Naser Osmani, head of the Kosovo Assembly's committee on budget and finances, during a meeting held today on the law for public procurement, claimed that Samuel Zbogar, head of the European Union Office in Kosovo, was violating the Constitution of Kosovo. According to Osmani, Zbogar is discriminating local companies by favoring foreign companies, “because it is the sixth time that Zbogar’s office has sent back the law claiming that it does not comply with the requirements of the European Union”.

Vetevendosje Movement MP Besnik Bislimi, reacted to statements made by the EUSR in Kosovo Samuel Zbogar who criticized Vetevendosje MPs saying they are not implementing the law while not answering the calls of the prosecution. Bislimi said that the rule of law means leadership in accordance with legal provisions, and not taking directives from foreign diplomats. He added that Vetevendosje members didn’t prevent the investigation, but according to him, they refused to become partners to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa's prosecutors.

The EU Special Representative in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, speaking at the parliamentary committee for European integration today said that it was not necessary to address the Venice Commission in regards to the Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities. According to him, the opinion of the Constitutional Court should be respected. He stressed that there is always room and need for dialogue and that he agrees that there is a possibility for a better communication by the government in the Assembly and with the opposition parties.

The Kosovo Center for Security Studies organized a conference today on religious extremism and problems facing Kosovo in this regard. Participants in this panel were Kosovo Minister of Internal Affairs Skender Hyseni, and head of the EU Office in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar.  During the conference, Zbogar said that religious radicalism is a problem facing the whole world and not only in Kosovo. "Kosovo has shown good example in combating extremism and terrorism, by reacting quickly in cases of specific individuals.

The Head of European Union Office in Kosovo Samuel Zbogar met today Mitrovica Mayor Agim Bahtiri but none of them commented on what the meeting was about. Unofficially, the two officials are reported to have discussed details for the removal of the so-called Peace Park on River Iber bridge which is scheduled to take place on 15 October.

The European Union Special Representative to Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, told the Belgrade-based  news agency Tanjug that the the first indictments for the alleged war crimes suspects that will be addressed by the special court, will be filed in January next year.  He also said that the law on special court enters into force only after being signed by Kosovo’s President Atifete Jahjaga.

European Union Special Representative in Pristina, Samuel Zbogar, presented his proposal for resolving disputes over the so-called Peace Park build on the Mitrovica main bridge, said spokesperson to the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, Maja Kocijancic. She did not however explain details of the proposal. Kocijancic added that talks on the Mitrovica barricade will resume on 22 June while a meeting between prime ministers of Kosovo and Serbia, Isa Mustafa and Aleksandar Vucic respectively, has been scheduled for the next day.

I see no valid reason for any further delay in forming the Special Court for crimes committed in Kosovo. The constitutional amendments are already in the assembly and the law is ready, this for Vecernje Novosti said Samuel Zbogar, EU Special Representative in Kosovo.

Is there a general political will to form the court?

Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, said today that the government of Kosovo is committed to increase the safety of investors, whereas the new strategy will also improve the business climate.  “Kosovo's economy has had a growth rate, but this rate fails to absorb the number of unemployed in Kosovo,” Mustafa said.  Mustafa made these comments at the first meeting of the National Council for Economic Development.

• 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)