No US entry visa issued to Haradinaj
(KTV)
“I have received an invitation to the Morning Prayers. I would like to go, I still have not decided whether I should go or not. Having in mind the climate concerning the tariff, I do not believe that I will go this time.” This is what the Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said on 15th January 2019.
The US Embassy in Prishtinë/Pristina did not deny that the Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has been refused entry visa, so that he could attend the Morning Prayers.
In a response to KTV, a spokesperson of the Embassy briefly said that they do not comment on invitations to the event, since it is an informal one.
In spite of the US request to suspend tariff on Serbian goods, Prime Minister Haradinaj still is against revocation of the tariff.
Government officials confirmed that the Prime Minister would not travel to the USA.
On the other hand, President Hashim Thaçi has travelled to the USA, and prior to travelling, he met Prime Minister Haradinaj in Prishtinë/Pristina.
In a short statement it was said that the meeting was held as a continuation of consultations on the state agenda.
More state officials have travelled to the USA, including MPs and Minister of Foreign Affairs Behgjet Pacolli.
Government still hasn’t replaced Minister Rikalo
(KTV)
Nenad Rikalo is still listed as Minister of Agriculture on the website of the Kosovo Government and of the Ministry of Agriculture; although since Saturday the Prime Minister has released him from the duty upon the request of PSD
KTV learned from sources close to the developments that each of the political parties in power is aiming to get that sector, and they have even started to submit their proposals to the Prime Minister.
But officials at the Prime Minister’s Office say that it has not been decided yet who will be the new minister to succeed the Serb, Nenad Rikalo.
Neither Rikalo nor other Serb ministers have attended any meeting of the Government since 26th March last year, as a protest to the arrest of Marko Djuric at that time.
Government officials say that no decision about other Serb ministers has been made yet.
On the other hand, PSD, the party which put Rikalo’s dismissal as a condition to the Prime Minister, has called for appointment of an expert at the Ministry of Agriculture.
PSD officials said they have been using the weak Government to work for the interests of citizens, but they deny any further approximation with the Government.
On Saturday, Kosovo Assembly held a session from the morning till after midnight to fulfil the five requests of PSD that had been put as conditions to vote in favour of the Kosovo budget.
Krasniqi: PSD has refused five ministries to join Haradinaj Government
(KTV)
PSD MP Frashër Krasniqi said that his party has refused five ministries to join the Haradinaj Government.
According to him, PSD has not accepted privileges for itself, saying that they want to use their position for the benefit of citizens.
“The Government is in a fragile position, and what we have continuously said is that PSD is an entity which cannot be neglected by the opposition or by the ruling parties. Politics in Kosovo depends to a great extent on PSD. As others rely on us, we intend to make use of this and to move forward for the benefit of citizens. There were intentions to withdraw the Law on Salaries. It was our condition that returned it and obliged the Government to adopt the Law on Salaries,” he said.
“At least five ministries have been offered to PSD, so that we would join the Government. However, we refused it, because we have decided to condition the Government for good purposes. We will be there to raise our voice, in order for us to get the opportunity to put more conditions for good purpose. The first important request that the opposition addressed since establishment of the Government was dismissal of Rikalo. Motions and protests happened, and finally it was PSD that accomplished it. Law on Dialogue has been adopted, and Ad Hoc Committee for Regulation of Pensions has been established. In three months, Law on Government will be adopted, and it will restrict the number of ministers and deputy ministers. We haven’t discussed details, as we have refused all the offers. We still haven’t discussed which ministries,” Krasniqi highlighted.
Responding to the accusations that it is PSD that is keeping Haradinaj in power, Krasniqi stated to KTV Express Intervista show that PSD more than six months waited for the actions of LDK and Vetëvendosje, so that they come up with strategies to bring down the Government; but as it did not happen, PSD took a different strategy.
“We also have our criticism and accusations to the bad governance, but besides that, we have decided to take actions that make some improvement to citizens’ lives. Had Srpska Lista been in the Government, voting of the laws would not depend on the PSD conditions. This is the first time that because of the PSD involvement, Kosovo is not conditioned by conditions of Srpska Lista,” Krasniqi added.
Bahtiri: If Mitrovicë/Mitrovica is touched, there will be an unprecedented war
(KTV)
Speaking about the petition for unification of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica, Mayor of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica South Agim Bahtiri said that there will be war in case Mitrovicë/Mitrovica will be touched.
“Serbia’s plan is to come to the Ibër bridge, but I guarantee that there will be an unprecedented war in case Mitrovicë/Mitrovica will be touched,” Bahtiri stated at the commemoration of the massacre of February 3rd and 4th, 2000.
Municipality of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica has earlier launched a petition with which it aims to unify the two municipalities of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica into one.
Nisma in Deçan/Decane: Municipality shouldn‘t make compromises with Monastery
(RTK1)
The Social Democratic Initiative (Nisma) Deçan/Decane branch has expressed its concern about the recent developments regarding asphalting of the Deçan/Decane-Plav road, and the attempt by the Visoki Decani Monastery to impede it.
In a press release, Nisma branch in Deçan/Decane has called on the Implementing and Monitoring Council for the Special Zone of the Visoki Decani Monastery to at their meeting on Tuesday make a fair decision and not hamper the road construction, knowing that recently the Council did not prevent construction of hydropower plants within the Special Zone of the Visoki Decani Monastery.
“The Social Democratic Initiative (Nisma) branch in Deçan/Decane calls upon the Deçan/Decane Mayor and upon the Municipality of Deçan/Decane to by no means make compromises regarding asphalting of the road which passes through the Special Zone to Plav, not to make compromises and not to accept any deviation to the route of this road, which passes along the Special Zone of Visoki Decani Monastery. In addition, the Social Democratic Initiative (Nisma) branch in Deçan/Decane calls upon leaders of the Visoki Decani Monastery not to hamper asphalting of the road which passes through the Special Zone,” the press release of Nisma says.
KFOR with security exercise in vicinity of Visoki Decani Monastery
(Klan Kosova)
Showing video footage of two vehicles, Klan Kosova reported that one of them is half-burned and the other is completely destroyed. These two vehicles were placed on the sides of the road that leads Visoki Decani Monastery, in vicinity of the Austrian KFOR peacekeepers control point.
KFOR spokesman Antonio Iammarone told Klan Kosova over the phone that annual security exercise for the new contingent of soldiers will start there on Tuesday. All of this will be done in coordination with leaders of municipal institutions and the Police.
As long as the exercise will take place, from 11:00 to 14:00hrs, only residents of this area will be able to use alternative routes.
Kosovo Serb detained suspected of being involved in killing of 33 Albanians
(GazetaExpress)
A Kosovo Serb man who was arrested last week at the border crossings of Jarinje in northern Kosovo, has been ordered a 30-days detention suspected of being involved in killing of at least 33 Albanians, who were executed during March and April 1999 in Peja.
Kosovo Serb man from Peja, Zoran Djokic, was arrested last Friday at the border crossings of Jarinje, while entering from Serbia to Kosovo. He is suspected of being involved in killing 33 Albanians from Peja on 26, 27, and 28 March 1999, in one of Peja’s neighbourhoods.
The Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo is accusing Djokic of committing war crimes and at the prosecutor’s order the Basic Court in Peja on Monday has ordered one-month detention on remand.
According to a Court’s statement, the Special Prosecution of Kosovo, suspects that Djokic has been involved in killing of Albanians during an attack against civilians in March and May 1999 in Peja.
The lawyer of the suspect, in a statement given to Serb media, has denied the allegations that his client has been involved in war crimes. Lawyer Lubomir Pantovic, has appealed the Court’s order of putting his client under detention measure.
Training of police officers on fighting domestic violence starts
(Kallxo.com)
Twelve Kosovo Police officers started on Monday the training on building operative capacities for fighting domestic violence.
The Police announcement states that the five-day training of trainers as the first responders to cases of domestic violence was foreseen as the first phase of the project.
“Twelve police officers will be initially trained and then they will hold other training for police officers,” the announcement reads.
According to the announcement, the aim of this training is to equip the trained officers with the most advanced knowledge, practices and methods of dealing with cases of domestic violence.
This training is being held under the organization of the OSCE and the financial support of the Italian Embassy.
