- Haradinaj travels to The Hague on Tuesday (GazetaExpress)
- British Embassy is closely following political developments in Kosovo (RTK)
- Swiss Embassy reacts after Haradinaj’s resignation (Klan Kosova)
- German Ambassador wants Kosovo to have a functional government soon (GazetaExpress)
- Elections might happen without PAN members in CEC (KTV)
- AKR considers early elections a must (KTV)
- On 9th anniversary of IJC decision, opposition accuses President of bargaining with territory (KTV)
- Pressure on Kosovo Serbs mounting (Gazeta Express)
News
Haradinaj travels to The Hague on Tuesday
(Gazeta Express)
Outgoing Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, in an interview with T7 television show Pressing confirmed that on Tuesday he will travel to The Hague after being summoned by the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office to be questioned on his role as wartime commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).
“Yes, tomorrow [Tuesday] I will travel to the Hague,” Haradinaj told T7.
Haradinaj offered his resignation last Friday, after being summoned from The Hague based court, established to investigate and try alleged crimes committed by the KLA. He told T7 that he was against going to The Hague in his capacity as Prime Minister of Kosovo and being questioned as a war crime suspect.
“I was against sending Kosovo Prime Minister before investigators, I chose to send Ramush instead,” he said, confirming that he has received the summons last Friday and has decided to immediately resign as Prime Minister. The caretaker Prime Minister said that he was not indicted by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, adding that he is ready to run for election if no indictment is filed against him.
“If no indictment is filed, and if I am summoned only for questioning and return home, I will run for election,” Haradinaj said, adding that the country should move towards snap election as soon as possible.
Commenting on his political moves during the time he served as Prime Minister of Kosovo, Haradinaj said that the decision to introduce 100 percent tax on Serbian and Bosnia-Herzegovina goods was a right decision and has prevented Kosovo from partition.
“I was obliged to defend territorial integrity of Kosovo,” he stated.
Haradinaj said that he is against revocation of the decision on tariffs, reiterating his official stance that the tax will be revoked only after Serbia recognises Kosovo as an independent country. When asked to comment on the silence of ambassadors accredited in Kosovo and international community to his resignation, Haradinaj said that Ambassadors have reacted to almost everything, adding that their silence might be interpreted as an approval of his decision. He stated that Kosovo is willing to continue the dialogue with Serbia.
“I have not resigned to halt the dialogue. I want only to stop partition of Kosovo or establishment of the Association” of Serb-majority Municipalities with executive powers, Haradinaj said.
“I have told internationals not to exert pressure on Kosovo. If the pressure continues, the entire region will be destabilised,” Haradinaj said.
British Embassy closely following political developments in Kosovo
(RTK)
The British Embassy in Kosovo said it will continue to closely follow political developments following the resignation of Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj.
In a reply to Radio Free Europe, the Embassy representatives said they are aware of Haradinaj’s summon from the Specialist Chambers, but this is “a matter for the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office and it would be inappropriate to comment more for now.”
Regarding the possibility of organizing extraordinary elections, the Embassy spokesman Samuel Paice stated that Kosovo’s institutions should decide on this issue.
“The Kosovo Constitution clarifies the process that needs to be followed in the case of Prime Minister’s resignation, and about the announcement of extraordinary elections. Accordingly, this is an issue for Kosovo institutions to decide about,” the response read among other things.
Swiss Embassy reacts after Haradinaj’s resignation
(Klan Kosova)
After the Specialist Chambers’ summon, Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj resigned his post on Friday.
On Monday Haradinaj wrote an official letter stating that until the election of the new Government, he will continue carrying out constitutional duties as resigning Prime Minister and Government.
The Embassy of Switzerland in Kosovo reacted on Monday following the resignation of Haradinaj. On a Facebook statement, the Embassy said it takes note of the resignation of Ramush Haradinaj from the post of Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo.
“The Embassy of Switzerland takes note of the resignation of Ramush Haradinaj from the function of Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo. We call upon all institutional representatives to act in line with the constitution and applicable laws. We are confident that the state institutions continue to function and will effectively address the needs of the people,” the Embassy’s statement reads.
German Ambassador wants Kosovo to have a functional government soon
(GazetaExpress)
German Ambassador to Kosovo Christian Heldt said on Monday that it is important for Kosovo to have a functional government as soon as possible. His comments followed Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj’s resignation last week, and called on announcing snap election after he was summoned as a suspect by war crimes prosecutors in the Hague.
Commenting on Haradinaj’s resignation, German Ambassador Heldt told Radio Free Europe that Germany respects “independence of the Specialist Chambers and the decision of Prime Minister Haradinaj.”
“Kosovo continues to face significant political challenges, socially the political dialogue with Serbia and internal political reforms. It is important for Kosovo to have a functional government soon,” Ambassador Heldt said.
Haradinaj in a letter sent to institutional and political party leaders informed him on his resignation and called on announcing early general election without further delay.
Elections might happen without PAN members in CEC
(KTV)
It is likely that extraordinary elections will happen while the Central Election Commission (CEC) is still without two members from the PDK-AAK-NISMA (PAN) coalition.
This is because those members have not been appointed by President Hashim Thaçi, yet.
The opposition representatives and political analysts believe that functioning of CEC without PAN coalition members is not problematic; yet, the analysts say that trust in CEC would be diminished, if the elections are held without appointment of its members.
CEC member from Vetëvendosje Adnan Rrustemi said that CEC has the quorum for organising elections, adding that it would be good if CEC composition would be complete.
Ramush Tahiri, political analyst, shares Rrustemi’s opinion; but according to Tahiri, if the elections happen without PAN members, problems might occur.
Former CEC member from PDK Betim Gjoshi said in a written response that pursuant to the Constitution, appointment of CEC members must be done before the elections.
On the other hand, CEC is ready to organise elections, whenever they are called.
“CEC begins intensive preparations for an election process, only after it has been called,” CEC spokesperson Valmir Elezi said.
Eugen Cakolli, a KDI researcher, says that the incomplete CEC composition is not a good indicator; nevertheless, it does not impede the election process, given that CEC has got the quorum to call and certify elections.
He called on the Constitutional Court to, within the deadline, respond regarding constitutionality of President Thaçi’s decree on appointment of CEC members.
Mazllum Baraliu, expert of constitutional affairs, also thinks that although CEC is missing two members, it does not hinder CEC in making decisions, as it has got the necessary quorum.
Kohavision asked the President’s Office when CEC composition will be completed, but no response was provided on Monday.
AKR considers early elections a must
(KTV)
Alliance for New Kosovo (AKR) believes that with the recent situation in Kosovo, following the resignation of Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, a new political momentum has been created which should be addressed with a serious commitment by all parties, in order to ensure a prospect democratic stability for the country.
“Alliance for New Kosovo believes that early elections are a must, and that in these circumstances, citizens of Kosovo should express their complete will to elect a new government that will lead the country under the rule of law and democratic values, and create opportunities for economic development as well as comprehensive integration of our country.
Alliance for New Kosovo is ready for this challenge, and we call upon the President of the Republic of Kosovo to exercise its constitutional powers to provide constitutional solutions as soon as possible after Prime Minister’s resignation.
Alliance for New Kosovo is committed to engage for stable and democratic institutions and it will give its contribution to all the important processes for Kosovo towards peace and stability in the country,” the AKR’s announcement reads.
On 9th anniversary of ICJ opinion, opposition accuses President of bargaining with territory
(KTV)
Nine years after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling, President Hashim Thaçi referred to it as the greatest international victory of Kosovo, while the resigning Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said that it has been a historic decision, which confirmed foundations of the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
On the other hand, the opposition representatives think that people in power have not been able to utilise the legal effect of the ICJ ruling.
Two opposition parties, LDK and Vetëvendosje, say that Kosovo suffered the biggest strike by its own leaders.
The two parties address their most serious allegations against President Hashim Thaçi, saying that he threatened territorial integrity by his idea of territory exchange with Serbia.
LDK MP Vjosa Osmani said that the President, in contradiction with the will of the people, has put Kosovo’s statehood on the table, causing irreparable damage to consolidation of statehood.
Albulena Haxhiu of Vetëvendosje said that over the last nine years, the ICJ ruling has never been applied in maintaining the statehood and sovereignty, but it has been constantly degraded by the high state leaders.
Both the parties say that the Government has failed to ensure new recognitions and to provide freedom of movement for citizens. However, they consider the new elections that will happen following resignation of the Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, as an opportunity to protect statehood and sovereignty.
Pressure on Kosovo Serbs mounting
(Gazeta Express)
Deputy head of Srpska Lista, a political entity representing Kosovo Serbs, said that pressure on local Serbs is mounting as early general election in Kosovo are getting closer.
Simic told Serbia’s state television, RTS, that “arrest of Kosovo Serbs is an attempt to create an artificial equilibrium, because the Kosovo Specialist Chambers are summoning only former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) members.”
Simic’s reaction followed Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj’s resignation last week after being summoned by The Hague based prosecutors to be questioned for his role as wartime commander of the KLA. Following resignation political leaders and analysts are saying that early elections are inevitable.