Headlines - 16.09.2016

• Kosovo Specialist Chambers to begin work early 2017 (media)
• Tahiri: Redesigning of dialogue is needed (Epoka)
• Government and opposition meet on demarcation issue (media)
• PM Mustafa meets residents of border region with Montenegro (Epoka)
•  “No work at Orthodox Church without proper documents” (Klan Kosova)
• Special prosecution files terrorism charges against five persons (Klan Kosova) 

Kosovo Specialist Chambers to begin work early 2017 (media)

All media cover the press conference held on Thursday by the administrator of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, Fidelma Donlon, and the chief prosecutor of the Kosovo Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, David Schwendiman. Donlon said the mechanism will officially begin work early next year. Schwendiman said it is not known yet how many indictments the court will file against former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) accused in the Council of Europe report on serious crimes.  He said however that he will fearlessly pursue all allegations of crime. “I will do my job without fear and without any outside influence. My decisions will be based solely on facts. Nothing that I decide will have political or diplomatic implications. I will rely only on the law and facts. Our work is a very serious activity,” Schwendiman is quoted as saying in Koha Ditore.

Tahiri: Redesigning of dialogue is needed (Epoka)

Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio engaged in the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade in Brussels, said on Thursday that this dialogue cannot last forever. She told the paper that Pristina has asked the European Union to consider a deadline of the process. Tahiri said that a redesigning of the dialogue is necessary. She added that if no changes proceed in the future, it would have been good for the involved parties to be fully represented at all levels. Within this context, Minister Tahiri said that Kosovo could establish a unity team at the most senior level, as  during the Vienna discussions. Speaking about the agreement on license plates, Tahiri said that from 15 November of this year, Kosovo people will not need to face any more “Proba” license plates when entering Serbia. According to her, this agreement also brings to an end the illegal license plates and confirms the start of work of the civil status offices  in the  four northern municipalities.

Government and opposition meet on demarcation issue (media)

The news site reports that representatives of the ruling coalition and opposition parties met on Thursday evening in Pristina to discuss the border demarcation deal.  The meeting was called by Naim Rashiti, executive director of the Pristina-based think tank Balkans Group. The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Vetëvendosje Movement, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA).  According to RTK,  representatives from the US Embassy and other foreign embassies also attended the meeting. PDK MP Elmi Reçica told reporters after the meeting that he saw some progress but did not give further details on the matter. LDK representative, Muharrem Sfarça, said that this first meeting was a willingness of the parties to push forward the process of cooperation. “There has been some progress and readiness for moving forward the process of cooperation to achieve consensus on major issues related to Kosovo's future in the EU integration process,” he said. During the meeting, according to Sfarça, a political declaration was approved, by which political parties would reach consensus to move would forward on the issue of the border demarcation with Montenegro.

PM Mustafa meets residents of border region with Montenegro (Epoka)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa met on Thursday, within the framework of comprehensive consultation regarding the demarcation of the border with Montenegro, with residents of the border region with Montenegro. Mustafa, accompanied by the Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Kujtim Shala, mayors of Peja and Istog, as well as Kosovo Assembly MPs, listened to the opinions and positions of the people there regarding this important process for Kosovo. Mustafa said he would continue to consult all interested stakeholders and heads of the institutions, whose work is related to the border zone.

Tahiri: No work at Orthodox Church without proper documents (Klan Kosova)

Adonis Tahiri, spokesman for Pristina municipality, told the TV station on Thursday that the municipality had to stop the work done by Serbs at the Orthodox Church in Pristina “because the law was not respected”. “Inspectors from the field saw that work was being done at the church and they notified the municipality. We said that work needs to be stopped, but they refused. When we saw that they lacked the required documents, we implemented our measures. We also met their employers and told them what documents they need in order to resume their construction work. No building or project can be carried out in Pristina municipality without respecting the laws of the Republic of Kosovo. We are not here to give our opinion but rather to implement the law,” Tahiri said.

Special prosecution files terrorism charges against five persons (Klan Kosova)

Kosovo’s Special Prosecution has filed an indictment against four imams and the leader of the LISBA (Islamic Movement Unite) party, Fuad Ramiqi, for inciting hatred and terrorist actions.