Headlines - 23.12.2015

Kosovo, Serbia Prime Ministers to meet on January 27 (Gazeta Express)

The U.S. Ambassador in Belgrade, Michael Kirby told Serbian media on Tuesday that the Kosovo and Serbian Prime Ministers, Isa Mustafa and Aleksandar Vucic, will meet on January 27 next year. The U.S. diplomat did not mention the issues that will be discussed at the meeting. It is considered that by that time the Constitutional Court of Kosovo will have decided on the constitutionality of the agreement reached on 25 August of this year for establishment of the Association/Community for Serb-majority municipalities. Belgrade is insisting on the complete implementation of this agreement. Kosovo’s united opposition is rejecting the establishment of this Association for three months now, by protests and by blocking the works of the Assembly of Kosovo.

EU should pressure Serbia into implementing the agreements (Epoka)

Valon Murtezaj, political adviser to the Prime Minister of Kosovo, told the paper on Tuesday that implementation of the reached agreements with Serbia will be part of the government’s agenda for dialogue in 2016. According to Murtezaj, dialogue with Belgrade will continue despite political developments and rejections of the agreements. Murtezaj also said that the European Union should pressure Serbia into implementing the agreements, because, according to him, “the government of Kosovo cannot be infinitively constructive while the Serbian party is destructive”.

Kosovo government confirms finalization of decree on Association (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that the Kosovo government confirmed on Tuesday the finalization of the decree for establishing the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. “With respect to the Constitution and the legislation in force, the Government suspended all activities relating to this agreement while waiting for the verdict of the Constitutional Court and all further actions will be in line with this decision,” the government said in a reply to the paper. “In the period 25 August 2015 when the agreement was reached in Brussels and until 29 October 2015, the Government was engaged in drafting a decree on the procedures for establishing the Association and to send it to the Constitutional Court before the Government could adopt such a document, as required in point 2 of the Agreement on the Association”. The paper reported on Tuesday that the Kosovo government finalized the decree based on an agreement reached in Brussels whose constitutionality was disputed.

Court expected to announce ruling on Association today (Gazeta Blic)

The news site reports that the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kosovo is expected to announce today its ruling on the constitutionality of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. A source close to the Constitutional Court told Gazeta Blic that on Tuesday there was no consensus among the court judges on whether the Association/Community is in line with the Constitution of Kosovo. “The Court will most probably announce its ruling today,” the source said.

Serbia considers as valid the 25 August agreement on the Association (Koha)

Marko Djuric, director of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo, reacted to an article that the paper published on Tuesday on the possible renegotiation of the agreement on the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. “For us the only valid agreement is the one signed on August 25. Framed political and legal processes in Kosovo and imaginary justifications do not affect Pristina’s obligation to implement the agreement,” Djuric was quoted as saying.

Opposition supports Jahjaga’s idea for demarcation agreement (Zeri)

The paper reports that opposition parties are supporting the idea of President Atifete Jahjaga for the establishment of a commission with local and international experts who would examine the agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro. However, the opposition is demanding that first the government should withdraw from the actual agreement and dismiss the government commission on demarcation led by Murat Meha. On the other hand, political analysts say that after the positive assessment by the US State Department for this agreement, the issue of demarcation should be considered closed by Kosovo.

Government waiting for opposition before appointing international experts for border demarcation (Koha)

The Kosovo government is waiting for signs from the opposition parties before it can set up a committee consisting of international experts that would review the border demarcation with Montenegro. The opposition meanwhile is rejecting every initiative saying that the government must first dismiss the committee that worked on the demarcation process and cancel the agreement. Bajram Gecaj, advisor to Prime Minister and Deputy Minister for Local Government, told the paper that notwithstanding a recent report on the matter by the US State Department, the government is willing to review the agreement together with the opposition by setting up an international committee. “The problem is not about finding international experts. The problem is that the opposition is refusing to meet and discuss the matter. The invitation stands; we just need indications that they are willing to talk,” Gecaj said.

Montenegro to ratify agreement on border demarcation (Kosova Sot)

The paper reports that while in Kosovo the opposition is opposing the agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro, Montenegro has continued the process that leads to the ratification of this agreement. The Advisory Committee of the Parliament of Montenegro has assessed that this agreement should continue for ratification. Milan Paunovic, chairman of the Montenegro Government commission for determining border crossings with neighboring countries, emphasized that the border set is in accordance with the administrative border of Kosovo and Montenegro of the year 1974. Meanwhile, Ali Lajci, community representatives appointed by the Municipality of Peja, called for a referendum to solve the problem of demarcation.

Collaku: Recommendation for visa liberalization in February 2016 (Zeri)

Kosovo’s European Integration Minister, Bekim Collaku, told the paper that Kosovo is addressing the remaining eight criteria for visa liberalization. According to him, at the latest by February 2016, Kosovo will receive the recommendation for visa liberalization. Collaku added that there is still much work to address the criteria related to fighting organized crime and corruption because of the complexity and involvement of many institutions under investigation. While in regards to the recent developments in the Kosovo Assembly, Collaku called the opposition parties for dialogue in order to overcome the crisis as soon as possible.

Economic Development Minister Stavileci pelted with eggs (Zeri)

Two activists of the Vetevendosje Movement pelted with eggs Kosovo’s Minister for Economic Development, Blerand Stavileci, on Tuesday. According to Vetevendosje, Stavileci is among those responsible for Kosovo’s economic destruction. "Stavileci along with Prime Minister Isa Mustafa withdrew from the Trepca law since such thing was asked from Belgrade. The Vetevendosje activist pelted with eggs this minister in order to tell the government once again that without annulling the recent agreements with Serbia and Montenegro, there will be no peace and comfort for his ministers,” said a statement issued by Vetevendosje. Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) condemned the attack on Stavileci, saying that this attack is in the wake of the attacks against the PDK, while demanding that the perpetrators be brought to justice.

PDK deputy leader Xhavit Haliti reveals murder attempts on his life (media)

Several media cover an interview that Xhavit Haliti, deputy leader of the Kosovo Democratic Party (PDK) and Vice President of the Kosovo Assembly, gave to Pristina-based TV station Klan Kosova on Tuesday evening, focusing on Haliti’s statements about several murder attempts made on his life starting in 1985. Haliti mentioned the full names and also the initials of several alleged perpetrators. He said he never believed that “people with whom I ate and drank together would want me dead”. Haliti, who was one of the founders and key figures of the former Kosovo Liberation Army, also said that the KLA was established on 17 November 1994.

Italian reporter: Russian agents arrested Muhaxherri in Kacanik (media)

Several news sites report that according to an Italian reporter, Russian intelligence agents who are deployed in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia recently carried out an action in Kacanik, Kosovo, during which they arrested Lavdrim Muhaxherri, an Albanian from Kosovo fighting alongside ISIS. According to the Italian reporter, who stayed in Kacanik, Muhaxherri was arrested due to his involvement in the crashing of a Russian airplane in Egypt where 224 passengers lost their lives. Meanwhile, Kosovo officials refuted the information, but the Italian reporter insists that he got the information from a resident of Kacanik who is allegedly also a member of ISIS.

Rama: KSF is ready for the new mission (Epoka)

The Commander of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), Lieutenant General, Rrahman Rama, said during a lecture at Riinvest College in Pristina that the KSF has prepared the agenda for transforming itself into the armed forces. “Together with our partners, we have submitted the package of laws for transformation. We are waiting for the political decision and we are ready for the new mission, defense of territorial sovereignty and integrity. This will be reached in the phases in accordance with the development plane for dynamic transformation,” Rama said.

Rama: Israel does not recognize Kosovo because of Palestine (Epoka)

During his visit to Israel, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama told media there that “the position of Israel towards Kosovo issue is not related directly with Kosovo, but with the complexity of a situation ever since the creation of Israeli state and it relation with Palestine”. He expressed faith that this issue will move forward and Israel would recognize Kosovo.