UNMIK Headlines 21 October
Thaci meets Peterle and Braathu, addresses people of Kosovo (media)
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, received on Friday the Head of the EU Observation Mission on the elections in Kosovo, Alojz Peterle, with whom he talked about the preparations for the local elections to be held in Kosovo this Sunday.
Thaci expressed his gratitude for the readiness of the EU to monitor the local elections, for which he expressed his conviction that they will be held in a democratic spirit.
“Kosovo has already proven that it knows how to organize free, fair and democratic elections, accepted by all political parties and the international community. We will prove this tradition again on Sunday,” Thaci said.
On the other hand, Head of the EU Observation Mission on the elections in Kosovo, Alojz Peterle, stressed that EU observers will be deployed throughout Kosovo to monitor the conduct of the local elections.
Thaçi also received on Friday Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Jan Braathu, with whom he talked about the organizing of the local elections.
He expressed appreciation to Ambassador Braathu for the support that the OSCE Mission has given to the CEC in organizing the elections.
“All the institutions of the country have undertaken all the measures to guarantee to every citizen of Kosovo the right to vote, free, fearless, on election day”, said President Thaçi.
The OSCE Head of Mission Braathu expressed readiness of the OSCE in organization of the elections.
“The OSCE will support the CEC in the organization of the elections throughout Kosovo, especially in the northern part of Kosovo”, declared Ambassador Braathu.
Thaçi said that Kosovo has built a good tradition in organizing the elections.
“Kosovo has proven to have built a good tradition in organizing fair, free and democratic elections. I believe that this good practice will be reconfirmed in Sunday’s elections, which will be held in our country”, said Thaci.
Addressing the people of Kosovo, Thaci said “your massive participation in these elections is not just a fulfillment of a democratic norm, but also an ideal opportunity to define and design the next four years of local governance.
This opportunity should be used by every citizen, in every municipality, throughout Kosovo. The opportunity to elect being free, in circumstances of peace through a democratic process, monitored by international friends, we have gained with a lot of sacrifices.
With the same commitment we must become part of decision-making, of municipal governance, of the improvement of the welfare and infrastructure of our cities and villages.
You can do this only if, on Sunday, you vote, becoming part of a free, fair and democratic process.
Despite the political convictions, we, as citizens, as a society, through these elections, need to strengthen the civic unity even more. Only united, we will be able to transform our society, cities and villages.”
Thaci to decree Serb judges and prosecutors on Tuesday (Lajmi)
The Office of the President of Kosovo, issued a press communique which informs that Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, will decree judges and prosecutors from non-majority communities on Tuesday, October 24, 2017.
“Their decree is one of the affirmative measures, that the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo undertake to achieve full and effective equality of community members in all areas of economic, social, political and cultural life.
With the swearing in act, the full implementation of the Justice Agreement reached in Brussels on February 10, 2015, is made,” reads the press release.
Haradinaj: 300 to 400 decisions within 100 days of governance (Lajmi)
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, said on Friday that the government intends to resolve issues which are directly related to lives of the people.
“Some weeks we have one and some others two meetings of the government. This means that within 100 days, we will have 300 or 400 decisions or actions of the government that concern the people of this country. Nevertheless, there is always space for analysis of these actions and I welcome them,” Haradinaj said.
Kosovo government allocates $ 100,000 for anti-ISIS coalition (Lajmi)
The Government of Kosovo, held on Friday its ninth regular meeting, wherein approved seven draft-laws and other decisions within constitutional and legal responsibilities.
“By means of a Decision approved today, Government of the Republic of Kosovo allocated fund amounting to US $ 100,000 (one hundred thousand US dollars) to anti-ISIS coalition. The Government of the Republic of Kosovo is also ready to support the initiative of returning expelled residents from their homes in Iraq and Syria, providing assistance in demining areas and humanitarian aid in housing, food, healthcare projects, energy and other needs,” informs the Office of the Prime Minister of Kosovo.
CEC to distribute ballots with RKS stamps in the north (Tribuna Channel)
Kosovo’s Central Election Commission (CEC), will distribute on Saturday ballots with Kosovo stamps in the municipalities with Serb majority. Head of CEC, Valdete Daka, said that sensitive election material will be distributed in the north at the same time as in other parts of Kosovo. Daka stressed the importance of the presence of international observers during the municipal elections.