OSCE concerned about inclusion of RTK into Law on Public Sector Salaries
(RTK1)
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo expresses concern about the inclusion of the employees of Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) into the Law on Public Sector Salaries, adopted on 2 February. RTK is an independent public broadcaster, with constitutional and legal provisions that protect its editorial and financial independence.
The inclusion of RTK into the Law on Public Sector Salaries undermines RTK’s independence and its public broadcaster status. It also invokes questions related to respect for relevant international standards for public service broadcasters, which are enshrined in the Kosovo Constitution and legal framework.
The OSCE Mission therefore urges the Kosovo legislators to consider amending the Law on Public Sector Salaries accordingly and address matters related to RTK through its own separate law, as has been the case thus far.
Veseli proposes conditions for tariff suspension
(Klan Kosova & RTK1)
Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj does not agree that the tariff should be suspended, whereas the Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli has a different opinion; he thinks that the tariff should be suspended with some conditions.
Veseli has written those conditions in a document, which Klan Kosova god hold of. The nine-page long draft document, which was submitted to the Government coalition party leaders at the beginning of the week, Veseli provides suspension of the tariff for 120 days, until Serbia meets ten conditions.
To implement the agreement on joint crossings as part of the Integrated Border Management, and to cooperate in cross-border information exchange and verification, for security purposes and for facilitating trade between the two countries.
Serbia shall recognise all documents of goods, licenses, stamps, and documentation of the Republic of Kosovo, as well as its bar code and banderols; whereas, the Serbian Customs shall stop using stamps of parallel Serb structures in Kosovo.
Moreover, the document states that the Kosovo diaspora that travels through Serbia as transit, shall not be mistreated and shall get free transit as same as passengers of third countries.
The document states that Serbia shall no longer hamper Kosovo’s position in the international arena, and agreement on energy shall be implemented.
The document provides similar seven conditions on Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well.
As the customs tariff is provisionally suspended, only those imported or re-exported goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to Kosovo shall be allowed that are accompanied by documents of the Republic of Kosovo and that refer to Kosovo with its constitutional name.
If these conditions are not met during the 120 days of suspension, Kosovo will resume the 100 customs tariff, and it will also impose full reciprocity measures. Thus, Kosovo also shall not recognise documents issued by authorities of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
RTK reported that Veseli had presented his document proposal on 23rd January, when he received at a meeting the US Ambassador to Kosovo Philip Kosnett, and the Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj.
Analysts predict Government reconfiguration, rather than election
(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)
Political analysts believe that disagreements amongst the Government coalition partners have been jeopardising the coalition’s existence; nevertheless, they exclude the possibility of early elections.
Artan Muhaxhiri, political analyst, stated to Radio Free Europe that the current situation in the Government coalition cannot last long.
“The deep political crisis, which Kosovo is going through, cannot go on for a long time. Therefore, a quick solution is needed, and it can happen only in two ways: that Prime Minister Haradinaj gives up the 100 percent tariff and suspends it, or a full reconfiguration of the Government to happen, changing the Prime Minister and inclusion of LDK in the Government,” Muhaxhiri said.
Agon Maliqi, another analyst, has a similar opinion. He says that there is already a great international pressure, in order that the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia can be finalised within this year. For this reason, he believes that at this point, early elections could complicate the situation, making it even more unclear.
“If Haradinaj does not give up the tariff, I think it is more likely that a Government reconfiguration will happen, within the current constellation of the Kosovo Assembly. This is how I read the recent statements of LDK. While earlier, LDK would call more for elections; it seems that now it has somehow withdrawn from that demand. Seemingly, this situation is leading towards creation of a new government, and it is not yet known whether it will consist of LDK-PDK, or will it include others, as well. However, it should have a greater weight to push forward the very fragile processes that await us this year,” Maliqi emphasised.
“It is expected that upon a great pressure by the US and the EU, LDK is currently involved in an inclusive government, as the option of new elections is not that realistic, because it takes too much time, and there is no assurance that after elections we may have a stable government that can be swiftly formed,” Muhaxhiri added.
Analyst Maliqi thinks that even PDK has indicated that reconfiguration of the Government might happen.
Law on Dialogue unnecessary, interferes in Assembly’s work
(KTV)
Although Law on Dialogue passed in the first reading, Vetëvendosje has announced to send the Law to the Constitutional Court, while political and constitution analysts also share this view.
At the longest session ever held by the Kosovo assembly, on Saturday, with 61 votes in favour, Draft Law on Tasks, Responsibilities, and Powers of the State Delegation of the Republic of Kosovo in the Dialogue Process with the Republic of Serbia passed in the first reading.
In the debate, which took place late in the evening, Albulena Haxhiu of Vetëvendosje addressed a great deal of remarks regarding the Draft Law, announcing that they would send it to the Constitutional Court.
“Those who got votes from Vetëvendosje’s constituents are not eligible to bargain and are not eligible to legitimise Thaçi. If they want to legitimise him, let us enter elections, and then we will see who is where. So, no-one has the right to take other decisions, as long as they are MPs with votes of Vetëvendosje voters. This Law is scandalous in the political aspect, and it is against the Constitution, too.
Haxhiu added that the Draft Law was written by Hashim Thaçi himself. According to her, it does not set any red line with regard to discussions with the other side.
Mazllum Baraliu, professor of Constitutional Law, says that the Draft Law on Dialogue was unnecessary, given that Kosovo has got the Law on International Agreements.
“…It has all the appropriate mechanisms of a law, which responds to requirements of international and diplomatic relations, and signing various conventions and agreements with any country in the world, be it bilateral or more. It is in force, and it would substitute far better this legal act that they are trying to deal with,” Baraliu said.
He said that this Draft Law was necessary as a camouflage to the obvious failure and incapability of the Government coalition to establish a consensual team, which would include both governing and opposition parties.
Ramush Tahiri, political analyst, also thinks that the Draft Law was unnecessary. According to him, this implies interference in the Assembly’s work.
“…It shall be regulated by the Law on Ratification of International Agreements, Law on functioning of the Assembly, Government, by the Constitution and by other laws… In addition, declaring this Law as special is considered unconstitutional, because this Law interferes in many other Kosovo laws, as well as in the work of the Kosovo Assembly,” Tahiri stated to KosovaPress.
In a written response, PSD Media Officer Shkodran Hoti said that the announcement of Vetëvendosje was legitimate; however, he added that Vetëvendosje should start respecting court decisions.
But according to Mazllum Baraliu, if the Draft Law is passed also in the second reading and if it is sent to the Constitutional Court, the procedure should be interrupted until it is dealt with, and it should not enter into effect as such.
PSD as an opposition party had put five conditions, when on 21st December 2018 made it possible for the Draft Budget for 2019 to pass in principle. All those conditions were met on Saturday, including dismissal of former Minister Nenad Rikalo.
Deçan/Decane Municipality considering not to asphalt five kilometres, due to Monastery’s objection
(KTV)
The Decani Monastery by no means accepts that the road to Plav, which is inside the Special Protective zone, be asphalted.
For this reason, The Deçan/Decane Municipality is considering the possibility of not asphalting the five-kilometre long road in this zone.
Nevertheless, mayor Ramosaj hopes that an agreement with the Monastery will be reached, saying that the 28-kilometre road is in the interest of economic development of the municipality.
However, The Implementation and Monitoring Council, which deals with monitoring of Special Zones that are protected by law, has held several meetings in order to find a solution to this issue.
At one of those meetings, the EU Office, which is part of the Council, proposed construction of an alternative root that would be funded by the EU.
The next meeting of the Council will take place on 5th February, when a decision on this issue is expected to be made.
Construction of the Deçan/Decane-Plav road is estimated to cost 11 million euro.
