France delays extradition ruling on Haradinaj again

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

AAK leader, Ramush Haradinaj will continue to stay in France at least until mid-April, because the Court of Appeals in Colmar of France said on Thursday, that it was postponing for 06 April the decision on his potential extradition to Serbia. The French Court provided one month more to the Serbian authorities to submit additional information related to the request for Haradinaj’s extradition to Serbia.

After the Court postponed its decision for the second time, Haradinaj addressed to a group of followers and citizens, who went to France to follow the proceedings.

Former Kosovo Prime Minister Haradinaj considered the decision of the French court as disgraceful and abuse of the political system.

“The Court has requested some more explanations from Serbia. This decision shows that this is a political game. We have given a chance to the law, but, unfortunately, politics has been deeply involved in this case. They said that I will be here until 06 April because Serbia will have to submit its explanations by 31 March. On 06 April, we will face once again with evidences and facts and the decision will be made by mid-April,” said Haradinaj.

Commenting the charges raised by Serbia, Haradinaj said that they will receive the same response as in 1998-1999.

“We have taken an oath as Albanians and Vucic and Nikolic will get the same reply as in 1998,” said Haradinaj.

Following the decision of the French Court, Haradinaj’s party, AAK called for national protests on Saturday.

“Haradinaj’s detention for another month in France is abuse of justice. Decision is illogical and incomprehensible. It is strange how judiciary authorities in France are serving to Milosevic’s former-associates, who through Haradinaj are seriously challenging Kosovo’s peace and stability,” reads AAK reaction.

AAK claims that the postponement of the decision is a direct attempt to eliminate Haradinaj politically.

Moreover, AAK has also decided to boycott the work of Kosovo Assembly until 06 April. AAK’s call for protest has been supported by Vetëvendosje and Nisma për Kosovën.

On the other hand, the adjournment of the decision triggered the reactions of Kosovo political and institutional leaders. They considered this decision as unjust and unacceptable and requested his immediate release.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi said that the postponement of the decision to release Haradinaj is unjust, while, according to him, international justice continues to be influenced by Serbian politics.

Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli said that the news about the postponement of decision on former commander Ramush Haradinaj is unacceptable news for all Albanians, who are confident in the purity and nobility of our liberation war.

Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa said that the detention of Haradinaj is unacceptable and unjust.

“We call on the international community to end once and for all these intolerable acts of Serbia, and we ask from the French institutions to enable Mr Haradinaj to return to Kosovo,” said PM Mustafa, adding that those who have committed crimes in Kosovo should face these courts.

Kosovo Minister of Foreign Affairs, Enver Hoxhaj considered the decision of the French court as disappointing.  Minister Hoxhaj said that he conveyed this message to the French Ambassador to Kosovo.

Other MPs of the ruling coalition expressed their concerns with the continuation of Haradinaj’s detention in France. Vetëvendosje Movement chairperson, Visar Ymeri said that Haradinaj is hostage of politically montaged accusations of Serbia.

Nisma për Kosovën requested to declare Haradinaj’s case as an in issue of state interest.

KLA War Veterans request revision of the Law on Special Court

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Representatives of War Veteran Associations said that they will not allow the Assembly of Kosovo to hold any sessions until the Law on Special Court is returned to the Assembly for revision.

Following the adjournment of the decision on the case on AAK chairperson Ramush Haradinaj, AAK caucus leader Pal Lekaj requested from MPs to suspend the ongoing plenary session on Thursday.

But Lekaj’s request did not receive any support and the plenary session continued normally while MPs resumed with parliamentary questions.

However, ruling coalition MPs expressed their solidarity with Lekaj’s request only when the situation became tensed in the Assembly. Representatives of War Veteran Associations, together with family members of KLA martyrs entered the Assembly chamber to express their reaction regarding the Haradinaj case and requested revision of the Law of the Special Chambers.

MP Nait Hasani voiced the requests of war veterans’ organization in front of MPs but his proposal did not receive any support by PDK and LDK. He requested from Assembly to revise the Law on Special Court once again.   However, PDK caucus leader Zenun Pajaziti and LDK caucus leader Ismet Beqiri requested a suspension of the plenary session as a sign of solidarity with Haradinaj.

After this, representatives of War Veteran Associations exploded and addressed a series of accusations and insults to MPs, who decide to suspend the session. War veterans invited all veterans’ to join the protest and said that they will not leave the Assembly chamber.

“We call all war veterans’ and families of martyrs to join us here and protest,” said Hysni Gucati, head of KLA War Veterans’ Association.

Fadil Shurdhaj, representative of KLA War Veterans’ called on veterans to join the protest against the Assembly and MPs, who, according to him, suspended the session without discussing the request of MP Hasani.

However, in the end they left the Assembly chamber but announced that they will not allow any session to be held without returning the Law on Special Court to the Assembly.

Mustafa: Dialogue will culminate with Kosovo’s recognition by Serbia

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa said during Thursday’s Assembly session that the format of dialogue in Brussels might be revised only after consultations with other institutions.  He added that the dialogue will culminate with Kosovo’s recognition by Serbia.

“Within the topic of reparation, we have, even in the past raised the issue of missing persons. We will request guarantees from the EU that Serbia will provide accurate information about the locations of mass graves. We will request opening of the archives of the former Yugoslavian Army, because we are carrying out excavations and we are not finding the bodies of missing persons. We will also raise the issue of war reparations,” said PM Mustafa, responding to the question of PDK MP, Blerta Deliu-Kodra about the ways to change the dialogue with Serbia.

Jevtic: Usurped property, biggest challenge for returnees

(RTK2)

Kosovo Minister for Communities and Return, Dalibor Jevtic commended Wednesday’s decision of Kosovo Government to approve an instruction that makes it easier to obtain personal documents in Kosovo.

“This instruction will help the displaced persons from Kosovo to get personal documents and this was a recommendation deriving from Skopje Process,” Jevtic stated.

Minister Jevtric emphasized that the issue of usurped property continues to remain the biggest challenge for returnees.

“We will still insist on solving this issue, the way we have recommended it, to establish a special judiciary panel to more effectively and faster resolve cases of usurped properties,” said Minister Jevtic.

Former MEST minister indicted

(KTV)

Department of serious crimes at the Basic Court has indicted the former Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Ramë Buja  and secretary Xhavit Dakaj for the criminal offence: Misuse of official duty or official authority.

Buja and Dakaj are accused in relation to a tender for professional supervision of capital projects with the business enterprise “Alb Architect”.

The indictment states that the owner of the business enterprise, Afrim Demiri, presented false documents to win the tender.

The initial hearing has been scheduled for 07 March.

KJA condemns threats against Fatmir Lama

(KTV)

Kosovo Journalists Association (KJA) considers as unacceptable the threats made against Fatmir Lama, the author of the documentary film “Stories about Kosovo”.

KJA requested from justice institutions to quickly treat this case. KJA confirmed that it will closely monitor the treatment of this case by justice institutions.

Thaçi: Special Court a historical injustice to Kosovo

(Summary of Klan Kosova Zone B show)

On Thursday evening Klan Kosova Debate Zone show hosted Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi to discuss about recent developments in Kosovo. A group of students attending the show addressed a series of question to Thaçi about developments in Kosovo and the region.

President Thaçi said the decision of French Court to keep Ramush Haradinaj in France until 06 April is a provocation for Kosovo.

“Decision of the French justice against Haradinaj is unfair and unacceptable. Unfortunately, few countries continue to respect charges raised during Slobodan Milosevic’s time,” said Thaçi. He stressed that Kosovo has tried maximally to fulfill its obligations and respond to the accusations against Haradinaj and the other ones who are in these lists.

“I have discussed about these lists at Munich Security Conference, but I have been told that Kosovo should work individually with countries,” said Thaçi.

He also stressed that if demarcation is not ratified, Kosovo’s visa liberalization process will be delayed for years if not decades.

“I have received assurances by EU officials, President Junker, Tusk, Mogherini, Commissioners Avramomopoulos and Hahn that visa liberalization will happen if demarcation is passed. I am confident that if demarcation is ratified, visa liberalization will happen within few months,” said Thaçi. According to him, there are three obstacles related to ratification of demarcation:  boycott of Serbs in the Assembly; the resistance of opposition to ratify it and the obligation of ruling coalition partners to convince MPs to ratify it.

However, Thaçi said that EU unfairly introduced demarcation as visa liberalization criteria. Nevertheless, he said that Government should submit demarcation to Assembly and, as he said, there are no reasons not to ratify it.

Commenting about the Special Court, President Thaçi said that although he considers this as injustice to Kosovo, he has insisted for is establishment because of the relations with the international community.  He said that Serbia’s crimes in Kosovo are investigated only in surface or are not investigated at all.  He said that while Serbia’s crimes in Kosovo have been done by state mechanisms, Kosovars, according to him, might have committed crimes on individual basis.

“Special Court is an historical injustice to Kosovo. But we have nothing to hide. Kosovo Assembly approved the establishment of this Court.  Kosovars might have committed crimes on individual basis but Serbia, as a state, committed ethnic cleansing,” said Thaçi.

Discussing about Kosovo’s Army, Thaçi said that Kosovo might have had its Army three years ago, if several MPs would not withdrew from the voting at the last moment, fearing that Thaçi might win political points  if the Army is established.

He said that this failure brought new circumstances. According to him, negotiations with Serb MPs on this issue are required now, but he emphasized that the Army must not be hostage of their wishes.

“In 2014 we agreed with the internationals, NATO, USA and the EU to establish Kosovo’s Army. All, including Serbs and others, agreed. In the final phase, several MPs refused to vote, saying that Thaçi is making political scores. I have said it even then that we will not have this opportunity for years,” said Thaçi.

He said that after the 2014 failure, negotiations with Serb political representatives are required. “All our engagement in this aspect has not brought any positive results. I have individually talked to Serbs and they agreed. But as a group they receive instructions from Belgrade. They clearly said to me that they cannot vote due to Belgrade. I am in favor of Kosovo institutions to discuss with Serbs up to the end, but we should not be kept as their hostage,” said Thaçi.

One of the students, attending Klan Kosova Debate Zone asked the President about his initiative to establish the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Thaçi said that this Commission might ease the relations between Albanians and Serbs.

“Someone might say that we are late with this initiative. But, I believe that the perfect circumstances do not exist. We should discuss about the values that create unification and not division. I know that we cannot introduce love between Albanians and Serbs, but at least we can leave in peace and not hate each-other. Nevertheless, Albanians have not fought Serbians as a nation but fought against the regime of Slobodan Milosevic,” said Thaçi.

Thaçi said that through initiative Albanians will profit and a new standard in the relations between the two nations will be introduced.

“Kosovo will benefit if such reconciliation happens. I know that there are people who say that first Serbia should apologize and then reconciliation should happen. But I don’t believe that the current leadership in Serbia could do such a thing. I know that this initiative will not be applauded by all, but we are creating a missing standard in the region,” said Thaçi. He further added that the values of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) war might be violated only by those who have misused KLA uniform and did harm to Serb elders, children or Serb property.  He reiterated that this commission will not substitute justice. Moreover, he thanked representatives of civil society, media and international community for supporting this initiative.

Among other topics discussed, President Thaçi spoke also about the initiative to establish a professional, investigative body to investigate the murder of journalists in Kosovo as all cases should be solved.  He said that UNMIK or EULEX might have information about post-war killings of journalists. He urged journalists to talk to these missions and reveal the truth.

“I am truly confident that UNMIK or EULEX authorities have information about these killings. Why they don’t reveal these information’s, remains an enigma to me and also sort of irresponsibility of these international authorities,” said Thaçi.

President Thaçi emphasized the need to have an electoral reform, including the way how the President is elected. He said that he launched this process and it depends on political entities on the further steps.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi concluded his interview saying that he does not regret to have taken the position of the President. He pledged that he will never return in the Government, party or run for an MP position.