Ashton: Dialogue should continue (Epoka e Re)
Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said during her meeting with Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga in Alpbach, Austria, that dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade should continue, as it would help both parties in the process of EU integration. Ashton said the Balkans region, including Kosovo, has marked progress over recent years; however, she added that more work is required in order to fulfill the required standards of the integration process. President Jahjaga said Kosovo remains committed to dialogue as the only path towards normalisation of relations between Pristina and Belgrade. Jahjaga also said that all agreements reached in Brussels must be implemented in their entirety.
Opposition coalition: Assembly Speaker post or new elections (Koha)
The opposition coalition of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), is ready to send Kosovo into early national elections if the Constitutional Court’s final ruling will not allow them to nominate their candidate for the post of Assembly Speaker. “If the Constitutional Court has ruled that the post of Assembly Speaker belongs exclusively to the Democratic Party of Kosovo, then Kosovo has no choice but to go into new elections. We, however, believe that there is still a door open,” Avni Arifi, advisor to AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj, told the paper. Meanwhile, representatives of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) believe the ruling of the Constitutional Court has changed everything and they are ready to participate in a broad-based government. PDK officials also said they expect the opposition coalition to change its approach and they did not rule out the possibility of a candidate for the post of Assembly Speaker from outside their party.
Elections are not convenient for anyone (Epoka e Re)
Petrit Selimi, the outgoing Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, said in an interview for this daily that he is against another round of elections. He said elections are not in anyone’s interest, especially the opposition political parties. He said that everyone should focus on goodwill and avoid elections. Selimi said that in the next six months, many decisions will require an absolute majority and constructiveness. Selimi asked the other parties to respect the decision of the Constitutional Court. Asked what he expects from the next meeting of the UN Security Council, Selimi said that it is a usual reporting session that takes place several times a year. He said that, during the last 15 years, more than 50 such meetings had taken place. “Over the years, Kosovo has changed; it has been built up, become independent and now entered a completely different phase of development. This seasonal reporting of UNMIK is a bit anachronistic, but it is a result of the stalemate at the UN regarding changes to the UN presence in Kosovo. On the other hand, we are also working on the agenda of the General Assembly which starts at the end of September, where there is intensive coordination with our international partners to lobby for new recognitions,” Selimi said.
Organizations funded by Islamic countries (Zeri)
In a front-page report, the paper claims to have secured a file from State Prosecution with details about individuals and non-governmental organizations registered in Kosovo but funded by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran. According to the paper, around 60 organizations are being investigated for their possible ties with Islamic terrorist organizations. Kosovo’s Interior Minister, Bajram Rexhepi, confirmed to the paper that some of these organizations are under investigation.
Intensified efforts for Kosovo’s telephone code (Lajm)
Kosovo authorities have intensified their efforts to secure the telephone dialing code 383 or 384 this year. RTK quoted unnamed sources as saying that the official request for Kosovo’s code will be made at the International Telecommunication Union conference, which will be held in Seoul in late October or early November.
AKI official accused of threatening news website owner (Koha)
In a front-page report, the paper notes that the Basic Court in Pristina has filed an indictment against Valon Salihu, director of a department in the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (AKI). Salihu is accused of threatening Faton Shoshi, owner of the news website Indeksonline, after the latter published an article related to AKI Director Bashkim Smakaj.
