Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told Sputnik News that the “United States of America and their Western partners are constantly threatening the existing world order”. “Their interventions began with Bosnia and Kosovo and then continued with Iraq and Libya,” Shoigu said. “Ever since the U.S. – NATO operation broke up Yugoslavia, Russia has constantly warned about the consequences of these actions”.
In a statement to the press, the Kosovo delegation, currently in talks with Serbia under the EU facilitation in Brussels, said that the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities will not be tackled at this stage. “Only four topics will be discussed at this round of talks in Brussels: freedom of movement, diplomas, cadaster, and telephone code,” the delegation said.
Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, met in the framework of the Bled Strategic Forum the European Parliament’s rapporteur on visa liberalisation for Kosovo, Tanja Fajon. Hoxhaj hailed yesterday’s European Parliament civil liberties committee (LIBE) vote to move forward with the visa liberalisation process but noted that there will be no positive decision until Kosovo Assembly ratifies border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. “This is the key message conveyed to me today by Tanja Fajon,” said Hoxhaj.
Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Bekim Çollaku, said he expects good news from today’s meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) regarding the visa liberalisation process for Kosovo. “I think everyone is aware of what are the requirements of EU institutions, including those of the European Parliament, but since this voting is not final, I hope and expect the MEPs to express their support for this stage. This would allow the process to move forward,” said Çollaku.
The Vetevendosje Movement MP, Donika Kadaj-Bujupi, was not allowed to enter Kosovo Assembly building today and was arrested by Kosovo Police. According to media reports, she was arrested after security found tear gas canisters in her possession. . Vetevendosje Movement through a press statement reacted against Kadaj-Bujupi’s arrest. “The government has ordered the arrest of Donika Kadaj-Bujupi.
Vetevendosje leader, Visar Ymeri, told a press conference in Pristina today that the Vetevendosje activists, who were arrested by police today over their alleged participation in a bomb attack on the Kosovo Assembly on August 4, are innocent and that the weapons seized during the raids today have nothing to do with the bomb attack. Telegrafi quotes Ymeri as saying, “the Kosovo Police is continuing to frame cases against Vetevendosje activists with the same methods previously used by the Serbian State Security Service”.
Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Bekim Çollaku, met today with the outgoing Special Representative of the European Union and head of the EU Office in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar. Çollaku thanked Zbogar for his contribution and tireless work in promoting the European agenda for Kosovo. Çollaku also said that cooperation and the work done over the last couple of years culminated with the signing of the Stabilisation/Association Agreement and the visa liberalisation recommendation for Kosovo.
The news website reports that it received an email from the group called “Rugovasit” [Rugova residents] claiming responsibility for Monday’s attack on the premises of the public broadcaster – the Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK). The email reads: “we attacked the RTK last night with a hand grenade. Below are the reasons for the attack: the RTK did not publish our communique that we attacked Murat Meha’s several days ago. The RTK, on a daily basis, is broadcasting news only in favor of the demarcation and the government.
A former Catholic priest accused of a string of historical sex offences has been returned to Britain from Kosovo after a five-year police hunt. Lawrence Soper, 72, was arrested at Luton Airport on Sunday on suspicion of nine offences of sexual assault committed over a period from 1972 to 1986. In Kosovo, he was arrested on 12 May, years after Interpol issued an arrest warrant against him on suspicion of child sex offences.
The leader of the Islamic Community of Kosovo, Naim Ternava, through a press statement on Monday condemned the attempt by a Kosovo Serb to demolish the minaret of a mosque in the village of Velekincë, in Gjilan municipality. Ternava said the attack on religious buildings, regardless of motives, is an unacceptable act and as such incites hatred, intolerance and more violence. “We urge the authorities to take appropriate measures for the security of religious buildings.