Headlines 7 January
- Kosovo Assembly to hold extraordinary session for Haradinaj (Koha)
- Haradinaj’s release demanded in a protest in France (Telegrafi)
- Haliti: Mitrovica North wall not to be demolished by 20 January (RTK)
- Citizens oppose visit of Serb pilgrims to Gjakova/Djakovica (Koha)
Kosovo Media Highlights
Kosovo Assembly to hold extraordinary session for Haradinaj (Koha)
The Kosovo Assembly is expected to call extraordinary session today to discuss the detention of Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) leader Ramush Haradinaj by French authorities on an arrest warrant issued by Serbia. Assembly presidency will meet today to review the request of the AAK parliamentary group for a special session.
Haradinaj’s release demanded in a protest in France (Telegrafi)
A protest has been called today in the French town of Calmar to demand the release of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) leader Ramush Haradinaj arrested on a war crimes warrant issued by Serbia. The protest has been called by representatives of the Albanian community in France.
Haliti: Mitrovica North wall not to be demolished by 20 January (RTK)
In an interview for the public broadcaster, Kosovo Assembly vice president and deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Xhavit Haliti, said he didn’t believe dialogue with Serbia should be brought to a halt following recent developments, including the construction of a wall in Mitrovica North by local authorities. He said the government of Kosovo acted wisely by not bringing the wal down. “Demolition of the wall could lead to uncontrollable reactions and this would not be good,” said Haliti adding that he doesn’t expect the wall would be removed by 20 January as stipulated by a Kosovo Assembly resolution. Speaking about the detention of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) leader Ramush Haradinaj by French authorities on an arrest warrant issued by Serbia, Haliti said he was convinced Haradinaj would be released once the French courts review all relevant arguments. “UNMIK represents Kosovo in Interpol and there have been several requests to repeal arrest warrants for KLA members but this has not yet happened,” Haliti noted.
Citizens oppose visit of Serb pilgrims to Gjakova/Djakovica (Koha)
A group of citizens opposed yesterday a visit of Serb pilgrims to the Orthodox Church in Gjakova/Djakovica ahead of Orthodox Christmas. The citizens gathered in front of the church claiming that there were people responsible for war crimes in the city among the visitors. The police pushed away the protesters and some were accompanied to the police station, including, according to KTV, several mothers of missing persons from Gjakova/Djakovica. The police also arrested two persons suspected of stoning the bus as it was entering the city. The US Ambassador Greg Delawie reacted to events in the city by tweeting that he was disappointed. “Violence has no place in protests or peaceful holiday celebrations,” he wrote. At the same time, Vetevendosje issued a statement saying the visit of the Serb pilgrims was a provocation and demanded the release of the persons detained by the police during the protest.