UNMIK Headlines 22 July
Thaci to meet PDK MPs regarding special court today (Zeri)
Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, has called a meeting for today with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MPs to discuss the establishment of the special court. An unnamed source told KosovaPress that today the PDK MPs will discuss the position they will hold in the next Assembly session, when a revote is expected on the establishment of the special court. The same source also said that the MPs who voted against the special court in the last session have not yet decided if they will support the party’s decision on the matter.
Konjufca: Re-voting of special court, blow to constitutional order (Epoka)
Head of Vetevendosje parliamentary group Glauk Konjufca said in an interview for the paper that there should be no second vote of the constitutional amendment which paves way for the establishment of specialist chambers. He said the government should respect the first decision of the Kosovo Assembly against the court and warned that if the MPs change their position on the matter due to pressure, this would mean the end of democracy. “Establishment of special court would be a fatal blow to the integrity of our justice system,” said Konjufca.
Braathu: Special court, inevitable (Zeri)
The Norway Ambassador to Kosovo, Jan Braathu, said yesterday that the establishment of the special court is an inevitable process. He said that the special court is not against the former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) or against the Kosovo people. “The special court will address the war crimes allegations committed by individuals. This is how all should see it,” Braathu said.
Collaku: In 2016, without visas in the EU (Zeri)
Kosovo’s European Integration Minister, Bekim Collaku, in an interview with the paper said that the people of Kosovo next year will be able to move freely in the European Union countries. Collaku also said that during the summer months Kosovo will sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union, from which Kosovo would also have many economic benefits. In regards to irregular migration, Collaku said that as of 1 January 2015, over 11 thousand citizens were repatriated to Kosovo.
“The bullies who run Kosovo” (Koha/Politico.eu)
The paper reprints an article that originally appeared in www.politico.eu under the headline “The bullies who run Kosovo” authored by US reporter Chuck Sudetic. The author accuses Kosovo’s Principal Deputy Prime Minister and Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) leader, Hashim Thaci, of endangering Kosovo by trying to avoid his personal eventual prosecution by the special court that will address war crimes allegations. According to Sudetic, Thaci is tricking the United States of America and Europe, by calling for the formation of the special court and at the same time advising some of his MPs to block the adoption of the constitutional amendments. The author also claims to have talked to several US and European current and former diplomats who warned about the damages Kosovo will face if it doesn’t establish the special court. “If this doesn’t pass, United States relations with this Kosovo government and future Kosovo governments will deteriorate,” said one Western diplomat, referring to the legislative package on the court. “The United States wants to demonstrate the depth of its commitment to have these allegations heard in a credible process”.
Serwer: Sudetic is a bully (Telegrafi)
The US Balkans analyst and professor at the Johns Hopkins University Daniel Serwer reacted on the Politico story saying that its author, Chuck Sudetic, is a “bully” who employs blackmail to personally contribute to the failure of the process of establishing the special court. “Now we’ve got Chuck piping up again with a piece in which he admits Hashim Thaci spoke forcefully and publicly in the Kosovo parliament in favor of a special tribunal to examine the allegations, but instead of praising him for his courage and wondering if he might in fact be innocent Chuck smears as much mud as he can, using anonymously sourced statements from present and former diplomats”, wrote Serwer in a statement published in his blog Peacefare.net.
Mekaj suspected of several criminal offences (dailies)
The President of the Court of Appeals, Sali Mekaj, who was arrested on Monday by the Kosovo Police, is suspected for illegally releasing some prisoners and that he has led to the reduction of judicial decisions. The Prosecution Office spokeswoman Liridona Kozmaqi, said that Mekaj, who is also a member of the Kosovo Judicial Council, was arrested on charges of misuse of official position and exercise of influence. The Kosovo Judicial Council, through a press release condemned any illegal behavior, especially if such action is carried out by misusing official position.