Municipal Community Safety Councils’ conference held
(RTK2)
In the conference dedicated to community safety, where representatives of Municipal Community Safety Councils (MCSC) took part, it was said that Police and other relevant stakeholders need support for this important segment of society.
“Unfortunately, in 99 per cent of the cases we deal with the consequences of various phenomena; therefore, it is the duty of society and Police not only to deal with these phenomena, but to prevent them. Punishment of traffickers has preventive impact. However, when we talk about the victims, be them victims of human trafficking, sexually abused or exploitation, we have a big number of women who are victims, or when we talk about those that use narcotics, or juveniles. As such, the preventive role in that sense is of crucial importance,” Kosovo Minister of Internal Affairs Skender Hyseni stated.
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo has supported the work of MCSCs for over a decade with the aim to improve citizens’ safety.
Ambassador Jan Braathu, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, stressed the role of Municipal Community Safety Councils.
“After all these years, I am happy to report that these councils have continuously improved their functionality and effectiveness in ensuring safety and security, as well as in protecting individual and community rights and freedoms in Kosovo,” Ambassador Braathu said.
MCSC representative from Zvecan/Zveçan municipality, Zarko Ristic, emphasised that local councils in Kosovo north were established late and not in all communities. He said that these councils were accepted as a solution for, as he said, the chaotic situation in this part of Kosovo.
Members of Municipal Community Safety Councils presented the real situation in their municipalities, while coordinators of Safety Councils from Kosovo northern municipalities took part in this meeting for their first time.
OSCE Mission in Kosovo, EULEX launch Justice Transparency Forum
(Kallxo.com)
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the EULEX Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo launched the Justice Transparency Forum, a formal space for on-going communication between journalists and justice institutions during a workshop held in Rugova Valley on 6-7 December.
The aim of the Forum will be to establish a dialogue between the media and justice institutions and to enhance transparency of the justice system.
“The Forum was developed following two identified needs: for journalists to become better acquainted with the court process and how to properly request and acquire public information as it relates to court proceedings on one hand, and for spokespersons of courts and representatives of justice institutions to strengthen their communication with the media and provide accurate, timely, and publicly relevant information on the other,” said Dane Koruga, Head of the Media Section in the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.
With the increased need for a wider scope of stakeholders, the Forum will also include representatives from the Kosovo Judicial Council, the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council, associations of journalists, the Press Council of Kosovo, and spokespersons of courts and justice institutions throughout Kosovo.
“The publicity of judicial proceedings means maintaining the balance between the public’s right to know and the respect for privacy and presumption of innocence of those involved in the process. This balance between collective and individual rights defines all interactions between judiciary and the media. We have jointly created a platform where some of these issues can be addressed for the benefit of all, and mainly the wider public”, said Dragana Nikolic Solomon, Head of Press and Public Information Office in EULEX.
The launch also structured the Forum’s initiatives for 2017, which will include simulation mock trial reporting at the Mitrovica Basic Court in the north of Kosovo – where EULEX still holds executive powers – and other initiatives to strengthen reporting on criminal justice, reads a press release issued by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.
Tahiri: Wall in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north violates Brussels Agreement
(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK2)
The wall which is being built in northern part of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë is in violation with Kosovo laws and Brussels Agreement. Its building will be stopped and it shall be demolished, Kosovo Minister for Dialogue Edita Tahiri stated.
Tahiri said that the era of notorious barricades is over, stressing that an urgent meeting of the Government’s Working Group for implementation of the agreement on revitalisation of Ibër Bridge was held in Prishtinë/Pristina.
Tahiri said she has informed the European Union on Tuesday, as she says, on these negative developments and the construction works which are being done by the municipal parallel structures controlled by Serbia.
She also said that this will be the key topic of the meeting with an EU delegation which is expected to arrive on Wednesday in Kosovo.
The wall that Edita Tahiri is speaking about will not be demolished, because we are talking about the retaining wall of the project in which Prishtinë/Pristina and EU officials have access to. Local government and the citizens will decide on what will be built in the north, and not the Minister for Dialogue from Prishtinë/Pristina, Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North Mayor Goran Rakic told Kossev portal.
No audit of political parties in last three years
(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)
Under the auspices of the “Anti-Corruption Week” the Coalition of nongovernmental with the support of United States Embassy in Kosovo and the European Union Office discussed the integrity and financing of political parties at a roundtable on Wednesday.
From the researches of NGOs presented at this roundtable, it was concluded that 260 million euros is the amount that private businesses have taken through public tendering. These businesses are the ones that have financed the political parties.
In the framework of this debate it was also said that there are almost three years since the political parties have not been audited. Representatives of the United States Embassy in Kosovo and the European Union Office asked for changes in this regard.
Based on statistics, PDK and Vetëvendosje come out to be the parties that have taken most donations from private businesses, while it was assessed that almost no political party declared their public finances. According to NGOs, Vetëvendosje Movement appears to be in a better position in this aspect, which, according them, it has continuously made the inner-party financial report public and it has been displayed in its official website.
Kosovo marked progress in 2016 Compact Progress
(Klan Kosova)
Kosovo Minister of Justice Dhurata Hoxha expressed the commitment of Government of Kosovo to address challenges from the country report and work closely with rule of law institutions to strengthen the rule of law in Kosovo. She made this pledge at the Joint Rule of Law Coordination Board meeting.
The Compact Progress Report assessing progress between August 2015 and June 2016 was released during the meeting.
Head of the EU Office welcomed publication of the 2016 Compact Progress Report and congratulated Kosovo’s rule of law institutions for the work done during last year.
According to the report, Kosovo has achieved a number of important objectives as Kosovo institutions are increasingly able to address rule of law challenges on their own.
Return of private property one of most prominent problems for IDPs
(RTK2)
Inability to exercise the right of return of private property represents one of the most prominent problems faced by the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Kosovo. In front of the local Property Agency there are about 40,000 claims for restitution of usurped property, said the Deputy Director of Office for Kosovo Dusan Kozarev.
“Of these 40,000 claims, 97 per cent were filed by the Serbian and non-Albanian population, while about 18,000 claims for damage compensation for destroyed and damaged property were handed over to the courts in Kosovo,” said Kozarev at a conference of the project “Free Legal Aid.”
LDK breaks its coalition with AKR in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Coalition between Alliance for New Kosovo (AKR) and Democratic League (LDK) in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica municipality is broken.
On Wednesday evening, LDK left the coalition it had with AKR. This was stated to Kosovapress by Mitrovicë/Mitrovica deputy mayor from LDK, Safet Kamberi.
According to him, breaking of the coalition follows the discharge of LDK education director in this municipality.
Two VV activists put under house arrest
(TV21)
The Court of Appeal released from detention two Vetëvendosje activists, Atdhe Arifi and Egzon Haliti, who were being held in custody on suspicion of attacking the Assembly building on August 4 this year. The Court replaced custody to these two activists with house arrest.
This decision was confirmed by lawyer engaged in this case, Tomë Gashi.
ISIS supporters from Kosovo and Serbia arrested in Belgium
(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)
Belgium authorities have arrested three Albanians, two from Kosovo and one with Serbian citizenship, suspected for recruitment of jihadists and collections of funds for ISIS.
According to the Belgian prosecution, the arrested persons are Egzona K. 23 years old with Serbian citizenship, Kastriot M. 23 years old, and Mahit D. 27 years, both the latter from Kosovo.
