• Opposition boycotts Veseli’s initiative for international tribunal (media)
• Protesters in Pristina call for resignation of MP Flora Brovina (media)
• Ambassador Heldt expresses full support for survivors of sexual violence (media)
• Thaci: I was shocked by lack of coordination with US in Berlin (media)
• Kocijancic: Dialogue continues to be facilitated by EU High Representative (Koha)
• LDK to coordinate motion of no confidence against government (media)
• Quint: Sunday elections calm, shortcomings not addressed (media)
• Northerners to get directives from Serbian President Vucic (Koha)
• Djuric accuses authorities in Pristina of banning his visit to Kosovo (RTK)
• Vetevendosje lists nine points on how to address war crimes issue (Zeri)
• Organized crime corridor in the Balkans (Zeri)
• Police arrest seven suspects in anti-extortion operation (media)

Opposition boycotts Veseli’s initiative for international tribunal (media)

All media report that opposition parties, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and Vetevendosje, walked out of Monday’s session of the Assembly, demanding the resignation of Kadri Veseli, leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), following PDK MP Flora Brovina showing the media a photograph she claimed depicted an Albanian woman being raped by Serbian forces. The authenticity of the photograph has been widely disputed and the prosecution has opened an investigation while Brovina herself admitted she may have been ‘tricked’ into believing the photo was truly from the Kosovo conflict.

The Assembly convened on Monday to discuss the initiative of the leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Kadri Veseli for establishment of an international tribunal to try Serbian war crimes in Kosovo.

Head of Vetevendosje parliamentary group, Glauk Konjufca, said Veseli should resign following Brovina’s actions. “Had someone given a pencil to Serbia and told it to pen the worst possible damage to the discussion on war crimes and genocide, it would probably have come up with something that happened the other day. Therefore, I think that after 16 May, this country deserves accountability,” Konjufca said calling on LDK to join it by leaving the session in protest.

At the end of the debate, Veseli said the tribunal would be established. “I call on our brothers from the opposition, from the Democratic League of Kosovo and the Vetevendosje Movement. It is good that they attend the session when the tribunal will be voted. It will be voted. But we should do so together. I have called you and I will do so whenever this is needed. If you are upset with the fact that I launched the initiative, I am ready to discuss this and hear you out. But the most important thing is that it will be done,” Veseli said.

Head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) parliamentary group, Memli Krasniqi, reacted to opposition parties the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and Vetevendosje, walking out of today’s session of the Assembly. “The request of LDK and Vetevendosje not to vote the establishment of the commission that would launch the creation of a tribunal for Serbian genocide in Kosovo, even though it may sound harsh is taking the side of those who have denied this genocide for 20 years,” Krasniqi said. He added that the initiative for establishment of the tribunal will not stop. “How can an MP that wants to block and kill initiative for the tribunal look oneself in the mirror? I am sorry to see them leave the session just like they avoided responsibility hundred other times before,” Krasniqi said of LDK and Vetevendosje MPs adding: “Let this be in their honour, but whoever comes against this request will end up on the side of shame.”

Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti meanwhile accused Veseli of pushing forward the initiative of setting up the international tribunal for trying war crimes Serbian forces committed in Kosovo, in order to confront the Specialist Chambers. “He requested an International Tribunal for Serbia’s genocide in Kosovo, by proving that someone else needs to deal with Serbia’s genocide not Kosovo as a country on its own,” Kurti wrote in a Facebook post. He argued that Veseli’s request for an international tribunal is renouncing the right of Kosovo to bring justice for wartime victims. “He is not worried about the absence of the Tribunal but the excess of the Specialist one,” Kurti said adding that Veseli’s goal is not to bring justice to the victims but to “confront” the Specialist Court. “Instead of him assuming responsibility today and resigning, he shifted the entire blame to his MP Flora Brovina after the orchestrated attack on our MP Saranda Bogujevci failed,” Kurti concluded.

Muharrem Nitaj, deputy leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), is quoted as saying in a front-page interview to Epoka e Re, that the LDK and VV made a terrible mistake by walking out of the Assembly session. Nitaj argued that in doing so the two opposition parties sent a message that the Assembly is not united even on condemning the Serbian crimes in Kosovo.

Protesters in Pristina call for resignation of MP Flora Brovina (media)

All media cover a protest march held in downtown Pristina on Monday, demanding the resignation of MP Flora Brovina, after the latter had published a photograph claiming that it depicted an Albanian woman being raped by Serbian forces. The authenticity of the photograph has been disputed and the prosecution is investigating the matter. The motto of the protest was “Treat me with dignity” and it was in support of sexual violence survivors in Kosovo. Protesters said the photo published by Brovina brought back the trauma among sexual violence survivors. Media note that former Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga and the UK Ambassador to Kosovo Ruairi O’Connell were part of the march.

Ambassador Heldt expresses full support for survivors of sexual violence (media)

German Ambassador to Kosovo, Christian Heldt, has expressed full support for survivors of sexual violence during conflict in Kosovo. “The fate of war victims and especially the survivors of sexual violence should not be misused for partisan gains and political visibility. Respect for those who suffered comes first,” Heldt wrote.

Heldt’s statement comes in connection to yesterday’s protesting march in Pristina organized by the civil society associations demanding a dignified treatment of survivors of sexual violence and victims of war crimes.

Thaci: I was shocked by lack of coordination with US in Berlin (media)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said during a debate on Open on Monday evening that he was shocked that European leaders did not coordinate with the United States of America at the Berlin Summit for the plan of talks on Kosovo. Thaci said crises in the Balkans, and in particular the issue of Kosovo, cannot be resolved without the inclusion of the United States. Asked to comment on remarks by Kosovo’s former chief negotiator Edita Tahiri, who claimed that the idea for border changes was buried in Berlin, Thaci said: “all those that comment on the Berlin Summit have no information whatsoever on what was discussed there”.

Kocijancic: Dialogue continues to be facilitated by EU High Representative (Koha)

EU foreign policy spokesperson Maja Kocijancic denied the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina having been displaced from the office of the High Representative Federica Mogherini.

In a written response provided to Koha, Kocijancic said that they welcome meetings that facilitate the dialogue but the process itself is led by the High Representative, as mandated by the UN.

“Dialogue is facilitated by the High Representative, mandated by the UN General Assembly and all EU member states. Any meeting in support of the EU-facilitated EU is useful and can be contributing, but the dialogue is that facilitated by the EU,” Kocijancic replied.

LDK to coordinate motion of no confidence against government (media)

All media report that Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader Isa Mustafa said on Monday that his party plans to undertake concrete steps in bringing down the current government led by Ramush Haradinaj. In a Facebook post, Mustafa said he will meet in the coming days leader of Vetevendosje Albin Kurti “to coordinate actions for a motion of no confidence against the current government and the overthrow of PAN coalition.” Furthermore, Mustafa said he also plans to meet during the week with leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Shpend Ahmeti to “discuss and agree on joint actions.” Ahmeti meanwhile responded he welcomes initiatives for a no-confidence motion. “PSD was and is ready to coordinate actions in the interest of the state of Kosovo,” he wrote on Facebook.

Quint: Sunday elections calm, shortcomings not addressed (media)

The Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States issued a joint statement regarding 19 May extraordinary elections in four northern municipalities of Kosovo.

“We note that the election day itself appears to have taken place in an atmosphere of calm. Still, the Embassies recall the findings of the EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) in 2017, which expressed serious concerns about intimidation in many Kosovo-Serb areas, especially against political parties competing against Srpska List. These flaws, as well as requirements to update voter registries and clarify procedures, remain unaddressed and result in restricted electoral competition and limited political participation, thus raising questions about the overall democratic process in those areas,” the five countries said.

They called upon all relevant actors, including institutions and political parties across the spectrum, to address urgently these shortcomings: “We encourage citizens and civil society to hold parties accountable for their commitment by joint declaration in the Kosovo Assembly in April 2019, to strengthen the electoral process. Those elected must now commit to representing the interests of all communities within their municipalities,” the statement concludes.

Northerners to get directives from Serbian President Vucic (Koha)

The paper reports on page four that the newly-elected mayors of the four northern municipalities will visit Belgrade to meet Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and discuss their future steps, before they take their oath in Kosovo. The paper recalls that the Serbian List had said that their elected candidates would resign again if the government in Pristina does not lift the 100-percent import tariff on Serbian products.

Djuric accuses authorities in Pristina of banning his visit to Kosovo (RTK)

Marko Djuric, head of the Serbian government’s office for Kosovo, accused authorities in Pristina of not allowing him to enter Kosovo visit the village of Leshak in the north where he said he was supposed to deliver aid to the Serb population.

Djuric is reported to have said in a press conference that his visit was announced in accordance to the agreement between Belgrade and Pristina. He also said President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic will meet representatives of the Serbian List and Serb institutional leaders in Kosovo to discuss future course of action.

Vetevendosje lists nine points on how to address war crimes issue (Zeri)

Vetevendosje has come out with a nine-point plan on how to address war crimes committed by Serbian forces in Kosovo.

The party proposes the amendment of the Criminal Procedure Code by enabling trial in absentia for war crimes; creation of a mechanism within law enforcement agencies to investigate war crime; establishment of an war crimes research institute that would enjoy permanent status within the Ministry of Justice; setting up of a special forensic unit to collect evidence; adoption of a legislation for protection of identity of victims; creation of a permanent parliamentary commission on war crimes; the setting up of a special department within the University of Pristina for studying war crimes; Kosovo joining Geneva conventions and the Convention against Genocide and finally, review of institutional possibilities for preparing a lawsuit against Serbia at the International Court of Justice.

Organized crime corridor in the Balkans (Zeri)

In its leading front-page story, the paper covers a report by the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, on the functioning of criminal groups that control a corridor that is used for trafficking human beings, drugs, weapons, cigarettes and vehicles. Link to the full report: https://globalinitiative.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Hotspots-Report-English-16May1245-Web.pdf

Police arrest seven suspects in anti-extortion operation (media)

All media report that seven people were arrested in Pristina on Monday as part of an anti-extortion operation by Kosovo Police. A prosecutor for the Basic Prosecution in Pristina told Express that the suspects will be initially held in detention for 24 hours. Citing different sources, Gazeta Express reported on Monday that among those arrested are Ismet Osmani, Ilir Bojku, Mentor Maqani and Rrahim Hashimi.