Headlines - 10.06.2017

• Election silence kicked off today at 7 (Telegrafi/Koha)
• Thaci: Kosovo has gained experience in organizing elections (Koha)
• Thaci urges Quint not to allow Serbia’s meddling in elections (Telegrafi)
• U.S. Ambassador Delawie calls on people of Kosovo to vote (Telegrafi)
• Serbian List fined for clip showing Kosovo part of Serbia (Lajmi) 

Kosovo Media Highlights 

Election silence kicked off today at 7 (Telegrafi/Koha)

All political parties and candidates running for parliamentary elections in Kosovo wrapped up their ten-day electoral campaign yesterday and as of 7am this morning Kosovo will be under election silence. During this period, parties and the media cannot publish or broadcast anything related to elections. Furthermore, the law specifies that no election survey can be published during this time up until the official closing of polls at 7pm on Sunday.

Over 1.8 million residents of Kosovo are eligible to vote this Sunday, of which 150,000 are new voters. 

Thaci: Kosovo has gained experience in organizing elections (Koha)

President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, said in a meeting with the head of the OSCE mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jan Braathu, that Kosovo has gained experience in organizing good elections and that Sunday will be a testament of this tradition. “President Thaci thanked Ambassador Braathu for the support the OSCE Mission has provided to the electoral process in Kosovo. Ambassador Braathu said the OSCE Mission remains committed in supporting Kosovo institutions for a successful electoral process”, reads a statement issued by Thaci’s office after the meeting.

Thaci urges Quint not to allow Serbia’s meddling in elections (Telegrafi)

President of Kosovo had a meeting yesterday with ambassadors of Quint countries and the head of the EU Office in Kosovo, Natalyia Apostolova and urged them to make it clear to Serbia that interference in Kosovo’s internal affairs would not be tolerated. “I urge you to send a clear message to authorities in Serbia not to scare or intimidate Kosovo Serb citizens and prevent them from freely expressing their political will”, Thaci said. He added that all institutions are focused on ensuring 11 June elections are free, fair and democratic. Head of the Central Election Commission, Valdete Daka, and Kosovo Police director, Shpend Maxhuni, also attended the meeting and said that they have made all necessary preparations for guaranteeing successful elections on Sunday. 

U.S. Ambassador Delawie calls on people of Kosovo to vote (Telegrafi)

U.S. Ambassador Greg Delawie, issued a video statement ahead of Sunday’s vote congratulating Kosovo for a successful electoral campaign and urging the people to go out and vote. “Select leaders who are not corrupt, those who will represent you and the best interests of your country, those who will work hard to fulfill Kosovo’s destiny in the heart of Europe,” Delawie said. He underlined that the U.S. would stand beside Kosovo and observe the voting process because “the fairness and credibility of these elections is crucial to the future of Kosovo”.

Serbian List fined for clip showing Kosovo part of Serbia (Lajmi)

Elections Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP) has fined the Serbian List for an election campaign video clip which depicted Kosovo as part of Serbia. The ECAP decision states that the clip incites hatred and is a provocation towards the existence of Kosovo. The 25,000-euro fine needs to be paid within 15 days.