Albin Kurti, Kosovo’s acting prime minister, has reiterated his opposition to establishing an Association of Serb-majority Municipalities based on the model sought by Belgrade. He warned that such an arrangement could jeopardize Kosovo’s functionality and statehood.

During an interview on the geopolitical podcast “Quartier Général,” Kurti said he does not oppose cooperation among municipalities. However, he said that any mechanism of this kind must operate in accordance with the constitutional order of the Republic of Kosovo and aim to improve public services.

“We already have an association of municipalities. But what Serbia calls an association is, in reality, not for the Serb community, but against Kosovo’s independence,” Kurti said.

He emphasized that Pristina seeks good-neighborly relations and the full normalization of relations with Serbia, but that this process must also include mutual recognition.

The Association is one of the main provisions of the 2013 Brussels Agreement. Belgrade has consistently insisted on its establishment, while Pristina has refused to allow the mechanism to have executive powers.

Kurti also cited the Kosovo Constitutional Court’s 2015 ruling, which found that the principles set out at the time for the Association were not fully compatible with the Constitution.

According to the acting prime minister, the issue is not related to the Serb community living in Kosovo, but to Belgrade’s political approach. He accused Belgrade of a “hegemonic drive” and of refusing to accept the reality that Serbs can live as a minority in other countries.

For years, Pristina has made it clear that it will not agree to a structure that could acquire powers similar to those of Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Such a model is considered a threat to Kosovo’s statehood and the functioning of its institutions.

Meanwhile, Belgrade views the establishment of the Association as one of the main obligations Pristina must fulfill under the European Union-mediated dialogue.

This issue remains one of the main obstacles to the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

The post Kurti tells French journalist: Kosovo will not accept a new Republika Srpska appeared first on Albeu.com.

The search operation has been focused in Prishtina’s Taukbashqe neighborhood, where drones have also been deployed to help locate the elderly man.

The statement said: “Our association, in cooperation with the Police and other competent authorities, has re-engaged the Department of Drone Operators, with the aim of increasing the chances of locating and finding Mr. Xhafer Raqi as quickly as possible.”

According to the information, the elderly man suffers from dementia and left his home at around 08:00 on Thursday.

Family members have appealed for anyone who may have information about his whereabouts to call +383 44 737 900.

The post Search and Rescue Association deploys drones in search for 78-year-old man from Prishtina appeared first on Albeu.com.

According to its statement, the issues currently under investigation are considered isolated cases and, as it says, do not reflect the work and professionalism of the majority of operators in this sector, who conduct their activities in accordance with the law and applicable standards.

The statement says: “The Kosovo Oil Traders Association remains committed to close cooperation with the competent institutions and supports every process that strengthens the rule of law, promotes fair competition and increases citizens’ trust in the oil market”.

Furthermore, the Association emphasizes that any possible violation should be addressed on the basis of facts and that responsibility should be individual, without being extended as a generalization over the entire sector.

At the same time, a large-scale police operation against organized crime, led by the Special Prosecution and the Directorate for the Investigation of Serious Crimes and Organized Crime in the Kosovo Police, with the assistance of Kosovo Customs and the Kosovo Tax Administration, led today to the arrest of 9 people.

By order of the Basic Court in Prishtina, searches were carried out at 21 locations during this operation.

This operation was conducted within the framework of investigative procedural actions, and after gathering information and securing evidence, there is suspicion that those arrested operated as a structured criminal group, submitting false tax documents and carrying out fictitious sales and transactions involving oil derivatives.

The post Kosovo Oil Traders Association supports investigations and calls for the sector not to be treated in a generalized manner appeared first on Albeu.com.