Headlines - 16.01.2016

Special Court with mandate to enlighten political murders (Koha Ditore)

The paper reports that the Government of the Netherlands has revived expectations of Kosovo people to remove dust from the files concerning many political murders that happened right after the war and which were never enlightened by the judiciary of Kosovo. The Government of the Netherlands informed on Friday through a press release that it has consented to the European Union’ request to host the Special Court, which is only formally part of Kosovo’s judiciary system.

The press release informs further that “the court, which is officially called the Kosovo Relocated Specialist Judicial Institution, is expected to begin operating some time this year. It will be housed in the former Europol building once an extension has been built for a courtroom. In the meantime the court will be accommodated elsewhere in The Hague.

The court will try serious crimes allegedly committed in 1999-2000 by members of the Kosovo Liberation Army against ethnic minorities and political opponents. This is a sensitive issue in Kosovo. Possible suspects may be seen by sections of Kosovan society as freedom fighters, and witnesses may feel threatened in Kosovo. This is why the option of trying cases outside Kosovo was explored.

The decision to locate the court in The Hague was made following consultation between the EU and the Kosovan and Dutch authorities. The court will be paid for from EU funds.

‘It is important for justice to be done,’ said Dutch foreign minister Bert Koenders. ‘So we are pleased to be able to offer the court a home.’ Mr Koenders and the Minister of Security and Justice, Ard van der Steur, indicated that the Netherlands believes it has a special responsibility in this respect as the host country of a number of international and other special criminal courts and tribunals. ‘This is a good opportunity to ensure justice is finally done and to hold people accountable for the wrongs they have committed,’ said Mr van der Steur.

The court, which is made up of international judges, is to be established under Kosovan law. This means it will not be an international tribunal, but a Kosovan national court that administers justice outside Kosovo. The court will operate according to the highest international standards of procedural law. Convicted persons will not serve their sentences in the Netherlands.

Mayor Jozias van Aartsen welcomes the court to The Hague, the city of peace and justice. ‘As long as there is no justice, there can be no truly lasting peace,’ he said. ‘That’s why it’s of the utmost importance that this court can do its work here in our city.’

The governments of the Netherlands and Kosovo have concluded a seat agreement which sets out the arrangements that apply to the court. The agreement still has to be approved by the parliaments of each country.”

Opposition conditions Jahjaga’s initiative for demarcation (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo’s opposition parties would not accept the initiative of the President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga for an ad-hoc commission that would resolve the issue of the demarcation of the border with Montenegro, without fulfillment of their conditions. Spokespersons of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Muharrem Nitaj and Vetevendosje Movement, Frasher Krasniqi told the paper that the initiative would be acceptable only after dismissal of the current State Commission for Demarcation and withdrawal of the Border Agreement with Montenegro.

Jahjaga considered the international ad-hoc commission to be the only institutional and credible way to address eventual inaccuracies.

Delawie meets President of the Assembly of Kosovo (dailies)

The U.S Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, met on Friday with the President of the Assembly of Kosovo Kadri Veseli. According to a press release issued by the Assembly of Kosovo, they discussed the current developments in Kosovo, start of the new Assembly sessions as well as necessity for normal viability of the works of the Assembly. Delawie expressed once again his support for the continuance of the works at the Assembly of Kosovo in accordance with its constitutional functions and in service to all the people of Kosovo. Interlocutors agreed that use of anti-democratic means at the Assembly should stop and that respect of the legal and constitutional provisions should return at the Assembly.

Mustafa: Kosovo has fulfilled criteria for visa liberalization (Epoka e Re)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, hosted on Friday the Director for Western Europe, the Western Balkans and Turkey in the European External Action Service, Angelina Eichhorst. Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hashim Thaci, the Minister for European Integration, Bekim Collaku and Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, were also present at this meeting. PM Mustafa said during the meeting with Director Eichhorst that liberalization of visas is an elementary and deserved right by the citizens of Kosovo. He also said that Kosovo’s institutions both at central and local levels have fulfilled with maximal responsibility the criteria and recommendations for visa liberalization.

In a separate article the paper reports that Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Bekim Collaku, submitted to the European Union the last input for fulfillment of the eight recommendations for visa liberalization.

Kurti and Haxhiu released from house arrest (Zeri)

Kosovo’s Court of Appeals has decided to release from house arrest Kosovo Assembly deputies, Albin Kurti and Albulena Haxhiu. The panel of three judges of this court considered that the appeals of the defense lawyers submitted on 28 December and 6 January, were grounded.