Headlines - 18.12.2015

President Jahjaga delivers end-of-year speech to the Assembly (media)

All media cover Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga’s end-of-year speech at the Kosovo Assembly on Thursday. Jahjaga said Kosovo was experiencing a deep political and moral crisis which is challenging the democratic consensus. She said she believed that Kosovo’s elected representatives would be able to leave their daily agendas aside for the common good but expressed determination to continue playing the role entrusted to her by the Constitution of Kosovo and be a factor of unity and upholder of the democratic functioning of institutions. Jahjaga said further that she understands the concern of the citizens of Kosovo regarding the agreements with Serbia and Montenegro but that she firmly believes a way out can be found through dialogue. “I believe we all know by now that no party will score victory. We will not turn violence into a political mean because that would undo and destroy Kosovo. But at the same time, no one enjoys the right of arbiter in Kosovo,” said Jahjaga. Koha Ditore reports on its front page that opposition MPs left the Assembly hall as President Jahjaga was about to deliver her speech. Bota Sot argues on the front page that protests by the opposition led to Jahjaga’s decision to back down from another run for the post of President. “Jahjaga accuses the Assembly but forgets about her own failures,” reads a front-page headline in Kosova Sot. Epoka e Re, in its coverage highlights President Jahjaga’s call to the political parties to set aside their differences and to discuss possible solutions.

Opposition: The Mustafa government to meet its end on 9 January (Zeri)

The paper reports on its front page that the three opposition parties – the Vetevendosje Movement, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) - are preparing for a mass protest on 9 January, which according to them, will be the end of the Mustafa government. In addition to the agreements on the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and the border demarcation with Montenegro, the opposition claims that the negative decision of the EU Council on visa liberalization is another reason to protest. Civil society representatives also believe that now there are more reasons for people to join the opposition at the 9 January protest.

European Commission may publish visa report on Kosovo today (Koha)

Citing unofficial sources in Brussels the paper reports that the European Commission might publish its visa liberalization report on Kosovo today. The report is expected to note that Kosovo has met a large number of requirements, but not all. The Commission is also expected to say what requirements Kosovo’s authorities have yet to meet before Brussels can initiate the legislative procedure of lifting the visa regime for Kosovo’s citizens.

Collaku confident Kosovo will get visa liberalization in 2016 (Epoka)

Kosovo European Integration Minister, Bekim Collaku, told the paper that despite the reserved language of the Council of the EU, the visa liberalization process has not failed. He said he is confident that Kosovo citizens will travel without visas in the EU countries in 2016. According to Collaku, Kosovo has fulfilled the criteria, and now it up to the EU to prove that it treats Kosovo and its citizens equally with other countries in the region.

Malisheva protests against recent agreements (Zeri)

Around one thousand citizens joined the opposition's call on Thursday to protest in Malisheve/Malisevo against the agreements on Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and border demarcation with Montenegro. The leader of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), Fatmir Limaj, said that these rallies are being held against these agreements as well as against those who want to bring Serbia into Kosovo. According to Limaj, through these rallies the opposition is informing the citizens that Kosovo is endangered by these agreements. He said the opposition's demands are not political, but rather a call not to allow Serbia back into Kosovo.

Vetevendosje to file charges against Kosovo Police (Kosovapress)

Vetevendosje announced its activists will file around 80 criminal charges against the conduct of the Kosovo Police during the raid in the Movement’s premises on 28 November.

Political conflict risks escalating into a civil war (Bota Sot)

In his farewell press conference, the head of World Bank in Pristina Jan-Peter Olters warned that the conflict between the ruling and opposition parties risks escalating into a civil war. He said there should be a common platform between the political parties in Kosovo to enable economic development.

OSCE gives recommendations for community rights in Kosovo (Bota Sot)

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo published yesterday the fourth edition of the Community Rights Assessment Report which provides 12 recommendations for the Kosovo institutions, namely the ministries, the police, prosecution, and municipalities. The report acknowledged the progress of Kosovo institutions in respect to the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in the areas of inter-community dialogue, security and justice, language, education, socio-economic rights and participation, returns, culture, and media. The head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Jean-Claude Schlumberger, said that it is important for all communities in Kosovo to enjoy all freedoms and live in a safe environment.

Protest against court’s ruling to give land to Orthodox Monastery (Epoka)

The paper reports that around 1,200 people protested yesterday in Decan/Decani against the decision of the Constitutional Court to uphold an earlier ruling allocating public property to the Orthodox Monastery. The organisers of the protest, the Kosovo Historians’ League, said the Monastery of Decan/Decani was never a target of attacks nor will it be but stressed that the court needs to revoke its ruling which confirmed an earlier decision taken during the Slobodan Milosevic regime.

Kosovo government gives in to Serbia (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that in two months the Kosovo government has backed down from its reciprocity measures on license plates for Serbian vehicles entering Kosovo, and from its decision to not recognize documents issued by Serbian parallel structures in Kosovo. Government officials in Pristina told the paper that their tolerance came after requests from the European Union. The opposition on the other hand argues that the government is continuing to act in Serbia’s favor and damaging Kosovo’s interests at the same time. Political analysts meanwhile are calling on the Kosovo government to change its approach immediately.