UNMIK Headlines 12 December
“Opposition will not prevent President from addressing the MPs” (RTK)
The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, told RTK that the opposition parties will not prevent President Atifete Jahjaga from holding her end-of-year speech at the Kosovo Assembly on 17 December. However, Haradinaj said the opposition will express their dissatisfaction with actions similar to the ones on previous solemn sessions. “We will not prevent the President from addressing the MPs but we will express our dissatisfaction as we did in previous solemn sessions. For us it is not important how we express our dissatisfaction to the President, because she already heard our stance,” Haradinaj said. For some time now, the three opposition parties – Vetevendosje Movement, AAK and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) – by different means are trying to block the work of the Assembly as a sign of protest against the agreements on Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and border demarcation with Montenegro.
Yee: Constitutional Court’s decision should be respected (Koha Ditore)
Brian Hoyt Yee, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, told the paper that Kosovo has made significant progress this past year towards achieving its goals of Euro-Atlantic integration. “There is the recent agreement with Serbia which includes some difficult issues and the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU. It is important to say that Kosovo’s leadership had to take some very difficult decisions,” Yee said. Speaking about the current situation in Kosovo, Yee said that the opposition has the right to express alternative stances to the government, “but they must do it peacefully.” He said that the Constitutional Court’s decision on the agreement of Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities should be respected. According to him, if the Court decides that there are issues to be addressed in this agreement, then the government should work to find a solution.
Opposition to hold anti-government rally in Gjilan/Gnjilane today (dailies)
The three opposition parties - Vetevendosje Movement, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) - will hold an anti-government rally in the city of Gjilan/Gnjilane today at 13:00 to oppose the agreements on Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and the border demarcation with Montenegro.
Vetevendosje attacks Abrashi’s vehicle (media)
Vetevendosje Movement activists on Friday evening threw paint at the vehicle of Minister of Labour and Social Welfare and spokesperson for the government, Arban Abrashi. Vetevendosje through a press release said its activists attacked Abrashi “because the latter insulted the Vetevendosje by comparing its actions to ISIS.” “This minister last week compared the biggest opposition party in Kosovo with the ISIS terrorists. Abrashi is an abuser and offender, who seriously insulted the opposition of his country, by using same language as Serbia,” reads the press release.
Those found guilty by special court to serve their sentence outside Netherlands (Koha)
The paper on its front page today reports that the individuals who would be arrested on war crimes charges based on Dick Marty’s report, will be sent to the Netherlands. However, according to the draft agreement between Kosovo and Netherlands, a copy of which the paper claims to posses, those found guilty will not serve their sentences in the Netherlands. According to this agreement, the prison sentence will be carried out in one of the countries decided by the special court. The president of the Specialist Chambers will select one state among those who have shown willingness to accept the imprisonment of those found guilty. The paper also reports that Specialist Chambers will be able to impose sentences up to life imprisonment.