O’Connell: It is for the people of Kosovo alone to decide their leaders

(Klan Kosova)

Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Kosovo, Ruairí O’Connell, reacted regarding the letter he wrote on behalf of Quint saying that this letter should not have been made public.

In Facebook social network, O’Connell said that “it is for the people of Kosovo alone to decide their leaders”. Online version of Klan Kosova published the full post of Ambassador O’Connell:

“I see that a letter that I wrote, on behalf of the Quint, to the Central Election Commission has been leaked. I regret the leak of the letter, which was meant as private correspondence with the central election authority. As such, we intended no interference in politics; it is for the people of Kosovo alone to decide their leaders. There was an error in the Albanian translation. We did not claim that there have ‘always’ been concerns. Instead, we noted that there have been ‘historical’ concerns. We have not heard any allegations of fraud before this election. Our motivation was that, in a period of heightened political tension, it is important both for Kosovo and the region for elections to be accepted by all as free and fair, and that OSCE monitoring would help to ensure this.”

PM Mustafa calls on Gllogovc/Glogovac candidates to carry out democratic campaigning

(KTV)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, wrote in his Facebook account regarding extraordinary elections in Gllogovc/Glogovac.

He called for democratic elections, where democratic values are presented, and not deal with the pasts of candidates, online version of KTV reported late on Wednesday.

Mustafa added that elections will be regular, as they have demonstrated themselves in managing ‘fair’ elections.

PM Mustafa’s full post:

“Extraordinary elections in Gllogovc/Glogovac are one more reason for us to do the electoral reform in order to solve such cases, and they are less a demonstration of political power for a mandate which has remained less than a year. Particularly, due to the known fact that former Mayor was not given the chance to be elected by the citizens, but the court decided for a case which is not related with the governed people.

Therefore, it is appropriate to hold a campaign which presents democratic values of all parties and all candidates. Candidates have enough democratic space to tell and present their offers for the future. I do not see any reason to deal with the past, because it does not help citizens in improving their lives.

I believe that we can organise a regular electoral process in Gllogovc/Glogovac, because we have demonstrated to be able to manage fair and democratic elections, and us, the Kosovars, to take responsibility for results of elections.”

Hoti to O’Connell: Without specific addressing of vote theft there is no electoral normality

(Klan Kosova)

Deputy Minister of Culture, Rexhep Hoti, has addressed an open letter to Ruairi O’Connell, the United Kingdom Ambassador in Kosovo, after the latter had a request for Valdete Daka, Chairperson of the Central Elections Commission, with regard to elections in Gllogovc/Glogovac, online version of Klan Kosova reported.

This is Hoti’s letter:

Honoured Ambassador of the Great Britain, Ruairi O’Connell,

I do not feel good that I am forced to offer an opinion, in public manner, to you and representatives of the countries, on behalf of which you addressed the Chairperson of Elections Commission, Ms Valdete Daka, “regarding extraordinary elections in Gllogovc/Glogovac. As you know, there have been historical concerns regarding voting in this area,” you write among other things there.

Honoured Ambassador Ruairi O’Connell,

Your concerns and the concerns of representatives, on behalf of which you speak, are natural. But, in reality this is not the greatest concern of this nature.

Firstly, ‘your silence and silence of representatives you represent’ is way more concerning than this since the time of resignation of former President Behgjet Pacolli, where and when Kosovo people were promised, among others, that within that government mandate from the agreement of ‘envelope time’ the work on implementation of electoral reform would start, and

Secondly, stealing of votes in Kosovo between the political entities that compete in elections is not at a worrying extent. In fact, the serial, fabricated and historic theft happens within the political entities and by doing so they prearrange the ‘groups of interests’ by controlling the vote for the MP.

Therefore, political scene of Kosovo is also the political scene of few individuals who have personal agenda within state political and party processes, with whom you live day and night in Kosovo in all the possible aspects.

It is impossible to have normality within the political spectrum of the Republic of Kosovo for as long as these problems are not addressed and solved in urgent and concrete way.

We futilely speak in principle and in abstract form as long as we are not specifically focused in solving the issues and the forms of vote theft.

Consequently, I am disappointed by your forgetfulness (not concretely Yours, Mr Ambassador), and forgetfulness of Quint representatives, I am disappointed by this unprincipled selection.

Cordially, Rexhep Hoti”

Kosovo and Serbia agree on ‘finalisation of implementation of Justice Agreement

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Court in Kosovo north is expected to start work as of 10 January next year. Agreement on the final steps for the implementation of the Justice Agreement has been reached after two days of talks in Brussels.

Minister for Dialogue and chief negotiator in these talks, Edita Tahiri, said that agreement reached has great importance for Kosovo because ‘it enables extension of state’s sovereignty in the field of justice in the north.’

“This Agreement is important for the state and its citizens, because on 10 January 2017 state justice institutions will start functioning in the entire territory of our state, and citizens will finally be able to seek justice from Kosovo state institutions,” Tahiri said.

According to the Justice Agreement, a Basic Court and Prosecutorial Office will be established in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica region, which includes seven municipalities, as it is defined with the Law on Courts of Kosovo.

A press announcement issued by Kosovo Government stresses that for finalisation of implementation, on 09 December 2016 Serbia will terminate all work contracts and it will stop salaries for Serb judges and prosecutors, who will be integrated in Kosovo judicial system.

Mustafa: Kosovo might remain without liberalisation next year, too

(All monitored broadcasters, RTK1&KTV)

While the 2016 still has not ended, Prime Minister Isa Mustafa announced that Kosovo might also remain without visa liberalisation during the next year.

According to Prime Minister, this will happen in case the Agreement on Demarcation with Montenegro will not be ratified. Because of this, speaking to governing cabinet on Wednesday, PM Mustafa proposed establishment of a Commission for making assessments if Kosovo’s territory has been lessened.

Such a request was immediately opposed by the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), which qualified this proposal as fraudulence.

According to AAK, there cannot be a new Commission without discharging the earlier one, in order for the process to start from the beginning.

On the other hand, PM Mustafa, commenting his idea for a new Commission on demarcation said, in an exclusive statement for RTK1, that there are no reasons to be afraid from the truth on demarcation.

Clarifying that no new governmental commission is in question, he stressed that the new commission will only measure the borderline with Montenegro. PM Mustafa called upon opposition to join this process in order to open way to ratification of demarcation and liberalization of visas for Kosovo citizens.

“I consider this process as very important for Kosovo citizens, because they will receive solid and clear information from local experts related to the territory of Kosovo, and if the territory corresponds to what Kosovo has inherited as a state,” said PM Mustafa.

EULEX confident that investigation and autopsy in Dehari’s case was carried out correctly

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

EULEX is confident that the investigation and autopsy in Astrit Dehari’s case were carried out correctly and in a professional way, in line with best European practices and with all meaningful lines of enquiry being pursued.

Offering its condolences to family and friends of Astrit Dehari, EULEX considers that the relevant agencies involved continue to fulfil their respective obligation as would be expected.

EULEX said it stands ready to assist Ministry of Justice in order to increase accountability and transparency in correctional services.

“Whilst the circumstances are unusual, the Kosovo institutions revealed that Astrit was in his cell on his own at the time of the incident. The CCTV and witness testimony of the people present confirms this. EULEX supports the findings and the logical conclusion drawn from the facts and evidence available through the investigation and autopsy,” a press release issued by this Mission states.

On the other hand, Vetëvendosje said that EULEX is speaking as it was a partner of ‘Pronto Clan’.

MP Hasani requests renaming of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo

(RTK2)

Kosovo Assembly discussed twenty items of the agenda on Wednesday, including the draft-law on Religious Freedoms. Two-thirds of votes are required for adoption of this draft-law, respectively 11 votes of MPs from non-majority communities.

MP Nait Hasani requested renaming of the Serbian Orthodox Church to Kosovo Orthodox Church.

“If we say Serbian Orthodox Church, we have defined all Orthodox churches as Serbian, while we have also the Albanian Orthodox Church in Kosovo. This draft-law does not recognize Albanian Orthodox Church, and it also should take out the name ‘Serbian’ and leave it only as Kosovo Orthodox Church,” said MP Hasani.

On the other hand, Srpska List caucus leader Slavko Simic said that they will consult a team of experts and, as he said, if the Law is beneficial for the Serb community, they will then support it.

Workshop against gender based violence held in Zvecan/Zveçan

(RTK2)

To mark the International Day of Women Human Rights Defenders, in the framework of the “16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence” campaign, a workshop was held in Zvecan/Zveçan to show all types of violence that women face.

The aim of this workshop is to raise public awareness on the issue of domestic violence and motivate institutions and NGOs to advocate and inform women who suffer violence about the ways how to seek help.

In the framework of this campaign, workshops were also held on the topic of gender equality and gender budgeting. Workshops, which are supported by UNICEF and OSCE, are open to all. NGO “Santa Maria”, as the organizer of the workshops, invites all interested to join the workshops.

In Kosovo north there are no SOS lines and no safe houses, RTK2 reported. According to the 2014 data from the Kosovo Women’s Network, 41% of the female population in Kosovo suffered some form of violence.