Headlines - 14.12.2015

Opposition to block session again, government expects reflection (Epoka e Re)

There are 28 points to be discussed at today’s Assembly session, among them, the second reading of the draft law for Kosovo’s budget in 2016. The opposition parties announced they will again block the session, despite the importance of the draft law on budget. However, deputy head of the Commission for Budget and Finances, Safete Hadergjonaj, said the governing coalition will find a possibility to endorse the 2016 budget, and expressed optimism that the opposition will reflect positively this time. 

Opposition to Jahjaga: The government is challenging the state (Epoka e Re)

The three opposition parties, Vetevendosje Movement, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo and the Initiative for Kosovo reacted toward President Atifete Jahjaga’s assessment that their actions are challenging the state. Driton Caushi, Pal Lekaj and Zafir Berisha said their actions are defending Kosovo. According to them, the state is being challenged by the government and its efforts to implement the agreement for Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities and the one for demarcation of the border with Montenegro.

Jahjaga reiterates her call for political dialogue (Bota Sot)

Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga once again has invited all political parties to find a solution to the current crisis through dialogue. Jahjaga said that Kosovo has entered a new phase with the contractual agreement with the EU, therefore, according to her, there must be a complete consensus across society on the path towards integration. She said that the road to EU requires more commitment, more work, but above all, it requires dialogue and agreement. The United States Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, reiterated that the Assembly is not a place for weapons and that the MPs should respect the law like all other citizens.

Washington to Kosovo: Fight corruption (Zeri)

Tom Yazdgerdi, director of the Office of South Central European Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, told the paper that Kosovo must fight corruption from the roots, even if high-level officials are involved. According to him, public procurement corruption, impunity of high-level officials, recent developments in the Assembly and the number of people from Kosovo joining ISIS are the main issues that Kosovo needs to address currently.  He said that opposition’s actions in the Assembly are disappointing. According to him, the opposition has the right to seek clarification on the recent agreements with Serbia and Montenegro but not in the way that is destroying the image of Kosovo. He also said that the government needs to be more transparent with the agreements signed. Regarding visa liberalization, Yazdgerdi said that the EU has realized how important is the abolition of visas for Kosovo, but according to him, Kosovo must meet all the technical criteria. 

New group claims responsibility for setting fire to official vehicles (dailies)

The self-titled “Group of citizens anonymous” has claimed responsibility for setting fire to four Kosovo Government vehicles early Sunday in different parts of Kosovo. In a statement sent to the media, the group said the actions come as a result of the discontent with the government led by Isa Mustafa, whom they accuse of having collaborated with the Milosevic regime. The group also expressed discontent with the arrest of Vetevendosje MP, Albin Kurti. Vetevendosje spokesperson Frasher Krasniqi denied his party having any ties to the group. “Vetevendosje is known for the fact that it always makes its actions public,” said Krasniqi. 

KP commander Djuric says police in the north respect the uniform (RTK)

The Kosovo Police commander for the north Nenad Djuric has reacted to reports that the police officers in his region are not wearing the new uniforms bearing the Kosovo flag. “These information are aimed at disrupting the calmness in our region. The person that made the allegations is a Kosovo Police staff but is not a police officer,” said Djuric. 

EU rewards Serbia for “normalization” of relations with Kosovo (Koha)

Serbia is expected to make today a great turning point in its membership talks with the European Union as it readies to open the first chapters of the accession process. The EU has concluded that Serbia has satisfactorily met obligations from the dialogue with Pristina and deserves to begin talks although, according to the paper, the results of the dialogue are hardly visible on the ground, particularly in the north of Kosovo.

Hyseni: Visa liberalization, next year (Telegrafi)

Kosovo Interior Minister, Skender Hyseni, said yesterday that he believes that the EU will grant visa liberalization for Kosovo next year. “The great work we have done, which has resulted in meeting the overall criteria from the roadmap, gives us every right to believe that the EU will grant visa liberalization for Kosovo next year,” Hyseni said. 

Hoxhaj: Kosovo citizens are not tapped (Epoka e Re)

Supervisor at the State Agency for Protection of Personal Data in Kosovo, Mentor Hoxhaj, said in an interview for the paper that no Kosovo citizen can be tapped without the decision of the court. “Tapping in Kosovo is done in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, according to article 36 and the Penal Code, which explicitly stresses that tapping can be done for 72 hours with the request of the prosecutor, supported by court decision,” Hoxhaj said. Speaking about the protection of privacy in social networks, Hoxhaj said use of internet in Kosovo is extremely high and Kosovo’s legal framework offers a good ground for defense of privacy but that the challenge remains in informing people on the manner of using these networks. 

Project for construction of new water plant in Vermica presented (Koha Ditore)

A joint Slovenia-Kosovo consortium has applied for permission to begin construction of a new water plant in Vermica, Prizren which is planned to be the biggest in Kosovo. The investments in the building of the plan are expected to reach around €300 million and, according to estimates, the plant would be ready for work in 2021.