Headlines - 19.10.2017

• President Thaci complains to Quint over swearing-in of judges (Kosova Sot)
• Vetevendosje and RTK officials clash of broadcaster’s role (Koha Ditore)
• Tahiri pledges Kosovo government’s support for Presevo Valley (Koha)
• Former head of border commission suspected of “parallel activity” (Koha)
• OSCE seeks reconstruction of social housing in Plemetin (Koha)

Kosovo Media Highlights

President Thaci complains to Quint over swearing-in of judges (Kosova Sot)

In a meeting with representatives of Quint countries, President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, expressed his discontent over the failed swearing-in ceremony for judges and prosecutors set to work in the north’s court. Thaci is reported to have attributed the failure to the EU but also to Serbia for, as he said, not allowing the Serb judges and prosecutors to attend the swearing-in ceremony in Pristina.

Vetevendosje and RTK officials clash of broadcaster’s role (Koha Ditore)

The meeting of the Kosovo Assembly’s committee on media which was called to discuss the annual report of the public broadcaster RTK was overshadowed by a fierce debate between the Vetevendosje representatives and RTK management with the former accusing the broadcaster of abusing public money while the latter complaining over the lack of funds. The report was nevertheless sent to the Assembly for approval.

Tahiri pledges Kosovo government’s support for Presevo Valley (Koha)

Kosovo’s Minister of Justice, Abelard Tahiri, said in a visit to the municipality of Bujanovac/Bujanovc that the government of Kosovo stands ready to increase coopearion with Presevo Valley municipalities, in particular in fields relating to the wellbeing of the residents of this area. Tahiri also said the government of Kosovo will adopt a more active approach to Presevo Valley by undertaking concrete measures.

Former head of border commission suspected of “parallel activity” (Koha)

Former chairperson of the Kosovo government’s commission on border demarcation with Montenegro, Murat Meha, is suspected of undertaking “parallel actions” with regards to demarcation process in his present capacity as head of the Kosovo Cadastral Agency, the paper reports on the front page. The new chair of the commission, Shpejtim Bulliqi, has asked the government of Kosovo not to allow the cadastral agency to carry out “parallel actions” which hinder the work of the border commission without specifying what these actions entail. Meha responded to the request by saying it was “tendentious” and “threatening” and that the agency he leads has nothing to do with the work of the border demarcation commission.

OSCE seeks reconstruction of social housing in Plemetin (Koha)

The OSCE mission in Kosovo held a conference yesterday seeking to find a solution to the difficult conditions in which residents of the social housing in the village of Plemetin, Obiliq/Obilic, are currently living. Head of OSCE, Jan Braathu, said although the municipality is responsible to address the issue, it has not enough funds to do so and therefore the assistance of other institutions and embassies in Kosovo is necessary to first reconstruct the roof of the building as a short-term measure and then find a more permanent solution.