UN Under-Secretary General praises progress in Kosovo (Epoka)

The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Herve Ladsous, on Wednesday met with the leaders of Kosovo institutions, with whom he discussed current developments in Kosovo, the European perspective and the dialogue for the normalization of relations with Serbia. He praised the progress achieved in Kosovo, saying that this progress contributes to a better future. Prime Minister Isa Mustafa said that Kosovo government is combating terrorism and extremism, and noted that Kosovo has drafted strategies to combat these negative phenomena.

Jahjaga: Kosovo to apply for CoE membership soon (Lajmi)

Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga said on Wednesday that Kosovo will soon apply for membership in the Council of Europe (CoE). Jahjaga said that it is absurd and totally unfair to the people of Kosovo to be denied access to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, which would be enabled with Kosovo’s membership in the CoE. “So far, Kosovo has the support of over two thirds of the member states that recognize Kosovo, to join this organization. We will soon apply for membership,” Jahjaga said. She made these comments during a speech at the Pristina Institute for Political Studies.

War veterans want military honors for Kumanovo victims (Koha)

In a front-page story, the paper reports that Kosovars that were killed in the Kumanovo clashes were veterans of the former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and that the law provides that all veterans must be escorted with military honors and that the state must cover their burial expenses. The Kosovo Security Force Ministry has yet to say if they will meet this obligation. Avdyl Mushkolaj, the leader of the war veterans in the Dukagjini region, said they would submit a request to the KSF Ministry. “And if they don’t respond, we will dress our veterans with uniforms and we will escort the victims with honor. Those that were killed in Kumanovo are veterans, because they participated in three wars. We will organize a joint ceremony, be it in Pristina or elsewhere,” he added.

Families of those involved in Kumanovo clashes protest in Pristina (dailies)

All dailies report that the families of Kosovars involved in the Kumanovo clashes in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia protested yesterday in downtown Pristina. Protesters demanded the return of their relatives who are kept in detention in Skopje and also the return of the bodies of victims. Some media report that the bodies of nine Kosovars killed in the Kumanovo fighting are expected to be handed over to Kosovo authorities today.

Jevtic praises Kosovo Police for Klina operation (Koha)

Kosovo Minister for Communities and Returns Dalibor Jevtic has praised the Kosovo Police operation in Klina which resulted in the arrest of eight persons suspected of being behind a number of incidents targeting Serb returnees. “This is very good news because it sends a clear message that no one who commits there acts of crime will go unpunished,” said Jevtic. Of the eight arrested persons, seven are Albanians and one from the Montenegrin community in Kosovo.

David Schwendiman appointed SITF lead prosecutor (dailies)

The US State Department announced the appointment of David Schwendiman as Lead Prosecutor to the European Union’s Special Investigative Task Force (SITF), which was established by the EU to conduct an independent criminal investigation into the war crimes and organized crime allegations contained in the Council of Europe report. Schwendiman previously served as an international prosecutor in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2006-2009. The appointment of Schwendiman demonstrates the United States’ continuing commitment to the SITF proceedings and to the rule of law in Kosovo.

Headlines - 21.05.2015

Kastrati: Armed Forces and special court should be voted on same day (Epoka)

The former commander of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), Kadri Kastrati, told the paper on Wednesday that Kosovo should not make any compromise on the establishment of the Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF). He said that Pristina should not accept the Serbian List’s conditions to create a separate Serb unit in northern Kosovo. Kastrati called on the Kosovo Assembly to vote on the constitutional amendments for KAF and the special court on the same day. “If the Assembly can pass the establishment of the special court, why not pass the Army of Kosovo as well. The Constitution cannot be changed every day,” Kastrati said. He also called on Serbian List MPs to vote in favor of the Armed Forces.

No agreement for resuming works in “Kroi i Vitakut” (Kosova Sot)

Although it was agreed that reconstruction of Albanian homes in the “Kroi i Vitakut” neighbourhood in the north would be able to resume after 20 May, there is no construction activity in the area. Albanian local residents said they are tired of waiting and while the Mitrovica Mayor Agim Bahtiri assured them that no one can deny them the legitimate right to rebuild their own houses, he agreed to have another meeting on Thursday with Mitrovica North Mayor Goran Rakic to discuss resolving the issue peacefully.

Enver Hasani hides behind immunity (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that, Enver Hasani, the President of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo, did not appear in the Basic Court of Pristina on Wednesday. An attorney delivered Hasani’s written note to the court saying that he has immunity from penal prosecution. As a result, the investigations against Hasani for the misuse of official duty have been suspended indefinitely. The paper notes that in order for the investigations to be resumed, Kosovo President Jahjaga will have to annul Hasani’s immunity and that the request needs to come from the Constitutional Court.