UNMIK Headlines 4 November
Zbogar: Government must discuss agreements with the opposition (Koha)
The paper quotes on its front page the European Union Office Head in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, as saying that dialogue is needed to address and resolve the current political situation in Kosovo. Zbogar said the opposition crossed a red line when it brought teargas to the Assembly. “We are not blaming only the opposition for the current situation. I say there is a need for political dialogue between the parties. The government must discuss the reached agreements with the opposition,” he added. The paper notes that Zbogar made these remarks on Tuesday at a meeting with members of the parliamentary committee for European integration.
US embassy: Opposition to renounce violence (Kosova Sot)
The United States Embassy in Kosovo called on opposition parties to renounce violence. A spokesman for the US Embassy, Philip Drewry, said in a statement that violence is not consistent with a democratic state. “The United States strongly call on the opposition to renounce the use of violence as a political tactic and to constructively engage in the important work of the Assembly in advancing the interest of the people of Kosovo,” Drewry said.
‘Ceasefire’ in the Assembly until Friday (Zeri)
The paper in a front-page story reports that the opposition will continue to block the work of the Assembly after Friday's solemn session, when the EU Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement, Johannes Hahn, will address the MPs. Kosovo Assembly Deputy Speaker Xhavit Haliti told the paper that the Assembly Presidency has no reason not to call the session just because the opposition is against it. "The Presidency of the Assembly has a state obligation to convene sessions,” Haliti said. He added that the issue of blocking the Assembly should be resolved between the government and the opposition, but according to him, yet there is no readiness for this. However, the opposition parties warned that they will continue to block the Assembly until the government withdraws from recent agreements with Serbia and Montenegro.
Deda warns of “risk for civil war” (Zeri)
Vetevendosje Movement MP Ilir Deda, in an interview with the paper, said that Kosovo should resolve the current political crisis urgently, because there is a risk of civil war. He said the exit from the crisis should be done through dialogue between the government and the opposition parties or by sending the recent agreements to the Venice Commission. Deda urged his colleagues not to become “pawns” of political leaders, but to assume individual responsibility. Regarding the visa liberalization, he said that Kosovo has met all the criteria for visa liberalization and the EU has no arguments not to grant visa liberalization for Kosovo people. Deda was the only opposition MP who stayed at Assembly session and voted in favor of the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA).
Prosecution might arrest opposition MPs (Kosova Sot)
The opposition parties’ MPs turned back the invitation by the prosecution for interviews regarding the teargas thrown in the Kosovo Assembly. The state prosecution confirmed that they are looking into legal grounds for taking further measures, implying that arrest warrants will be requested for Albin Kurti, Albulena Haxhiu, Faton Topalli and Donika Kadaj Bujupi. Their final deadline to appear in front of the prosecutor was on Friday. The MPs in question have publically said that they will not respond to these invitations, as they consider throwing teargas in the Assembly as a political action.
Islamic organization in Indonesia supports Kosovo’s UNESCO bid (RTK)
Kosovo’s Foreign Minister and First Deputy Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci, wrote on his Facebook account on Tuesday that the leader of the Muhammadiyah, an Islamic organization in Indonesia, sent a letter supporting Kosovo’s bid to join the UNESCO. “Our campaign is receiving support from many parts of the world. The leader of the biggest Islamic organization in the world, Muhammadiyah, which numbers 30 million members, sent a powerful letter in support of Kosovo’s UNESCO bid,” Thaci wrote. The news site notes that Indonesia, a country of over 200 million residents, has yet to recognize Kosovo’s independence.
O’Connell: Kosovo should seriously tackle corruption (Epoka e Re)
The British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ruairi O’Connell, during a round-table organized by the Pristina-based Group of Political and Legal Studies, said that the people of Kosovo are tired of corruption scandals. According to him, Kosovo citizens have lost their faith in justice. He said that in Kosovo there is a culture of impunity. “Here no one is held accountable. Kosovo should seriously tackle corruption before it is too late. Kosovo must implement the laws in place,” O’Connell said.
Prosecution wants to retry Fatmir Limaj on war crimes charges (Koha)
In a front-page report, the paper notes that if the Appellate Court approves the complaint of the prosecution, Fatmir Limaj, leader of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), will appear for the third time in court for the Klecka case, which includes war crimes charges. The prosecution has asked for the annulment of a ruling that found Limaj and nine other defendants innocent, and a retrial for the same case. The Appellate Court will discuss the prosecution’s complaint on 1 and 2 December. Limaj is accused of war crimes against civilians and war crimes against war prisoners. He is also accused of ordering the killing of two Serbs.