Headlines - 27.06.2014

Vetevendosje conditions with reformatting of dialogue and privatization (Koha)

Leader of Vetëvendosje movement, Albin Kurti together with Puhie Demaku, Secretary for foreign relations Puhie Demaku and member of the leadership of this movement, Visar Ymeri, hosted today the Ambassador of Finland in Kosovo, Ms. Anne Meskanen.

According to a press release issued by Vetëvendosje, Kurti spoke at this meeting about the recent developments in Kosovo and about Vetëvendosje’s proposal submitted in written to the partners of coalition for harmonization of positions.

Sources in Kosovo Police told Koha that police have arrested three people suspected of terrorism in Hani i Elezit/Deneral Jankovic. Police are also searching for another suspect. The source could not reveal the identities of the suspects. A Kosovo Police spokesman in Ferizaj/Urosevac confirmed the arrests but could not provide further details, saying that “the case is in the hands of the Anti-Terrorist Unit in Pristina and they have the data”.

Deputy of the European Parliament, Tanja Fajon, spoke in an interview for Radio Dukagjini about the “Peace Park” set immediately after the removal of the barricade over the River Ibër/Ibar bridge. “I would urge both p[arties, Albanians and Serbs, to restrain from violence and clashes. Normal flow of life in Kosovo is extremely important. Also it is very important for this barricade to be removed as soon as possible, because it is being proved that the situation there, with this “Peace Park” could escalate,” said Fajon.

The President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga is participating at the meeting of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) which is being held under organization’s rotating presidency, Rumania.

Presidents and representatives of other South European states as well as the European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule, are participating at this meeting. During the meeting, President Jahjaga will hold a speech on the importance of regional cooperation and on Kosovo’s and region’s European perspective

The outgoing Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, met on Wednesday with a delegation of NATO Parliamentary Assembly, headed by the President of this Assembly, Hugh Bayley.

The paper reports on the front page that the first reactions from the residents of Mitrovica to the new Peace Park on the Iber/Ibar River bridge were seen on Sunday. There was an announcement on social media for a peaceful protest in Mitrovica on Sunday. The demonstration gathered no more than 100 people and it went almost unnoticed. But simultaneously, around 1,000 people gathered in a separate protest to express their outrage with Mitrovica North Mayor Goran Rakic’s decision to place the concrete barricade on the bridge and the failure of local and international institutions to react.

The Count and Results Centre has concluded the process of counting 22,000 conditional votes. Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) has managed to pass the election threshold as it turns out it won 1,110 votes from the conditional ballots but New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) will remain outside of the Assembly of Kosovo as it won 1,063 votes. At the same time, recount of 410 ballot boxes is expected to be concluded today.

The World Bank board of directors has approved the project for energy efficiency and renewable energy for Kosovo worth USD 31 million that aims to reduce energy consumption and use of fossil fuel in public buildings. This investment will help Kosovo implement a comprehensive energy strategy and improve policies on energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Head of World Bank for Kosovo, Jan-Peter Olters, said Kosovo has considerable potential to increase energy efficiency and integrate its renewable sources for energy supply.

​Six of the accused from the so-called “Drenica Group” continue to stay outside of detention premises. Sami Lushtaku, Sylejman Selimi, Sahit Jashari, Sabit Lushtaku, Isni Thaci and Ismet Haxha have again been admitted to the Kosovo Clinical and University Centre (QKUK) with the same health complaints that have kept them more outside detention than inside for a year now.