Headlines - 20.11.2015

UN Security Council discusses violence in Kosovo Assembly (dailies)

The papers report on the UN Security Council session yesterday which focused on Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s quarterly report on Kosovo. According to Zeri, the recent violence in the Kosovo Assembly was the subject of debate at the session with Security Council members asking for an end to the government-opposition conflict through dialogue and continuation of Pristina-Belgrade talks for normalization of relations. Kosova Sot reports that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) in Kosovo, Zahir Tanin, said agreements between Pristina and Belgrade need to be implemented as soon as possible. Koha quotes him as saying that there is determination to overcome short-term difficulties between Pristina and Belgrade through dialogue. The head of UNMIK stated that the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities is a result of the EU-facilitated dialogue in Brussels but noted that there are challenges in its implementation due to the current political situation in Kosovo which he said was very serious. He said efforts are underway to lower tensions adding, however, that political leaders should take responsibility for whatever happens. Kosovo’s Ambassador to the US, Vlora Citaku, in her address to the members of the Security Council accused Serbia of preventing Kosovo from gaining membership of UNESCO and of not implementing Brussels agreements. “Only yesterday, Minister of Finance Avdullah Hoti was unable to go to the north of Mitrovica and was prevented by Serb parallel structures,” she said adding that Serbia has not yet dissolved its illegal structures in the north of Kosovo despite it being agreed in the course of the dialogue. At the same time, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic accused Kosovo of not implementing recent agreements, particularly on the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. He said that the suspension of the agreement by the Constitutional Court pending the review of its legality is unjustifiable.

Lunacek: Opposition must return to the Assembly (Zeri)

The European Parliament Vice-President and Rapporteur for Kosovo, Ulrike Lunacek, called on Thursday on opposition parties to wait for the decision of the Constitutional Court on the recent agreements signed in Brussels and in the meantime to return to the Assembly. “I call on the representatives of the opposition and the government to not continue further in the escalation of the situation. I want to remind the opposition parties of Kosovo’s traditional non-violent demonstrations,” she said. Lunacek said the agreement on establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities is now in the Constitutional Court, and a decision will be taken by January next year, “so the opposition parties must return to the Assembly.”

Abrashi: Violence is absurd (Zeri)

Minister of Labour and Social Welfare and spokesperson for the Kosovo government, Arban Abrashi, while commenting on the recent developments in Kosovo said that no one can be above the law. “The violence that is being exercised for several months now is absurd and transcends all political demands that an opposition party may have,” Abrashi said. He added that he is convinced that there has been absolutely no political interference in the work of law-enforcement mechanisms. “We were all witnesses of attacks against to the prime minister and other government members,” he said.

Miglietta: KFOR will support the Police (Epoka e Re)

Kosovo’s Interior Minister, Skender Hyseni, met on Thursday with KFOR Commander, Guglielmo Luigi Miglietta. According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, they discussed the security situation and the recent developments in Kosovo. KFOR Commander Miglietta assured Minister Hyseni that KFOR will give full support to the Kosovo Police, being that this is also within the responsibilities of KFOR. He also congratulated the work of the Kosovo Police to maintain order and peace for the people of Kosovo.

Police in search of Vetevendosje MP Kurti (Bota Sot)

The Kosovo Police is continuing to search for Vetevendosje MP Albin Kurti to arrest him in connection to his role in the violent events at the Assembly. Yesterday, the police went to his parents’ residence but did not find Kurti there. The Kosovo Police said in a statement it did not raid the Kurti home but only searched for the wanted person.

“Kadaj-Bujupi’s arrest, unconstitutional” (Zeri)

The paper reports that the arrest and detention of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) MP, Donika Kadaj-Bujupi, is being considered as unconstitutional and illegal, because of the immunity that she has as a Member of Parliament. According to constitutional and legal experts, the Court should have asked for the opinion of the Constitutional Court before ordering the arrest of Kada-Bujupi. The former President of the Kosovo Assembly, Jakup Krasniqi, said that all the MPs have immunity and their arrest would be against the Constitution and illegal.

LDK MP calls on PM to dismiss border demarcation committee (media)

Several media report that Alma Lama, an MP from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), has called on her party leader and Prime Minister Isa Mustafa to dismiss the committee on the border demarcation with Montenegro. “I call on the Prime Minister to urgently dismiss the committee and initiate investigative procedures against the committee members for misuse of duty. I call on the Prime Minister to set up another committee and renegotiate the agreement with Montenegro, notify the Assembly, and organize a meeting with opposition representatives too. I call on the opposition to be more rational in its actions because there is full willingness among MPs not to adopt any agreement that threatens Kosovo’s borders,” Alma said.

Mustafa: Kosovo citizens to travel without visas in 2016 (dailies)

Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, on Wednesday met in Brussels with the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos and MEP Elmar Brok. During these meetings, the main discussion topic was the conclusion of the process of visa liberalization and other European integration processes of Kosovo. “Kosovo has fulfilled the necessary criteria and the citizens of Kosovo are the only ones isolated in the region. We are confident that the citizens of Kosovo will move freely, without visas, in 2016,” said Mustafa, while seeking support for this matter.

Collaku: Visa liberalization for Kosovo in 2016 (RTK)

Kosovo’s European Integration Minister, Bekim Collaku, said on Thursday that he is confident that Kosovo will get visa liberalization in 2016. Collaku, who is visiting Brussels together with Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and Deputy Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, wrote on his Facebook account: “I feel encouraged by the support we are receiving and the confirmation that we are at the end of the visa liberalization process. After our meetings here I feel much more confident that the people of Kosovo will be able to travel without visas in 2016”.

Gerxhaliu: Two mass graves suspected to be in Kosovo (Klan Kosova)

The director of the Department of Forensics Medicine (DFM), Arsim Gerxhaliu, told Klan Kosova that the DFM will start searches in two locations in Kosovo where there are suspected to be two mass graves. "The first location is Llugaxhi village near Lipljan, and the second location is Kciq village in Mitrovica,” Gerxhaliu said.

UNICEF marks 20th anniversary of presence in Kosovo (media)

Several news sites report that the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will mark today the 20th anniversary of its presence in Kosovo. A ceremony will be held at the Swiss Diamond Hotel in downtown Pristina. Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga and several ministers that cooperate with UNICEF in promoting the rights of children and youths in Kosovo are expected to attend.