Is there any way left to attempt the abolition of the Special Court?

On January 15th, the Kosovo Parliament's winter holiday ends on Monday. The same day, the Parliament's Headship will be meeting to set up the next session, which is expected for next week.

Periscop sources show that the issue of abolishing the Special Court will not be in order for the session expected within the week.

The issue seems to be already a dead-end initiative. This, since MPs who signed the Special Resolutement application have demanded that this session be held on December 22nd last year.

Recognisors of legislative issues have told Periscope, that this is currently a closed case, as signatures given by MPs for the initiative have been applied only to that day, so on December 22nd.

Consequently, to restore it to the Assembly, it will require the signatures of MPs back.

According to severe reactions, not only of public opinion in Kosovo but also of foreign embassies but also of the highest international institutions, including the European Union and the United States, it will be difficult for MPs to re-sign their signature for such a request.

But what leaves the possibility of abolishing the Special Court on the table is in the hands of the Government Haradinaj, which may bring a bill that will require modification of the Special Law.

What Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has publicly declared is the special deployment and operation of Kosovo.

However, even this Haradinaj and President Thaci's sausage will almost be impossible, because for such a change, 2/3 of Kosovo Assembly deputies, including minorities, will be needed.

By contrast, since the first tendency to abolish Special in the dramatic night of December 22nd, almost no day has passed when there have been reactions, which have largely been objections to such an attempt.

During the past week alone, reactions have come from the United States, but the European Union, whose call is clear: that Kosovo should not try to do this”, with the argument that this would seriously hurt Kosovo's relations with Western states.

It was also the writing of PDK chairman and chief Parliamentary Kadri Veselin, who, commenting on the Special Court's drama, except that he pressed charges against opposition parties in Kosovo, the Democratic League of Kosovo and Vetevendosje, found that, nevertheless, the Special Court will happen.

While there are few days left, when the work of the Kosovo Assembly is expected to resume, the European Union Office in Kosovo has issued a statement on the media expressing concern for MPs' initiative to abolish the Special Court Law.

Any attempt to abolish or change the mandate of the Specialised Chambers seriously undermines such commitment and would jeopardise the joint work of the EU and Kosovo for the rule of the law done in recent years. That would negatively affect Kosovo's relations with the EU. The EU, therefore, requires that the creators of the Parliament initiative withdraw it. It welcomes recent public statements by political leaders in support of respecting Kosovo's obligations. The EU commends media and civil society for raising their voice against this harmful initiative”, the EU Office's communique in Kosovo said.

The United States of America has again called on the Kosovo side to eventually give up the idea of abolishing the Special Court.

A Franco-German delegation has also come to Kosovo two days ago following concerns about the abolition of Specialised Chambers. However, although this delegation has paid visits with institutional leaders (Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and President Hashim Thaci) the relevant institutions have not provided details about what has been discussed.

Meanwhile, besides institutional leaders, during yesterday's meeting with this delegation, two opposition parties -- LVV's LDK -- have also held.

While the LDK has announced that during its meeting with this delegation the emissaries have expressed the deep sorrow of Berlin and Paris for the idea of abolishing the Special, LVV has said they were conveyed to the positions of this subject on the injustice of this judgment. /Periscopi/