Thaçi: No one can veto the establishment of the Army

(RTK1)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi met on Wednesday with the U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie. Among other topics, Thaçi and Delawie discussed about establishment of Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF), RTK1 reported.

In an interview for RTK show ‘Udhët’, Thaçi said that the meeting with Ambassador Delawie is part of his regular meetings. He stressed that Kosovo continues to maintain excellent relation with the U.S.

“The initiative for establishment of Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF) is fair, correct and is happening at the right time. This initiative will be coordinated and will be successful,” said President Thaçi.

According to him establishment of KAF will definitely happen be it through constitutional amendments or amendment of the Law on Kosovo Security Force (KSF).

“I fully support amendment of Constitution but at the same time I will not allow to be kept hostage by Belgrade or by 3or 4 individuals, who are hindering or vetoing the establishment of KAF. None can veto the establishment of the Army.  This is the will of 2 million Kosovars, the will of all Kosovo political parties and institutions. It is our constitutional and legal right and this is our guarantee for the future and NATO membership,” concluded Thaçi.

Stojanovic: Srpska List will not return in institutions

(RTK1)

Serbs are against the establishment of Kosovo Army, be it through amendment to the Constitution or laws.

Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Branimir Stojanovic is firm about this issue.

In an interview for RTK1, Stojanovic said that Srpska List will not be part of any process that aims at establishing the Kosovo army.

“If someone takes decisions outside the legal frameworks, he can do so but without us. We don’t want to be part of this issue because there are concrete agreements that have not been implemented. Any initiative is unacceptable to us as long as these agreements are not fulfilled. This is a political decision. This is not my opinion but the stance of the entire Serb community that I represent,” said Stojanovic.

Despite having several requests to Kosovo Government, Srpska List has no plans to return to the Government.

Stojanovic considers as senseless the statement of Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa that Srpska List should return in institutions as a condition for the establishment of Association of Serb Majority Municipalities.

“Association is a decision of Brussels and it is not an internal agreement reached in Prishtinë/Pristina. Conditioning the establishment of the Association with recent developments is completely a political issue,” Stojanovic told RTK1, adding that Srpska List will not return in institutions.

EC urges Kosovo to start drafting the statute of the Association

(TV21)

Representatives of the Kosovo Government and the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Commission met in Brussels to discuss developments over the past year in the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

In relation to the establishment of the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities, Kosovo reiterated its commitment to implement this agreement. European External Action Service and European Commission stressed the importance for Kosovo to start the work on the drafting of the statute of the Association without any further delay.

The discussion was held in the framework of the regular Stabilisation and Association Agreement which entered into force in April 2016, TV21 reported.

Kosovo Government adopts strategy on integration of Montenegrin community

(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)

Government of Kosovo in its regular meeting on Wednesday adopted the draft-strategy on integration of the Montenegrin community in Kosovo.

Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa said that the strategy should have a broader understanding and not be limited only in an association gathering Montenegrins in Kosovo.

Deputy Minister of Local Government Administration, Bajram Gecaj said that this strategy was drafted to promote the right of communities that live in Kosovo and to guarantee the rights of the Montenegrin community in compliance with Kosovo Constitution.

Is Srpska List ending its boycott gradually?

(KTV)

Three months have passed since Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa appointed Mirjana Jevtic as Minister of Local Government Administration (MLGA) but she offered resignation only after two official meetings that she held at the Ministry. She has not been seen since and almost no one talks about her presence in this ministry. Despite KTV’s persistence to get a statement from the Serb minister the contact with her was impossible.

In a statement to Serb media, Jevtic neither confirmed nor denied her potential return to the ministry. “Soon you will know all the details,” she said. On the other hand, MLGA officials said that Jevtic is still exercising the post of minister.

Attendance of Srpska List MP Slobodan Petrovic at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly is an indication that Srpska List representatives are gradually returning in Kosovo’s institutions, KTV reported.

Petrovic attended the works of the NATO PA as part of Kosovo delegation led by MP Xhavit Haliti.

Moreover, Adem Hoxha Srpska List MP recently attended a meeting of Kosovo Assembly Committee on Health.

KTV was unable to get any statement from Srpska List caucus leader, Slavko Simic about their potential return to the institutions.

Civil society sceptical on decriminalization of political scene

(KTV)

At the time he was holding the post of the Prime Minister and PDK chairperson, Hashim Thaçi never mentioned officials that were under investigation, KTV reported.  But the majority of the former-mayors from PDK ranks are either convicted or indicted by Prosecution.

But now, at the capacity of Kosovo President Thaçi believes that public institutions must not be led by people who are under investigation or are accused of corruption.

However, this again might end only as a statement because recently, PDK branch in Lipjan/Lipljane has nominated Shukri Buja as candidate for mayor of this municipality, even though Buja is accused of abuse of official position or authority.

PDK officials of this branch said that despite President’s statement they will not withdraw Buja’s name as they are confident on his innocence.

On the other hand, civil society representatives are sceptical that President will push forward this initiative.

Betim Musliu of Kosovo Law Institute considers Thaçi’s statement as hypocrisy, because, according to him, Thaçi could have done much more on this matter while he was serving as Prime minister. Most of the mayors that come from the PDK are either accused or convicted for different criminal offences.

Court of Appeals dismisses indictment against Bahtiri

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

On Wednesday, Kosovo Court of Appeals dismissed a corruption indictment against Mitrovicë/Mitrovica South Mayor, Agim Bahtiri, and three other defendants, by granting their appeals against the ruling of the Basic Court in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica.

“The indictment charging them with abuse of official position or authority (A.B. and H.F.) and agreement on limitation of the competition through winning of tender procedures (G.K.); filed by the Special prosecution Of Kosovo (SPRK) has been dismissed. Criminal procedures against them have been stopped,” reads a press release issued by the Court of Appeals.