PM Mustafa’s interpellation scheduled for Thursday
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa will have lots of work on Thursday. Upon Vetëvendosje’s request, PM Mustafa will have two interpellations on Thursday’s Assembly session. PM Mustafa will report to MPs on the issue of telephony code and about current security situation in north.
After the meeting of Kosovo Assembly Presidency, the demarcation issue was mentioned despite the fact that this issue was not in the agenda of the Presidency.
Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli said that this issue should be concluded and expressed his confidence that the demarcation shall be passed jointly.
On the other hand, opposition parties consider the agreement on demarcation as over while they said that PM Mustafa pressured MPs from his visit to the U.S.
Besides interpellations, the Assembly Presidency decided to review two draft decisions of the Government to start negotiations with the company “Envidity Energy”, part of the board of which is General Wesley Clark, as well as the company’s request “Sharr Cem” and “Titan America” to open a mine in the region of Dukagjini.
Opposition expressed strongly against this proposal.
Kosovo Assembly Presidency also decided to establish the Department for legal analysis within the Assembly, which, according to Speaker Veseli, will help the Assembly to bring out good laws.
Talks on telephone code resumed in Brussels
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
During the next four days, Kosovo delegation led by the Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, will discuss with the Serbian representatives about the issue of Kosovo’s telephony code.
Talks will focus on finalization of telecommunication issue for Kosovo to get its telephone code +383 from the ITU.
The EU called for the agreement on telecommunication to be implemented as agreed upon earlier in Brussels, Minister Tahiri said, TV21 reported.
Students hold symbolic activity in front of church
(Klan Kosova, RTK2, & KTV)
Tens of students protested on Tuesday in front of the Orthodox Church, which was constructed illegally by Slobodan Milosevic’s regime in the university campus in Prishtinë/Pristina. “Student Democracy” organisation staged a performance in vicinity of the church to oppose its functionalization, a request made by also senior Serb officials in the Government of Kosovo.
The action was carried out peacefully and without any incidents. Students placed a big board, reading: “We demand that the building, which has been violently constructed by Milosevic in the university campus, to be turned into a museum in which massacres and genocides carried out by Serbia’s forces in Kosovo would be displayed”. Students warned that they will continue to protests until their requests are fulfilled.
But an alleged Serb citizen removed the board an hour after it was placed, KTV reported.
On the other hand, covering the same event, Klan Kosova quoted Kosovo Police Spokesperson for Prishtinë/Pristina region, Flora Ahmeti saying Kosovo Police removed the board. She said that the person who removed the board is a Kosovo Police officer in civilian clothes.
Kosovo Minister for Return and Communities, Dalibor Jevtic condemned Tuesday’s action of students and emphasized that the issue of the Orthodox Church is not political, RTK2 reported.
ICK requests permission to reconstruct Ibër Mosque
(KTV)
Islamic Community of Kosovo (ICK) since two months has requested permission to reconstruct the destroyed mosque near Ibër Bridge from the municipality of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north.
ICK decided to rebuild the oldest mosque in town in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë which was burned down in April 1999, but their request has not been considered yet by the mayor of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north, Goran Rakic.
As ICK awaits an answer to their request for reconstruction of the mosque, works on revitalisation of the bridge are progressing.
Nexhmedin Spahiu, a political analyst, said that chances for reconstruction of the mosque are minimal, despite the fact that Serbs were never prevented from reconstructing their religious sites.
But the mayor of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica south, Agim Bahtiri said that during discussions in Brussels with the mayor of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north, Goran Rakic, he achieved to preserve the location for construction of the mosque.
KTV tried to contact Mayor Rakic about this issue but he did not answer the phone.
On the other hand, Kosovo Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri denied recent reports published in some media that a tennis-court is being constructed in the location of Ibër Mosque, the online version of KTV reported.
She said that the master-plan for revitalisation of Ibër Bridge does not include the parcel of the Mosque. Tahiri emphasized that this issue has been settled with the agreement reached on 25th of August 2015, which has started to be implemented as of 14 August 2016.
Ibër Mosque, which was burned in April of 1999 by Serbian forces, is considered to have been the oldest mosque in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica, build in 1778.
European Day of Languages marked
(RTK2)
Multilingualism in Kosovo, a value or an obligation, was the main topic of the conference marking the European Day of Languages. Conference participants pointed out the insufficient implementation of the Law on Use of Languages and emphasized that lack of financial resources should not be a justification for the current situation.
Kosovo Language Commissioner, Slavisa Mladenovic reiterated his concern about the non-implementation of the Law on Use of Languages and emphasized the need to promote learning of other languages in order to encourage integration of all communities.
President of the Association of Kosovo Municipalities, Naim Ismajli stressed that multilingualism in Kosovo should be considered as a value.
Limited financial resources, lack of language officials in local and central level, are some of the issues in implementing the Law on Use of Languages, outlined representatives of civil society.
The conference was organized by Kosovo Office of the Language Commissioner supported by the U.S Embassy.
Board Member of Kosovo Competition Authority stopped in Belgrade
(KTV)
The online version of KTV reported that Muhamet Krasniqi, Board Member of Kosovo Competition Authority was stopped on Tuesday evening in Belgrade Airport, under the justification that Kosovo documents are not valid, and he was not allowed to attend an official regional meeting which is being held in Belgrade.
Muhamet’ son, Sherif, said that they do not know if Muhamet has been arrested or what happened. He said that Kosovo Foreign Ministry and Kosovo Liaison Office in Belgrade have been informed about the case.
However, Serbian authorities released Krasniqi in the late hours of Tuesday, and according to his son, Muhamet will be able to attend the regional meeting in Belgrade, which is organized by the Hungarian Competition Authority.
Executive Director of Council for Cultural Heritage dismissed
(RTK1)
Kosovo Council for Cultural Heritage dismissed its Executive Director, Gjejlane Hoxha, as she is suspected of legal violation, including budget misuse.
Hoxha’s dismissal came after RTK reported about potential abuse of official duty by her. Hoxha denied to have abused the duty and said that she will pursue legal ways against the Council.
