Stupid “Vetevendosje” protests and Kosovo buckles down to become visa-free

Kosovo buckles down to become visa-free

21/01/2012

Now that the dialogue is under way, Kosovo faces a road of reforms and challenges.

By Linda Karadaku for Southeast European Times in Pristina — 21/01/12
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“Whether, and how soon, citizens obtain the privilege of visa-free travel will depend entirely on Kosovo’s continuing efforts to implement reforms…,” European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström said. [Laura Hasani/SETimes]

After launching a dialogue with the EU on visa liberalization this week, Kosovo now faces the difficult task of meeting the required criteria to make the visa-free process a reality.

Although the government is enthusiastic about the challenge, some analysts are wary.

“I think the biggest challenges for us in this process will be the prevention of illegal migration and the requests for asylum. Several countries in the region that have visa liberalisation are at risk [of losing it] due to the extended number of asylum-seekers from those countries,” Kosovo Minister for European Integration Vlora Citaku told SETimes.

The Union lifted visa requirements for Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro in December 2009, and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania in 2010.

Aside from these issues, the country must “implement substantial reforms in key areas such as the security of travel documents; border, migration and asylum management; public order and security issues — notably the fight against organised crime and corruption; and fundamental rights issues related to the freedom of movement,” European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström said Thursday, as she launched the talks.

But, Citaku says, the government has been working for two years to prepare for the dialogue.

Kosovo has launched the civil registry, has started to distribute biometric passports, has approved the strategy for the reintegration of repatriated persons and has approved the national strategy to fight illegal migration and action plan on the implementation of integrated border management.

“We are prepared in many criteria which countries in the region have fulfilled in a very advanced phase of the process,” Citaku told SETimes.

But some say the reforms go beyond obtaining visa liberalisation.

“Kosovo should address challenges in the border control sector, inter-state organized crime, repatriation and reaching technical and technological standards in the administrative system. But also improving of the political image and [improving] the economic situation of the country,” Agron Bajrami, Kosovo columnist, editor-in-chief of daily Koha Ditore told SETimes.

“These are probably the biggest challenges because these are real and deep problems which have not been addressed — they are also the stain that burdens Kosovo’s name in almost every quarter of the world. [Dealing with these issues] will go beyond the time frames and political frames of visa liberalization.”

Kosovar Civil Society Foundation European Integration Programme Co-ordinator Fatmir Curri said that the process is dependant on timing, and fulfilling of the criteria in the guide.

“The guide is expected to be finalised by the European Commission this spring,” Curri told SETimes.

While Prime Minister Hashim Thaci expressed optimism and the readiness of his government to fulfill the criteria in a record time, many of Kosovo’s citizens are indifferent about the talks.
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setimes

Limited logistics, cold weather ends Vetevendosje protests

23/01/2012

For the second straight weekend, supporters of the Vetevendosje (Self-determination) Movement gathered at two border crossings to protest a lack of implementation of the reciprocity agreement with Serbia. But this time, the protests were peaceful.

By Linda Karadaku for Southeast European Times in Pristina — 23/01/12
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Vetevendosje members protest in the town of Podujevo, close to the Merdare border crossing point between Kosovo and Serbia on Sunday (January 22nd). [Reuters]

The opposition Vetevendosje (Self-determination) Movement wrapped up its protests at the crossings with Serbia, in Merdar/Merdare and Dheu I Bardhe/Bela Zemlja, after midnight, saying police restrictions and the very low temperatures had made it impossible to remain.

Vetevendosje ended its main protest in Merdar/Merdare at about 1:35 am, after Kosovo Police had arrested activist Veton Dragusha, who had been handling logistics. “In a sign of responsibility for the wellbeing of the protesters, the leaders of Vetevendosje Movement asked them to disperse in a quiet way,” the movement said.

“The peaceful protest to protect the Republic, for the domestic products and against Serbia, will continue in the future, in other forms as well,” Shpend Ahmeti, deputy chairman of the Movement told protesters and reporters at Merdar/Merdare.
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setimes.com

Politika aktuale e Kosovës po e qon vendin në qorrsokak dhe vetëvrasje!

Nga Asllan Dibrani

Edhe dita e djeshme me plot acar, me një petk te bardhe nga dëbora Vetëvendosën nuk e zmbrapsi, por përkundrazi, u grumbulluan në forma masive drejt dy pikave Merdare dhe Dheu i Bardhë ku u mbajtën protestat . Protesta paqësore e Lëvizjes Vetëvendosje, duke qëndruar në këto temperatura të ulëta dhe duke e solidarizuar dhe ndihmuar edhe nga populli me ushqim, pije, batanije, e mjete të tjera logjistike, që janë më se të nevojshme për qëndrimin e protestuesve në këtë mot të ftohtë me moton, mbrojtjen e Republikës se Kosovës të abuzuar, përdhunuar , anashkaluar dhe nëpërkëmbur nga Politika e Serbisë.

Pamje e protestës se 22.01.2012 në afërsi te pikës kufitare Mendare te Podujevës.

Kjo politikë , pjesërisht e përkrahur edhe nga disa të huaj, po mjerisht duke mos e penguar as Qeveria aktuale e Kosovës nën presionin e politikes se Euleksit përfaqësues të shteteve të Evropës qe monitorojnë në Kosovë.
Protestat ishin po me të njëjtin pretekst bllokimi mallrave serbe në Merdar dhe të Dheu i Bardhë, dy pika kufitare, këto me Serbinë qe depërtonojnë mallrat serbe ,po mos te flasim për Mitrovicën , qe atje po cenohet e drejta dhe sovraniteti i Kosovës nga një grusht qytetaresh serb qe 13 vjet, ne mos funksionimin e shtetit tonë.

Në protestat e vetëvendosjes, pjesëmarrje masive nga te gjitha anët po edhe të huaj!
Pjesëmarrja ishte masive nga te gjitha qytetet e Kosovës po edhe nga Shqiperia , Maqedonia , Presheva e gjetiu , po edhe të huajt siç ishte i madhi dhe i pa vdekshmi Ish-ambasadori i OSBE-së në Kosovë, shefi i Misionit të OSBE së në Kosovë, William Walker i cili u prononcua pro Vetëvendosjes.

Pamje e shefi të Misionit të OSBE së në Kosovë, William Walker i cili u prononcua pro Vetëvendosjes.

Protestuesve iu është bashkuar lideri i Lëvizjes Vetëvendosje, Albin Kurti dhe Florin Krasniqi, por edhe zyrtar tjerë te VV qe hera - herës dhanë opinionet e veta për protestën . Në këtë protestë ishin edh e policia të qetë dhe pjesa dërmuese ishin në bashkëveprim dhe mirëkuptim me protestuesit. Në kalimin e kohës nuk dihet se me urdhrin e kujt, por tek Dheu i Bardhë, afër vendit ku po protestohet, Policia e Kosovës ka konfiskuar materialet logjistike, të cilat do ta bënin të mundshëm mbarëvajtjen e protestës presione te ndërprerjes se protestës largimin e Autobusëve etj…

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