Headlines - 18.04.2014

Special court is an insult; Assembly will decide (Epoka e Re)

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi said on Thursday that the establishment of the special court for alleged Kosovo Liberation Army crimes is unfair and an insult for Kosovo. However, he added that the Assembly should decide on this issue. “I stressed earlier that instead of two options, we now have one. Even though this issue is completely unfair and an insult to Kosovo, the Assembly should make the decision,” said Thaçi. “We have met with the political spectrum, and we have discussed this with international partners. Whenever the Assembly Chairmanship proceeds with the issue, political parties will be at the Assembly to discuss all possibilities and give an adequate, deserved and responsible response, in accordance with the interests of the citizens, and in close cooperation with the United States and the European Union.

Kurti: The tribunal won’t happen if Prime Minister is against (Bota Sot)

The leader of the Vetëvendosje movement, Albin Kurti, feels that Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi can prevent the establishment of the tribunal if he wants to. “No tribunal can be established if the Prime Minister is against it and if he tells his party to object to it,” said Kurti for Rrokum TV. He further criticized the current government on many other issues.

Veseli: Tribunal is ugly (Bota Sot)

The principal deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Kadri Veseli, is following the example of his chief, Hashim Thaçi. “PDK will have a unique political position towards this issue, which will be in accordance with the interests of Kosovo and our war of liberation. At the same time I strongly recognize our partnership with the international community,” said Veseli in an interview for the public broadcaster, RTK. “No warrior fears justice,” said Veseli, adding that he is convinced that justice, and the truth about Kosovo’s fight for freedom, will prevail.

Haradinaj: Special court a result of Thaçi’s governance (Koha Ditore)

In a front-page interview, Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), said he expects the special court will prove that allegations of war crimes committed by members of the Kosovo Liberation Army were wrong. Haradinaj said that the establishment of the court is a loss for Kosovo. “This loss came as a result of bad governance by Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, who is responsible for failing to strengthen the judicial system in Kosovo,” Haradinaj added.

Legal clarity and security requested for the court (Tribuna)

Citing diplomatic sources, the paper reports on the front page that at least one of the countries likely to finance the special court has requested additional explanations, because legal officials in that country have questions about the court’s legality. This country, which is not a member state of the European Union, agreed in principle to the court’s €150 million budget, but asked for more information. The issue of the budget is reportedly not the only aspect that is delaying the reply from EU High Representative Catherine Ashton to Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga. Sources told the paper that, in addition to the budget and legal clarity, the EU also wants full guarantees from Kosovo, namely from Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, that the Assembly will adopt the establishment of the court.

Institutional mess (Lajm)

The paper reports on the front page that next week the Assembly of Kosovo will have to solve many issues related to Kosovo’s functioning and legitimacy. Voting on the establishment of the special court will be the most difficult decision for Assembly members. Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said yesterday that the request to establish the special court is unjust but added that it is the assembly’s responsibility to adopt its establishment. The paper further notes that there is another institutional mess now with regards to the law on elections, the law on the Armed Forces of Kosovo, the issue of reserved seats for minority communities and the dismissal of the Assembly.

Police: Florin Krasniqi’s statements are provocative (dailies)

Rashit Qalaj, director of operations for the Kosovo Police, said on Thursday that Florin Krasniqi, chief of the parliamentary committee that oversees the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (AKI), made provocative statements when he said that members of Kosovo Police special units are linked to criminal activities. “It would be good if the said member of the Assembly and others would give concrete names. If this member of the Assembly says that there is a very small number of special police, then there is an address, and if he has evidence and information, he should help the police and the state,” Qalaj told reporters on Thursday.

Zvecan adopts municipal statute under pressure (Koha)

The municipal assemblies of Leposavic and Zubin Potok adopted their municipal statutes yesterday, which was the legal deadline. The paper learned that the Zvecan municipal assembly met under pressure. Albanian members of the assembly said the whole session lasted five minutes. “They did not ask who is against the statute. They just adopted it and the meeting was closed,” an Albanian assembly member told the paper. Meanwhile, the other two Serb-majority municipalities in northern Kosovo have until 25 April to adopt their municipal statutes; otherwise they risk going into extraordinary elections.

EULEX: Arrest in the north is not abduction (Botapress)

The EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) reacted yesterday toward statements by northern Kosovo mayors who said that EULEX is unwelcome in their territory. “The Mission does not share their view that arresting a suspect under the order of a prosecutor is abduction, especially when the suspect complies and only 3 officers are needed to conduct the arrest without even having to handcuff him. As explained before, in the rule of law, no one – apart from legally appointed law enforcement officers, prosecutors or judges – can claim the right to authorize or not authorize the application of justice,” a EULEX press release said.

Ismet Beqiri: Media polls are lies (Botapress)

The LDK parliamentary group chief, Ismet Beqiri, said on Thursday that a poll published recently in the media showing that the PDK was in the lead, is a lie and was ordered by political parties. Beqiri said he does not trust such polls.

Drenica Jihadists students of Duka (Zeri)

The paper reports on the front page that the Skenderaj branch of the Islamic Community of Kosovo (BIK) confirmed that dozens of youths are going to fight in Syria. The BIK branch accused the Kosovo Police of failing to prevent this. Meanwhile, citizens in Skenderaj say that everything started with lectures by the controversial imam from Albania, Kastriot Duka, who built a mosque without permission from BIK and has been lecturing to young people for many years now.