The United States Ambassador to Kosovo, Tracey Ann Jacobson, congratulated the Prime Ministers of Kosovo and Serbia, Isa Mustafa and Aleksandar Vucic, for the agreement on integration of the judiciary that was signed last night. “Congrats to Prime Ministers of Kosovo and Serbia for accord on integration of justice. Look forward to full implementation of agreements,” wrote Jacobson on her Twitter account.
The head of the Parliamentary Group of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Ismet Beqiri, said on Monday that the Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, is willing to immediately report on what would be discussed in Brussels, and it is ready to do this on Thursday, if this round of talks ends today. This, according to him, demonstrates the willingness of the government for transparency. Speaking about the dismissal of the Communities and Returns Minister Aleksandar Jablanovic, Beqiri said that anyone who works to the detriment of Kosovo, has no place in Kosovo institutions.
Kadri Veseli, the Speaker of the Parliament of Kosovo, called on the citizens of Kosovo not to flee their country. “Our people should stay here and try to improve their wellbeing, develop the economy and not flee the country,” he added. The Presidency of Parliament decided today that the parliamentary debate between Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and MPs calling for the dismissal of Communities and Returns Minister Aleksandar Jablanovic will be held on Thursday. Veseli said: “The notorious statement by Minister Jablanovic in reality should not be part of our national agenda.
A senior member of the Kosovo government told the news site that Communities and Returns Minister Aleksandar Jablanovic will be dismissed this week. “Minister Jablanovic will not be dismissed because of yesterday’s protest by the opposition but because the government of Kosovo wants to avoid tensions in interethnic relations that are being provoked by certain groups and parties,” the source said. “The decision [to dismiss Jablanovic] was made after consultations that the government of Kosovo has had with Quint representatives. The decision will be implemented in a few days.”
Lajmi reports that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Kosovo will be held on 6 February. The news portal writes that this meeting will be a forerunner of the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue to be held in Brussels on 9 February. According to Lajmi, Kosovo and Serbia are expected to be represented by their respective Foreign Ministers Hashim Thaci and Ivica Dacic.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hashim Thaci started his first official visit to Montenegro, where he met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Igor Luksic. Thaci and Luksic discussed the cooperation between Kosovo and Montenegro, economic and cultural exchange, joint infrastructural projects as well as regional cooperation and building of good neighborly relations. Media report that during his stay in Podgorica, Thaci will meet the Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, President Filip Vujanovic and Speaker of the Parliament, Ranko Krivokapic.
Naim Maloku, a senior official of the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) and former deputy leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), said today that the formation of the special court, which will address war crimes allegations, is a result of the failure of Kosovo’s judiciary. Maloku said that except for the Vetevendosje Movement, all parliamentary parties have contributed to this failure, and that no party, except for Vetevendosje, has the moral right to oppose the formation of this court.
The British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ian Cliff, said today that the biggest challenge for the new government in Pristina will be the establishment of the Special Court that will address allegations of war crimes committed in Kosovo. During a conference organized by the Pristina-based non-governmental organization FOL [Speak Up], Cliff said that as representative of the United Kingdom he would assist local authorities in the establishment of the court. Cliff said that he was pleased that Kosovo managed to form the new institutions without international intervention.
More than 900 persons who illegally entered Hungary through Serbia, have been detained by Hungarian authorities over the weekend in the town of Csongrad. Majority of the total of 912 persons detained are women and children from Kosovo as well as nationals of Asian countries.
Leaders of the coalition bloc, except for LDK leader Isa Mustafa, met today to discuss the crisis of the coalition after the decision to give way on the post of Assembly Speaker. Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Fatmir Limaj, leader of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) and Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti met to discuss the LDK’s request to redesign the 10 June agreement. No media statement was issued after the meeting.