Headlines 18 August
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s messages during Kosovo visit (media)
The main story in all media is the visit to Kosovo by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and his messages for Kosovo’s leaders. Under the headline U.S. in favour of demarcation and Association, against corruption, Koha Ditore quotes Vice President Biden as saying, “the [Kosovo] government must combat impunity and prevent accused or indicted officials from performing their public duties. Corruption is a cancer and this is true for every society. If you do not address corruption, Kosovo will not be able to move forward and achieve its potential”. Biden also called for the ratification of the border demarcation deal with Montenegro and for the formation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. Epoka e Re quotes Biden as saying that the U.S. will always be an advocate of Kosovo as the latter moves forward on its path toward the European Union. Zëri reports on the front page that Biden called on Kosovo’s leaders to resume talks with Serbia and to combat organised crime and corruption. Another front-page headline related to the U.S. Vice President’s visit reads Biden “slams” the government over corruption.
Çollaku: Let us work to conclude visa process this year (Epoka e Re)
Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Bekim Çollaku, informed that on 5 September Kosovo will be in the agenda of the Commission for Civic Rights, Justice and Internal Affairs at the European Parliament. He stressed that Kosovo is expecting the deserved and positive decision for visas. He told the paper that it for certain that the final decision on liberalization of visas will be made by the end of this year, if the agreement for the demarcation of the border with Montenegro is ratified and if the EU implements its obligation towards Kosovo. However, according to Çollaku, if the Assembly fails to ratify the demarcation agreement, the process could be postponed for an indefinite time.
Ymeri: Internationals don’t help Kosovo by praising the government (Telegrafi)
Vetëvendosje leader, Visar Ymeri, said in an interview for OraNews, that international officials cannot help Kosovo by praising the current government. Ymeri said the agreements on the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and the border demarcation with Montenegro “are dead” and that the current crisis will deteriorate if these deals are ratified.
“There is room for doubt over demarcation deal” (Koha)
Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MP, Arben Gashi, told KTV on Wednesday evening that Kosovo’s state committee on the border demarcation with Montenegro was not serious and did not prepare a previous study on the matter. “There is room for doubt that the process did not run its proper course. The doubt raised by certain professionals is reasonable … Based on what I have seen so far, something might be wrong with the [border] agreement,” Gashi added.
Serbian and Albanian governments to meet in Nis (media)
Citing sources close to the Serbian Government, Radio Free Europe reported on Wednesday that the governments of Serbia and Albania are expected to meet in Nis, Serbia, within a month. According to the source, Kosovo Albanian political representatives will also be present at the meeting. Further details have yet to be revealed but it is said that neither Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi nor Prime Minister Isa Mustafa are expected to attend the meeting.
Lumezi: We are investigating the employed from taping scandal (Kosova Sot)
Aleksandër Lumezi, Kosovo’s State Prosecutor, confirmed to the media on Wednesday that there are ongoing investigations into illegal employments and leaked wiretap conversations involving high-ranking members of the ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). Lumezi said the prosecution now has the transcripts of the conversations and that they are analyzing the material. He said that all the people mentioned for employment in different agencies or departments will be investigated and that if there is evidence that they were employed illegally, they will be brought to justice.
Prosecution asks for extended detention for Azem Syla (Zëri)
Prosecutor Danilo Ceccarelli asked the court panel on Wednesday to extend the detention of former Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP Azem Syla for another three months. The prosecutor argued that there is a risk that Syla could influence and intimidate witnesses and flee Kosovo. The court will decide on whether to extend the detention during the following days, being that there is a valid decision which leaves Syla in detention until 27 August. Syla is believed to have led an organised crime ring that allegedly deprived the state of public property worth around €30 million.