Headlines - 28.10.2016

• Assembly debate on KLA values escalates into accusations and insults (media)
• Tahiri: Kosovo has never conditioned Serbia (Koha/Zeri)
• Serbian authorities could release KP director, Nehat Thaci, today (Telegrafi)
• Delawie, O’Connell call for greater engagement against corruption (Epoka)
• Ramiz Kelmendi takes over position of Deputy Prime Minister (Epoka)
• Latif Gashi released on bail (media)
• Prosecution drops rape charge against Sylejman Selimi (Insajderi)

Assembly debate on KLA values escalates into accusations and insults (media)

One of the leading stories in all daily newspapers this morning is yesterday’s debate at the Kosovo Assembly in defence of the values of the Kosovo Liberation Army following the verdict of the Appellate Court on the Drenica 2 case. Koha Ditore reports on its front page that during the debate there was little talk about the topic and that MPs from the ruling coalition and the opposition engaged in serious accusations against each other. The paper notes that MPs from the Drenica region initiated the debate and suggested that a resolution should be adopted. The text of the document was harmonised by the majority of parliamentary groups but was not adopted due to lack of quorum. The paper further notes that the most dramatic moment at the session was when PDK MP Nuredin Lushtaku tried to assault Vetevendosje MP Glauk Konjufca as he was reading his remarks about the content of the draft resolution. According to Epoka e Re, the MPs are expected to adopt the resolution today. The document notes that within six months the Kosovo Assembly will adopt a law to protect the values of the Kosovo Liberation Army and its liberation war. Zeri reports that opposition MPs accused the ruling coalition of voting in favour of the establishment of the Special Court and at the same time shedding “crocodile tears” over the sentencing of former KLA combatants. Kosova Sot reports on its coverage that some civil society representatives argued that Thursday’s debate was a tendency and effort to interfere in the work of the judiciary.

Tahiri: Kosovo has never conditioned Serbia (Koha/Zeri)

In an interview for regional news platform N1, Kosovo’s Minister for Dialogue Edita Tahiri said that Pristina never conditioned Serbia and that the document that Belgrade is concerned about has been submitted to EU authorities back in 2014. “We haven’t delivered any new document to Brussels,” said Tahiri. She also told Zeri that it is the European Union that is conditioning Serbia and will continue to do so until it implements all agreements reached in the framework of the dialogue for normalization of relations.

Serbian authorities could release KP director, Nehat Thaci, today (Telegrafi)

Telegrafi quotes Veriu.info news website as saying that Serbian authorities will release Kosovo Police director for Mitrovica region, Nehat Thaci, today as his 30-day detention period is set to expire and no charges will be pressed against him. Sources from the Kosovo government confirmed the news saying that Thaci will face no criminal charges after the family on whose testimony the indictment was based withdrew their statement. “Nehat Thaci is expected to be released tomorrow [Friday] but could return to Kosovo on Saturday because of procedures,” an unnamed source said.

Delawie, O’Connell call for greater engagement against corruption (Epoka)

The Ambassador of the United States of America to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, and the Ambassador of the United Kingdom, Ruairi O’Connell, appealed at the institutions of Kosovo to engage more on combating corruption. During the round-table organized by the Kosovo Democratic Institute, Delawie stated that each individual involved in corrupt deeds should take the deserved sentence. “Corruption cannot be fought with corrupt officials. Corruption is affecting investments, it is increasing poverty. We are all aware that corruption undermines the rule of law, you should make the rule of law and combating of corruption, a priority,” Delawie said. Ambassador O’Connell said that he feels sorry that many convictions for corruption in Kosovo are of low and mid profile and rarely of the high one.

Ramiz Kelmendi takes over position of Deputy Prime Minister (Epoka)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, has decided to nominate Ramiz Kelmendi in the position of the Deputy Prime Minister of the government of Kosovo. Kelmendi has handed over his position of the Assembly MP on Thursday. He was initially member of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), for four years, then during the last general elections he joined the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and once again he gained votes to become Kosovo Assembly MP, but because this party did not give him the post of the Deputy Prime Minister promised by Hashim Thaci, he left PDK and acted at the Assembly as an independent member of the parliament. Recently, Ramiz Kelmendi joined the Democratic League of Kosovo and gained the position of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Latif Gashi released on bail (media)

Several news websites report that former Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP, Latif Gashi, was released on bail on Thursday. Several months ago, Gashi was sentenced with six years of prison, however he was released on bail being that he was already held for four years and two months in detention, and lately, seven months in prison. Latif Gashi was sentenced with “Llapi Group”.

Prosecution drops rape charge against Sylejman Selimi (Insajderi)

The Investigative news website Insajderi reports that the Special Prosecution of Kosovo decided to drop the charges for sexual abuse against the former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) general, Sylejman Selimi. Selimi and others were accused of beating and raping two Albanian girls from Mitrovica. The prosecution has withdrawn the rape charge only a few days before the start of the trial in the Basic Court of Mitrovica. The news was confirmed by one of the accused, Shefki Hyseni.