Headlines - 15.01.2018

• A decisive week for the special court? (media)
• Assembly committee to discuss demarcation deal today (media)
• Limaj: We’ll ratify a demarcation deal that is acceptable to all (media)
• Beqiri: Vote in favor of demarcation, we don’t support court revocation (media)
• Kosovo delegation to travel to Brussels tomorrow (media)
• S. State Department warns of possible terror attacks in Kosovo (media)
• Court extends Azem Syla’s detention (media)
• Former PM Mustafa to travel to Germany for medical treatment (media)
• Trepca mining complex board to be appointed this month (media)

A decisive week for the special court? (media)

Koha Ditore reports that “the alarm for revoking the special court will remain on this week amid efforts to revive the initiative aimed at blocking the special court”. The meeting of the Kosovo Assembly Presidency, which was scheduled for today and which was supposed to discuss this issue, has been postponed to Wednesday at 11:00. The paper further notes that the agenda of the meeting, which has now been removed, included among other points the draft law for revoking the law on the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor and the request of KLA War Veterans for an extraordinary assembly session to amend the law on the Specialist Chambers. In a different article related to the same issue, the paper reports that two out of 43 MPs have backed down from the initiative to revoke the special court. Under the front-page headline A decisive week for the special court, Zeri quotes political analysts as saying that the meeting of the assembly presidency on Wednesday will confirm that the initiative aimed at blocking the special court has failed.

Assembly committee to discuss demarcation deal today (media)

Most online media report that the Kosovo Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee will meet today at 9:30 to discuss the draft law on the ratification of the border demarcation agreement between Kosovo and Montenegro.

Limaj: We’ll ratify a demarcation deal that is acceptable to all (media)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Fatmir Limaj, said that the border demarcation deal with Montenegro will be concluded this month. “We are working on a version that will be applauded by all when it reaches the Kosovo Assembly. It will be applauded by our citizens and our friends and we will conclude this matter. We are working on this issue by respecting the interests of both countries. I assure you that none of the two countries will lose anything from this agreement,” Limaj told Tribuna Channel.

Beqiri: Vote in favor of demarcation, we don’t support revocation of court (media)

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has not changed its positions on the border demarcation deal with Montenegro or on the special court that will address war crimes allegations. LDK Secretary General, Ismet Beqiri, told Pristina-based Indeksonline that no LDK MP supports the initiative for revoking the special court. Beqiri also said that LDK MPs will vote in favor of the border demarcation deal with Montenegro.

Kosovo delegation to travel to Brussels tomorrow (media)

Several online media report that a Kosovo delegation consisting of Avni Arifi, Ardian Arifaj, Blerand Stavileci and two advisors, will travel to Brussels tomorrow. The meeting between the delegations from Pristina and Belgrade will be held on 16-18 January. At the meeting, the delegations will reportedly receive instructions from Brussels officials on the agreements reached so far in the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue and the parties will talk about the implementation of agreements. Serbian media meanwhile have reported that the key topic of discussion will be the formation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities.

U.S. State Department warns of possible terror attacks in Kosovo (media)

The US State Department has warned the US citizens who are planning to visit Kosovo, in particular the northern part - North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zubin Potok, and Zvecan - that there might be civil unrest, the US Embassy in Kosovo announced, TV channels and dailies report. “Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in the Balkans region, including Kosovo,” the State Department warned. “Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas.  In addition, politically motivated violence occurs throughout Kosovo. If you decide to travel to Kosovo avoid demonstrations, stay alert in locations frequented by Westerners, monitor local media for breaking events. Tensions within and between communities in northern Kosovo continue to provoke violence, demonstrations, and other unrest in North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zubin Potok, and Zvecan. Although recent unrest has been politically-related and does not involve tourists or members of the international community, bystanders can be affected if violent incidents occur.”

Court extends Azem Syla’s detention (media)

Most media report that the Basic Court of Pristina has extended the pre-trial detention measure for former Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP and former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Azem Syla for another one month. Syla’s attorney confirmed the decision, calling it unlawful. Syla and 39 people are charged by the Special Prosecution Office of Kosovo in the case known as the "Land".

Former PM Mustafa to travel to Germany for medical treatment (media)

Kosovo’s former Prime Minister and Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader, Isa Mustafa, will travel to Germany today for medical treatment, an advisor to Mustafa told Radio Dukagjini this morning. “Mustafa’s family and the former prime minister have thanked the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, for his readiness to help on the matter,” the advisor added.

Trepca mining complex board to be appointed this month (media)

Several online media quote Haki Shatri, economic advisor to Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, as saying that the new board for the Trepca mining complex will be appointed this month. The restructuring of the mining complex, although the law for this was adopted in the Assembly in October 2016, cannot be implemented due to the lack of the board. “As far as I know, the position of the Prime Minister is that the Trepca will become operational this month,” Shatri said.