Headlines - 29.05.2018

• Haradinaj: Decan-Plave roadworks carried out on existing road (Zeri)
• Construction on Decan-Plave road, 5 km away from Monastery zone (Koha)
• Apostolova: Kosovo needs reforms on implementation of laws (Epoka e Re)
• Thaci travels to Austria, set to meet Chancellor Kurz (Zeri)
• Hoti: Constitutional rearrangements, unacceptable (Bota Sot)
• COMKFOR: We didn’t react to Djuric’s arrest, it was a political matter (RTK)
• KSF: Attacks on our Serb community members, criminal acts (RTK)
• Excavations underway in three possible mass grave sites (Zeri)
• KSF, key failure in implementation of Stabilization/Association Agreement (Koha)
• Kosovo and Montenegro agree to remove border tax (Epoka)
• Pristina to host conference on violence against women (RTK)

Haradinaj: Decan-Plave roadworks carried out on existing road (Zeri)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, said in a Facebook post yesterday that there is misinformation about construction on one of the roads in Decan municipality. Haradinaj called on foreign diplomats in Kosovo to go to the site, see the situation up-close as confirm that reconstruction is being done on an existing road. “The people of Kosovo have always lived in harmony with minority communities, by respecting the religious and cultural heritage of all without any differences. The Kosovo government is obliged to repair and manage roads throughout the territory of Kosovo”. At the same time, Minister of Infrastructure Pal Lekaj dispelled reports that the construction works are taking place within the Special Protective Zones. He said the road project is intended to facilitate free movement and help the local residents.

Construction on Decan-Plave road, 5 km away from Monastery zone (Koha)

The paper reports in one of its front-page stories that construction on the Decan-Plave road is ongoing five kilometers away from the special zone of Decan Monastery. Despite opposition from the Serb Orthodox Church and the support given to it by international officials, the construction has not stopped. One of the workers of the construction company told the paper on Monday that they are opening the road and that they were suggested to stay at least five kilometers away from the Monastery’s zone. Meanwhile, Decan Mayor Bashkim Ramosaj too said the construction has not stopped since the inauguration ceremony on April 24. Ramosaj however also said that there have been tensions and reactions.

Apostolova: Kosovo needs reforms on implementation of laws (Epoka e Re)

Head of the EU Office in Pristina, Nataliya Apostolova, said during the “European Reform Agenda” roundtable, that it is important for Kosovo to continue with work on legal field while working on fulfillment of the criteria for visa liberalisation. “We have raised voice that we want to have good administration, with the right people. It is important that together we make efforts for Kosovo to implement most of the ERA project in September this year,” she said. “Kosovo should focus on its work and implement ERA agreement. Kosovo’s process towards EU depends on the process of implementation of Stabilisation Association Agreement. Many issues have been fulfilled however we should remain motivated to continue with work,” Apostolova said. She congratulated Kosovo on the endorsement of laws and added that now they must be implemented.

Thaci travels to Austria, set to meet Chancellor Kurz (Zeri)

President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, is expected to meet in Vienna today the Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and will later take part in the promotion of his biography at the Vienna Diplomatic Academy. Participants in the event will also include the former UN envoy for Kosovo status, Albert Rohan, and former EU envoy for the Balkans, Wolfgang Petritsch.

Hoti: Constitutional rearrangements, unacceptable (Bota Sot)

Head of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) parliamentary group, Avdullah Hoti, said that the Ahtisaari plan is the “most sublime” compromise the Kosovo side has made for peace in the region. “Any agreement with Serbia that undermines this achievement and the functionality of the Republic by making constitutional rearrangements, will be unacceptable,” Hoti wrote in a Facebook post.

COMKFOR: We didn’t react to Djuric’s arrest, it was a political matter (RTK)

KFOR Commander Salvatore Couchi told Belgrade daily Jedinstvo that NATO’s peace keeping mission will be staying in Kosovo as long as it is required and added that no reduction of the international presence is planned for now. He explained that KFOR does not interfere in political matters, therefore it did not intervene on the case of Marko Djuric’s arrest and it does not deal with Oliver Ivanovic’s murder. Couchi said NATO supports continuance of the dialogue between Prsitina and Belgrade with EU’s mediation, saying that this is crucial for peace and security in the region.

KSF: Attacks on our Serb community members, criminal acts (RTK)

Kosovo’s Ministry for Security Force, has reacted against the attacks of KSF members of Serb community in the North. “On Friday evening and Saturday morning, there were attacks with Molotov cocktail in northern part of Kosovo (which set vehicles on fire) of the families of the members of Serb community who are KSF members. These criminal acts are committed intentionally to scare KSF members, by Serb criminal and nationalist circles in the northern part, who express hatred and disagreement toward integration, development of democracy and consolidation of Kosovo state,” is stressed in the press release.

Excavations underway in three possible mass grave sites (Zeri)

The paper reports that with the weather conditions improved, excavations have begun on three possible mass grave sites in Kosovo. Head of the Kosovo Government’s Missing Persons Commission, Prenk Gjetaj, said the excavations on these three sites began last year but had to be suspended due to bad weather. He also called on the international community to put more pressure on the Serbian side to be more constructive on the issue of missing persons and cooperate on setting the dates for excavations into possible mass graves inside the territory of Serbia.

KSF, key failure in implementation of Stabilization/Association Agreement (Koha)

Citing a government report on the implementation of the Stabilization/Association Agreement, the paper reports on its front page that the delay in promoting the mandate of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) is considered the key failure of Kosovo’s institutions in implementing the SAA. The government report was adopted last week and the paper claims to possess a copy. A part of the report, which focuses on the civil oversight of the KSF, notes that institutions have carried out only 2 out of the foreseen 11 measures. The paper further notes that the program contains a total of 967 measures and the level of implementation is only at 62 percent so far.

Kosovo and Montenegro agree to remove border tax (Epoka)

Kosovo’s Minister of Infrastructure, Pal Lekaj, hosted on Monday a meeting with Montenegro’s Minister for Maritime Affairs, Osman Nurkovic. They discussed a range of issues and cooperation projects of road, air and railway infrastructure. “Among other issues we discussed possibility of removal of border tax between Kosovo and Montenegro, because we identified this as a barrier which impedes businesses and I hope that this will happen very soon, as we have the support of both Prime Ministers on this matter,” Said Minister Nurkovic.

Pristina to host conference on violence against women (RTK)

A conference titled “Justice for murdered women as a result of domestic violence” will take place at the National Library of Kosovo today as part of the regional FemArt festival taking place from 25 to 30 May in Kosovo.