Headlines - 14.11.2015

US condemn violence in the Assembly, call for dialogue between parties (media)

Several media report that Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga met with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the State, Mr. Hoyt Yee, to discuss the latest developments in Kosovo and in the region. Jahjaga informed Yee with her submission of the Principles of the Association to the Constitutional Court after the consultations with political parties, in order to ask for its opinion on compliance of Principles of the Association with the Constitution of Kosovo. A press release issued by Jahjaga’s office noted: “Madam President pointed out that Kosovo remains dedicated to the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia on normalization of relations between the two countries focusing on implementation of agreements signed  with the mediation of EU, as a condition to advancement towards EU. Mr. Yee condemned the use of violence in the Parliament of Kosovo and called on all sides to find solution in overcoming of the blockade through dialogue and understanding. He also said that images seen at the Parliament damage Kosovo’s integration process, and expressed his support for Madam President’s decision to refer the matter to the Constitutional Court to ensure compliance with the Constitution of Kosovo  and to provide credibility to the dialogue results.”

Haradinaj: No return to the Assembly (RTK)

Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), on behalf of the opposition bloc said on Friday that the Kosovo Assembly should not convene without annulling first the agreements on the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and the border demarcation with Montenegro. “No one should test other people’s patience. I think Kosovo cannot move forward with these two agreements. It would be good to end these agreements and clear the path for the work of institutions. The UNESCO case confirmed that Kosovo has not benefited anything from the concessions it had to make,” Haradinaj added.

Association/Community, a short-term solution by the EU, study says (Zeri/Indeksonline)

Several media cover a study drafted by the Berlin-based Democratization Policy Council, highlighting its argument that the character of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo was a classical short-term solution by the European Union aimed at finding any implementable compromise without taking into account the serious long-term negative implications on democracy and the rule of law in Kosovo. The study quotes an unnamed EU official as saying that the draft document of the Association was prepared by a lawyer from the EU External Service “who had no experience in the area of local government”. “The situation becomes even more complicated due to the fact that the text in Albanian and Serbian is different from the text in English. Therefore, it is clear that the form and character of the Association will depend on the content of its statute,” the study says.

Over 150 killed from terror attacks in France (media)

All news sites report on the terror attacks in Paris and Saint Denis, France, where at least 150 are believed to have been killed. Kosovo’s leaders have condemned the attacks and expressed condolences to the people of France. President Atifete Jahjaga said in a statement: “Shocked by the terror attacks in Paris and the loss of innocent lives. We share France’s pain and we stand by the people of France in the fight against terror”.