Headlines - 06.09.2016

• LIBE does not give green light for visa liberalisation (Epoka/Koha)
• Bildt disappointed over Kosovo’s failure to ratify demarcation deal (Zëri)
• No new date for border demarcation bill (Kosova Sot/Bota Sot)
• Pope Francis meets Thaci and Mustafa (Koha)
• Schwendiman appointed prosecutor for war crimes in Kosovo (media)
• Actions underway for establishment of Association/Community (Koha)
• Molliqaj: We are being unjustly accused of terrorism (Epoka)

LIBE does not give green light for visa liberalisation (Epoka/Koha)

The EU Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) voted on Monday against the changes of Regulation 536/2001 which would allow Kosovo citizens to travel without visas in the Schengen zone. However, a positive step was achieved as the Committee supported the report of the European Union Rapporteur Tanja Fajon for liberalization of visas for Kosovo. Monday’s voting is a confirmation that the European Parliament will not move forward with the procedures for visa liberalization without fulfillment of the conditions by Pristina officials, respectively; ratification of the agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro and concrete proof on fighting organized crime and corruption. The Rapporteur for Kosovo at the European Parliament wrote on her Twitter account that this is good news for Kosovo. “Now I call on Pristina to deliver,” she wrote. Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Bekim Çollaku, said that Kosovo citizens deserve liberalization of visas. Koha Ditore reports on its front page that “the allies of LDK and PDK from the group of European Popular Parties (EPP) voted against negotiations for visa liberalisation for Kosovo”.

Bildt disappointed over Kosovo’s failure to ratify demarcation deal (Zëri)

Sweden’s former foreign minister Carl Bildt expressed disappointment over the failure of the Kosovo Assembly to ratify the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. “It’s a scandal that Kosovo hasn’t been able to ratify the border demarcation deal with Montenegro. Easy issue,” wrote Bildt on his Twitter account.

No new date for border demarcation bill (Kosova Sot/Bota Sot)

Kosova Sot writes that it is not known when the government of Kosovo will resubmit to the Assembly the draft bill on ratification of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. Kosovo’s government spokesperson Faton Abdullahu said that the government is presently focusing on harmonizing the stances within the ruling coalitions and will then move to discussions with other political entities. At the same time, Vetëvendosje has called for the dismissal of the government’s commission on border demarcation. MP Shqipe Pantina is quoted in Bota Sot as saying that the commission has lost its legitimacy to tackle the issue any further.

Pope Francis meets Thaci and Mustafa (Koha)

The paper reports on page three that Pope Francis held separate meetings on Monday with Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and Prime Minister Isa Mustafa. “During a private audience, we talked about Kosovo’s role for peace in the Balkans and the role of Saint Theresa for peace in the world. The Holy Father informed me about his plans to visit Kosovo and to recognise the reality in the Balkans,” President Thaci posted on Facebook. The Office of the Prime Minister of Kosovo issued a press release saying that Prime Minister Mustafa thanked the Holy Father for his and the Holy See’s continuous support for Kosovo and its people.

Schwendiman appointed prosecutor for war crimes in Kosovo (media)

Several media report that David Schwendiman has been appointed Special Prosecutor (Chief Prosecutor) of the recently established Special Prosecutors Office (SPO) that will investigate war crimes committed during the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo. Following the appointment, Schwendiman said he welcomes the step “that will strengthen Kosovo’s institutions to reach the highest international standards”. “The transition from the Special Investigations Task Force to the SPO is natural. The Special Prosecutor and the SPO will continue to work on investigations initiated by the SITF and we will continue preparations for the next phase of our work. I will meet people and media in the region in the coming weeks and months,” Schwendiman said.

Actions underway for establishment of Association/Community (Koha)

The paper reports on page three that the Kosovo Ministry of Local Government has completed the team that will work on the statute of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. However, Kosovo’s Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, said there will be no activities with regards to the Association until the agreement on the telephone code for Kosovo and the agreement on the independence of the transmission network (KOSTT) are implemented. Belgrade representatives meanwhile have said they will assess the text of the draft statute of the Association “to see if it is in line with the agreement reached through EU mediation”. Belgrade officials said they will rely on the Brussels agreement and not on the ruling of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo, which found violations in all chapters of the August 25 agreement.

Molliqaj: We are being unjustly accused of terrorism (Epoka)

Dardan Molliqaj, the organizational secretary of the Vetevendosje Movement, said on Monday that the Prosecution and the Police want to relate Vetevendosje with terrorism without any proof. According to him, this is being done “so that they can have complete access to our communications”. He added that in order to unjustly accuse Vetevendosje activists and to call them terrorists, the police held two press conferences, issued several press releases and exposed arms which do not belong to the activists.