Headlines - 23.06.2014

Inevitable escalation of violence (Koha)

The paper reports on the front page that the first reactions from the residents of Mitrovica to the new Peace Park on the Iber/Ibar River bridge were seen on Sunday. There was an announcement on social media for a peaceful protest in Mitrovica on Sunday. The demonstration gathered no more than 100 people and it went almost unnoticed. But simultaneously, around 1,000 people gathered in a separate protest to express their outrage with Mitrovica North Mayor Goran Rakic’s decision to place the concrete barricade on the bridge and the failure of local and international institutions to react. Some protesters were holding Albanian flags and other were trying to set a Serbian flag on fire. Protesters made no serious attempt to break the police cordon on the bridge. However, after a Kosovo Police special unit walked into the crowd, protesters started throwing stones at the police. For two hours, police tried to disperse protesters by using teargas and rubber bullets, but to no avail. The paper notes that, in addition to Kosovo Police and EULEX, the bridge was also guarded by US KFOR troops, including snipers. Twenty-one protesters, 13 police officers and three reporters were injured during the protest. The Kosovo Police Director for the Mitrovica region, Nehat Thaci, told the newspaper: “The protest was violent, well-organized, and according to preliminary police investigations, there were protesters from other parts of Kosovo too”. The Kosovo Police Deputy Director in the north, Besim Hoti, refuted media reports that Serbian Gendarmerie had deployed in the northern part of Mitrovica. Citing unnamed sources, the paper reports that organized groups from Pristina, Peje/Pec, Decan/Decani and Prizren took part in the protest. Police sources said vehicles were set on fire with Molotov cocktails. The source also said that, although groups were separated, they functioned in coordinated fashion. Mitrovica residents were shocked by the protest. “It was real war today. I don’t know who is to blame, but this will be a setback,” a Mitrovica resident told the paper.

Government calls for calm (Lajm)

The Kosovo government, through a press release, called on protesters to show calm, maturity and restraint. The press release adds that the new barricade over the Iber/Ibar River will be removed soon, in accordance with the laws of Kosovo and the Brussels agreement for the normalization of relations between Pristina and Belgrade. Meanwhile, Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga called on Kosovo citizens to help law enforcement authorities to do their work. Jahjaga emphasized that any effort to find a solution through violence would escalate the situation and prevent the establishment of normality in Mitrovica. In her latest meetings with representatives of international and local security mechanisms, she said the reinstatement of the barricade was unacceptable and she called on the European Union to find a solution through concrete engagement.

Rexhepi: We will remove the barricade (Tribuna)

Kosovo’s Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi said that the reaction of the Kosovo Police to yesterday’s protest in Mitrovica was “excellent”. Regarding the new barricade on the Iber/Ibar River, Rexhepi said the Kosovo government is committed to resolving the issue through dialogue. “We are coordinating with Brussels and Washington. We expect them to put pressure on Belgrade to remove the barricade. If this does not happen, we will remove it ourselves in the coming days”, Rexhepi told Klan Kosova.

KFOR commends police, urges dialogue (Botapress)

KFOR has commended the engagement of the Kosovo Police during yesterday’s protest in Mitrovica. According to a press communiqué from KFOR, Kosovo Police was able to stop a large protest, while showing great professionalism, efficiency and an ability to manage the situation. It adds that KFOR has stationed a team of US KFOR troops in the middle of the bridge over the Iber/Ibar River, and Italian military police in the northern part of the bridge. Another team of German soldiers was also summoned to intervene, when some elements started to use force. According to the KFOR Commander, General Farina, efforts were focused on preventing inter-ethnic clashes and the escalation of violence.

Thaci’s candidacy for prime minister under threat (Tribuna)

Hashim Thaci, leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), could fail in his goal to become Prime Minister for a third term, the paper reports on the front page. The lack of support from other political parties to join his coalition could lead to the failure of the first round of attempts at forming the new government. As a result, the second time, Thaci would not be eligible to try again, and the President of Kosovo would need to propose a different candidate for Prime Minister. However, it is still unclear whether the second chance will go to someone from the PDK or rather to a candidate from the opposition coalition.

Opposition: Constitution is clear (Epoka e Re)

The leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Isa Mustafa, and deputy leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Melihate Tërmkolli, do not agree with President Atifiete Jahjaga’s addressing the Constitutional Court on who has the mandate to govern in Kosovo. They say that this was a hasty decision on her part. Bilall Sherifi from the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) says that the Constitution is quite clear on who has the right to create the government.

Constitutional Court to reply this week (Zeri)

The Constitutional Court of Kosovo is expected this week to deliver its ruling on President Atifete Jahjaga’s request for clarification of certain articles pertaining to her competencies in proposing a candidate to form the future government. Legal expert Riza Smaka said the court could come up with its decision in the next three days although he noted that the articles at hand are quite clear and there is no need for them to be interpreted by the Court. “The Constitution is clear that the one that has the majority in the Assembly of Kosovo forms the government”, said Smaka.

Vetevendosje: No talking to Belgrade without conditions (Lajm)

Vetevendosje has answered an advisor of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who yesterday visited Kosovo and requested the continuation of the dialogue with Serbia. According to Glauk Konjufca from Vetevendosje, the format of the talks is unequal and only focuses on internal issues in Kosovo. Vetevendosje is not against the dialogue in principle, but the dialogue with Serbia should have certain conditions. For example, Serbia cannot be talked to if its constitution says Kosovo is a part of Serbia, and if Serbia does not recognize Kosovo.

10 to 20 accused from Marty’s report (Tribuna)

On the front page, the paper claims that investigations into war crimes allegations presented in the Council of Europe (CoE) report have concluded there is no evidence that an organ trafficking trade existed, but in the course of the investigation, evidence was found regarding other crimes alleged to have been committed by members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). 10 to 20 former KLA members are expected to be indicted for these crimes as soon as the Special Court is up and running. The indictment will include KLA members from the Drenica and Dukagjin zones, sources told the paper.