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UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, March 24

  • Government restricts movements of private vehicles and citizens (media) Thaci opposes government decision, calls it anti-constitutional (media)
  • Mustafa: Government decision, anti-constitutional (Koha)
  • Haradinaj: Govt decision, a flagrant violation (media) Nagavci: Citizens to submit to government’s decisions (T7, RTK)
  • Abazi: Government’s decision in accordance with the Constitution (RTK)
  • Merkel hails lifting of the tariff (RTK)
  • Assembly chairmanship to decide today on non-confidence motion session (Express)
  • Kurti’s government to establish reciprocity measures towards Serbia on April 1 (media)
  • 21 new cases of coronavirus confirmed (media) Albanian reporters assaulted in Mitrovica North (media)
    Government restricts movements of private vehicles and citizens (media) All media report that the Kosovo Government decided on Monday evening as part of new measures for combating the coronavirus to limit the movements of private vehicles and citizens. The measures will reportedly place more stringent restrictions on both public and private gatherings and prohibit the movement of private vehicles and citizens between 10:00 and 16:00, and again between 20:00 and 06:00.  Exceptions will be made for those with medical needs, those producing, supplying or selling essential goods, as well as essential government and municipal personnel, among others. Thaci opposes government decision, calls it anti-constitutional (media) All media report that Kosovo President Hashim Thaci told a press conference on Monday evening that the government decision restricting the movement is citizens "is dangerous for Kosovo and its people". He said the decision constitutes a violation of the Constitution and that the people are not obliged to respect the decision. He said law enforcement authorities must not implement what he calls the anti-constitutional decision otherwise they would be committing a criminal offence. "Limitations on the rights and freedoms of the citizens can be introduced only when a state of emergency is declared," Thaci said. He also said he would ask on Tuesday morning the Constitutional Court to declare the government decision null and void. Mustafa: Government decision, anti-constitutional (Koha) Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader Isa Mustafa said on Monday that the government's restrictions on the movement of citizens, as part of measures against the coronavirus, is anti-constitutional. Mustafa said in a Facebook post that only the Assembly can make such a decision and with 2/3 of votes, and not the government. Mustafa said the government must review its decision and address the Assembly. Haradinaj: Govt decision, a flagrant violation (media) Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) leader Ramush Haradinaj said on Monday that the government's decision to restrict the movement of citizens is a flagrant violation of the Constitution of Kosovo. Haradinaj said in a Facebook post that such tendencies to take advantage of crisis are actions of dictatorships. Nagavci: Citizens to submit to government’s decisions (T7, RTK) Deputy President of the Assembly of Kosovo from Vetevendosje Movement Arberie Nagavci said Kosovo government decisions to restrict movements of the citizens are in line with recommendations of health care authorities in the war against COVID-19. She considers that President Hashim Thaci’s decision to send this decision to the Constitutional Court and his appeal to the citizens for ‘disobedience’ to be unfair and a tendency to ‘rescue himself. “The President is capable of risking everything only for himself,” she told T7 broadcaster. Nagavci does not expect problems to arise on Tuesday for citizens who will not know if they should submit to the government or the president who said ‘no one will be punished as the decision of Kurti’s government is unconstitutional. Abazi: Government’s decision in accordance with the Constitution (RTK) Principal Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo Haki Abazi has justified the measures of the Government of Kosovo to stop the movement of citizens. He said that decision of the Government to restrict freedom of movement is in accordance with the Constitution. “Article 55, par. 1 of the Constitution allows for the restriction of human rights in accordance with the law. The restriction of freedom of movement in our decision is based on the Law on Prevention and Fight against Infectious Diseases, Article 41.2, which allows "the prohibition of movement in infected or directly endangered areas," Abazi said. He has mentioned Article 55 which authorizes the restriction of freedom of movement. "In addition to Article 55, paragraph 1, the restriction of freedom of movement in the present case also fulfills the other criteria of Article 55: In the assessment of the NIPHK, this restriction is indispensable for the fulfillment of a legitimate aim of health public protection.  According to this assessment by the NIPHK, the spread of the virus cannot be prevented efficiently, without imposing these restrictions. Therefore, the restriction of freedom of movement in today's decision is in accordance with the Constitution," Abazi said. Merkel hails lifting of the tariff (RTK) The Office of the Prime Minister informed about the details of the video conference between the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Albin Kurti. The press release informs that they exchanged opinions on close bilateral relations, Kosovo’s approximation of reforms with the EU, as well as the situation in the region. Chancellor Merkel offered to PM Kurti support in the war against corruption and wide and ambitious reform program in Kosovo. Within this context, Merkel offered specific advise of German experts, informs the joint press release. They also discussed the war against coronavirus and Chancellor Merkel promised to consider support to Kosovo on dealing with this crisis. They also discussed EU dialogue for normalization of the relations between Kosovo and Serbia, as well as the tariff on the goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina imposed in 2018 by Haradinaj’s government. Chancellor Merkel welcomed Prime Minister Kurti’s proposal for complete abolition of the tariff after 1 April,  following the abolition of the raw material tariff, last week. She also supported a dialogue led by the EU, which should aim lifting of all trade, non-tariff obstacles between Serbia and Kosovo. Chancellor Merkel and Pm Kurti expressed their conviction that there should be no obstacles in the relations between Kosovo and Serbia, and that they support resumption of the dialogue for normalization of the relations between Kosovo and Serbia. The aim of this process remains reach of a legally binding agreement which ensures complete normalization of the relations and which serves to the populations of both states, concludes the press release. Assembly chairmanship to decide today on non-confidence motion session (Express) The Chairmanship of the Assembly of Kosovo has announced that they will meet today at 14:00 hours. The motion of no confidence in the Government of Kosovo, proposed by the parliamentary group of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), supported by 44 MPs, will be on the agenda. Kurti’s government to establish reciprocity measures towards Serbia on April 1 (media) Perparim Kryeziu, spokesperson of government of Kosovo said the new decision of the government to impose reciprocity measures from 1 April, is within the principal of reciprocity, which is an essential principal upon which relations between states are built. “Reciprocity is foreseen to be established, despite Serbia's pledges to ban or not the unrecognition campaign. The Government of the Republic of Kosovo does not see reciprocity as a countervailing or retaliatory measure, but as a principle of sound and constructive bilateral relations,” Kryeziu said. The move reverses the plan announced by Prime Minister Albin Kurti on February 27, in which he proposed a gradual and conditional lifting of tariffs on Serbia. He invited Serbia to pledge to cease its campaign for recognition of Kosovo's independence in response to the Kosovar party's decision to abolish the raw material tariff, and to begin removing non-tariff trade barriers to Kosovo. 21 new cases of coronavirus confirmed (media) Kosovo's National Institute for Public Health said in a statement on Monday evening that there are 21 new cases of coronavirus. All new cases had contacts with previously confirmed cases. The total number of cases is now 61. Albanian reporters assaulted in Mitrovica North (media) All media report that a team of reporters from Pristina-based Gazeta Blic were assaulted in Mitrovica North on Monday. The Association of Journalists has issued a statement condemning the attack and called on law enforcement authorities to resolve the case as soon as possible. The team of reporters came under assault by two persons as they were doing a story about the situation in Mitrovica North after the coronavirus.