Former Kosovo premier denied temporary release

Thu, 16 Dec 2010

The Hague - Ramush Haradinaj, a former leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) who briefly served as prime minister of Kosovo, was Thursday denied provisional release by appeal judges at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

Haradinaj is detained in The Hague, where he faces a retrial on charges of war crimes stemming from his role in the Kosovo War of 1999.

Judges had earlier this month granted Haradinaj provisional release, reportedly so that he could be with his wife when she gives birth to their child in January.

But the ICTY's appeals chamber on Wednesday quashed that decision after granting the prosecutor's appeal, with presiding judge Patrick Robinson arguing that Haradinaj could have taken advantage of his release to intimidate witnesses.

Haradinaj's Alliance for Future of Kosovo won nearly 11 per cent of the the vote in Sunday's snap parliamentary election.

He served as Kosovo prime minister for 100 days, stepping down after the ICTY issued an indictment against him in March 2005.

He traveled to The Hague voluntarily and was later acquitted, but now faces a retrial because of allegations that the original trial had been marred by witness intimidation.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/358576,premier-denied-temporary-release.html.

Kosovo votes without major trouble

Sun, 12 Dec 2010

Pristina, Kosovo - Voting went ahead in Kosovo's snap parliamentary poll Sunday without major incidents, the central election commission said in Pristina.

Just over 11 per cent of the 1.6 million registered voters had cast their ballots by 11:30 am (1030 GMT), the commission said, without providing figures for turnout comparison. Polling stations opened at 7 am and were due to close 12 hours later.

The election is the first since Kosovo, with its 90-per-cent Albanian majority, declared independence from Serbia in 2008.

Prime Minister Hashim Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has been tipped to win the most votes, but is expected to fall short of an outright majority.

Pristina Mayor Mustafa Isa's Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) is also expected to do well. But two newcomer parties, the Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) and the FER (New Spirit), may stir the political scene in the former province.

Thaci lost a no-confidence vote in November, after his coalition with LDK fell apart amid squabbling over the election of the new Kosovo president and the sale of the national telecommunications firm. That triggered the elections a year ahead of their time.

A total of 29 parties are running for the parliament - 100 of the seats are up for grabs by any candidate, 10 are reserved for Serbs and 10 for representatives of other minorities.

Belgrade refuses to accept Kosovo's independence and has called its compatriots there to boycott the vote, but eight Serb parties still decided to run.

Concerns that the polarization among Serbs could spark violence in areas they dominate did not materialize in the first half of the day.

The entire election process is being closely monitored by almost 850 international and 26,000 local observers.

No officials results are expected Sunday, the election commission said.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/357792,kosovo-votes-major-trouble.html.

Voting begins in Kosovo snap elections

Sun, 12 Dec 2010

Pristina, Kosovo - Voting began in Kosovo Sunday in the first parliamentary elections since the former Serbian province declared independence.

Prime Minister Hashim Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has been tipped to win the most votes, but is expected to fall short of an outright majority.

Thaci lost a no-confidence vote in November, after his coalition with Pristina Mayor Isa Mustafa's Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) fell apart. That triggered the elections a year early.

The 1.6 million registered voters, the vast majority among them ethnic Albanians, can choose from 29 tickets between 7 am and 7 pm (0600 - 1800 GMT).

The Kosovo assembly has 120 seats - 100 are up for grabs by any candidate, 10 are reserved for Serbs and 10 for representatives of other minorities.

Belgrade refuses to accept Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence and has called its compatriots there to boycott the vote. But eight Serb parties still decided to run.

Amid Belgrade's call for the boycott and Kosovo's high potential for violence, the vote is being closely monitored by almost 850 international and 26,000 local observers.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/357743,voting-kosovo-snap-elections.html.

Kosovo's Fatih Mosque, re-constructed by Turkey, opened

Fatih Mosque, one of the 800 mosques in Kosovo, was constructed in 1461.

Friday, 05 November 2010

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday put Fatih Mosque, re-constructed by Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA), into service again in Kosovo.

Fatih Mosque, one of the 800 mosques in Kosovo, was constructed in 1461.

Speaking at the ceremony held to re-open the mosque, Erdogan said the Ottoman heritage only in Kosovo was almost more than the cultural heritage in Anatolia, except Istanbul. "The mosques, bridges, hostels and alms houses are the indelible marks of the interest shown by our ancestors to this region," he added.

Erdogan said, "such works are the signs of our brotherhood. We will boost together and continue to progress on our path."

Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, who also addressed the opening ceremony, stated that the services strengthened hope, belief and togetherness between the two countries.

He said friendship between the peoples of Turkey and Kosovo would be continuous.

Erdogan later opened Sultan Murat Hudavendigar Tomb Culture and Promotion House into service in Kosovo. "We want to see this tomb as a symbol for peace, justice, brotherhood and solidarity not only for the region but also for the whole world," Erdogan said speaking at the opening ceremony.

Source: World Bulletin.
Link: http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=65973.

Kosovo welcomes Turkey mediation over Serbia ties

Erdogan has said Turkey was ready assume a mediator role between Kosovo and Serbia if the two countries requested it.

Wednesday, 03 November 2010

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey was ready assume a mediator role between Kosovo and Serbia if the two countries requested it.

"We are ready for mediation between Kosovo and Serbia if receive such an invitation. Because we want setting in this region based on peace, which is all we need," Erdogan told reporters in a joint press appearance with his Kosovo counterpart, Hashim Thaci, in Pristina.

Erdogan said that Turkey's relations with Serbia had recently seen a significant progress, and that the Serbian leadership had signaled an expectation for a Turkish mediation, coupled with a similar position from the Kosovar side as well.

"Turkey is ready to assume whatever role it is requested of to contribute to the peace process in the Balkans," Erdogan said.

Erdogan said Turkey was among the countries first to recognize Kosovo's independence, adding that Muslim countries seemed hesitant for recognition.

"Turkey is a member of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and Turkey's recognition of Kosovo's independence is a signal for other members of the organization. And the ruling by the European Court of Human Rights will pave the way for more positive developments," Erdogan said.

"Welcomed"

Kosovo PM welcomed any of Turkey's efforts.

Anadolu news agency quoted Thaci as saying Turkey would make great contributions to dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

Thaci said that they would be glad if Turkey would mediate in this process between Belgrade and Pristina.

Stating that Turkey and Kosovo had sound friendly ties and cooperation, he said that cultural and religious ties would be boosted more in the future.

Thaci said that they attached a great importance to services by Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) in his country and Turkish investors also contributed to economic development of Kosovo. Pristina International Airport would be operated by Limak as of January 1, 2011 and Turkish companies attended privatization tender of Post and Telecom of Kosovo, he said.

Source: World Bulletin.
Link: http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=65925.

Kosovo government falls, elections on December 12

Tue, 02 Nov 2010

Pristina - Kosovo will hold early polls on December 12, the country's acting president said Tuesday, minutes after parliament backed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Hashim Thaci's cabinet.

The motion was supported by 64 of the 120 legislators. It was submitted weeks after Thaci's coalition fell apart, plunging Kosovo - which is also without a president - into a political crisis.

Even representatives from Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) voted in favor of the no-confidence motion, saying they wanted to end the political impasse triggered by the PDK's junior partner, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK).

The acting head of state, parliamentary speaker Jakup Krasniqi, immediately dissolved the assembly and scheduled the early elections.

The alliance between the PDK and the LDK disintegrated on October 16 amid wrangling over the vacant post of president and the privatization of the telecommunications company PTK.

LDK leader Fatmir Sejdiu resigned as Kosovo's president on September 27, when the Constitutional Court said he had broken the law by doubling as head of state and party chief.

The PDK and LDK failed to agree on a replacement for Sejdiu, so early polls were called for February 13 - more than half-a-year before they are due.

Amid a row over the sale of PTK, the LDK then left the coalition three weeks ago and vacated all government posts it held, blocking the executive from functioning.

Kosovo, with its majority Albanian population, declared independence from Serbia in 2008, nine years after NATO ousted Belgrade's security forces from the former province.

It was recognized by the United States, most European Union countries and neighbors - in total, by 71 nations.

Opinion surveys in Europe's youngest country are still unreliable, but it is generally believed that only Thaci's PDK will profit from elections at such short notice.

Early elections are likely to delay the still unscheduled start of the first direct talks between Pristina and Belgrade since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/351555,falls-elections-december-12.html.

Kosovo and NATO restore relations after show of weapons

Pristina - The Kosovo Security Force (KSF) and the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo (KFOR) have restored relations, a day after members of the security force showed their weapons in public, Kosovo officials said in a statement Monday. KFOR suspended relations with KSF on Sunday, after it violated its status as an unarmed organization by displaying arms during a ceremony.

"We hereby assess as overcome" the issue of KSF's participation at Sunday's ceremony, Kosovo's Security Forces Ministry said in a statement. "The KSF will continue the close cooperation with KFOR and NATO."

In 1999 NATO intervened against Serbia, ousting its forces from Kosovo. After years of United Nations administration, Albanian majority declared independence in February 2008.

The KSF is Kosovo's fledgling army, mainly manned by former guerrillas, but still officially an unarmed disaster-relief organization trained by KFOR.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/313051,kosovo-and-nato-restore-relations-after-show-of-weapons.html.

NATO 'suspends' relations with Kosovo force over show of weapons

Pristina - The NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo (KFOR) said Sunday it has suspended relations with the local security force after it violated its status as an unarmed organization by displaying arms at a ceremony. The Kosovo Security Force (KSF) members took part in a March 5 ceremony celebrating the guerrilla army which fought the Serbian army and police in the 1990s.

"KFOR has temporarily suspended support, mentoring and training activities of the KFS ... in response to the appearance of an armed, military-style KSF honor guard during the Martyrs' Commemoration Ceremony," KFOR said in a statement.

"This is inconsistent with the non-military status of the KSF," it said.

NATO intervened against Serbia in 1999, ousting Serb forces from Kosovo and paving the way for a United Nations administration and eventually, the declaration of independence by the mainly Albanian province in February 2008.

The KSF is Kosovo's fledgling army, mainly manned by former guerrillas, but still just an unarmed disaster-relief organization trained by KFOR.

KFOR said it has suspended "support, mentoring and training of the KSF until further notice" and asked Kosovo authorities for a "satisfactory explanation of the incident, appropriate remedial action and assurances that there will be no repeat of such actions."

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/312909,nato-suspends-relations-with-kosovo-force-over-show-of-weapons.html.

PREVIEW: UN court to hear Kosovo independence case

The Hague - Public hearings on the legitimacy of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia are scheduled to begin at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Tuesday. Until December 11, the Hague-based ICJ is to hear oral statements from the parties involved and 30 United Nations member states on the question of whether the declaration was in accordance with international law.

The case was brought to the UN-court after Kosovo's Provisional Institutions of Self-Government unilaterally declared independence on February 17, 2008. Serbia protested the secession, calling it "illegal."

Six months later, the UN General Assembly approved with 77 to six votes and 74 abstentions in favor of Serbia's proposal to approach the ICJ for an advisory opinion on the matter.

The parties involved and 36 UN member states have since filed written statements that have so far not been made the public.

Serbia and Kosovo have each been allocated three hours for their oral statement on Tuesday. In the following days, other UN member states have each 45 minutes to comment on the matter. Among others, the United States, China, Russia, Britain, Germany, France, the Netherlands, as well as Saudi Arabia, Burundi and Vietnam are due to speak.

Kosovo has so far been recognized by altogether 48 countries, including the US and 22 of the 27 European Union members.

The 2008 declaration marked the second declaration of independence by Kosovo's Albanian-majority political institutions, the first having been proclaimed on September 7, 1990.

The ICJ, operational since 1946, is the primary judicial organ of the UN, located in the Peace Palace in The Hague. The court settles legal disputes submitted by member states and gives advisory opinions on legal questions.

Whereas judgments on legal disputes are legally binding, the court's advisory opinions are not.