The president of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Bedri Hamza, has responded to the trial of the former KLA leaders in The Hague, noting that 30 days remain until September 16, when the verdict is expected to be announced.

According to Hamza, that date should mark the end of six years of pretrial detention for Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi.

“Today, we are 30 days away from September 16, the day when the unjust six-year process that has kept Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi isolated in The Hague will come to an end,” Hamza wrote.

He stressed that the four former KLA leaders have spent a long period in pretrial detention, separated from their families and from Kosovo.

“Six years in pretrial detention. Six years away from their families and Kosovo. Six years of facing prejudice, agendas, political narratives, rights violations and numerous injustices,” he stated.

The PDK leader emphasized that neither his position nor that of the party he leads has changed, while the demand remains justice and the release of the four former KLA leaders.

“Our expectations and demands are clear: justice and release,” Hamza said.

Hamza stated that September 16 should serve as the conclusion of this chapter and as the day Thaçi, Veseli, Krasniqi and Selimi return to Kosovo.

“After six years, September 16 should be the day this painful chapter for our freedom, independence and state-building comes to a close. It should be the day the four former KLA leaders return home,” he wrote.

At the end of his response, the PDK leader reiterated that 30 days remain until the court’s decision, linking the wait to the demand for justice.

“We will wait another 30 days. We await justice,” Hamza concluded.

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Albulena Haxhiu, in her capacity as acting president, has organized a meeting with the leaders of political parties.

According to information obtained by the media, the meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, starting at 09:00.

At this joint session, the discussion is expected to focus on overcoming the institutional blockade caused by the inability to fully form the Assembly.

Sources indicate that the purpose of this initiative is to encourage political dialogue on electing the president and restoring the functionality of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo.

We recall that during the first constitutive session, after the deputies of the 11th Legislature took the oath, the leader of the Vetëvendosje Movement, Albin Kurti, requested an additional deadline for proposing the name of the Assembly speaker.

The course of a second constitutive session was identical, with the situation remaining unchanged.

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Kosovo’s acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, wrote again last night to the leaders of the opposition parties, requesting a meeting to reach a political agreement that would avert new elections.

RTK sources within the government said that Kurti contacted the opposition leaders by phone yesterday and invited them to a joint meeting to discuss the country’s current political situation.

According to the same sources, the meeting is intended to explore the possibility of reaching a political agreement that could overcome the institutional deadlock and avoid a new electoral process.

Kurti has previously approached the leaders of the opposition parties with a request for a meeting and a political agreement.

It is not yet known whether the opposition leaders will accept the invitation or whether the meeting will take place.

Meanwhile, political tensions also emerged in the Assembly today. The session was marked by verbal clashes between opposition and LVV lawmakers over their opposing positions on how to resolve the institutional crisis.

The opposition parties are demanding that the constitutive session be held and that the process of constituting the Assembly be completed, while debates over the next institutional steps have been accompanied by clashes among lawmakers.

The deadlock over the constitution of the Assembly and the establishment of new institutions has continued for weeks, increasing political pressure to find a solution.

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Chief State Prosecutor Zejnulla Gashi held a meeting with Kosovo Police Director Colonel Gazmend Hoxha, who was accompanied by his associates.

At the start of the meeting, Hoxha congratulated Gashi on assuming his new role as Chief State Prosecutor.

The discussion focused on the need to expand institutional cooperation between the State Prosecutor and the Kosovo Police, in the interest of strengthening the rule of law in the Republic of Kosovo.

The two leaders agreed that continuous communication and coordination between their institutions should be intensified. They described this coordination as essential for the effective exchange of information, the harmonization of investigative actions, and the most professional handling of criminal cases, while respecting the legal competencies of each institution.

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Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that communication with the Democratic League of Kosovo is taking place directly and that there are no intermediaries between him and LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku.

At a press conference held after the suspension of the constitutive session, Kurti said the sooner progress is made, the better, although he stressed that the issues involved are not simple.

According to him, the experience gained over these 16 months shows that every effort must be made and “every stone turned” to avoid holding new elections. Kurti said that political and institutional seriousness and responsibility currently mean avoiding another unnecessary electoral process.

Kurti also said that the leaders and MPs of the Democratic League of Kosovo have requested that an agreement be reached with VV on all positions.

He recalled that in the spring of this year, he had been criticized for electing the speaker and leadership of the Assembly, as well as the government, without first holding meetings with LDK representatives. This time, he said, those criticisms have been taken into account and a different approach has been adopted, with no institution constituted before meetings were held.

The acting prime minister explained that the urgency shown at the beginning of this year was related to Kosovo’s budget. He added that he had taken note of all the remarks made during the year and was now taking them into consideration.

Kurti stressed that he continues to personally initiate every meeting, as he seeks cooperation and therefore takes initiatives and keeps communication open. He added that there could be further news only after an agreement is reached, KosovaPress reports.

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Albulena Haxhiu, Speaker of Parliament and simultaneously acting President of Kosovo, has called a meeting today with the leaders of political entities that have won seats in the new legislature.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 11:00 and will serve to prepare for the constituent session of the Assembly, planned for August 6.

“Agenda: Preparations for the Constituent Session of the XI Legislature of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo,” it is stated in the announcement from the Information Office of the Assembly of Kosovo.

During the constituent session, the temporary committee for verifying the quorum and the mandates of deputies is expected to be formed. The agenda also includes the oath of lawmakers and the election of the Speaker, along with the deputy speakers of the Assembly.

Based on parliamentary procedures, the preparatory meeting is called by the Speaker of the previous legislature, while the chairing of the constituent session falls to the oldest deputy, with the assistance of the youngest deputy.

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Albulena Haxhiu, Speaker of the Assembly and acting President of Kosovo, has called a meeting on Friday with the leaders of the political parties that won seats in the new legislature.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 11:00 and will focus on preparations for the Assembly’s constitutive session, set for August 6.

“Agenda: Preparations for the Constitutive Session of the 11th Legislature of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo,” the Kosovo Assembly’s Information Office said in its announcement.

During the constitutive session, a temporary committee is expected to be established to verify the quorum and the mandates of MPs. The agenda also includes the swearing-in of MPs and the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speakers of the Assembly.

Parliamentary procedures stipulate that the preparatory meeting be convened by the Speaker of the previous legislature. Meanwhile, the constitutive session is chaired by the oldest MP, assisted by the youngest MP.

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Preparations for the Constitutive Session of the 11th Legislature of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo will be the focus of a meeting that Speaker of Parliament Albulena Haxhiu will hold on Friday with the leaders of political parties.

The meeting is scheduled for July 31, starting at 11:00, in hall C-301 of the Assembly.

The agenda contains only one item: the organization of this important parliamentary session.

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The deadline for applications for the race for the heads of the six main departments at the General Directorate of State Police has closed. The deadline for submitting applications ended on Friday, July 17, while 9 candidates have registered in the process.

According to sources, six new heads of the most important departments of the State Police are expected to be selected from these candidates.

In the race are Pëllumb Seferi, Artan Barjaktari, Lorenc Panganika, Saimir Muça, Hergis Jica, Idajet Faskaj, Ferdinand Mara, Alban Dauti, and Lufti Minxhozi.

The competition has been held for the leadership of the Criminal Police Department, the International Relations Department, the Support Services Department, the Public Order and Security Department, the Information Technology Department, and the Border and Migration Department.

The process was opened by order of Chief of Police Skënder Hita and aims, for the first time, for the heads of these structures to be selected through a competition.

A few months ago, the procedure was suspended after a lawsuit by the former head of the BKH, Aida Hajnaj, in the Administrative Court.

According to the criteria set out in the law on the State Police, candidates must have a middle management rank, not have serious disciplinary measures during the last three years, not be in a conflict of interest, and meet the legal and health criteria for the position.

In the coming days, the evaluation phases by the special commission of the State Police are expected to take place, after which the new heads of the six departments will be determined.

Their appointment will be made upon the proposal of the General Director of the State Police and with the signature of the Minister of Interior, Besfort Lamallari.

This is expected to be the first and last selection process by competition for these leadership levels, as the Assembly is expected to review changes to the State Police law that provide for the elimination of the competition for lower leadership levels.

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The confirmation to the media was given by government spokesperson Arlind Manxhuka.

“Yes, this morning, Prime Minister Kurti sent a letter inviting the three leaders of the PDK, LDK and AAK to a meeting,” Manxhuka said.

Earlier, Kurti had announced that he would send the invitation to the opposition parties as soon as the CEC completed the counting process with the certification of the June 7 election result.

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