Headlines - 16.12.2016

• Mustafa: Visa liberalisation threatened if we don’t ratify demarcation (media)
• EP endorses mechanisms for visas, Kosovo should fulfil conditions (Epoka)
• Bomb thrown at Serb’s house in northern Mitrovica (Kosovapress)
• Djuric visits Mitrovica, Kosovo authorities send protest note (Kosova Sot)
• Two police officers suspended for allowing Djuric’s visit (Telegrafi/RFE)
• Jevtic: First decree on Association, then return to the institutions (Lajmi)
• Independent autopsy on Dehari’s death to be published today (Telegrafi)
• Kosovo loses millions of U.S. aid due to corruption (Koha)

Mustafa: Visa liberalisation threatened if we don’t ratify demarcation (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, said in an interview with Radio Free Europe, that visa liberalisation for the citizens of Kosovo will come under serious threat if Kosovo authorities fail to ratify the border demarcation deal with Montenegro this month. Mustafa also said that several MPs from the ruling coalition and also opposition MPs have created “a wrong position” vis-à-vis the demarcation with Montenegro.

EP endorses mechanisms for visas, Kosovo should fulfil conditions (Epoka)

The European Parliament voted on Thursday in favour of the mechanisms that suspend visa liberalisation, the paper reports. The mechanisms, which are expected to enter into force soon, will make it much easier for member states to re-introduce visas when required and will be valid for all countries including Kosovo. It was stressed once again that Kosovo will not move forward in the process of visa liberalisation until it ratifies the agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro and to continue the fight against organised crime and corruption.

Bomb thrown at Serb’s house in northern Mitrovica (Kosovapress)

The news site reports that a bomb was thrown in the yard of Drazen Stojkovic’s house late last night in the Bosniak Mahala in northern Mitrovica. It is suspected that the attack came because Stojkovic made a photo with the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) leader, Ramush Haradinaj, during the latter’s visit to Mitrovica Bridge on Thursday. No injuries have been reported.

Djuric visits Mitrovica, Kosovo authorities send protest note (Kosova Sot)

The head of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric, visited the north despite Kosovo authorities not granting permission for it. Kosovo Foreign Ministry said the visit was “unacceptable” and a “provocation” and sent to this effect a protest note to the EU and all other relevant international institutions.

Two police officers suspended for allowing Djuric’s visit (Telegrafi/RFE)

Kosovo authorities suspended two police officers following the visit of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric, to the north of Kosovo. The suspended officers from the Kosovo Police station in Mitrovica north are believed to have disregarded the order from the police headquarters to arrest Djuric if he enters Kosovo through the north.

Jevtic: First decree on Association, then return to the institutions (Lajmi)

Kosovo’s Minister for Returns and Communities, Dalibor Jevtic, said on Thursday that it is absurd to him not to go to work and receive the salary. However, he said that there is no return to the institutions without the decree for establishment of the Association of the Serb-majority Municipalities. He said that a compromise was reached among the Serb representatives, to go to work but not participate at the meetings of the government. According to him, the decision “to freeze participation” is a message for coalition partners that they want to “work together on the resolution of all problems and not only to be there as figures”.

Independent autopsy on Dehari’s death to be published today (Telegrafi)

The news website reports that Tome Gashi, the attorney of the family of Astrit Dehari, the Vetevendosje activist who was found dead while in custody at the Prizren Detention Center, will publish today an autopsy conducted by independent experts. Gashi said during the press conference he will also publish pictures that support the autopsy by independent experts and also explanations into the reasons that caused Dehari’s death.

Kosovo loses millions of U.S. aid due to corruption (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that Kosovo has lost millions of U.S. aid due to its failure to efficiently combat corruption. Namely, the Board of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, an independent U.S. government agency working to reduce global poverty through economic growth, has decided to drop Kosovo from the “Compact” program to the “MCC threshold” program, after Kosovo authorities failed to achieve progress in the fight against corruption. “The Board selected Kosovo and Timor-Leste to develop MCC threshold programs, and reselected Togo to continue developing its threshold program,” the MCC said in a statement. “The smaller threshold program gives MCC the opportunity to engage with countries specifically on policy and institutional reform”. A document published on the MCC webpage explains the benefits and differences between the “Compact” and “Threshold” programs. Kosovo was only the third country in Europe selected for Compact, a five-year program with great opportunities for investments in several economic sectors and aimed at generating employment, reducing poverty and helping the fight against corruption. “MCC Threshold” is described as a short-term program that mainly includes limited funds destined for various sectors of a country aimed at preparing it to become a candidate for the “Compact” program. Dropping from the “Compact” to the “Threshold” program will cost Kosovo millions of Euros destined to generate employment and reduce poverty.