The Kosovo-based Council for Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) said Kosovo courts should decide against extradition of the Turkish national, Ugur Toksoy, to Turkey saying the request is politically motivated. Toksoy was arrested in Prizren and is accused by Turkish authorities of links to the Gulen movement. CDHRF said in a statement that if extradited, Toksoy is not likely to have a free and trial.
A store owned by an Albanian resident of “Kodra e Minatoreve” neighbourhood in the northern part of Mitrovica was stoned last night as well as a house further down the street owned by Cerani family. Nysret Cerani, owner of the house, told KTV that at the time the house was stoned he also heard gunshots being fired and alleged that members of the Serb community are behind the attack.
Central Election Commission (CEC) has ordered the recount of 24 ballot boxes from Sunday’s local elections, announced CEC officials today. Of 24 boxes, 21 contain ballots for municipal assemblies and 3 for mayoral elections. CEC said it has received 7,621 ballots through post and that 6,735 have been approved.
Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) hailed the swearing in of judges and prosecutors from the non-majority communities saying it is a sign of the north’s integration into the Kosovo judicial system. In a statement, KJC said the move is an important step and “marks consolidation of a unified justice system throughout the territory of the country” aimed at guaranteeing the people equal access to judicial institutions and achievement of their constitutional and legal rights.
Kosovo Security Force (KSF) remains one of the most trusted institutions in Kosovo, said panelists at a conference in Pristina today. KSF Minister, Rrustem Berisha, said the aim of the conference was to promote cooperation with partners and present KSF’s progress. “We also informed our partners of the steps we are taking leading to the political decision, transformation of KSF into Kosovo Armed Forces,” Berisha said.
The government of Kosovo in its routine meeting today decided to allocate USD 100,000 in support of the coalition against the so-called Islamic state group, ISIS.
Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, has strongly condemned Serbia’s “interference” in Kosovo local election set to take place this Sunday. In a Facebook post, Haradinaj wrote that such actions are in conflict to the principle of good neighbourly relations and “significantly undermine” the process for normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. “Good integration of Kosovo Serbs is a mutual interest and any attempt to damage this goal shall be considered as breach of their political will.
Vetevendosje’s MP, Donika Kadaj-Bujupi, has been appointed to chair the Assembly Committee for the Oversight of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA). Kadaj-Bujupi said the committee will soon call the head of KIA to report on a number of issues that have so far not been addressed.
Head of the EU Office in Kosovo, Natliya Apostolova, met today with the head of parliamentary group of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Memli Krasniqi and heads of three Assembly committees led by this political party. She said that their presence today shows that they are pledged to help Kosovo in the European path. Apostolova said that loss of three months on establishment of institutions was major on fulfilling the European agenda.
President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, in a joint press conference with President of Albania, Ilir Meta, spoke about the decision of the British Ambassador, Ruairi O’Connell, to walk out midway through Thaci’s speech on specialist chambers. “I didn’t even notice he was inside or when he stepped out. If he walked out for his personal business, it is his decision, but if he went out as a result of disagreeing with the debate, it is a frustrating, childish and completely undiplomatic behaviour,” Thaci said.