NATO PA changes Rose Roth seminar’s agenda, Djuric annuls his participation
(KTV)
The 93rd Rose Roth seminar by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly will be held in Prishtinë/Pristina between 22 and 24 October. Prishtinë/Pristina-Belgrade dialogue and movement beyond blocked roads in these talks well be discussed in the second session of this seminar.
Minister for Dialogue Edita Tahiri will speak on behalf of the Kosovo side, while from the Serbian side, the so-called Director of the Office for Kosovo at the Serbian Government, Marko Djuric, will address the participants, KTV reported in its main news edition.
Vetëvendosje MP Albulena Haxhiu reacted by saying that one of the panel members, Marko Djuric, has been presented as the Director of Office for Kosovo and Metohija.
“But what is really scandalous and unacceptable for us is the recognition that Kosovo Assembly does to the Office for ‘Kosovo and Metohija’. I do not have information who drafted this agenda, but we expect that Xhavit Haliti, who is also the chairman of Kosovo Assembly delegation in NATO PA, will be held accountable for this scandal,” MP Haxhiu stated.
Through a press release issued, the Assembly of Kosovo explained that the agenda was drafted by NATO Assembly officials and that Kosovo Assembly has addressed a complaint requesting correction of this failure in the agenda, online version of KTV reported.
Koha.net sources within the Assembly of Kosovo reported that the agenda was corrected, but it caused another effect.
“The moment that the new agenda was sent to Marko Djuric, he immediately annulled his coming to Kosovo. This is at least what has been reported so far,” a Koha.net source said.
Kosovo and Serbia discuss implementation of Agreement on Diplomas
(Klan Kosova)
The EU-facilitated tripartite meeting on implementation of the Agreement, which was reached on 10 January 2016, on the reciprocal recognition of Diplomas between Kosovo and Serbia was held on Thursday in Brussels.
In this meeting, Kosovo delegation, headed by Minister Edita Tahiri, presented the progress in preparations for the implementation of this Agreement. Tahiri welcomed the fact that the EU reselected SPARK organisation to administrate the application process for certification of diplomas.
Parties also welcomed the mechanism set up by the EU for the certification of diplomas, which will be implemented by Serbia and Kosovo.
Serbian delegation presented a report on the progress achieved so far in preparations for implementation of this Agreement.
EU commended the progress achieved and announced that another meeting will be held in the future to finalise all the necessary activities for the implementation of this Agreement.
Online version of RTK reported that Serbian delegation requested discussions on property issues and the establishment of Association of Serb Majority Municipalities in this meeting.
Serbian delegation presented their arguments to EU officials on usurpation of property and the fact that support of Serbs for the dialogue will decline if agreements which are at the interest of the Serb community are not implemented into practice. However, Serbian delegation did not request discussion of Trepça issue in this meeting.
It seems that Kadri Veseli started election campaign
(KTV)
No matter that he has said that parliamentary elections will not happen earlier than in 2018, Kadri Veseli is already in the election campaign.
Veseli, who is also PDK chairperson, is a lot more in the field for a while now, cutting ribbons of schools and factories, holding meeting with students, farmers and miners, than at the Assembly of Kosovo, which he leads.
Political analyst Driton Selmanaj says that Kadri Veseli has used the Assembly Speaker’s post to clear his image, while he has more ambitions. Selmanaj says that if elections are to be held in their regular timeframe in 2018, then 2017 will be only campaign for Kadri Veseli.
But, opposition parties continue to call for elections as soon as possible, since this coalition, according to them, has not done anything but promises.
Thaçi blames Albanian Government of incapacity
(RTK – Life in Kosovo show)
In an interview with Life in Kosovo show, Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi spoke about the most debatable issues over the recent days, a road project that was reported to have been prepared by Governments of Serbia and Albania to connect Nish and Durrës with highway, while Kosovo was ignored in this process.
Thaçi said that the Kosovo highway has been completed at 80 per cent, while he blamed the Albanian side of lagging behind in this process.
“I would rather consider it as incapacity because it is rather incapacity than unwillingness,” Thaçi said when he was asked if Albania is demonstrating to be cleverer by waiting for European funds for construction of the remaining part of the highway which connects it with Kosovo.
Thaçi also spoke about indictment of mayors from PDK-led municipalities. When he was asked why he allowed sentenced and indicted mayors in the party he formerly led, Thaçi said he respects the law and not political prejudgments.
President Hashim Thaçi said that Kosovo was uncompromised against each corruption case that has been raised by the prosecution. He commended the prosecutorial system while he criticized the judicial system.
Asked if welcomes establishment of Special Court, Thaçi said he led the process of its establishment and it should be considered as an advantage for Kosovo.
At the end of this interview, he called on Kosovo citizens to distance themselves from the debate on Kosovo-Serbia relations.
Fajon doubts that Kosovo lawmakers’ statement will change anything about visas
(KTV)
The initiative of Kosovo Assembly to adopt a statement regarding visa liberalisation was not liked by Tanja Fajon, the European Parliament Rapporteur for visa liberalisation for Kosovo.
“I am afraid that the statement would be sufficient. If that statement would request reopening of the border issue, of course, the European Commission or many country members could use it for further extension of the blockade of visa liberalisation for Kosovo,” Fajon told Radio Free Europe.
According to her, an accurate assessment cannot be done now whether this statement will be sufficient taking into account the criteria set.
“Of course, demarcation is a very serious and sensitive issue. I hope we will find a solution,” Fajon stated, while she emphasized that the European Parliament will treat the visa liberalization with Kosovo as soon as Kosovo fulfils the two remaining criteria.
Kosovo Assembly Foreign Committee, on the other hand, will meet on Friday to discuss issuance of a joint political statement regarding visa liberalisation process, with a special focus on the demarcation issue.
MoJ suspends 10 officers without knowing what they were being investigated for
(KTV)
Ministry of Justice (MoJ) refutes itself. A day after it suspended 10 officers of the Kosovo Correctional Service (KCS), due to an indictment filed against them, this Ministry says it was a misunderstanding.
Although KTV requested explanations, Ministry did not tell what will happen with the suspended officers.
On the other hand, Special Prosecution of Kosovo has confirmed that there is no indictment against the officers in question, but there is only a verdict on their investigation. The fact that the Kosovo Correctional Service officers were only under investigation was confirmed by the KCS Deputy Director, Shemsi Hajrizi, who qualified this decision of the Justice Minister as hasty.
Justice experts say that justice system in the country does not recognize practices when officers are suspended without having a plenipotentiary verdict of the Court.
Laws against cyber-crimes requested
(RTK1)
Kosovo citizens and officials of public institutions lack knowledge about the threats from cyber-attacks and cyber security in general. This was stated by Kosovo Deputy Minister of Interior (MIA), Nehat Mustafa, during the meeting of Kosovo Cyber Security Council, online version of RTK reported.
Mustafa stressed that despite the general impression that Kosovo citizens are well-informed about cyber security, situation in reality is entirely different.
“With the development of technology, adoption of laws, such as the Criminal Code and the Law on Cyber Crime, becomes a necessity. All public and private institutions should finally realize the importance of cyber security and develop concrete plans on capacity building of professionals and upgrade the technology. Prevention is the most successful fight against cyber-crime,” Deputy Minister Mustafa emphasized.
According to a press release issued by MIA, all council members confirmed their readiness to fulfil the goals set up in the National Cyber Security Strategy.
At the end of this meeting it was announced that the first regional conference on cyber security will be held in Prishtinë/Pristina between 21 and 22 November.
Apostolova impressed with work of Women Caucus
(RTK1)
Head of the European Union Office in Kosovo Nataliya Apostolova met on Thursday with the representatives of Kosovo Assembly Women Caucus, online version of RTK reported.
These two institutions will have regular meetings to discuss all women-related issues and strengthen the role of women in decision-making.
Apostolova said she was impressed with the strength of women who are members of the Women Caucus. She commended the Women Caucus for their work in empowering the women and backed their stance that women should have an equal position in politics, decision-making, and society.
Apostolova and Women Caucus representatives discussed the poor implementation of laws, domestic violence, legal status of war rape victims, discrimination and employment of women, as well as cooperation with women from Kosovo north to also hear their voices.
Pejë/Pec official for return and communities arrested
(TV21)
With the order of Pejë/Pec Basic Court, the Economic Crimes Unit has arrested Pejë/Pec municipal official for return and communities, Haki Kartallozi.
He was arrested under suspicion for misuse of official duty and interference in the computer system. He is suspected of having interfered in the payment system of property tax that people did by taking away money from them and making false coverage for that.
