Headlines - 25.10.2017

• The U.S. welcome minorities’ integration in Kosovo’s judiciary (Lajmi)
• Tahiri: No decision of parallel structures will be recognised (Bota Sot)
• Hoyt Brian Yee to visit Kosovo today (RTK)
• Daka: Final election results will be published very soon (Koha)
• Montenegro moves border in Kosovo’s direction (Koha Ditore)
• Hoxha briefs Avramopoulos of Kosovo’s progress (Zeri)
• Pacolli to visit FYROM today (RTK)
• Berisha: KSF ready to transform into army (Epoka)
• “Lumezi’s bar examination has been manipulated” (Koha Ditore)

The U.S. welcome minorities’ integration in Kosovo’s judiciary (Lajmi)

The U.S. Embassy in Kosovo issued on Tuesday a press release hailing the decree of non-majority community judges and prosecutors.  “With today’s decree, Kosovo is advancing the integration of minority communities and expanding access to justice for all its citizens.  Judicial integration fulfills the February 2015 agreement in the EU-facilitated Normalization Dialogue with Serbia, and marks an important step forward in Kosovo’s efforts to deliver fully functioning rule of law institutions.  It is vital for Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic future that all of Kosovo’s citizens should benefit from and be subject to an equal, transparent, functional justice system.  The United States will continue to support these efforts to improve Kosovo’s rule of law system across the country,” reads the press release.

Tahiri: No decision of parallel structures will be recognised (Bota Sot)

While speaking to the members of the parliamentary committee on legislation about the justice agreement reached between Kosovo and Serbia, Abelard Tahiri, Minister of Justice, said that no decision taken by parallel structures will be recognised by Kosovo institutions. His response came as a reaction to Vetevendosje representative in the committee claiming there are documents which show that the justice agreement foresees Kosovo recognising all decisions of parallel courts in the north.

Hoyt Brian Yee to visit Kosovo today (RTK)

The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Hoyt Brian Yee will be visiting Kosovo today.  He will meet Kosovo leaders, representatives of the minorities and other political representatives. RTK reports that during his visit to Kosovo, Yee will meet with the President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci, President of the Assembly Kadri Veseli and Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj.

Montenegro moves border in Kosovo’s direction (Koha Ditore)

The paper reports on the front page that Montenegrin authorities have moved the border in the direction of Kosovo, as per the agreement on border demarcation despite the Kosovo side not having ratified it yet. Head of the Kosovo Government commission on border demarcation, Shpejtim Bulliqi, confirmed to the paper that Montenegro is exercising control over the territory which many in Kosovo dispute. He said however that the border agreement cannot be valid without the parliaments of both sides ratifying it. Similarly, international law professor Vigan Qorrolli stated that the border posts cannot be moved unilaterally and that the government of Kosovo should address this concern with Montenegro if it confirms that the move indeed took place.

Hoxha briefs Avramopoulos of Kosovo’s progress (Zeri)

Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Dhurata Hoxha, met yesterday in Brussels the EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, whom she informed of the progress in Kosovo’s integration path. Hoxha also reiterated the call for Kosovo to be treated equally as the rest of the Western Balkans region highlighting the importance of visa liberalisation for the people of Kosovo.

Daka: Final election results will be published very soon (Koha)

Valdete Daka, head of the Kosovo Central Election Commission (CEC), said on Tuesday that the CEC will commence preparations on Wednesday for the 19 November run-off elections. Daka said the priority of the CEC is the timely announcement of the final election results so that they can focus on preparations for the runoff elections. Daka also said that Sunday’s local elections were one of the best days for democracy in Kosovo. “As a young country, we have shown the world we can organize free and democratic elections in line with international standards,” she told reporters.

Pacolli to visit FYROM today (RTK)

Kosovo’s Principal Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Behxhet Pacolli, will visit today the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). He will meet with FYROM’s Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and President of the Assembly Talat Xhaferi.

Berisha: KSF ready to transform into army (Epoka)

Kosovo Security Force Minister, Rrustem Berisha, briefed on Tuesday the Kosovo Assembly’s Committee for Interior Affairs and Security, saying that the KSF has fulfilled its mandate and has achieved operational capacities. “This force is ready to transform into an army. The weapons and equipment are well planned by local and international experts,” Berisha told MPs.

 “Lumezi’s bar examination has been manipulated” (Koha Ditore)

The paper claims that based on an investigation done by its sister-outlet KTV, the bar examination of Kosovo’s chief prosecutor, Aleksander Lumezi, has been manipulated as it was alleged days ago by the now convicted former President of the Constitutional Court, Enver Hasani. The investigation showed that Lumezi’s name is written in three versions in three different documents and it is clear that in one instance his name is written over another.