Headlines - 10.10.2013

Kosovo, good with laws but remains area of crime and corruption (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore claims to have secured a copy of the European Commission’s draft progress report for Kosovo which is expected to be approved next week in Brussels. The report notes that Kosovo has made progress mainly in drafting of laws, in establishing of certain necessary capacities to implement policies from the process of European integrations but serious problems and concerns of EU remain in the field of corruption and organized crime, human trafficking, political influence in judiciary, police and public services, holding of several jobs by political officials, unprofessional administration and many other problems.

The report also emphasizes the lack of tolerance in some cases, especially against the LGBT groups. It refers to a case when one “religious movement that propagates hate language towards the LGBT community through conventional media has been registered as a political party.”

With regards to the Independent Media Commission, the report says that it continues to have obstacles in the form of the lack of resources and political influence during nominations. 

Serbs’ complaints could postpone certification of voter list (Koha Ditore)

Complaints lodged by Serbs outside Kosovo after being refused by the Central Election Commission to vote in upcoming local elections risk postponing final certification of the voter list.

Sources from the CEC Secretariat told the paper that after the meeting between prime ministers Thaçi and Dacic, efforts have been stepped up to postpone certification of the voter list so as to be able to increase the number of Serb voters through their complaints.

In order to have this process completed as soon as possible, the OSCE will not send rejected applications to Serbs outside of Kosovo but will fill out complaints to be filed with the Complaints and Appeals Election Panel.

Dacic dissatisfied with returns of the displaced persons (Tribuna)

Serbia’s Prime Minister, Ivica Dacic, stated that he is concerned with the small number of returns of the displaced people in Kosovo. “Since 1999, 18.000 internally displaced persons have returned have returned to Kosovo, but less than 4000 of them realized a sustainable return,” said Dacic during the meeting with the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations on the rights of the internally displaced persons, Chaloka Beyani. Dacic also stated that Kosovo authorities make efforts to exclude a great number of the internally displaced persons from the voting lists of the next local elections.” 

Çitaku: EU to assess our work (Epoka e Re)

European Integrations Minister Vlora Çitaku said that opening of talks for Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU finds Kosovo well-prepared as a result of previous work done by all institutions of the country. Çitaku said SAA is of a special importance to Kosovo as it contributes to an overall reform and that Kosovo will present sufficient arguments to prove it deserves to be part of European family. Çitaku made the comments in a meeting with a German delegation.

Minister without portfolio, unnecessary (Epoka e Re)

Epoka e Re reports that representatives of opposition and political analysts have evaluated as unnecessary the appointment of minister without portfolio, Milan Zdravkovic in Kosovo government saying the state of Kosovo is very small to have so much governmental posts. According to them, the appointment of the new minister has not been done for the interests of Kosovo citizens but for political purposes of Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi. Political analyst Behxhet Shala has evaluated that the appointment of the minister has been made to keep political balance of coalition partners until next elections.