The paper’s Brussels-based correspondent, Augustin Palokaj, writes in his weekly column that even if European Commission were to positively assess implementation of visa liberalization criteria by Kosovo institutions, there are certain developments which, according to EU officials, could have a negative impact on the process.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Kosovo organised a regional conference on challenges and best practices in implementation of the non-discrimination law.

By NIKOLA DIMITROV AND ERWAN FOUERE

Last week’s statement by commissioner Johannes Hahn on Macedonia’s election track record comes at the worst possible moment for efforts to resolve the political crisis. At an event hosted by the National Council, a think tank in Washington, on 4 June, Hahn said the last elections in Macedonia (in 2014), as with other votes, had been monitored by the OSCE/ODIHR and “in general the report on them was positive”.

Brussels-based correspondent Augustin Palokaj writes in his opinion piece that “it would have been much better if there was a situation where the opponents of the special court would be able to say that Kosovo doesn’t need the special court because the independent and sovereign Kosovo has its own independent and professional court that can address every serious case”.

• Opposition to use protests and political actions against special court (Koha)
• Zbogar: Economic development, crucial for Kosovo (dailies)
• Nishani: Albanians are existential factor in Macedonia (Koha)
• Selimi calls for support for Kosovo’s UNESCO membership (Zeri)
• Special war in Presevo Valley (Zeri)

Brussels-based correspondent Augustin Palokaj argues in his opinion piece that “the elections in the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) proved that there is not that much pluralism in this party as initially thought and that ‘delegates’ vote according to their own personal interests. There is room for ‘new faces’ only if they don’t have any ideas and if they support the dominating group. The LDK, by helping the PDK [Democratic Party of Kosovo] to become a member of the European People’s Party, is heading toward creating a mega party with the PDK.

By Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. This opinion piece originally appeared in Project Syndicate.

NEW YORK – Earlier this spring, I drove to a beautiful spot on the southern bank of Lake Geneva. My destination was the Hotel Royale in Évian-les-Bains. It was there, in July 1938, that 32 nations met for a shameful discussion that has been virtually airbrushed from our memory.

Head of EU Office in Kosovo and EU Special Representative, Samuel Zbogar, in an opinion for the paper says that the Kosovo Assembly members have an important decision ahead and while on the one hand they are concerned how their vote will reflect on Kosovo’s past, on the other, they will be voting for the future of Kosovo. “I am convinced the Assembly will take the right decision in favour of establishing specialized chambers,” writes Zbogar.

Political analyst and columnist, Halil Matoshi, lists 33 reasons why the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) should vote for Vjosa Osmani as the party leader in the upcoming internal elections. Matoshi argues that LDK needs to undergo a deep reform and become a normal political party, competitive and discard the aura of a national movement. At present, remarks Matoshi, the party is undergoing a democratic race for consolidation of its internal structures but the race for party leader is likely to develop in such a way as to enable the Isa Mustafa to remain in the post for another mandate.

The paper today published an opinion piece written by a American University in Kosovo lecturer, Mimoza Mustafa. Tackling the gender issues in Kosovo, Mustafa writes that women deserve to be actively participating in decision-making processes in Kosovo, “not only because they are women, but because they are responsible and dedicated professionals.” According to her, women have to prove it in the Parliament, because that’s where change can start.