Headlines - 09.11.2016

• Thousands protest death of Vetevendosje activist in jail (media)
• Foreign ambassadors urge for transparency regarding Dehari’s death (Zeri)
• “Atdhe Arifi is being psychologically terrorised in detention” (media)
• EU with serious concerns for Kosovo (Koha)
• Veseli: Demarcation does not affect relations with Montenegro (Kosova Sot)
• Britain’s Foreign Secretary Johnson to visit Kosovo (RTK)
• Fol Movement publishes report on corruption (media)
• Kosovo’s Interpol bid suspended (dailies)
• PDK’s Lladrovci to run for Drenas/Glogovac mayor (Kosova Sot)

Thousands protest death of Vetevendosje activist in jail (media)

Most media report that thousands of Kosovo citizens marched in Pristina on Tuesday calling for the suspicious death in jail of Vetevendosje activist, Astrit Dehari, to be resolved. Koha Ditore reports on its front page that even before the final expertise report on Dehari’s death, Vetevendosje former leader Albin Kurti said Dehari was murdered and that an international team should conduct investigations into the case. Kosovo President Hashim Thaci sent a telegram to Dehari’s family expressing his condolences over the death of their son. A source close to the Dehari family told Pristina-based news website Periskopi that the family refused to accept the telegram.

Foreign ambassadors urge for transparency regarding Dehari’s death (Zeri)

The British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ruairi O’Connell, took to Facebook yesterday to extend his sympathy, and those of the British Government, to the family and friends of Vetevendosje activist, Astrit Dehari, who was found dead while in detention a few days ago. “We urge the Kosovo authorities to ensure that there is a speedy and transparent investigation into the circumstances of his death,” O’Connell wrote. Also the United States Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, said that deaths in custody are always troubling and that it was very important to get the facts. Delawie also welcomed the Ministry of Justice decision to include independent observes in the investigation.

“Atdhe Arifi is being psychologically terrorised in detention” (media)

Vetevendosje Movement, through a press release issued on Tuesday, said that it has received with concern the news that Vetevendosje activist, Atdhe Arifi, currently in the Detention Center in Lipjan, is being repeatedly psychologically terrorized by prison authorities. “Astrit Dehari’s death and psychological terrorization against Atdhe Arifi shows the systematic terror that is being installed in Kosovo to break the courage of young people to resist this government,” reads the statement. On the other hand, Kosovo’s Correctional Service expressed its deep concern over the statements and accusations made by Vetevendosje addressed to correctional officers at the Detention Centre in Lipjan. “There is no "terrorism" or misconduct by correctional officers towards the detainees. The Correctional Service has taken additional supervision measures for the safety of the detainees,” reads a press release issued by Kosovo’s Correctional Service.

EU with serious concerns for Kosovo (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that in its Progress Report on Kosovo, which will be published today, the European Commission has noted that Kosovo is still in the early phase of reforms and expresses serious concerns over political interference in public administration, politically-influenced appointments, the lack of accountability and responsibility in the judiciary and a limited number of investigations and sentences for high-level organised crime. The report also expresses concern over the decision on benefits for war veterans, which the Commission deems “financially unstable and damaging for Kosovo’s macroeconomic stability and its relations with international financial institutions”. Among the few praises, the report notes the decision to establish the Special Court which, according to the report, will address “international crimes”.

Veseli: Demarcation does not affect relations with Montenegro (Kosova Sot)

Kosovo Assembly President, Kadri Veseli, said in a meeting with Montenegrin Ambassador to Kosovo, Ferhat Dinosha, that although the border demarcation agreement has not yet been ratified by the Assembly of Kosovo, it does not affect good neighbourly relations with Montenegro.

Britain’s Foreign Secretary Johnson to visit Kosovo (RTK)

Kosovo’s Foreign Ministry has issued a statement announcing the visit of the British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to Kosovo on Thursday, 10 November.

Fol Movement publishes report on corruption (media)

Several media report that the Fol Movement [Speak Up] published on Tuesday a report titled “Scanning corruption”. According to 71 percent of respondents, corruption is present in government ministries. Around 63 percent of respondents said they believe there is high-level corruption in the Kosovo Assembly, the courts (63%) and in the prosecution (61%). 43 percent of the respondents said the best way to fight corruption is to change the central government. Epoka e Re quotes the Dutch Ambassador in Pristina, Gerrie Willems, said corruption is the second biggest problem in Kosovo after unemployment.

Kosovo’s Interpol bid suspended (dailies)

Interpol has suspended the application process for Palestinians, Kosovo and Solomon Islands and has appointed an adviser to make recommendations for the next admission to the police organization. The findings of the adviser will be presented at the next year’s Interpol General Assembly set to take place in Beijing, China.

PDK’s Lladrovci to run for Drenas/Glogovac mayor (Kosova Sot)

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has nominated Ramiz Lladrovci, currently ambassador to Albania, to run for the post of Drenas/Glogovac mayor in early mayoral elections that will take place on 4 December. Lladrovci’s counter candidate from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) will be Bedri Nika while other parties have not yet announced their candidates for the post.