Headlines - 10.12.2015

EC report to praise dialogue, not recommend visa liberalization (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that despite a great deal of optimism in Kosovo that the European Commission will recommend visa liberalization for Kosovo this year, officials in Brussels do not give good news in this respect. EU officials do not share Prime Minister Isa Mustafa’s opinion that Kosovo has met all the criteria for visa liberalization. “Kosovo is reasonably close to meeting the majority of criteria from the guideline [on visa liberalization] but there are still some open areas especially concerning [the lack of] final verdicts on certain high-profile cases of organized crime and corruption,” the European Commission said in a reply to the paper. Diplomatic sources in Brussels told the paper that efforts are underway in the European Commission to give a conditional recommendation on visa liberalization, which would note that once the remaining criteria are met the recommendation would enter into force. The paper also quotes an unnamed EU diplomat as saying that Kosovo authorities need to seriously address certain remarks from the latest Progress Report, otherwise this could damage the visa liberalization process. “This primarily concerns the lack of concrete results in the fight against organized crime and corruption. The Progress Report does not see any improvement in this respect. And without this, it will be difficult for us to convince not only the citizens but also the member states that Kosovo deserves visa liberalization,” the diplomat said.

Delawie: Corruption, a concerning occurrence in Kosovo (Epoka)

The U.S. Economic Chamber organized on Wednesday a debate on “The war against corruption: a possible mission.” The U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, stated that Kosovo’s economy and creation of jobs will not happen in Kosovo without improvement in the rule of law and in fighting corruption. He informed that it has been decided to spend twelve million dollars during the next year to empower the rule of law and war against corruption. Delawie said that despite some progress, the level of corruption in Kosovo remains the highest in the region.

President Jahjaga committed to fight corruption (dailies)

Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga on the International Day against Corruption noted that corruption is an evil that threatens every society, prevents the development of the state, undermines the rule of law and slows down economic growth. “As the President of Kosovo, I am committed to fighting corruption and building an independent judicial system. Through the National Council Against Corruption, founded and led by me, we improved the coordination and efficiency among the institutions mandated to fight corruption. We are working with civil society in raising awareness for the necessity of concrete results in fighting corruption. During the last years, the number of indictments for senior officials on corruption charges was significantly increased,” Jahjaga said.

A series of agreements on Special Court underway (Koha)

The paper reports that there will be several agreements on the formation of the special court that will address war crimes allegations. Citing an unnamed source, the paper reports that the subject of these agreements will include not only the headquarters of the special court but also other aspects related to the detention and sentence of defendants and potential indictees. “The agreements will address all matters of legal cooperation, including witness protection, the security and assistance that needs to provided outside the territory of Kosovo,” a source from the Kosovo government said. “After the formation of the court, this body will reach agreements relating to the detention and sentencing, but also on other issues that fall under its mandate”. If any of the defendants of the special court are found guilty, they are expected to serve their sentences outside the territory of Kosovo.

Veseli: Attack in Gorazhdec should not be politicized (media)

The President of the Assembly of Kosovo, Kadri Veseli, visited on Wednesday Sasa Petrovic’s five-member family in Gorazhdec, whose house was a target of an attack a few days ago. Veseli harshly condemned the attack on Petrovic family, and requested at the same time not to politicize and prejudge the case. He called on security institutions to deal intensively with the case and bring the perpetrators to justice. “I come to Gorazhdec just as I go to Mitrovica North. I condemn every incident of any nature and support the citizens in their lives and their properties. I appeal for continuous integration of all citizens in Kosovo’s society and institutions,” Veseli said.

Mustafa: Montenegro is willing to correct the borderline (Epoka)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa told Pristina-based RTV 21 on Wednesday that the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities will not have executive competencies. He said any decision of the Constitutional Court on the issue will be implemented by the government of Kosovo. Speaking about the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro, Mustafa said any eventual mistake can be corrected. “We have expressed our readiness to be open to professional expertise on the matter, be it internal or external. If international experts would asses that there is some eventual mistake on the border demarcation, then both parties, the Kosovar and the Montenegrin one, have the will to make the eventual corrections. We also have the will of the Montenegrin party to sit and see the corrections,” Mustafa said.

Signs for a violent Assembly session next Monday (Zeri)

The paper reports on the front page that the use of tear gas or even the suspension of the opposition from the session might be repeated in the next Assembly session scheduled for Monday. Opposition representatives said they will try to block the session despite the fact that eight opposition MPs have been arrested. Vice President of the Assembly, Xhavit Haliti, said political parties should discuss with each other and try to find a solution, but according to him, the problem is that there is no will to overcome this situation. On the other hand, Vice-President of the Assembly from Vetevendosje, Aida Derguti, said the opposition will continue to block the work of the Assembly as long as the government doesn’t withdraw from the agreements on Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and the border demarcation with Montenegro.

Konjufca: MPs have immunity, they shouldn’t be arrested (Zeri)

The Vetevendosje Movement parliamentary group chief, Glauk Konjufca, told a press conference that the arrest of the eight opposition MPs was a legal violation. According to him, the Constitution of Kosovo and the Assembly regulations clearly define the immunity of the MPs in the Assembly. “The immunity of the MPs is not only about statements but also about actions. The teargas was not to harm the others since we stayed there as well,” Konjufca said. Aida Derguti, Vice-President of the Assembly from Vetevendosje said the violent entries and raids of the homes of opposition MPs by the police were the beginning of political persecution. According to her, such actions were never taken in cases of corruption or parallel structures.

House arrest for opposition MP, Faton Topalli (Kosova Sot)

The Basic Court in Pristina ordered 30-days house arrest for Vetevendosje Movement MP Faton Topalli. Topalli was arrested two days ago in the building of the Assembly for his role in throwing teargas during the Assembly sessions.