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

After KTV reporting that the Serbian Orthodox clergymen did not only aim to clean the Church at University yard, but also to adapt this space, Municipality of Prishtinë/Pristina reacted.

Inspection Directorate halted these works asking for the respective documents from the persons who were working inside and outside the Church.

But, after the municipal officials left, workers resumed their work, thus not obeying to the orders given by the Prishtinë/Pristina Inspection Director Sali Zyba.

After this and the meeting they had with the Gracanica Monastery representatives, the works were halted until the documentation requested by the Municipality is brought in.

On the other hand, Sava Sminic, Monastery’s representative, refused to tell why it was necessary to have police presence during the works that were carried over the recent days, KTV reported.

RTK Union asks information from management regarding financial situation

(KTV)

RTK Independent Union (SPRTK) requested information from the RTK Board and RTK Management regarding the financial situation of the public broadcaster.

They also requested stopping of new employments. It is unclear what the real number of employed people is. At the beginning of August, RTK Director General stated that this number is 740, while according to a list that KTV got hold off it appears it to be higher than 900.

KTV tried to get a response from Director Shala regarding the number of employees in the public broadcaster, but he did not respond.

According to Vetëvendosje MP, Shqipe Pantina, who is also a member of the Assembly Media Committee, the number of employees is said to go sometimes even over 1.000.

SPRTK reacted during Thursday following announcements that there can be potential delays of salaries for the employees. It also requested from the management to stop signing new contracts, to use RTK resources, and on the Assembly to intervene in order to take the public broadcaster under protection.

Mustafa: No land is lost in Rugova

(RTK, Klan Kosova)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, met Rugova residents on Thursday afternoon regarding the issue of border demarcation with Montenegro.

PM Mustafa pledged in this meeting that Kosovo loses no land from demarcation, and that he will personally visit this border area.

In the meantime, online version of RTK reported that at the presence of foreign ambassadors, representatives of the ruling and opposition parties in Kosovo met on Thursday evening to discuss demarcation. According to RTK, political parties met at the level of their deputy chairperson upon the invitation of Naim Rashiti, Executive Director of Balkans Policy Research Group.

Haxhiu: Grabovci is mocking with the state

(TV21, KTV)

Vetëvendosje Movement reacted after the statements of former PDK caucus leader, Adem Grabovci, who said that he went to the Special Prosecution for some appointments.

Vetëvendosje MP, Albulena Haxhiu, qualified these statements of Grabovci as mocking with the state. She also spoke about suspension of the three police officers, saying that they were victimized by Grabovci.

“Adem Grabovci marked another case in Police. He demonstrated that he has not only harmed the image, but also the functioning of this institution. After the incomparable scandal where his sons had beaten the Kosovo Police officer, three other police officers were victimised by Grabovci yesterday. They were suspended because they did not stop the boss of the bosses. Everything is easy for surname Grabovci and ‘Pronto’ brothers,” Haxhiu said.

Haxhiu called on justice bodies to investigate Grabovci and the crime that is taking place at the tops of the Government.