An unnamed source within the Kosovo government told the news site that the Kosovo Assembly will vote next Monday or Wednesday on the constitutional amendments that make way to the formation of the special court. According to the source, the government will submit the constitutional amendments to the Assembly this week.
The head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) parliamentary group, Adem Grabovci, said that PDK MPs will meet on Wednesday and not today as was initially reported in the media. PDK MPs will discuss the establishment of the special court which will address war crimes allegations in Kosovo.
The news site reports that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has developed a detailed plan on how to resubmit the constitutional amendments and to make sure that the Kosovo Assembly will adopt the special court. A source close to the process told Gazeta Blic that the constitutional amendment will most probably be resubmitted to the Assembly this week. “The Assembly will then meet on Friday to vote on the special court,” the source added. He also said that Prime Minister Isa Mustafa can call an extraordinary session of the Assembly.
The Deputy Speaker of the Kosovo Assembly, Xhavit Haliti, said today that the constitutional amendments that enable establishment of the special court will not be on the agenda of the Assembly’s Thursday session. He said that whenever the government decides to re-submit the amendments, the Assembly would be ready to call the session. Haliti added that voting in favor of the special court is in Kosovo’s interest.
The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MP, Vjosa Osmani, said today that the government of Kosovo is being late on re-submitting to the Assembly the constitutional amendments that enable establishment of the special court. "I'm not sure if the PDK is making serious efforts to convince MPs to vote in favor of special court, however, it remains to be seen whether we will have any success in achieving the necessary votes. This must be a result of the MPs’ free will and not the result of any pressure or threat,” Osmani said.
Delays in the establishment of the special court are seen as a dangerous game played by Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) leader Hashim Thaci. A senior foreign diplomat in Pristina told the news site that international officials are concerned over Thaci’s actions. The diplomat also said that although the PDK leader says in public and in meetings with different diplomats that he is trying to secure enough votes for the special court, international officials are no longer trusting that Thaci is serious about the matter.
The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) leader and Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, has reportedly secured the support of his MPs to vote in favor of the formation of the special court. The Kosovo Assembly is expected to vote on the constitutional amendments next week. Sources from the meeting of the PDK parliamentary group today told the paper that Thaci threatened he would resign the post of party leader of his MPs don’t vote in favor of the special court.
Xhavit Haliti, member of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) presidency and Deputy President of the Kosovo Assembly, told TV Arta today that Kosovo should establish the special court before members of the Assembly go on summer leave. “We need to do this in order not to ruin the relations with our international friends,” Haliti said. He also added that talks are being held with MPs of other political parties on the formation of the special court.
A KosovaPress source within the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), said that the leader of this party, Hashim Thaci, during today’s meeting with his parliamentary group, managed to collect signatures that prove that they will vote the special court at the Assembly. According to the same source, the issue of the special court will be proceeded to the Assembly of Kosovo next week.
Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa said today in Pristina that the Kosovo Assembly will very soon vote on the special court that will address war crimes allegations. After meeting United Kingdom’s Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and British Prime Minister's Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Baroness Joyce Anelay, Mustafa said that a vote in favor of the special court will be a victory for the people and the government of Kosovo. He also called on all members of parliament to vote in favor of the court.