No decision if Kosovo Serbs will vote in Serbian elections
(Klan Kosova & RTK2)
Spokesperson of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Senad Sabovic, said that consultations are on-going about holding of Serbian presidential elections in Kosovo’s territory, online version of RTK2 reported on Saturday.
“We had a series of contacts with relevant actors in Prishtinë/Pristina and Belgrade (including Serbian Republic Electoral Commission – RIK, while Kosovo Central Election Commission- CEC is not involved in this process). As soon as we clarify all details we will inform the public,” Sabovic told Serbian news agency Beta. He expressed his hope that this will happen in the forthcoming days.
According to Sabovic, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo is technically ready to implement the collection of votes in Kosovo.
“The model that we have is very well elaborated,” said Sabovic, adding that it provides access to this process to people from Kosovo with the right to vote and ensures transparency and legitimacy of the collected votes.
Recently, RIK adopted Instructions for holding of elections in Kosovo, stipulating that the elections in Kosovo should be held with the support of the OSCE, whose mission will be to take care of the transport of the balloting material from administrative crossing points to the polling stations, respectively from the polling stations to the administrative crossing points.
Instruction foresees that after the OSCE verifies there are conditions for the safe transport, balloting material will be transported from the polling stations to the municipal hub of Raska, where it would be handed over to the RIK coordinator and minutes will be made, while sealed envelope with control ballot, unused ballot papers, invalid and valid ballot papers will be placed in a bag that would be sealed with a safety lock.
Opposition representatives in Serbia consider that the adopted Instruction provides space for electoral fraud and that it is unconstitutional. According to them, Serbia’s Constitutional Court last year ruled that the election procedures for holding elections in Kosovo should comply with those that apply in central Serbia, namely that votes should be counted in Kosovo’s territory and not in Vranje and Raska.
On the other hand, RIK President, Vladimir Dimitrijevic said on Friday that the claims for electoral fraud in Kosovo are malicious. He emphasized that RIK is in constant contact with the OSCE Mission in Kosovo to ensure that the voting in presidential elections in Kosovo are conducted in safe manner and in compliance with the law.
Covering the same topic, Klan Kosova reported that no decision has been taken yet whether Serbian Presidential elections will be held in Kosovo. This broadcaster quoted the spokesperson of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo Senad Sabovic saying to the Serbian based new-portal Tanjug that the final decision on this issue will be taken during the next days. He said that technically the OSCE Mission in Kosovo is ready to organize the Serbian elections in certain areas of Kosovo’s territory. However, Sabovic emphasized that consultations about this issue are underway and that there is nothing concrete yet.
In his interview, Sabovic said that based in previous experiences, there is a certain expectation that they will organize Serbia’s presidential election in Kosovo.
Srpska List returns in institutions
(RTK)
Srpska List MPs have decided to return in Kosovo Assembly in order to use all the means to hinder the establishment of Kosovo Armed Forces, Srpska List Caucus leader, Slavko Simic told ‘Tanjug’ agency, the online version of RTK reported.
Simic said that Srpska List took this decision because of the interests of Serb people in Kosovo and the complex security and political situation in Kosovo.
On the other hand, Klan Kosova reported that the Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic confirmed, in an interview for the Austrian Standard magazine on Saturday, that an agreement has been reached for the return of Srpska List in Kosovo Assembly.
Kosovo Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Rexhep Hoti, reacted to the statement of Serbian Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vucic, who said to Austrian daily ‘Der Standard’ that Srpska List will return in Kosovo institutions and that Kosovo has agreed that the Serbian representative be appointed as the Secretary General of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office of the Western Balkans (RYCO).
Hoti said that the return of Srpska List in Kosovo Assembly is a direct result of the agreement between Kosovo and Serbia.
“Kosovo and Serbia agreed beforehand that in exchange of the return of Serb MPs in Kosovo Assembly, Kosovo should agree with the proposal of five other countries (Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and FYROM) to have the Serbian representative as RYCO’s Secretary General,” said Hoti, the online version of RTK reported.
Thaçi: Kosovo will have its Army
(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)
Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi said that they will wait until the very end for the return of Srpska List MPs to the Assembly and for their vote on the constitutional amendments for the establishment of Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF). However, if this does not happen, President Thaçi expressed his confidence that this will be done through the draft law which he has initiated.
“Currently, Srpska List made it clear that it will not vote it, because Belgrade has instructed them not to vote the establishment of KAF. We will wait until the very last seconds the return and the vote of Srpska List for the constitutional amendments but if this does not happen we will continue with the draft law which I have initiated,” said President Thaçi.
Thaçi said that the international community, which does not agree with the methodology for the establishment of the Army, did not maintain the dynamics of the interest to return Srpska List in important state-building processes for Kosovo.
Thaçi said that although the ruling coalition has 2/3 of MPs is unable to pass important topics, such as demarcation and Association of Serb Majority Municipalities. In his interview to ‘Kosovapress’ news-portal, he said it is the responsibility of ruling coalition partners to conclude these issues.
“It is the responsibility of the ruling coalition partners to progress in establishing the Association and to conclude the demarcation, because without demarcation there is no visa liberalization. This is as well a responsibility of the ruling coalition because they do have the required numbers of votes to move forward with this process,” said President Thaçi among others topics.
Early elections in Kosovo to take place on 04 June
(Klan Kosova)
Klan Kosova, quoting Prishtinë/Pristina based news portal ‘gazetametro.net’ reported that early elections in Kosovo will take place on 04 June. This portal quoted an unnamed PDK senior representative, who confirmed 04 June as the date of the early election.
Klan Kosova attempted to get a stance from PDK officials about this issue but they refused to comment it. They did not deny nor confirmed 04 June as the date of early elections.
‘Family and Hope’: Law on Special Court selective
(RTK)
Kosovo Albanian Association “Family and Hope” (Familja dhe Shpresa) sent a letter on 22nd of February, to the EU High Representative Frederica Mogherini, requesting her assistance to allow Kosovo Assembly to amend the Law on Special Court for alleged war crimes of Kosovo Liberation Army (UÇK) members, the online version of this broadcaster reported.
This Klinë/Klina based association, through a press release issued, said that although their request clearly explains the need to amend this law in order to include Serbia’s criminals in this new Court in the Hague, according to them, Mogherini deviated the substance of the letter.
“Through this letter, which was sent to us a month after we submitted it, she (Mogherini) intentionally avoids our request for the amendment of this partial and selective law. We are aware what is happening with Kosovo courts and what is EULEX doing as it concerns crimes committed by Serbia. Therefore, we have requested from her to change the situation and improve the work of EULEX judges and prosecutors. We recall that Serbia is not sending its criminals in our courts and will never do so,” said Zana Bytyçi-Geci, representative of “Family and Hopes” through a press statement.
On behalf of Frederica Mogherini, the letter was responded by Eduar Auer, Head of the Division for Western Balkans at European External Action Service (EEAS).
“The European Union is committed to support investigations and prosecution of all crimes committed during the conflict. Establishment of Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, is part of broader efforts of the EU to investigate and prosecute alleged war crimes committed by all sides,” reads among other Auer’s response.
