Headlines - 22.09.2015

Constitutional Court gives green light to Special Court (Epoka)

The Constitutional Court has assessed as unacceptable the request of opposition parties to dismiss the Kosovo Assembly’s decision regarding amendment 24 for establishment of the special court. The constitutional decision notes that there was no violation of the procedures in order to send the constitutional amendments which open way to the establishment of the special court for a re-vote. The three opposition parties, the Vetevendosje Movement, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), and the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), reacted on Monday saying that the ruling of the Constitutional Court is not just and that it is scandalous. The paper also notes that the ruling will pave the way to the final process of the establishment of the special court.

Pajaziti: Opposition should avoid violent actions (Epoka)

Zenun Pajaziti, member of the leadership of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), appealed to the opposition parties of Kosovo to return to the debate at the Assembly and avoid actions that could lead to violence. Pajaziti told the paper on Monday that the three opposition parties “are roughening the civic mood”. According to Pajaziti, the government of Kosovo should be more active in informing the people with the content of the agreements with Serbia and the agreement for the demarcation of the border with Montenegro. He said that it is not beneficial to call the people for protests. Speaking about the request of the opposition for extraordinary elections, Pajaziti said that the current coalition is stable and that there is no need for new elections.

Serbian List representatives want Jablanovic’s dismissal (Koha)

Representatives of the Serbian List called on Monday for the immediate resignation of Serbian List leader Aleksandar Jablanovic from all his functions. The request was signed by three Serbian List representatives in the Kosovo government and nine out of the ten mayors of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo. The request notes that Jablanovic made arbitrary decisions during discussions for the formation of the Kosovo government and that he damaged the Serbian List by trying to secure a government position for himself. Jablanovic meanwhile told TV Most that the request for his dismissal was made as a result of pressure from Belgrade. “Representatives of the Serbian List called me on the phone and apologized for their actions saying that they were under pressure from Belgrade and Pristina,” he said.

Collaku in Brussels for visa liberalization (Zeri)

Kosovo’s Minister of European Integration, Bekim Collaku, has travelled to Brussels to discuss with EU officials the visa liberalization process for Kosovo as well as the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA). Collaku is set to meet the EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn.

Armed persons attack Vetevendosje activists (RTK)

The Vetevendosje Movement announced on Monday evening that five persons, two of which armed, attacked last night two Vetevendosje activists at the Movement’s premises in Pristina. Vetevendosje said it has identified two of the attackers who it claims are sons of the Sabit Geci, former KLA commander serving a prison sentence for war crimes. Police is reported to have arrested the two persons in question while the others fled the scene. Vetevendosje condemned the act calling it “planned” and “unacceptable”. Three persons were injured in the attack but are in a stable condition.

Government will monitor three potential terror groups (Koha)

The paper reports on page three that as part of the strategy against violent extremism and radicalism, the Kosovo government has planned to monitor all citizens who will be identified as violent or radical extremists. A list, containing specific 113 measures, has been prepared in order to prevent the extremists from becoming terrorists.