Parliament pressured by government to establish tribunal

• Parliament pressured by government to establish tribunal (Koha Ditore)
• If Kosovo rejects tribunal, can be accused of obstructing justice (Kosova Sot)
• Tribunal and EULEX mandate in a single package in parliament (Lajm)
• War Veterans: Establishment of the Tribunal, an unfair move (Lajm)
• Parliament will soon decide on FAK (Koha Ditore)
• Hoxhaj: KFOR guarantees Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic path (Tribuna)
• Kosovo accepted, Russia excluded (Lajm)
• Hasani violates Constitution for international judges (Tribuna)

Parliament pressured by government to establish tribunal (Koha Ditore)

In a front-page report, the paper notes that the government is demanding that the current parliament establish the tribunal for crimes allegedly committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army, in order to avoid a decision by the United Nations Security Council. Prime Minister Hashim Thaci is avoiding giving public statements on the tribunal; meanwhile, his government has become very active on the matter, especially after the recent visit by Jonathan Moore, director for the South Central European Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.

Adem Grabovci, head of the PDK parliamentary group, said there are ongoing talks on the establishment of the Special Court. He added that it is in Kosovo’s interest for the process to conclude as quickly as possible and that everything should go through parliament. Grabovci however could not say if parliament will vote on the court this week.

The paper further notes that, unlike the prime minister, President Atifete Jahjaga recently said Kosovo institutions have proven their readiness to cooperate with international partners. Jahjaga also said that the process would focus on individuals and does not represent a trial of the territory’s efforts for liberation. Parliament Speaker Jakup Krasniqi reacted to Jahjaga’s statement, saying that her decisions and those of Prime Minister Thaci are putting Kosovo at a dangerous crossroad.

If Kosovo rejects tribunal, can be accused of obstructing justice (Kosova Sot)

In a front-page interview for the paper, German Ambassador to Kosovo Peter Blomeyer said that the European Union and Kosovo are negotiating on the establishment of the tribunal that will address allegations made in Dick Marty’s report. Blomeyer said the tribunal would not damage Kosovo’s image. “We hope a solution will be found soon. Critics in Kosovo argue that the current judicial system can address allegations made in the report and that there is no need for a new court. But this is not the perception abroad and witnesses in these cases don’t seem ready to testify in Kosovo … If Kosovo rejects the establishment of the court, it could be accused for obstructing penal procedures,” Blomeyer said.

Tribunal and EULEX mandate in a single package in parliament (Lajm)

Kosovo Parliamentary Speaker Jakup Krasniqi said the issue of the tribunal and the extension of EULEX’s mandate could be sent to parliament in a single package. Krasniqi said it was difficult to comment on the establishment of the court, while there is no official news about it. Krasniqi also said that both the tribunal and the EULEX mandate will have to go through parliament. The paper notes that Kosovo institutions have recently received clear messages from the international community that these two issues should be decided before this parliament is dismissed.

War Veterans: Establishment of the Tribunal, an unfair move (Lajm)

Kosovo Liberation Army War Veterans said on Sunday that Kosovo doesn’t need a special tribunal for war crimes allegedly committed by the KLA. Blerim Kuci, organizational secretary of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), said that the establishment of such a tribunal would not be right, “because there are no such tribunal for crimes committed by Serbs in Kosovo”.

Parliament will soon decide on FAK (Koha Ditore)

The presidency of Kosovo’s Parliament is expected to pave the way for constitutional amendments regarding the establishment of the Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF). The parliament’s presidency is expected to decide on Monday whether to proceed on the matter and parliament will then convene on Thursday. Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuci said he hopes all political parties, regardless of ethnicity, will support the establishment of the KAF. “I think this is the right step and, regardless of other political developments, this has historic importance for Kosovo. I believe that political parties, Albanian and non-Albanian, will reach a consensus on the establishment of an armed force that will protect all citizens regardless of their ethnic background,” Kuci added.

Hoxhaj: KFOR guarantees Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic path (Tribuna)

Kosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj, during a meeting on Sunday with KFOR commander Salvatore Farina, emphasized that after the Kosovo Government’s decision to establish the Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF), the transition from the Kosovo Security Force will be gradual and not interfere in the relations with NATO’s presence in Kosovo.

Kosovo accepted, Russia excluded (Lajm)

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly decided to end cooperation with Russia, while Kosovo has been accepted as an observer in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi said this was wonderful news for Kosovo. Also, this decision was hailed by the AAK.

Hasani violates Constitution for international judges (Tribuna)

Enver Hasani, chairman of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo, asked European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton to extend the mandate of the three international judges of the Constitutional Court, whose contracts expire in August. Hasani’s request breaches the Kosovo Constitution, because Article 152, which determined the provisional composition of the Constitutional Court, was amended two years ago. When the supervisory phase of independence concluded, it was decided that the mandate of these international judges would not be cut short and that they should be reappointed to the same positions until August 2014. The decision was made by the former International Civil Representative, Pieter Feith.

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• Dick Marty