Headlines - 27.08.2014

Jahjaga calls on all parties to respect Court’s decision (Tribuna)

Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga called on all political parties on Tuesday to respect the decision of the Constitutional Court on the 17 July Assembly session. She also urged political parties to form the new Assembly as soon as possible. “All parties are obliged to respect the decision of the Constitutional Court, in order to guarantee a fair and trustful process that guarantees the functioning of the rule of law,” a statement issued by the President’s Office noted.

Grabovci: Opposition MPs will vote in favor of PDK (Koha)

Despite the statement by the opposition coalition (LDK-AAK-NISMA) that it will not support a Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) candidate for Assembly President, PDK deputy leader Adem Grabovci said MPs of the opposition bloc will vote in favor of the PDK candidate and the new government. “Absolutely, there is no doubt. I say with great confidence that we have the majority of votes to pass all these decisions and to implement the will of the people of Kosovo … I have very good friends in LDK and AAK and in all political parties. I have full confidence in the conscience of the MPs,” Grabovci said.

Opposition bloc surprised by Constitutional Court’s decision (Lajm)

Leaders of the coalition of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), met at AAK premises on Tuesday after the Constitutional Court announced its decision on the 17 July Assembly session. After the meeting, AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj told reporters he was surprised by the Court’s decision. “It seemed to me like the decision was written in the offices of the Democratic Party of Kosovo [PDK],” Haradinaj said.

Vetevendosje: Court guided by outgoing Prime Minister (Tribuna)

The Vetevendosje Movement said on Tuesday that the Constitutional Court’s decision failed to provide a constitutional solution and only crystalized political guidance that came from the office of the outgoing Prime Minister. “We believe this decision has heavily affected the very essence of democracy,” a Vetevendosje press release said.

Gjini: Crime has “captured” the Constitutional Court (Lajm)

Ardian Gjini, deputy leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), reacted to the Constitutional Court’s decision, arguing that crime has “captured” the Court. He added that the decision by the American judge, Robert Carolan, to withdraw from the proceedings before they even started, is evidence of that. “They are interpreting the Constitution incorrectly and with the sole purpose of supporting the crime that has captured our entire state system,” Gjini said.

Kosovo-Serbia issue to be discussed in Berlin (Epoka e Re)

Enver Hoxhaj, outgoing Foreign Minister of Kosovo, told Lajmi.net that the implementation of the Brussels Agreement between Pristina and Belgrade reached last year will be discussed at the Berlin Conference for the Western Balkans. During this Conference, which will be held on 28 August, Hoxhaj is expected to meet with his Serbian counterpart, Ivica Dacic. Representatives from Belgrade and Pristina continuously accuse each other of failing to implement agreements reached in Brussels.

Rinkevics: NATO-Kosovo dialogue is possible (Epoka e Re)

Edgars Rinkevics, Foreign Minister of Latvia, said on Tuesday that a structured dialogue between NATO and Kosovo is possible. Rinkevics made these comments during his meeting with Ditmir Bushati, Foreign Minister of Albania. “If Kosovo and NATO are ready to cooperate, then a structured and official dialogue could take place. The best example is Kosovo’s structured dialogue with the European Union, and the same could happen with NATO,” he said. Minister Bushati said Albania is ready to move forward with its relations with Serbia, in order to address the basic human rights of Albanians in the Presevo Valley.

Six terror suspects released (Epoka e Re)

The Court of Appeals has approved six out of 39 appeals from lawyers of terror suspects, thus changing the Basic Court’s decision from detention to house arrest. The released suspects, Berat Kepuska, Burim Konjuhi, Visar Kadriu, Besim Shabani, Agron Lika and Gazmend Haliti, are part of the group of 40 individuals arrested under suspicion of terrorism, a few weeks ago. The court justified the release saying that the defendants are Kosovo citizens, that their identities and places of residence are now known, and that they have families. The court also said there is no reason to believe that, once free, the suspects could escape or have any impact on other defendants or witnesses. One of the arrested suspects did not appeal.

Northerners threaten EULEX again (Kosovapress)

Assembly Presidents in the four northern municipalities agreed on Tuesday afternoon to call an extraordinary session on 29 August in Zvecan. Sources told Kosovapress that the session will focus on the political and security situation in the north, with special emphasis on relations between local residents and EULEX. “We want EULEX to stop arresting Serbs once and for all. We also want EULEX to release all innocent Serbs that are being kept in prisons. Otherwise, we will cease all cooperation with this mission,” sources said. Meanwhile, Albanian members of the municipal assemblies of Mitrovica North, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic, said they will boycott the extraordinary session, arguing that it represents an open provocation against them. “We will also make it clear to Serb political representatives that the time of radical ideas and anarchy has passed. We want them to respect the laws of the Republic of Kosovo and international missions that are contributing to the rule of law and justice, especially in the northern part of our republic,” Emir Azemi, Deputy President for Communities in the Mitrovica North Municipal Assembly told Kosovapress.