Headlines - 24.11.2016

• Mustafa says Kosovo budget goes above party interests (Kosova Sot)
• Agreement on cooperation against extremism (Epoka e Re)
• Kosovo to present only progress in SAA implementation (Koha Ditore)
• Veseli: Election reform should conclude by December (Epoka e Re)
• Serbian List not to rejoin institutions without Association/Community (Zeri)
• Government gives up on plans to pass anti-mafia law (Koha Ditore)
• Local prosecution continues investigation regarding Dehari case (Zeri)
• Selimi: New investigation into Dehari’s death (Epoka e Re)
• Prizren prison inmates demand reinstatement of director (Koha) 

Kosovo Media Highlights 

Mustafa says Kosovo budget goes above party interests (Kosova Sot)

In a Facebook post, Prime Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa said that the 2017 budget does not belong to any particular party but is of Kosovo. He commended the parliamentary commission for its work in pushing forward the process of adopting the new budget stressing that “the ruling coalition is strong and works for the long-term interests of Kosovo.” 

Agreement on cooperation against extremism (Epoka e Re)

Office of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, the Embassy of the United States and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), signed on Wednesday an agreement which offers the "general framework for cooperation on implementing a project on the basic evaluation of the foreign fighters who come to or are linked with Kosovo." The project will work to prevent violent radicalism in prisons or communities, hold activities on de-radicalization and reintegration, and develop a strategy in the fight against violent extremism in Kosovo, according to a statement. 

Kosovo to present only progress in SAA implementation (Koha Ditore)

In the first meeting of the Stabilisation and Association Council, the government of Kosovo is expected to present a document containing only the successes and none of the setbacks in  implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with European Union, the paper reports on the front page. The document fails to address any of the concerns raised in periodic reports on SAA implementation and speaks of the commitment of Kosovo institutions to continue reforms and step up political dialogue with the EU. It also calls on the EU to find an alternative for visa liberalisation that would enable the people of Kosovo to travel freely to Europe as soon as possible.

Veseli: Election reform should conclude by December (Epoka e Re)

Kosovo Assembly President Kadri Veseli, considers that the open discussions for the election reform, opened by President Hashim Thaçi, should conclude by December.He expressed hope that the opposition parties would not lose the opportunity to be part of the process. In an interview for the paper, Veseli gave several proposals on how to advance the election process through reform. Speaking about the elections in Drenas/Glogovac, Veseli said that the Democratic Party of Kosovo will continue with the tradition of convincing victories and good governance. “Drenica is hurt by the extraordinary elections, but citizens will speak clearly on 4 December,” Veseli said. 

Serbian List not to rejoin institutions without Association/Community (Zeri)

The leader of the Serbian List, Slavko Simic, told the paper on Wednesday that his party expects the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities after the implementation of the agreement on telecom.  “We want the political leaders who signed the Brussels agreements to initiate the establishment of the Association after the implementation of the agreement on telecom,” Simic said.  He said that Serb political representatives must work together with the government to create the Association and to normalize the institutional life. Meanwhile, according to him, until these conditions are met, there is no point for them to return to the Assembly. 

Government gives up on plans to pass anti-mafia law (Koha Ditore)

The government of Kosovo has given up on efforts to adopt an anti-mafia law whereby illegally-obtained assets could be confiscated without a court decision. The working group that prepared the draft law during a two-year period submitted it to the government most recently, but the government in turn decided to set up another working group which concluded that Kosovo in fact needs no such legislation. Instead, the new group considers that the legal provisions for confiscation of assets should be part of the Penal Procedure Code and the law on broadened competencies for illegally-obtained assets. Legal experts at the same time believe that this is just another attempt by the government to delay the process and that it shows there is no readiness on its part to fight corruption and organised crime.

Local prosecution continues investigation regarding Dehari case (Zeri)

The chief prosecutor of Prizren, Syle Hoxha, said on Wednesday that a local prosecutor is continuing the investigation of the death of Vetevendosje activist Astrit Dehari, despite the disapproval from Dehari’s family and the refusal of Metropolitan Police Service to get involved in the case. “For such investigations we rely only on the law,” Hoxha said. 

Selimi: New investigation into Dehari’s death (Epoka e Re)

Kosovo Assembly MP from Vetëvendosje movement, Rexhep Selimi, said in an interview for the paper that only an investigation from scratch could bring a just and independent conclusion for the case of Astrit Dehari’s death. He said that this government cannot guarantee such investigation because according to him, it is responsible for Dehari’s death. Selimi assessed that dismissal of the officials of the Prizren Detention Center is insufficient and delayed. He considers that justice should be manifested by resignation of the Minister of Justice and Minister of Internal Affairs. 

Prizren prison inmates demand reinstatement of director (Koha)

The Kosovo-based Council for Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) announced that the inmates of Prizren prison have entered a hunger strike yesterday, demanding the reinstatement of the facility’s director, suspended for “procedural negligence” in handling the death of Vetevendosje activist, Astrit Dehari. The inmates also demand the return to work of three other correctional service staff, suspended for the same case.