Government postpones submission of Demarcation to the Assembly

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Since Friday, Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa expressed his confidence that on Monday the Government will proceed the Agreement on Border Demarcation with Montenegro to the Assembly. Additionally, Government called a meeting for Monday morning to review the draft-law for ratification of the Agreement on Border Demarcation with Montenegro and submit it to the Assembly.

While, LDK Ministers showed up in the meeting room at the Government building to attend the Demarcation meeting, no PDK minister showed up. On the other hand, at the same time, PM Mustafa was continuing his meeting with PDK chairperson Kadri Veseli and the U.S Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie.

Later, LDK Ministers also left the meeting room, while the Government of Kosovo issued a press release, announcing that the Government’s meeting was postponed pending Assembly’s session on motion of no-confidence that will be held on Wednesday.

After the meeting between the ruling coalition partners and the U.S Ambassador, PM Mustafa went to LDK headquarter where he met several LDK Presidency members.

After one hour, the meeting was concluded and PM Mustafa did not address to the media. But, LDK spokesperson, Arban Abrashi expressed his confidence that opposition’s motion of no-confidence will fail, while, as he said, demarcation will be ratified and will pave the way for free movement of Kosovo citizens in Europe.

“It was an informal meeting of LDK chairperson with several presidency members about the developments that happened on Monday morning.  As you know, on Monday morning, with the participation of U.S representatives a meeting between ruling coalition partners was held about the demarcation issue. Demarcation will be in Government’s agenda and it will be submitted to the Assembly after Wednesday,” Abrashi told journalists.

He expressed his confidence that the ruling coalition has the required votes of MPs to ratify demarcation and, as he said, Kosovars will be able to freely travel to Europe after 90-days.

Another meeting of LDK is planned to be held on Tuesday in Kosovo Assembly. Through phone messages, LDK MPs have been invited to attend the obligatory meeting.

“Dear all, let me notify you on behalf of the LDK caucus that the LDK caucus will meet tomorrow at 11:00 hrs. It will be attended by PM Isa Mustafa and US Ambassador Greg Delawie. Your presence is obligatory and you are requested to confirm your attendance,” reads the notification sent to LDK MPs.

In the meantime, until Wednesday PDK General Council is expected to convene and decide if they will support or not the no-confidence motion initiated by opposition parties.

On the other hand, Vetëvendosje Movement (VV) representatives consider that this Government will be overthrown, but they warned that protests against Demarcation will be called if the Government resubmits Demarcation to the Assembly.

VV caucus leader Glauk Konjufca said that not only opposition political parties but also some MP from the ruling coalition are against border demarcation agreement.

“The number of ruling coalition MPs that are against demarcation has increased from 15 to 20,” he said.

Meanwhile, AAK MP Daut Haradinaj said that people have declared the current version of demarcation with Montenegro null and void.

U.S Embassy calls on Kosovo Assembly to ratify Demarcation

(KTV)

Through a press release issued on Monday, the U.S. Embassy in Prishtinë/Pristina called upon the Kosovo Assembly to ratify the Border Demarcation Agreement with Montenegro.

“We remain fully convinced – after considerable review by United States Government experts – that the border demarcation line established by the agreement is correctly drawn.

The time has come to put an end to the arguments and disagreements that are only hurting Kosovo, damaging Kosovo’s credibility abroad, and hindering the ability of citizens of Kosovo to travel freely,” reads the press release.

The U.S Embassy considers that the current version of the agreement is a good, proper and fair demarcation between two very friendly neighbouring countries.

“We urge the Government to re-submit the instrument of ratification to the Kosovo Assembly immediately and the deputies to ratify it without further delay. It is time to end political obstruction of the Republic of Kosovo so the Assembly and Government can begin to make progress on other vital issues on behalf of Kosovo’s citizens,” concludes the press release.

In the meantime, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) welcomed the statement by the U.S Embassy to Kosovo, calling upon the Assembly of Kosovo to ratify border demarcation agreement with Montenegro, RTK portal reported.

“The Democratic League of Kosovo and all its forums call upon all members of the Kosovo Assembly to vote the ratification of border demarcation agreement with Montenegro, given the full arguments that the border line set by this agreement was marked accurately, which was also confirmed by the United States of America, the main strategic partner of the Republic of Kosovo,” reads LDK’s reaction.

LDK chairperson and Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa also welcomed the statement of the U.S Embassy.

“The statement of the U.S on ratification of demarcation is a clear message of our strategic partner about the decision which Kosovo Assembly should make. The U.S reconfirmed that border between Kosovo and Montenegro is correct. We should ratify the Agreement without any hesitation,” wrote PM Mustafa in his Facebook account.

Veseli criticizes Government for not taking important decisions

(KTV)

Despite the fact that the party he leads is in power since 2007, Kadri Veseli addressed a series of critics against the current Government, noting that Kosovo is in a bad situation due to the lack of important decisions.

“The lack of decision-making is notable. Visa liberalisation has been blocked while employment continues to be the main issue in Kosovo. We continue to be the only country in the region without visa liberalisation. We cannot continue with justifications that we are a new state. Time for statements and phrases which sound good is long due; it is the time for concrete actions.

What we are hearing from citizens is to move forward and improve their lives. There are complains and dissatisfaction. We should end stagnation and isolation,” wrote Veseli in his Facebook account.

Osmani: If coalition breaks up, LDK will not recognize Thaçi as President

(KTV)

LDK MP Naser Osmani said that if the LDK-PDK ruling coalition breaks up or if opposition’s no-confidence motion is voted, the LDK will not recognize Hashim Thaçi as President of Kosovo.

In an interview for Kosovapress news agency, Osmani said that the coalition agreement clearly stipulates that the ruling coalition must not support any motion aimed at bringing down the government.

Osmani also said that the government is trying to submit the demarcation agreement with Montenegro to the Assembly as soon as possible. According to Osmani, the LDK has ensured its votes for the demarcation agreement, but that he does not know if the PDK has done the same.

LDK and PDK to agree about coalition breakup by Wednesday morning

(KTV)

Prime Minister Isa Mustafa did not appear at the Government meeting called by him on Monday morning. Only LDK ministers were present in the meeting while no PDK Minister showed up.

KTV learned that the main reason for the PDK boycott was because of PM Muistafa’s plan to submit demarcation through regular procedures, which can take up to two weeks.

On the other hand, PDK’s insisted that it should be PM Mustafa himself who would call on Monday, after the Government submits demarcation to the Assembly, the extraordinary session on demarcation.  Through this, PDK wanted to demonstrate that its ruling partner, LDK does not have the votes for ratification of demarcation.

KTV learned that PDK and LDK will agree about the breakup of the coalition at latest by Wednesday morning which would result with the failure of the Assembly session on the no-confidence motion.

But, LDK is hoping in the public persistence of Americans on demarcation, in a desperate attempt to keep the Government alive.  LDK is trying to keep the demarcation issue alive for another two weeks in order to avoid early elections in June, however PDK is against this, KTV reported.

Hoxhaj: Kosovo needs a fresh start

(Klan Kosova – Zona B)

PDK Deputy Chairperson and Minister of Interior, Enver Hoxhaj said in Klan Kosova ‘Zona B’ show that PDK has the votes required for ratification of the Agreement on Border Demarcation with Montenegro, but he emphasized that its ruling coalition partner LDK seems not have the votes of their MPs.

“We were convinced that LDK has the votes of its MPs, but now we have decided to see if they have them… All PDK MPs, with the exception of one MP, are ready to vote ratification of demarcation,” said Hoxhaj.

Commenting the no-motion confidence initiated by the opposition parties, Hoxhaj said that PDK has not decided yet how they will deal with this motion, but, as he said, one thing is sure that Kosovo needs a new start.

“We have not taken any decision yet how we will treat the no-confidence motion”, said Hoxhaj, adding that there is an impression that Isa Mustafa lacks support within his party.

According to Hoxhaj, the lack of taking important decision in this ruling coalition has triggered the idea within PDK that Kosovo needs a new start.

“We need to have a fresh start, but how this will look like is beyond me. On Wednesday morning, we will have a meeting of the General Council, where we will decide about future developments,” said Hoxhaj.

Apostolova: Association to be established as soon as possible

(RTK2)

The head of the EU Office in Kosovo, Nataliya Apostolova said that the Agreement on the Association Serb Majority Municipality has been reached during the EU facilitated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia and therefore the EU expects the establishment of the Association as soon as possible.

In an interview with the weekly Jedinstvo, Apostolova said that the EU expects from parties to continue in upcoming weeks and months the constructive commitment seen at both sides during the last meetings in the framework of the dialogue.

Apostolova:  Ratification of demarcation does not guarantee visa liberalisation

(Summary of Klan Kosova – Info Magazine show)

The Head of the European Union Office in Kosovo/EU Special Representative, Nataliya Apostolova said in Klan Kosova ‘Info Magazine’ show that it is up to the Assembly of Kosovo to decide if the country will have early elections. However, she emphasized that in principle early elections interrupt processes initiated by this Government.

“EU closely follows all political developments in Kosovo because it is our function here. Statements related to early elections are being heard for a time now. In principle, early elections interrupt the on-going reforms and processes, but at the same time, this is a democratic tool for which the Assembly of Kosovo needs to decide. I want to stress that early elections will interrupt reforms. We know how much time was needed to establish the current Government and my concern is not to stop the reforms,” said Apostolova.

Apostolova tackled also visa liberalisation issue, saying that this issue is important but, as she said, visa liberalisation will not bring economic development or better education to Kosovo. She stressed that Kosovo should not have visa liberalisation as the only focus.

Apostolova said that European Union does not get involved in Kosovo’s internal issues, but its here to assist. She said that within this assistance and in the benefit of citizens, Kosovo should conclude the border demarcation with Montenegro as soon as possible.

“EU is not a negotiator and we should not get involved, but our mandate here is to assist. This process (demarcation) has been delayed for years and as you know these conditions have been set up in order for Kosovo to continue talks on visa liberalization. Wherever I go, people ask me about visa and I reiterate that the key to this issue lies in the hands of politicians,” she said.

Apostolova said that out of the two remaining visa liberalization conditions, Kosovo is progressing well in fighting corruption and progress has been marked, but she emphasized that demarcation needs to be solved as soon as possible.

“Border demarcation is a clear condition therefore this issue needs to be solved as soon as possible, in order for us to propose to the Council the decision on visa liberalization,” stated Apostolova.

Apostolova said that there is still time to ratify demarcation in the Assembly, as according to her, it cannot be said that the ratification of demarcation has failed.

“The draft law can still be proceeded to the Assembly, as far as it concerns the EU, this draft –law is of particular importance and I suggest concluding this issue as soon as possible,” Apostolova told Klan Kosova ‘Info Magazine’ show

Moreover, Apostolova considered the request of Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa to renegotiate the condition of demarcation as impossible.

In the end, Apostolova emphasized that even if Assembly ratifies Demarcation; there is no guarantee that Kosovo will get the visa liberalization.

“There is no specific timeframe or deadline for visa liberalization. We will propose it to the Council of member states; therefore no one can specify visa liberalization timeframe. Of course, they might say no, but it is our duty to prepare a good recommendation for Kosovo and then it is in the hands of member states to finally decide about it,” said Apostolova.

Apostolova also commented the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, emphasizing that it is essential to resume this process and not to interrupt it.  She highlighted several positive results that Kosovo achieved through the dialogue.

Apostolova emphasized the importance of including members of other political partiers by both sides in the dialogue.

“They do not know the results of the dialogue. It is important that all parties know the results of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia… At the beginning of the dialogue, there were representatives of other political parties participating. But this practice was stopped,” said Apstolova, stressing that the EU is doing its best to facilitate both parties in reaching and implementing agreements.

She called on Kosovo institutions to implement the Agreement on Association of Serb Majority Municipalities.

“Implementation of the Agreement on Association of Serb Majority Municipalities is very important,” said Apostolova.