Conference calls for fighting of religious extremism
(TV21)
The two-day conference “Strong Cities Countering Violent Extremism in Kosovo” started its works in Pejë/Pec on Monday. Head Imam of Islamic Community of Kosovo, Sabri Bajgora, underlined that ICK pledges it will be a big obstacle to any kind of religious extremism.
At the launch of this conference, Kosovo Minister of Internal Affairs Skender Hyseni emphasised that he has paid great importance to fighting of religious radicalism from the day he took over the mandate.
“Only the work that Kosovo Police and rule of law bodies are doing is not enough. They are doing an excellent job, but it is not enough. In fact, Police and rule of law institutions intervene in these fields at a later stage… It is about preventing further radicalisation of society, respectively to do everything possible to de-radicalize even that part of society that is radicalized,” Minister Hyseni stressed.
On the other hand, the US Ambassador in Kosovo Greg Delawie stressed that only joining of forces can fight this negative phenomenon.
“The Strong Cities Network fights violent extremism in Kosovo. It is very important, unique and vital to identify threats from violent extremism. Local leaders have their role on preventing violent extremism,” Ambassador Delawie said.
Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jan Braathu, said that radicalism and extremism are not only a problem of Kosovo.
“There are already nine Kosovo municipalities that are part of the ‘The Strong Cities Network’, which actively work on fighting this phenomenon. The role of municipalities and civil society in general is very great in this regard, because only the work of Kosovo Police is not enough in fighting this phenomenon,” Ambassador Braathu underlined.
This conference is organized by “The Strong Cities Network”, ICITAP and the OSCE with the support of US Department of State.
Opposition: Thaçi is trying to get credit from Army establishment
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Announcement of President Hashim Thaçi about extension of Kosovo Security Force (KSF) mission, through changing the Law for this Force, is being seen as an appropriation of individual merits.
Although such a change is supported by all the political parties in Kosovo, this idea was expressed a year ago by LDK MP Vjosa Osmani.
She had said that KSF could transform into an Army even without changing the Constitution, and without the votes of Srpska List MPs.
Member of the Assembly Committee for KSF Oversight, Anton Quni, supports this initiative of the President, but he says that his statement on KLA Epopee manifestation was rather appropriation of political merits.
Opposition has also qualified this initiative of President Thaçi as rather an action for his political gain.
However, regardless of this, opposition parties have said that they will support extension of KSF’s mission.
Daut Haradinaj: It suits Isa Mustafa if Ramush is not here
(Klan Kosova)
MP Daut Haradinaj, brother of former Prime Minister and AAK leader, Ramush Haradinaj, said that those who aim to ratify demarcation with Montenegro are involved in detention of the latter in France.
“It suits Isa Mustafa if Ramush Haradinaj is not here until Demarcation with Montenegro is ratified,” said Daut Haradinaj, online version of Klan Kosova reported.
He added that political entity he comes from, AAK, has not changed its position regarding demarcation.
“On 01 September there were 29 MPs of ruling parties against Demarcation, now there are 21”, Haradinaj told Klan Kosova Zone B show.
“There are sufficient votes against Demarcation,” he stressed.
“We are the ones who have made the big noise while real heroes against Demarcation are MPs of the ruling parties, because they have done much more, they have come against their boss and they have been even threatened,” Daut Haradinaj added.
He also said that Kosovo has not demarcated its border with Albania or Serbia.
“Why should demarcation be a condition,” he asked.
“I believe that institutional leaders are the main ones to blame. When we started this cause it was not a condition for liberalisation,” he continued.
According to him, this issue should end soon and it should have ended long time ago.
“Demarcation must be renegotiated, we have good relations with Montenegro, or sent it to arbitrary,” Daut Haradinaj concluded.
Opposition says that RTK is serving Kadri Veseli
(KTV)
Broadcasting of a video spot of PDK chairman and Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli, in Radio and Television of Kosovo (RTK) main news edition has provoked many reactions. The video in question described the sacrifice and heroic war of the legendary commander Adem Jashari and the KLA war for liberation.
Editor-in-chief at the public broadcaster, Ridvan Berisha, did not accept to speak for KTV, but he gave explanations regarding this issue. He said that broadcast of Kadri Veseli’s video was a technical failure.
“This was a completely technical failure because instead of the shorter news article the video spot was aired by mistake. We have never practiced airing video spots in news editions,” Berisha wrote.
But, on the 9th anniversary of Kosovo independence, RTK aired in its main news edition another video of the Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli.
Members of the Assembly Committee for Media from Vetëvendosje and Nisma, Shqipe Pantina and Zafir Berisha, said that the public broadcaster has already turned into a TV station of the authority.
According to them, Kadri Veseli’s influence on RTK editorial policies is increasing each day.
RTK has been constantly criticized by opposition parties for the space it gives to leaders and parties in power in its news editions.
Mogherini considers situation in Western Balkans as tense
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, reported to Foreign Ministers in Brussels regarding her visit to the Balkans.
Mogherini has considered the situation in Western Balkans as tense.
Ahead of the meeting, she told journalists in Brussels that she expects EU commitment for European integration perspective of this region to be confirmed.
“The situation is tense and it is exposed to challenges both internally and regionally, also globally. But it is a region that has in itself the capacity, the strength to react to that, to hold, provided that the credibility of the European integration process is there,” Mogherini said.
As far as Kosovo is concerned, Mogherini’s visit has not changed the position of parties regarding demarcation agreement with Montenegro, KTV reported.
Mogherini’s visit encouraging for ASMM establishment
(RTK2)
Minister for Communities and Return, Dalibor Jevtic, considers that the recent visit of the High Representative of the European Union, Federica Mogherini to the region and Kosovo above all can be encouraging for establishment of the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities – ASMM.
“Of course, my expectations after her visit, from what I could hear from our political representatives who were in the meeting with Ms Mogherini is something that has encouraged me, that this step will be finally made,” Minister Jevtic said referring to ASSM establishment.
Jevtic visits RTK2 channel, pledges Ministry’s help
(RTK2)
Minister for Communities and Return, Dalibor Jevtic, visited the second channel of Radio Television Kosovo. Discussing with the RTK2 Director Srboljub Kuzic and Director General of Kosovo’s public broadcaster, Mentor Shala, Jevtic said that the ministry headed by him will provide support to the channel in Serbian language.
Ministry for Communities and Return is ready to help RTK channel in Serbian language to improve its working conditions, Minister Jevtic stated while visiting RTK2.
“Our interest is for RTK2 to work as professionally as possible,” Jevtic said.
The announced support and help will significantly contribute to improvement of working conditions of RTK2 channel.
Kuzic thanked Minister Jevtic for the visit.
“We had the opportunity to see some of the technical problems, such as the space in which we work. RTK2, with its almost 100 employees – mainly Serbs but also of other non-majority communities, is an example of a multi-ethnic cooperation and tolerance, and it certainly deserves a little more attention and assistance from the institutions and foreign representatives,” RTK2 Director Srboljub Kuzic stressed.
“We had a very constructive meeting with Minister Jevtic today. We informed him with the conditions under which RTK operates, but especially with the conditions on the channel in Serbian language. We informed him that investments for this TV station are necessary. Same as before, the Minister promised that the Government and he personally will get involved in helping RTK2 in order to have the best possible opportunity to develop a program at a professional level,” said RTK Director General Mentor Shala.
KLA War Veterans want changes of Law on Special Court
(Most monitored broadcasters, Klan Kosova)
Kosovo Liberation Army War Veterans Organization has requested from the Assembly Presidency to proceed the Law on Special Court as a point of agenda in Wednesday’s session.
A press announcement of this Organisation reads that taking into account the failures of UNMIK and EULEX justice, adoption of Special Court has been opposed.
According to them, this Court is harmful for Kosovo and this is why veterans have requested establishment of a local court which would deal with all crimes committed in Kosovo during the wartime.
As these veterans say, the Special Court is biased and it prosecutes and tries only KLA members, but not also Serbs from Serbia.
