Kosovo’s President, Atifete Jahjaga, yesterday welcomed the government’s approval of the Regulation on recognition and verification of the status of victims of sexual violence during the 1999 conflict in Kosovo. “The approval of this regulation marks an important step ahead towards offering institutional support and realization of rights for the survivors of sexual violence during the war, thus paving the way to the recognition and verification process,” Jahajga said.

Kosovo’s President Atifete Jahjaga participated in the annual Assembly of the Kosovo Women's Network on Sunday. Jahjaga said that Kosovo women have held onto their shoulders the heavy burden of survival, peaceful resistance, war and that certainly the peace building would not be achieved without them. “We as a society are still facing gender prejudice and patriarchal mentality. Challenges to the complete realization of gender equality are many, for all of us, on every level and in all fields of life.

The President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga praised the role of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo, in her speech at the ceremony of its fortieth anniversary. “The Academy plays a role in strengthening of our young democracy. We should build the culture of dialogue which overcomes divisions through political forces. We should not dare risk our relation with the international factor, especially with the European Union and America and aggravates the life of the citizens of the country,” said Jahjaga.

Pristina endeavors to place the issue of war reparations on the table in the dialogue with Belgrade in Brussels. This topic was mentioned by the Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga in her annual address to the Kosovo parliament. According to her the dialogue should continue, however new issues should be tabled as well, such as pensions and war reparations.

Kosovo Assembly held today its last session for this year. The session began with the annual address of President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga to the MPs where she said that Kosovo is experiencing a deep political and moral crisis which is challenging the democratic consensus. She said she believed that Kosovo’s elected representatives would be able to leave their daily agendas aside for the common good but expressed determination to continue playing the role entrusted to her by the Constitution of Kosovo and be a factor of unity and upholder of democratic functioning of institutions.

Kosovo Assembly MP from Vetevendosje Movement, Ilir Deda, known for his different position from his parliamentary group, said for the media that neither throwing of the tear gas nor suspension of the MPs is legal. Deda said despite of the fact that he was not suspended by the Assembly Presidency, he would not participate at the Assembly session which will be held at an alternative hall.

Opposition leaders in a meeting with Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga presented their demands for overcoming the current political situation which include the annulment of the agreement with Serbia on the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities and the one on border demarcation with Montenegro as well as the release of all imprisoned opposition MPs and activists. If the agreements are not revoked, the leaders of the Vetevendosje Movement, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) demanded a referendum.

Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga welcomed Tuesday’s decision of the Board of the “Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund” (GCERF) taken in Geneva, to include Kosovo in this Fund’s initiatives on prevention and facing of violent extremism through local initiatives.

Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga yesterday visited the Rehabilitation Centre for Mothers and Children in Pristina. Jahjaga was informed about the work and the conditions of this centre, which supports the torture survivors and persons that were abused and tortured during the last conflict in Kosovo. Jahjaga said she was impressed with the psychosocial treatment that centre offers for rehabilitation.

President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga in her address to the Brdo-Brijuni Western Balkans summit said that Kosovo is committed in implementing reforms and determined to join the EU and NATO which she said is “a unique opportunity to place the region on an irreversible path of peace and prosperity.” Despite the progress, Jahjaga noted that there are still challenges that the region needs to address. “For this, we need the US and European Union by our side.”