Head of OSCE Mission interviewed by RTK2

(RTK2)

Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jan Braathu, was the guest of RTK2 Razgovor show on Thursday evening. He talked about the on-going topics, collection of votes operation, Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, and violent extremism.

Ambassador Braathu said that although the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia is moving forward slower than desired, it has produced results. He encouraged continuation of dialogue.

Braathu stressed that collection of votes operation for Serbian parliamentary elections went extremely well, despite the human error in terminology used.

Speaking of early elections in Kosovo, Braathu said that Kosovo politicians are the ones who decide on elections, and that it is not up to the OSCE to have any view on elections in Kosovo. Nevertheless, he underlined that they are firm believers and supporters of democratic procedure.

“The OSCE does not organize elections in Kosovo. That time has passed. We can provide some assistance, but it is not up to us to decide anything about elections in Kosovo,” he underlined.

Commenting the violent extremism cases, Braathu said that they are happening and can happen anywhere in Europe. He underlined that cooperation is the key to winning the battle against this phenomenon.

“From the OSCE side, we have been working with Kosovo Police and Kosovo authorities to develop a strategy and an action plan for combating violent extremism. We see that the Police are responding very correctly, professionally I would say. But this is a challenge for all police services all over Europe. Cooperation again is the key to winning this battle against violent extremism,” he concluded.

French Court refuses to extradite Haradinaj to Serbia

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

A French court has rejected Serbia’s extradition request for the former Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj. A panel of judges in Colmar refused a request from Serbia for the former Kosovo PM to be extradited to Serbia.

For the third time, the AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj triumphed in his confrontation with justice on war crimes charges. This time, Haradinaj avoided extradition to Serbia following his arrest by the French authorities four months ago.

Finally, on Thursday, the Court in Colmar released Haradinaj and allowed him to return to Kosovo from Strasbourg, where he was under arrest as of January.

Prosecution has five days to file a complaint against this decision. After his release, Haradinaj considered the decision of the court as a victory of Kosovo against Serbia, and not his personal victory.

“Four valuable months have been lost, but Albanians have won in this confrontation,” said Haradinaj to many of his followers and party colleagues in Colmar, France.

The decision of the Court was widely commended by Albanians across Kosovo.  Many Kosovo Albanians started celebrating the decision in Prishtinë/Pristina streets.

Kosovo institutions and leaders welcomed Haradinaj’s release.  Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi said that Haradinaj’s release once again proved that the slanders of Serbian services against the Kosovo Liberation Army are false and disregarded by the democratic world.

Kosovo Government considers that this decision is a confirmation that Serbia’s arrest warrants against KLA members are politically-motivated.

Through a post in his Facebook page, Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli said that cases such as this one of Haradinaj should not be repeated anymore.

Thursday’s decision of the Court was also welcomed by Vetëvendosje chairperson, Visar Ymeri, and Head of Nisma për Kosovën Fatmir Limaj.

While, publicist Veton Surroi said that Haradinaj triumphed for the third time. “The state for which he fought did not protect him,” Surroi said.

European Parliament’s Vice-President and standing rapporteur for relations with Kosovo, MEP Ulrike Lunacek, welcomed Thursday’s decision of the Court of Colmar to release former Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj, and to reject Belgrade’s request to extradite him to Serbia for prosecution on suspicion of war crimes.

The former Head of the United Nation Mission in Kosovo, Soren Jessen-Petersen, considered Serbia’s action against the former PM of Kosovo as scandalous.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama also welcomed the decision of this French court. “Ramush, welcome once again as a winner in our Prishtinë/Pristina”, PM Rama wrote in his Twitter account.

On the other hand, Serbia Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vucic, reacted furiously against this decision. He considered it shameful, scandalous, unjust, and above all political.

Haradinaj: I felt stateless in France

(RTK)

Thousands of citizens gathered on Thursday evening in ‘Zahir Pajaziti’ square in Prishtinë/Pristina to welcome the return of the former Prime Minister of Kosovo and AAK leader, Ramush Haradinaj, from France RTK portal reported.

Addressing his followers in the square, Haradinaj thanked the citizens for the organized reception, saying that he returned to Prishtinë/Pristina thanks to citizens’ power. He emphasized that during this period he felt stateless and that Kosovo institutions were not up to the task regarding his case in France. Haradinaj once again said that the request for extradition to Serbia was a direct call for war.

“When I said that they wanted war, I truly meant it, because we have to show Serbia where it belongs to be. These are criminals, who have committed crimes in Kosovo. If these in Belgrade think that we forget, they are wrong, because we do not,” Haradinaj told citizens gathered in Prishtinë/Pristina.

Haradinaj also stressed the issue of Demarcation with Montenegro, saying that no one should say that Albanians are against their international friends if they oppose changing of borders.  He also said that Albanians are one of the most ancient nations in the world, but, as he said, if Albanians get attacked, they shall always defend themselves.

“Whoever lived with Albanians has never suffered any consequence. Even in the most difficult times, no community was harmed. These are Albanians, an ancient and decent nation. We respect whoever respects us, whoever helps us, we help them back, but we will always defend ourselves from whoever attacks us,” Haradinaj said.

EU calls on Kosovo guarantee freedom of expression

(KTV)

The EU Office in Kosovo expressed its concern about Kosovo authorities’ intention to amend the Criminal Code of Kosovo with new provisions on libel and defamation.

“This goes against the international trend to repeal criminal defamation laws. A number of EU members or potential members, including Kosovo, have done away with criminal defamation and insult, and several others have taken important steps in that direction.

The EU in Kosovo calls on Kosovo authorities to continue to adhere to the existing principles of guaranteeing the freedom of expression enshrined in Kosovo’s Constitution, which is aligned with best European standards,” EU Office in Kosovo reaction reads.

Additionally, several civil society organizations have strongly opposed the draft law prepared by Ministry of Justice on the amendment of the Criminal Code.

EULEX on the National Day for Missing Persons: We Will Never Give Up

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Kosovo marked National Day for Missing Persons. On this occasion, Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi called on international community to put pressure on Belgrade so it sheds light on the fate of missing of persons.

National Week for Missing Persons concluded on Thursday in village Mejë of Gjakovë/Djakovica municipality. During the recent conflict in Kosovo, 376 civilians were executed within one day in this village.

“By rights they want to finally know who gave the official orders and who committed the crimes during 1998-1999.  We all know that state of Serbia is the author of this plan,” said President Thaçi during the commemoration ceremony.

EULEX Mission in Kosovo, through a press release issued, confirmed its commitment to help solve the issue of the missing.

“The more time passes, the harder the identification process gets, but as long as we are here, we will never give up,” said EULEX Head of Mission Alexandra Papadopoulou.

On the other hand, the Government of Kosovo has finally allocated funds for deployment of forensic experts to participate in excavation of mass graves in Serbia.

PDK threatens LDK with revision of coalition agreement

(KTV)

It seems that pressure for breaking up the PDK-LDK ruling coalition lies with LDK, KTV reported.

PDK has made it clear to LDK that a likely revision of the coalition agreement will be done in case Demarcation with Montenegro is not ratified at the Assembly.

PDK caucus leader, Zenun Pajaziti, said that if this ruling coalition does not make important decisions, then, according to him, there is no sense to continue the co-governance.

On the other hand, it seems that LDK has finally understood PDK threats and returned its criticism against the ruling coalition partner.

LDK MP Besa Gaxheri said that PDK was never ready to implement essential state projects and take over responsibility.

Office of the Prime Minister, on the other hand, through a written response, confirmed that the Demarcation will be sent to Assembly for ratification over the course of next week.

KFOR increases measures around Visoki Decani Monastery

(KTV)

The European Union requested from the municipality of Deçan/Decane to implement decision of the Constitutional Court, which ruled that 23 hectares of land around the Deçan/Decane Monastery should be administered by the Church.

Re-actualization of the issue of these properties has raised tensions between both sides; hence KFOR has increased security measures to protect the Monastery. KFOR soldiers did not allow KTV crew to record the Monastery, while a KFOR helicopter was constantly flying over this area.

Mayor of Deçan/Decane municipality, Rasim Selmanaj, considers the increased security measures unnecessary, since, according to him, they are not requesting anything illegitimate.

“It is not possible to implement it, because these properties should be transferred to Deçan/Decan cadastre and we will never do so. Not only me, but even if 100 mayors will be replaced, none of them will ever implement this decision,” Selmanaj told KTV.

He says that the Constitutional Court had no right to take such a decision.

“Second instance of the Supreme Court ruled that these properties belong to enterprises, while the Constitutional Court of our own state of Kosovo, which is incompetent, has reassessed the rulings of the first and second instances, and it had no right to do so. This decision is politically-motivated,” Selmanaj said.

Deçan/Decane branch of Kosovo Historians League (KHL) “Ali Hadri” pledged to oppose this decision at all costs. KHL announced that on Friday it will block the road in vicinity of Deçan/Decane Monastery as a sign of contradiction for the decision of Kosovo justice institutions.

Anti-Albanian protesters storm FYROM’s Assembly, beat proposed coalition leader

(Radio Free Europe)

About 200 supporters of the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) stormed into the Assembly in Skopje on April 27 after an alliance of Social Democrats and ethnic Albanian parties approved an ethnic Albanian politician, as the Speaker of the Assembly, Radio Free Europe and all Kosovo TV broadcasters reported.

Protesters severely beat Social Democrat leader Zoran Zaev, the head of a proposed governing coalition that includes ethnic Albanian parties, and at least one ethnic Albanian lawmaker.

The demonstrators, waving FYROM flags and chanting “VMRO-DPMNE,” had jumped over barriers in front of the Assembly after news emerged that Zaev’s parliamentary alliance had elected ethnic Albanian lawmaker Talat Xhaferi, of the Democratic Union for Integration, as parliamentary speaker.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn condemned the violence, saying in a joint statement “the Interior Ministry and the police must ensure the security of the parliament and its members.”

The demonstrators, some wearing masks, were not confronted by security as they jumped over the barrier outside Assembly.

Once they reached the entrance foyer inside the Assembly building, they fought against heavily outnumbered police to force their way further inside.

Police reinforcements entered Assembly after the violence broke out, but authorities did not immediately attempt to suppress the protesters.

Zijadin Sela, leader of the Albanian Alliance, was among the lawmakers injured in the violence.

Blood could be seen streaming down Zaev’s face as scuffles broke out between his supporters and those of former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski’s VMRO-DPMNE party.

The violence was condemned by the institutional leaders of both Kosovo and Albania, most Kosovo broadcasters reported.

The Organization for Security Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) also condemned the violence, KTV portal reported.

“We condemn the incidents in Skopje. Violence must stop immediately. Need to restore calm and order,” said the OSCE.