Meeting of Kosovo and Albania Governments postponed
(Klan Kosova)
Meeting between the Governments of Kosovo and Albania will not be held on 24 April as it was announced earlier. Official reasons of this postponement, which is requested by Prishtinë/Pristina rather than Tirana, have not been revealed.
But the news for the postponement of this important meeting planned to be held in Vlora, Albania, was confirmed to Klan Kosova portal by different sources.
“The Office of Prime Minister proposed a different date which is more suitable than 24 April,” said an unnamed source within the Kosovo Government.
“The reason is said to be the tight agenda of the Prime Minister,” the source said.
Klan Kosova portal tried to get a confirmation of by the Office of Prime Minister Mustafa, but none of his advisors, Government Spokesperson Arban Abrashi or the Chief of Staff Vlora Dumoshi, were willing to comment this issue.
Tirana also confirmed postponement of the meeting scheduled for 24 April.
“We are having consultations to find a different date for the meeting,” said a source within the Government of Albania.
On Monday, Klan Kosova reported that another important event will take place on 24 April, which is far more significant than the meeting of both Governments in Vlora.
On this day, according to Klan Kosova sources, Assembly of Kosovo will have Ratification of the Agreement on Border Demarcation with Montenegro on its agenda.
According to Klan Kosova, on the following day, on 25 April a break-up of the ruling coalition between PDK and LDK is expected, thus leaving space for early elections which will most probably be held on 28 May, or 04 June this year.
Kosovo cannot file genocide lawsuit against Serbia
(RTK1)
Kosovo President, Hashim Thaçi recently announced that Kosovo will sue Serbia for the crimes it committed in Kosovo. But, in fact, under the current circumstances, this is almost impossible, RTK1 reported.
Kosovo is not member of the United Nations and this, according to Criminal Law professor Ismet Salihu, is the main obstacle. According to him, an additional obstacle to sue Serbia is the fact that Kosovo did not collect evidence as it should have done.
However, those who have open wounds by the crimes Serbia committed in Kosovo, demand justice.
Recently, Gramoz Berisha invited the newly-elected President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic to visit his family in Suharekë/ Suva Reka. Through this invitation, Gramoz from Suharekë/Suva Reka sought answers. He wants to know from the Serbian President about his family relatives who are still considered missing, and the reason for the killing of more than 40 members of Berisha Family. As one of three witnesses who survived, he demands justice.
There are thousands of others who wait for the day when Kosovo will sue Serbia of genocide. However, according to international law experts, this cannot be done.
Professor Salihu said the fact that Kosovo is not member of international mechanisms, such as United Nations, or other justice institutions, makes it almost impossible to file lawsuits against Serbia.
On the other hand, Bekim Blakaj of the Humanitarian Law Fund says that preparations for such a lawsuit might take years.
Since Kosovo is not able to sue Serbia, it was mentioned that Albania can do such a thing on behalf of Kosovo. But, professor Salihu believes that lawsuit through another country would only complicate the situation further.
CHDRF considers recent security alarms unreasonable
(Klan Kosova)
Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms (CHDRF) considers the recent alarms of Kosovo security institutions as unreasonable. CHDRF stresses that it has become kind of a habit to spread alleged news for potential attacks on believers and religious sites on the verge of Orthodox and Catholic holidays.
CHDRF urges security bodies in charge to carry out their duty discreetly and not to contribute to spreading of false information as it happened the last time.
Minister Hoxhaj starts his official visit to Kingdom of Norway
(Klan Kosova)
Kosovo Foreign Affairs Minister, Enver Hoxhaj started on Tuesday his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.
As part of this visit, Minister Hoxhaj was initially received by the members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence of the Norwegian Parliament, the representatives of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and heads of the Norwegian fund “Norfund”. Minister Hoxhaj also made a presentation at the Norwegian Institute for International Affairs.
“Deepening the bilateral co-operation in the area of security, Kosovo’s membership in international organizations, and expansion of economic co-operation, were some of the key issues discussed in the framework of these meetings,” reads a press release issued by Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Delawie and O’Connell commend adoption of Law on Execution of Penal Sanctions
(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK)
The U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, commended adoption of the Law on Execution of Penal Sanctions, considering it as a concrete step in the fight against corruption.
“The Assembly took a concrete step to fight corruption today by passing the Law on Execution of Penal Sanctions. Terrific news!” Delawie wrote in his Twitter account.
The United Kingdom Ambassador to Kosovo, Ruairi O’Connell, also welcomed adoption of this Law, since, according to him, it closes a loophole that allowed Kosovo Ministers to release whomever they wanted from Kosovo jails on health grounds, RTK portal reported.
“I welcome the adoption of the Law on Execution of Penal Sanctions today by the Kosovo Assembly. This is a step forward toward. It closes a loophole that allowed Kosovo Ministers to release whomever they wanted from Kosovo jails on ‘health grounds’. It should help to stop the undue influence of powerful interests on the justice system. We hope to see further steps forward; they are necessary,” wrote Ambassador O’Connell in his Facebook account. I welcome the adoption of the Law on Execution of Penal Sanctions today by the Kosovo Assembly. This is a step forward toward. It closes a loophole that allowed Kosovo Ministers to release whomever they wanted from Kosovo jails on ‘health grounds’. It should help to stop the undue influence of powerful interests on the justice system. We hope to see further steps forward; they are necessary.
During Tuesday’s plenary session, Kosovo Assembly adopted the Law on Execution of Penal Sanctions, all TV broadcasters reported.
Mustafa: End of June decisive for early elections
(Summary of KTV Rubicon show)
Lack of Srpska List MPs in the Assembly has made the Agreement on Ratification of Demarcation with Montenegro to be postponed until now, Prime Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa stated. Talking to KTV Rubicon show, Mustafa said they will not submit the Agreement to the Assembly until they will not have the sufficient number of MPs.
Mustafa said it is not clear to him who the leader of Srpska List is, underlining that he still does not have a precise response from the Central Elections Commission about this matter.
Mustafa said that they do not have any condition from Srpska List for voting in favour of Demarcation. He said that their only concern is to clarify the role of ministers and responsibilities of Srpska List.
Due to contradiction of the opposition MPs for the Demarcation Agreement, then waiting of Srpska List is necessary.
PM Mustafa considers that no doubts can be raised over the accuracy of border demarcation with Montenegro. He told Rubicon show that all the methods have been verified, namely all the dilemmas have been cleared. Prime Minister requested from MPs to be responsible and vote Demarcation. He said that the border cannot be changed and he cannot speak about votes until the voting day.
He said that Demarcation will need to be sent to the Assembly during the month.
PM Mustafa said that demarcation condition for visa liberalisation has not come from Prishtinë/Pristina in any case. He stressed that demarcation condition toward Kosovo is unjust.
According to him, the Demarcation Agreement will be submitted within the month to the Assembly unless another promise comes from Brussels.
“We must proceed [Demarcation issue] before the half of this year, before July,” he added.
Prime Minister Mustafa also said that the end of June will be decisive if the country will enter early elections. The issue of visa liberalization, namely voting or non-voting of Demarcation Agreement with Montenegro, will be the cause of early elections.
PM Mustafa said he sees no reason to continue further if this solution is not reached. According to him, the entire process will be done in cooperation with the coalition partner – PDK. He said that there is time for this until the end of May.
He considers the campaign started by Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli, as a good practice. He told KTV Rubicon show that it is good to go out in the field; otherwise one cannot get informed about the changes and the work that is being done.
Mustafa underlined that Demarcation Agreement cannot be solved with political consensus. He said that MPs opposing Demarcation should give up from, as he says, the false cause.
Prime Minister does not see any reason for opposition’s no confidence motion toward the Government. Yet, according to PM Mustafa, Nisma’s motion for early elections is a right of the opposition.
Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, said he stands behind his pledge to suspend any official of Kosovo institutions against whom the prosecution has raised charges. But, this was not seen to happen from the Prime Minister, as there are almost four weeks since he is not fulfilling it against the Minister for Return and Communities, Dalibor Jevtic.
However, PM Mustafa said he has no reason not to fulfil his promise. Mustafa stressed that he is expecting a confirmation of institutions responsible, and he will take necessary measures against Jevtic.
Speaking about the statement of Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, who said that in case EU will not accept Albania then unification with Kosovo will be sought, the Prime Minister of Kosovo said that this is a populist statement.
“We are not orientated to make other unifications, aside from the one with European Union. Even if they did not accept us through the door, we shall enter through the window,” Mustafa told Rubicon show.
Speaking of local elections and the race for Prishtinë/Pristina mayor, PM Mustafa said that “LDK is determined to have a female candidate for Prishtinë/Pristina.” Nevertheless, he stressed that they still do not have a name for this candidacy.
Prime Minister also spoke about the issue of Kosovo Army establishment. Mustafa said that talks on issue started with current President Thaçi since he was his deputy. Mustafa also said he started discussing this issue with Serb representatives as of the beginning of 2016.
He emphasised that this issue must be done in partnership with internationals and expressed his conviction that Kosovo will have its Army during this year.
“This issue must be done in partnership with the internationals, but we have a real problem with Serbs, who are influenced by Belgrade. But we must make the Army, not when Belgrade decides, but when we decide,” Mustafa underlined.
