Headlines - 21.12.2016

• Assembly supports PDK recommendations on Dehari case (media)
• Civil society demands ministers step down over Dehari’s death (RTK)
• Maric was dismissed for not cooperating with municipalities (Zeri)
• Tahiri: Time has come to change format of dialogue (Epoka)
• Thaci: It is not a secret, we have contacts with Trump (Lajmi)
• Ferati: We could have early general elections next year (Zeri)

Assembly supports PDK recommendations on Dehari case (media)

Koha Ditore reports on its front page that members of the Kosovo Assembly debated for six hours on Tuesday about the death of Vetevendosje activist Astrit Dehari at the Prizren Detention Centre and supported the recommendation by the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) which said that “if it has doubts about the expertise by institutions, the Dehari family can ask the Kosovo Government to conduct additional expertise even abroad, from any EU member state or the U.S.”. The paper notes that among the four requests of the petition, which was signed by over 23,000 citizens, was an extraordinary session of the Assembly and an independent expertise about Dehari’s death. The Assembly however did not take into consideration the citizens’ petition. The other two requests, which called for the resignations of Justice and Interior ministers and the legal prosecution of officers that failed to guarantee Dehari’s security, were repeated by Vetevendosje representatives in the Assembly but they were not supported by the other MPs. Both Bota Sot and Kosova Sot note in their coverage that the Assembly has paved the way to “an international investigation into the Dehari case”. Under the front-page headline Tense session about the Dehari case, Zeri reports on the exchange of accusations between LDK and PDK on the one hand and the Vetevendosje Movement on the other hand.

Civil society demands ministers step down over Dehari’s death (RTK)

A group of civil society representatives protested in Pristina yesterday over the death of Vetevendosje activist, Astrit Dehari, in Prizren detention facility demanding an independent investigation, resignation of Justice Minister Dhurata Hoxha and that of Interior Minister Skender Hyseni. The civil society also demands relevant officials working in the detention centre where Dehari died to face criminal prosecution.

Maric was dismissed for not cooperating with municipalities (Zeri)

The paper quotes on the front page Serbian List leader Slavko Simic saying that Ljubomir Maric was dismissed from the post of Minister of Local Government and Administration for failing to cooperate with local governments. According to the Mitrovica-based website news Kossev, Simic’s recent statement is in conflict to his original reaction to the Maric’s dismissal when he claimed that the Serbian List was not consulted. At the same time, Kosovo government officials insist Maric was dismissed in consultation with the Serbian List. Advisor to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, Bajram Gecaj, said they also hope that the Serbian List will soon rejoin the work of Kosovo institutions.

Tahiri: Time has come to change format of dialogue (Epoka)

Kosovo’s Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, said on Tuesday that the time has come to change the format of dialogue with Serbia. In a front-page interview for the paper, Tahiri said the next phase of dialogue should be the conclusion of the process. In an interview for the paper, Tahiri defended the dialogue process held in Brussels, saying that it had brought many benefits to Kosovo. According to her, this process has contributed significantly in fulfilling the strategic objectives of the government, on strengthening the state internally and externally. Speaking about the wall in Mitrovica, Tahiri said that Kosovo institutions are working intensively to remove the wall in a careful manner. “We assure you that there will be no wall and the revitalisation of the Ibër Bridge and the promenade will be completely in accordance with the Brussels agreement,” Tahiri said.

Thaci: It is not a secret, we have contacts with Trump (Lajmi)

The President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, said during his speech at the Liberal Forum UET, that his administration is in contact and relation with the new administration of the United States of America. “It is not a secret any more that we have established direct contacts with the new administration of the President Donald Trump and that we were assured that the special cooperation between the U.S. and Kosovo will continue according to the so far tradition of a special cooperation,” Thaci said. Asked by the auditorium about another mandate as the President of Kosovo, Thaci said that he would accept another mandate only if he is elected by the population of Kosovo.

Ferati: We could have early general elections next year (Zeri)

Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MP, Sadri Ferati, told the paper on Tuesday, that the recently-built wall in Mitrovica North is “a monster that portrays the dire situation in that part of Kosovo”.  Ferati did not rule out the possibility of early parliamentary elections next year if there is consensus among the political parties.