Headlines - 25.04.2014

Germany hails decision on EULEX and court (RTK)

Germany has welcomed the Kosovo Assembly’s decision to extend the mandate of the EU Rule of Law Mission and the establishment of the special court for war crimes allegations. “Broad consensus in the Assembly is evidence of the maturity and the feeling of responsibility among a great majority of political representatives in Kosovo,” a spokesman for the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. He also said that the Kosovo Assembly’s decision is a clear sign of close cooperation with the European Union in legal and security affairs and a sign that Kosovo is moving closer to the European Union.

Zbogar: Williamson’s report does not contain any names (Publiku)

The European Union Special Representative in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, said on Thursday he does not think that prosecutor Clint Williamson will publish names in his report. Zbogar said that Williamson would not even prepare a report but rather “findings”. “I assume he will not mention names because he will not prepare an indictment. I am avoiding the term ‘report,’ because when we say ‘report’ that means Dick Marty’s report. Williamson will present his findings, but he will not mention names,” Zbogar said during a debate on RTV21. Zbogar could not say if the report or findings would have an impact on upcoming elections. “I don’t know if this will have an impact on elections. It would be good if the report is not published during the election campaign, because we should avoid having an impact on elections or giving opinions. I don’t know when elections will be held or when the report or its findings will be announced,” he added.

Krasniqi’s seven requests on special court (Koha)

Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi gave a summary of the discussions that he had at the residence of the German Ambassador, in the presence of Germany’s former Ambassador for this region. He claims that he had seven requests at this meeting: 1) EULEX and the government should confirm the failure of Kosovo’s judicial system. 2) The Prime Minister and Minister of Justice should admit publicly that they carry the main responsibility for the complete failure of the judicial system (Prosecution, Judiciary and Prisons). 3) The Prime Minister and Minister of Justice should resign due to the aforementioned failures, and for being the most responsible for the distrust in Kosovo’s judicial system. 4) The special court would condemn all crimes committed during and after the war, including Serbia’s crimes committed in Kosovo. 5) There should be reimbursement by the state for all individuals found not guilty, for any inconveniences caused. 6) Expenses for the defense of all the accused, for the period of war until 22 June 1999, should be borne by the state; 7) The state should cover travel expenses for family members of the prisoners outside Kosovo, since citizens are not guilty for the dysfunction of the judicial system.

Krasniqi added: “I stressed these points even though I personally cannot understand why such a request has not been made to Serbia, as the main party responsible for the crimes during and after the war, not only in Kosovo. There is no country in the region that has more unpunished crimes than Serbia.” Krasniqi said that Ismet Beqiri from LDK, Burim Ramadani from AAK, and Petar Miletic from SLS, were also present at this meeting. According to Krasniqi, PDK representatives arrived late at the meeting.

Selimi: Those who voted in favor of special court were under pressure (RTK)

Vetevendosje MP Rexhep Selimi who voted against the establishment of the special court for war crimes allegations, thanked all MPs that voted against it and accused those who voted in favor of having damaged Kosovo’s image. In an interview for RTK, Selimi said MPs that voted in favor were pressured by their chiefs, and the chiefs were pressured by someone else. Selimi said MPs received no document about the composition of the special court and that they were informed about the matter only through the media. “There was no document that was voted on; there was a vote on the exchange of letters, on an agreement between the government and the international community. We were informed through the media. We had no document or anything else that we could present to the people,” he added.

Kuci: Constitution needs to be changed because of special court (Gazetablic)

It is not known when the special court will start its work. International officials are expected to play leading roles from the beginning of the court’s work.  Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuci said on Thursday that the next Assembly needs to adopt three legal actions, including constitutional amendments, for the establishment of the special court. “The next assembly needs to take three legal actions: a special law about the court, constitutional amendments, and an agreement with a third country foreseen in the document. Afterwards, we can discuss the functionality of the chamber. The chamber will include international judges and prosecutors,” Kuci was quoted as saying. International media report that the court will have a budget of around €170 million.

Pacolli: EULEX should focus on combating corruption (Tribuna)

Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister and AKR leader Behxhet Pacolli said on Thursday that there needs to be a strategy against corruption and that, after the establishment of the special court, EULEX should focus on helping Kosovo to combat economic crimes. “It’s true that there can be no reconciliation or peace without resolving every war crime; however, no country, including Kosovo, should deal with the past and forget about the present, because this would mean losing the future. EULEX should continue its structuring as foreseen by experts, by setting up a team of prosecutors that will deal exclusively with organized crime and corruption,” Pacolli wrote on his Facebook profile.

Concessions for reserved seats or negotiations in Brussels (Tribuna)

Extending the mandate of reserved seats for minority communities is expected to be the next concession that members of the Kosovo Assembly will have to make. In exchange for reserved seats in the Assembly, minority communities would vote in favor of the establishment of the Armed Forces of Kosovo. Sources in the government in Pristina told Tribuna that if the mandate of reserved seats is not extended, the issue risks being included in negotiations between Pristina and Belgrade in Brussels. “Therefore, it is better for the country if authorities in Pristina decide to extend the reserved seats for another mandate, because in eventual negotiations about Serb representation in central institutions, the political concessions and bargaining could have a higher price,” the source said.