US has not changed its stance toward Kosovo

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

A delegation of US Congressmen, who are visiting Kosovo, has continued their meeting with the institutional leaders. On Sunday they met with Kosovo Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli. At a press conference organised Veseli said that visit of US Congressmen once again confirms the strong support that US has for Kosovo.

Congressman David Price said that with this visit they confirm that regardless of changes in US leadership, the stance toward Kosovo has not changed.

According to US Congressmen, Kosovo is a very important country and this is why US support does not miss.

FM Hoxhaj meets OSCE Secretary General Zannier

(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)

On the third day of his visit to Munich, Germany, the Kosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj had a series of bilateral meetings with representatives of states and different organisations.

Minister Hoxhaj also met the OSCE Secretary General, Lamberto Zannier, with whom he discussed European and global challenges.

Hoxhaj informed Zannier with Kosovo’s achievements and its European agenda. 

Opposition sees “Sunny Valley” neighbourhood as re-colonization of Kosovo

(KTV)

Debates regarding the already ruined wall in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North and construction of the boulevard have left aside construction works at “Sunny Valley” neighbourhood in Zvecan/Zveçan.

The initial excavations in this area, where laying of foundation stones for about 300 houses expected to be built for the Serb community is expected, were done. This project is being considered the biggest one that Serbia has ever invested in Kosovo.

Opposition says that works must be immediately stopped.

Vetëvendosje deputy chairperson, Driton Çaushi, thinks that “Sunny Valley” is one of the most scandalous and dangerous issues and, according to him, re-colonization of Kosovo state is starting with this project.

Pal Lekaj of AAK says it is painful to allow Belgrade to be asked for the territory and actions of northern municipalities, therefore Government must immediately reflect.

Albanian municipal councillor at Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North municipality, Gëzim Malushi, says that this Valley should not exist as it has never existed before, and it is unacceptable to close the eyes toward this project.

KTV tried to contact officials of Zvecan/Zveçan municipality, but this was not possible.

It also tried to take a stance of Kosovo Government regarding this neighbourhood; however, Government’s spokesperson Faton Abdullahu did not give any stance but he only encouraged this TV broadcaster to take a response from the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning.  The response from this Ministry was very short. It says that there is no permit for “Sunny Valley” and that procedure was initiated in Court by the MESP inspectorate.

On the other hand, citizens in the southern part of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica are against construction of this neighbourhood. 

Thaçi requests from INTERPOL to cancel all Serbian arrest warrants

(All monitored broadcasters, TV21) 

Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi discussed with the INTERPOL Secretary General,Jürgen Stock, in Munich about the possibility of accepting Kosovo in this organization, and about the manner of deepening cooperation with INTERPOL. President Thaçi also discussed the issue of detention of Kosovo citizens with Serbia’s arrest warrants, saying that such arrest warrants are unsustainable and politically-motivated.

President Thaçi requested cancellation of all Serbian political arrest warrants from the INTERPOL Secretary.

Haradinaj: Albanians do not have a hand in my detention

(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)

AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj said that Albanians do not have a hand in his detention in France, but he is receiving these strikes from Serbia which has committed genocide in Kosovo. Haradinaj says neither President Hashim Thaçi nor other political opponents have a hand in his detention in France.

“We have a political race in Kosovo, we are opponents, however, sponsor of these strikes is Belgrade,” Haradinaj stressed.

Mustafa reacts against announcements for return of teargas in Assembly

(TV21)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, reacted after the announcements for return of teargas in the Assembly saying that such an action does not help Kosovo. According to him, keeping of Kosovo citizens isolated by blocking delineation of border line with Montenegro, which has been set as a condition for visa liberalisation, is the worst choice right now.

“The border is set with arguments and not with political positioning, or teargas, that is being evocated by some,” PM Mustafa wrote on his Facebook account.

President Hashim Thaçi – A year of loneliness

(RTV Dukagjini – Summary of Express Zone show)

On the day when Hashim Thaçi was elected President, the chants of the protestors from the square were louder than the speeches of MPs at the plenary session of Kosovo Assembly. On that day tens of protestors were injured and because of the teargas which was fired by the opposition in the session, several MPs and representative of the diplomatic corps requested medical assistance.

Hashim Thaçi was elected in this post at one of the most critical periods for Kosovo. Many people suggested to Thaçi to give up his Presidential ambition – convinced that his elections would provoke a bigger political conflict and would deepen the division between supporters of the Government and those of the opposition parties.  Nevertheless, this prediction resulted to be false. Certainly, the crisis was not concluded on 26 February, but the fact that opposition lost a battle in the Assembly put the protestors, who had done everything to stop Thaçi from becoming President, in a defensive stance.

Perhaps, Hashim Thaçi thought that things would restore to normality in Kosovo. As a matter of fact, the Assembly was unblocked, but opposition never changed its stance against him.

For a year as a President, Hashim Thaçi was never considered as a ‘Symbol of unity’ and he never managed to unite the key political stakeholders. Compared with the previous President, Atifete Jahjaga, Thaçi did not have the chance to receive many guests, or make important official visits abroad. Hashim Thaçi was mainly alone during this year in the Presidency.

Thaçi took the Presidency at a time when it seemed he was convinced that he did not have what more to offer in executive functions, or in the daily politics of his party. For two mandates as the Head of the Government, his main goals were:  improvement of road infrastructure; dialogue with Serbia-which was just to fulfil an obligation toward the international partners, and his passion to continuously fight his political opponents.

Ilir Deda from the recently established political party, Alternativa, said that up to his election as President, Thaçi used to play an important role in politics but, according to Deda, since his election, Thaçi felt his irrelevance and isolation from the West. Deda noted that during his first year as President, Thaçi did not receive any of his counterparts from Western countries, nor did he have any important visits abroad, besides the visits to Malta and Turkey. Deda considers that Thaçi has no authority over Kosovo politics.

“If he would have that authority, the demarcation which was signed by him would be ratified,” said Dedaj, adding that Thaçi is using talks with Serbia to make himself a factor.

Kosovo is a Parliamentary Republic, but the President has a broad range of powers. The President of Kosovo has almost the same powers as Presidents of countries with semi-presidential system.  But Thaçi wants a bigger role and more powers. Besides the broad range of powers the President has, his main duty remains the figure of unity, but is there any chance for Thaçi to be such a figure, Zone Express show asked.

Ardian Gjini of AAK firmly says no. “Absolutely not! Mr Thaçi never aimed to be a factor of unity,” said Gjini.

Ramush Tahiri, a political analyst, considers Thaçi’s first year as President successful. According to him, Thaçi got involved or took ownership over issues which are in the interest of the general public, or mediated their solution.

Ilir Deda and Imer Mushkolaj, on the other hand, do not agree with Ramush Tahiri. According to them, Thaçi was not a factor of unity, but rather he was a factor of disunity.

“He tried to present himself as very close to the citizens, to Serb citizens in particular. I am talking about his frequent visits in several areas across Kosovo. I believe that he could have done much more for them [Serb community] when he was leading the Government rather than now as President,” said Mushkolaj.

Dedaj considers that Thaçi is continuing to be a factor of disunity, stressing that there are no concrete initiatives by Thaçi to build a political consensus. “He continues with divisive stances when it comes to demarcation. He has a divisive stance in relation to the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities,” said Dedaj, adding that Thaçi is not building up consensus for issues important to Kosovo.

Aside from being criticized for many issues, former President Atifete Jahjaga achieved to be a factor of unity in some of the most serious situations that Kosovo faced. Although without any results, during blockade of VLAN coalition, Jahjaga achieved to host a series of meetings with the leaders of political entities. Thaçi only once tried to gather all the political leaders around the same table, and he failed.

However, Ardian Arifaj, advisor to President Thaçi, disagrees with Dedaj and Mushkolaj.  According to him, Thaçi invites all and makes no differences between political entities. “This happened with the electoral reform and other initiatives where a bigger inclusion of the whole political spectrum is required,” said Arifaj.

According to him, the fact that Vetëvendosje boycotts the Presidency this does not damage President’s mission to be a factor of unity.

Additionally, Arifaj said that the latter had enough visits abroad and some of them had to be annulled due to developments in Kosovo.

“All the visits that we have requested were held, although with protocol organisation of a visit at the President’s level takes longer that the one at Prime Minister’s level, or other levels,” Arifaj underlined.

On the other hand, political analyst Ramush Tahiri believes that the reason behind the decrease of visits is rather related with Kosovo as a country than Hashim Thaçi as the President since, according to him, Kosovo’s role in international relations has started to fall and other countries also have their issues. 

Hashim Thaçi’s image in the international arena was particularly damaged after publication of Dick Marty’s report. In it, the Swiss senator, according to Zone Express show, raised disgusting allegations against current Kosovo President. Due to this report, Kosovo was forced to establish Specialised Chambers, as the Special Court is formally called. Many believe that leaders of different countries are hesitating to meet Thaçi, since he might be treated at this instance. 

Responding to the question if activity of Special Court investigators is influencing on Thaçi’s activities, his advisor, Ardian Arifaj, said they did not note investigators when they were in Kosovo.

However, Ardian Gjini of AAK thinks the opposite. He says that Thaçi’s visits to cemeteries of Serbs killed after the war demonstrate his fear.

Whereas, Ilir Deda considers that these visits of President Thaçi have caused a great damage to Kosovo. He said that PDK militants should be asked their opinion about these visits. Referring to the visit that Thaçi paid to the Albanian Berisha family in Suharekë/Suha Reka and later during the same day to Hoçë e Madhe/Velika Hoca Serb memorial, Deda said that Serbian state massacre with what happened in Hoça e Madhe/Velika Hoca cannot be made equal. According to him, the most concerning thing is that Kosovo media were completely silent. He believes that President Thaçi is under great fear that he might be in the list of indicted persons from Special Court. 

Political analyst, Imer Mushkolaj, considers that Special Court is staying as a shadow over Thaçi’s head since he was elected as the President of Kosovo.

The fact that Hashim Thaçi is under pressure of Special Court was also noted these days when he declared Haki Imeri a hero, an LDK activist murdered after the war, for which his brother, Imer Imeri, used to directly accuse Thaçi of his murder.

Ardian Gjini considers that Mr Thaçi wants to grab everything: “When he was a Prime Minister he behaved as a President, now as the President he is behaving as a Prime Minister.”

According to Zone Express show, Hashim Thaçi is the politician with longest life in Kosovo’s political scene, mainly due to his skills to transform, depending on his personal interests. As the journalist Andi Bushati once said – he is the prototype of politician that does not have love or hate, he simply has his interests. However, this strategy that helped him a lot in consecutive victories as the Head of Democratic Party of Kosovo is ruining him each day more as President of Kosovo, this show concluded.