Quint countries concerned over reports of efforts to influence election results
(All monitored broadcasters, TV21)
Through a joint statement, the embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States state that they have received a number of deeply concerning reports of efforts to influence the results of the election in Kosovo through threats and intimidation.
The statement adds that in particular, there appears to be an attempt to intimidate and coerce members of the Kosovo-Serb community to vote in a particular way, and that such actions are completely unacceptable. Embassies call upon Kosovo authorities and police to investigate these cases fully.
According to embassies of Quint countries, all Kosovo citizens must be able to cast their votes according to their conscience and free from intimidation, interference, and fear.
Hahn expects from Prishtinë/Pristina to confirm its commitment to dialogue
(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)
The European Union expects that Kosovo will come out of 11 June elections with a pro-European Government and that new institutions will fulfil the remaining criteria for visa liberalisation as soon as possible, stated Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.
Hahn added that progress in Prishtinë/Pristina-Belgrade dialogue is a precondition for the EU perspective and expressed his expectations that Prishtinë/Pristina will confirm its commitment toward this process.
Hahn made these comments in Brussels during a conference on the European perspective of Western Balkans countries.
Eichhorst: Dialogue will be successful
(RTK2)
The director for Western Balkans and Turkey of European External Action Service (EEAS), Angelina Eichhorst, said that the dialogue between Prishtinë/Pristina and Belgrade can be successful only if both parties want that. She expressed her confidence that the dialogue will be successful, as she said, due to security and economy reasons.
Eichhorst made these comments during the conference “Deepening of the EU’s Security and Defence Cooperation in a Multi-Speed Europe” held in Belgrade.
Two visa liberalisation conditions remain for new government
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Regardless who wins the June elections in Kosovo, they must meet the two necessary conditions for visa liberalisation, KTV reported.
The European Parliament rapporteur for Kosovo, Ulrike Lunacek, said that PDK and LDK should tell their coalitions that they have accepted the Demarcation Agreement.
None of the political parties in Kosovo commented on the statements of MEP Lunacek.
However, according to Adriatik Kelmendi, journalist, coalition parties should make clear to their voters on what those parties will do with regard to ratification of demarcation.
On the other hand, Naim Rashiti of the Balkan Policy Group said that it was easier for the previous government to have passed the Demarcation, since he believes that the new government will not enjoy a great support from the international community.
PDK and LDK, which now are running for elections with other parties, signed the Demarcation Agreement with Montenegro in 2015. Now, those two parties are on election lists with other parties, whose leaders had opposed the Agreement.
Police steps up security measures in Kosovo north
(Klan Kosova & RTK1)
Kosovo Police stepped up its security measures in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north; including deployment of Special Unit, because of the pressure and recent incidents that happened in the north from Srpska List supporters and the Kosovo Serbs’ Party, RTK1 reported. The news for the presence of the Special Unit in north was officially confirmed by KP Deputy Director in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north, Besim Hoti.
According to Hoti, the main reason for stepping up security measure is because the electoral campaign has divided Serbs. He mentioned several incidents that occurred few days ago in Leposavic/Leposaviq municipality by Srpska List representatives and the problems with the Leposavic/Leposaviq mayor.
In the meantime, Aleksandar Jablanovic, who recently established a new political entity called Kosovo Serbs’ Party, denounced the pressure and blackmailing put by Srpska List officials and Belgrade.
“On 11 June we will have our observers in every polling station and now listen to the irony, Srpska List and its office accuses us of being Hashim Thaçi’s Serbs only because we have our representatives at the polling stations,” Jablanovic said.
Increased pressure has been reported also against Serb Independent Liberal Party (SLS) led by Slobodan Petrovic. Srpska List officials did not come forward about these developments yet.
Heads of the EU member states in Kosovo, EU Office in Kosovo and EULEX have also expressed their concern about the recent incidents in the north and other parts of Kosovo, RTK1 concluded.
On the other hand, during an electoral gathering in village Uglarë of Fushë Kosovë/ Kosovo Polje, Srpska List representatives called Jablanovic “a traitor of the state of Serbia”, Klan Kosova reported.
Democracy in Action files 51 electoral violation complaints to ECAP
(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)
The Democracy in Action NGO coalition so far has submitted 51 complaints to the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) for violations committed by political parties during the election campaign.
Democracy in Action officials stated that eleven decisions have already been taken about the complaints, while the rest of them are being processed. In total, 16.700 euro fines have been imposed against political entities only due to the complaints filed by Democracy in Action. The PDK-AAK-Nisma coalition has been fined with 7.500 euros for five violation cases, the LDK-AKR-Alternativa coalition with 2.500 euros for two cases, Vetëvendosje Movement with 1.200 euros for one case, and KDTP with 5.500 euros for three cases
Democracy in Action expressed its concern about the large number of children involved in political party activities.
Dusan Radakovic of Democracy in Action said that not everybody in Kosovo is willing for a just and fair election campaign. According to him, monitoring in north Kosovo municipality indicated that only Srpska List is organising regular activities and having meetings with citizens.
Democracy in Action also monitored broadcast media coverage of political entity campaign activities. According to them, VV Movement has been covered 25 percent, LDK 19 percent, followed by PDK with 11 percent, AAK with 9 percent coverage, and others.
According to Democracy in Action, in 23 out of 394 political entity election activities hate speech was used and only two cases were reported when atmosphere in election activities was aggravated.
Political parties to pay thousands of euro fines for electoral rule violation
(KTV)
Only for six days of election campaign, four political parties will pay 17 thousand and 900 euro fines for electoral rule violation, KTV reported.
Election Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) has imposed fines against the PDK- AAK- Nisma coalition, the LDK- AKR-Alternativa coalition, Vetëvendosje, and the Turkish Democratic Party of Kosovo – KDTP.
Political parties have a 15-day deadline to pay the fines; however, Mulë Desku, ECAP Secretariat Chief Executive Officer, says that from the past experience, parties never respected deadlines. Nevertheless, this time it will be easier for ECAP, as those parties that do not pay the debt will not be certified for local elections.
Desku said that in other cases, the Central Election Commission (CEC) deduced the debt to the political parties that got seats in the Assembly from the Democratisation Fund, and over the last two years CEC has started cooperating with the private law enforcement agents, as well. Consequently, the debt of political parties has been reduced from 1 million euros to 22 thousand euros, and the remaining debt mostly belongs to those political parties that have ceased to exist.
KWN calls for voting more women in elections
(TV21)
Kosovo Women’s’ Network calls for voting of more women candidates in 11 June elections.
Women still remain very little represented in politics and decision-making at the national, municipal and party level, the statement of this Network reads.
According to the Law on Gender Equality, it is the obligation of citizens to elect as many women as possible at the Assembly, having in mind that political entities and the Central Elections Commission have failed to implement this Law, Kosovo Women’s’ Network stresses.
Charges against Asim Cenaj dropped
(KTV)
Pejë/Pec Court, Deçan/Decane branch, has approved the request for dropping charges against the defendant, Asim Cenaj.
His lawyer, Kujtim Kërveshi, told KTV that he has requested dropping of charges against his client for inciting hatred and national intolerance because the charges were ungrounded.
After reviewing it, the Court found that actions of the defendant do not contain criminal offence elements. Prosecution has five-day time to file a complaint at the Court of Appeal.
Asim Cenaj was accused following an incident with displaced Serb community members. During the meeting with them Cenaj asked them about the fate of missing persons, as his father is also among them.
Money for Forensic Medicine Institute ended up elsewhere
(KTV)
Six thousand euros which were allocated for the Forensic Medicine Institute staff training were spent for a totally different purpose, KTV reported.
Four thousand (4,000) euros were allocated for sending forensic experts to Kizevak, Serbia, but the rest two thousand euros were borrowed by the Minister of Justice Dhurata Hoxha, who used them for her official trip.
Thus, forensic experts afforded to travel to Kizevak for four weeks, but then they ran out of money, and last Tuesday the team could not travel any more. KTV tried to contact the Minister of Justice Hoxha to ask why did she need the money of the Institute for, but she was out of reach.
In fact, like always, it was Prenk Gjetaj and his assistant Kushtrim Gara who travelled to Kizevak, and they both are technical staff members.
On the other hand, Arsim Gërxhaliu confirmed that the reason why they were absent was the same as last time, namely that they lacked funds. Gërxhaliu explained that in four effective weeks they spent four thousand euros, which was all what he managed to receive from his Department. He says that the rest is up to the Government.
The Ministry of Justice officials say they are looking for possibilities of finding the funds.
However, the excavation work has already entered its final stage, and it will be closed in less than two weeks.
