Mustafa: Demarcation will be ratified in beginning of 2017

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa continues to stress that he will not use ‘muscles’ to remove the wall in the north, KTV reported.

Despite statements of President Hashim Thaçi and Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli that this wall will not exist and it will be removed; PM Mustafa decided to leave this issue to the law.

However, Mustafa said that it should be acknowledged that there are real issues in the north of Kosovo and that the situation there is not same as in Gracanica/Graçanicë and Strpce/Shtërpcë.

Mustafa in the last press conference for 2016, said that demarcation with Montenegro will be ratified in the beginning of 2017, while emphasized that he will try to sit in a table and confront the facts with the opposition.  He said that demarcation was a cause of opposition for political interests. LDK MPs who opposed demarcation, Mustafa said that they do not represent the interests of LDK.

In the conference, which was not attended by PDK Ministers’, Mustafa listed a number of successes that Kosovo achieved during 2016.

Srpska List “freezes” its participation in Kosovo institutions again

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Srpska List started to implement the ultimatums of Serbia two days after they met the Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, who they consider as their chief, KTV reported.

Staying loyal to Serbian PM Aleksandar Vucic, this political entity decided again to freeze its participation in the Government and Assembly of Kosovo.

“We, Srpska List MPs in the Assembly of Kosovo, announce that we will implement all the decisions of PM Vucic and will freeze our participation in the work of the Assembly and the Government of Kosovo. Vucic is our Prime Minister and not Isa Mustafa, this is how it was and how it should be,” reads the announcement of Srpska List.

The statement signed by the head of the Srpska List caucus and chairperson of the Srpska List, Slavko Simic, also states that Mirjana Jevtic will leave the Kosovo Ministry of Local Government Administration, RTK reports.

But Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa reacted harshly against his ruling coalition partner. He said that he does not intend to reappoint Ljubomir Maric to the Minister’s position, despite the threats of Srpska List.

He announced that Brussels will be informed about the destructive stances of the Serbian Government.

Thaçi: Kosovo a regional leader in fighting terrorism

(KTV)

During his official visit to Turkey, Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi denied media reports that Lavdrim Muhaxheri is staying in Kosovo. He said that fundamentalist elements cannot find shelter in Kosovo.

In an exclusive interview for Kosovo public broadcaster, Thaçi said that Turkey has continuously supported Kosovo and is among the first countries to have recognized Kosovo’s independence and also continuously lobbies for the recognition of Kosovo’s independence by other countries.  Thaçi said that the aim of his visit to Turkey is to strengthen the friendly relation between two countries, discuss cooperation against terrorism and extremisms and boost the economic cooperation.

He said that Kosovo could not have been immune to terrorism, but according to him, Kosovo is a regional leader in fighting terrorism, pointing out Kosovo’s preventive measures which were highly praised.

“There will be no shelter in Kosovo for any fundamentalist element. There will be zero tolerance and there will be no compromise against all fundamentalist elements,” said Thaçi, adding that Lavdrim Muhaxheri is not in Kosovo and that there will be no shelter for him or people like him in Kosovo.

Assembly to discuss resolution against the wall on Thursday

(Klan Kosova)

Assembly of Kosovo announced that the plenary session of the last week will resume on Thursday.

Among other agenda points, MPs will also discuss the resolution, which was proposed by AAK, about the illegally constructed wall in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north.

Kosovo Government inaugurates its new building in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north

(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)

Kosovo Minister for Dialogue Edita Tahiri inaugurated on Wednesday the new building of the Government of Kosovo in the municipality of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north.

Fifteen ministries and agencies that cover local sector will be located in this building.

Based on the plans and dynamics, this process will continue with the opening of offices in Zubin Potok and Leposavic/Leposaviq.

Bomb found near the newly inaugurated offices of Kosovo Government in north

(Klan Kosova)

A bomb has been found in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north, in the vicinity of Kosovo Government offices inaugurated on Wednesday by Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri.

Kosovo Police Deputy Commander for Mitrovicë/Mitrovica region, Besim Hoti confirmed the incident to Klan Kosova.

“A hand-grenade has been found and all units are at the scene now. The hand-grenade did not explode. The hand –grenade was found at Hotel ‘Sasa’, near the offices which have been inaugurated today by the Government of Kosovo,” said Hoti, the online version of Klan Kosova reported.

He said that police is controlling the security cameras in the vicinity.

Djuric: Association will be integral part of Serbia

(KTV)

Association of Serb Majority Municipalities will have a broad spectre of powers and will decide about important issues such as security, economic development, spatial planning and will be an integral part of  Serbia same as Kosovo, said the Director of the Office for Kosovo at the Serbian Government, Marko Djuric, the online version of KTV reported.

Djuric told Serbia’s public broadcaster (RTS) that Kosovo should establish the Association by 15 February 2017. “If by 15 February 2017, authorities in Kosovo do not start to implement their obligations in relation to the establishment of the Association then Belgrade, together with t Serb representatives in Kosovo, will independently launch its establishment,” said Djuric.

“Association will maintain active institutional, economic and political relations with Belgrade and Prishtinë/Pristina for the good of citizens,” said Djuric, adding that Association will be integral part of Serbia same as Kosovo.

KSF not allowed clearing minefields in northern Kosovo

(KTV)

In more than 50 million meter square, 90.000 mines and unexploded devices have been cleaned or destroyed by the members of Kosovo Security Force (KSF). But KSF was unable to carry out such an operation in the northern part of Kosovo. Despite its professionalism and the request to operate in Leposavic/Leposaviq, Zvecan/Zveçan, Zubin Potok and Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north, such permission was never granted to KSF.

KSF Commander, Ltg. Rrahman Rama is confident that such permission would be granted to KSF in beginning of 2017.

KSF is a multi-ethnic force where around 8 per cent of the KSF troops are Serbs, and two of them are promoted as lieutenants, after completing their education in the Military Academy in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

Civil society condemns Kurteshi’s statement

(Klan Kosova)

Coalition of non-governmental organisation “Equal Rights for All Coalition” (ERAC) reacted against Sami Kurteshi, a former Ombudsperson and senior Vetëvendosje representative, who called Justice Minister Dhurata Hoxha ‘a cow’, the online version of Klan Kosova reported.

“We are deeply disappointed by Mr Kurteshi, because before he entered politics, for many years he used to be the leader of the main institution for protection of citizens’ rights, including the monitoring of implementation of gender equality in the society. Such a language is absolutely unacceptable in the political scene of Kosovo and marks an excess of the red lines in the public discourse,” reads ERAC’s reaction.

ERAC called upon Vetëvendosje and Kurteshi to publicly apologize for making such statements.