Headlines - 17.09.2015

Mustafa fears facing MPs on agreements with Serbia (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa has refused a debate with members of the Kosovo Assembly on the four latest agreements with Serbia. The debate was scheduled for today but Mustafa asked the Assembly to postpone the debate. An unnamed source told the paper that Mustafa wrote to the Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli, on Tuesday, saying that the debate should be postponed as several members of his government are in official visits abroad. “This was a formal justification, because the real reason is the absence of Deputy Prime Minister Thaci. The Prime Minister doesn’t want to shoulder all the responsibility of reporting [on the agreements] but rather prefers sharing it with the main party in the government,” the source said.

Jahjaga: I didn’t influence breakup of opposition bloc in 2014 (RTK)

Kosovo’s President, Atifete Jahjaga, posted on her Facebook account on Wednesday, denying a statement made by Deputy Prime Minister Kujtim Shala who claimed that it was Jahjaga who influenced the dissolution of the opposition bloc in 2014. “The statement of Deputy Prime Minister Kujtim Shala that during the stalemate in 2014, that the President had a say on which parties would lead the current government, are absolutely not true. The ruling coalition parties create the government. Parties should take responsibility for their actions and not to include the President and international partners in their internal political debates,” Jahjaga wrote.

O’Connell: Energies to be focused on real problems, not demarcation (Koha)

In the second part of an interview for the paper, the British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ruairi O’Connell, is quoted as saying that Kosovo should focus on its real problems and not waste energies on the border demarcation with Montenegro. O’Connell highlighted the major problems of corruption, the rule of law and economic development. He also commented on the Kosovo Assembly’s decision to pave way to the formation of the special court. He said this was the first time that Kosovo’s leadership proved it was ready to face war crimes allegations from the past.

Tahiri seeks reward from Brussels (dailies)

Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio, Edita Tahiri accused the government of Serbia for failing to implement the Brussels agreements and for financing the parallel structures. Tahiri also called on the European Union to reward Kosovo for its constructiveness in the Pristina – Belgrade talks. She also said that the EU should decide as soon as possible to sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Kosovo and to grant visa liberalization for the people of Kosovo. Tahiri made these remarks during an international conference in Budva, Montenegro.

Government adopts anti-radicalism strategy (Zeri)

Kosovo's government yesterday approved the Strategy to prevent violent extremism and radicalism that lead to terrorism for the period 2015 - 2020. According to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, with this strategy, the law that prevents participation in foreign wars, application for membership in INTERPOL and request for cooperation with EUROPOL, Kosovo will become a member of the Alliance against extremism and terrorism.

KSF to transform into army without constitutional changes (Epoka e Re)

The government of Kosovo has chosen a new way to transform Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into an army. Being that the Serbian List is not accepting the constitutional changes, where votes of the minorities are required, PM Mustafa has requested from the Ministers to seek other modalities that would enable establishment of the army. The Tirana-based Top Channel reportedly learned from a senior government official that a new plan has already been drafted, and KSF will be transformed by changing only the Law on Kosovo Security Force.

O’Connell: Implement the agreements reached in Brussels (Epoka e Re)

The United Kingdom Ambassador in Kosovo, Ruairi O’Connell, said during his lecture “UK’s Foreign Policy towards Kosovo” held at “Fama” university, that dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade is very important for further development of Kosovo and the region, and appealed on implementation of the reached agreements. He added that Kosovo should be a sustainable and functional state lead by the rule of law. “Organized crime, corruption, illegal migration, radicalism, danger for regional conflict are the priority issues that the Great Britain is interested on. This means that the Great Britain and Kosovo have joint interests to resolve these problems as soon as possible,” O’Connell said.

“Association/Community limits Kosovo’s sovereignty” (Zeri)

The former Prime Minister of Albania, Pandeli Majko, told the paper on Wednesday that the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities is an experiment that produces a limited sovereignty in one part of the territory of Kosovo. Majko also said that it was only a matter of time before Kosovo forms its Armed Forces. He also spoke about economic barriers between Kosovo and Albania, the Kumanovo incident and visa liberalization for Kosovo.

Ibrahimi admits there is crime within the judiciary (Koha)

In an interview for the paper, the President of the Basic Court in Pristina, Hamdi Ibrahimi, says that organized crime is linked to the judicial and prosecutorial system of Kosovo. He warns that if quick and thorough reforms are not implemented, a mafia system can be installed within the justice system.

Association of Albanian municipalities does not pass (Epoka e Re)

The opposition parties PVD-PDSH in Bujanovac, proposed at the municipal assembly endorsement of the decision for Bujanovc to be part of the association of the municipalities with Albanian majority in Serbia. However, majority of municipal advisers rejected the proposal, after which the opposition left the session. Shaip Kamberi from PVD said that Jonuz Musliu has rejected association of Albanian municipalities which he has created himself last week. Musliu on the other hand accused Albanian opposition saying that they are doing Serbia’s job.