Headlines - 26.10.2017

• Yee with clear message: Kosovo to conclude demarcation issue (Epoka)
• Assembly fails to adopt budget review (Zeri)
• Pacolli in Skopje seeks support for UNESCO membership (Zeri)
• Secretary General of the European External Service to visit Kosovo (RTK)
• AGK condemns MP Zeka’s statement against journalists (Koha)
• Gjetaj on missing persons: We expect Serbia’s cooperation (Lajmi)
• Kosovo Prosecutorial Council comes out in support of Lumezi (Kosovapress)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Yee with clear message: Kosovo to conclude demarcation issue (Epoka)

The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, responsible for European and Eurasian Affairs, Mr. Hoyt Brian Yee, confirmed during the separate meetings with Kosovo leaders the U.S. support for Kosovo. During his visit to Kosovo, Yee said that Kosovo’s European perspective is priority for the U.S. According to him, deepening of internal reforms in the field of the rule of law and promotion of economic development is the duty of Kosovo institutions. Yee has requested from Kosovo to conclude the issue of the demarcation of the border with Montenegro, which keeps hostage visa liberalization.

Assembly fails to adopt budget review (Zeri)

After lengthy debate on 2017 budget review, Kosovo Assembly did not manage to approve in the absence of required votes. The motion received 60 votes in favour from the ruling parties while opposition MPs did not vote at all. As a result, Assembly President Kadri Veseli postponed the session for today. Finance Minister, Bedri Hamza, who presented the review said it provides payment for KLA veterans, construction of Pristina-Skopje highway, as well as funds for the public broadcaster RTK. He added that the review was reached in discussion with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Vetevendosje said the budget review is that of “misery” while the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) accused the government of moving funds designated for healthcare insurance to pay for “inflated” lists of KLA veterans.

Pacolli in Skopje seeks support for UNESCO membership (Zeri)

In a visit to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli lobbied for the country’s support for Kosovo’s membership to UNESCO. FYROM Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov said his country would come out with a position on the matter when the time comes but it will take into account interests of Kosovo, Serbia, but above all of FYROM which also includes those of the Albanian community living there.

Secretary General of the European External Service to visit Kosovo (RTK)

Helga Schmid, Secretary General of the European External Service will be visiting today Kosovo. During her visit, Schmid will meet with political leaders, including President Hashim Thaci, President of the Assembly Kadri Veseli, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj as well as representatives Vetevendosje Movement and the Democratic League of Kosovo.

AGK condemns MP Zeka’s statement against journalists (Koha)

Association of Kosovo Journalists (AGK) has condemned the statement of NISMA MP, Milaim Zeka, for “public lynching” of journalists Adriatik Kelmendi and Vehbi Kajtazi during a speech at the Kosovo Assembly. AGK called on NISMA to distance itself from its MP’s actions thus showing it stands in support of free media and safe journalists. AGK also asked Kosovo Assembly President, Kadri Veseli, not to allow in the future such statements be delivered from the Assembly speaker’s stand.

Gjetaj on missing persons: We expect Serbia’s cooperation (Lajmi)

Head of the government commission for the missing persons in Kosovo, Prenk Gjetaj, said that Kosovo is the best in the region on implementing the law on the missing persons and added that he expects more cooperation from the Serbian side. During the conference “Process of exhumation and identification in Kosovo’s territory,” Gjetaj said that from 6,000 missing persons in 1999, 1,600 persons still remain missing. He also requested de-politization of the process of finding the missing persons. He said that no matter how much has been done on the issue of the missing persons, to the families waiting for their loved ones to be found, may appear that nothing has been done.

Kosovo Prosecutorial Council comes out in support of Lumezi (Kosovapress)

Kosovo’s Prosecutorial Council has come out in support of chief prosecutor Aleksander Lumezi, after he faced allegations of manipulating his bar examination. The prosecutorial council said allegations against Lumezi are an attempt to damage his image and the prosecutorial system in general and added that the authenticity of Lumezi’s certificate was never put into question.