• Haradinaj meets coalition partners, Veseli a no-show (media)
• Thaci: A functional government as soon as possible (media)
• Thaci with formula against elections (Zeri)
• Mustafa: LDK will win the national elections in September (media)
• LDK discusses internal elections and dissolution of Assembly (Indeksoline)
• Albanian PM Rama speaks about Haradinaj’s resignation (Indeksonline)
• Sejdiu: LDK, VV should join forces to form new government (media)
• Fatmir Sejdiu wants to run again for post of LDK leader (media)
• Serbia submits extradition request for Tomor Morina (media)
• Kurti seeks recognition of Israel and Palestine (media)

 Kosovo Media Highlights

Haradinaj meets coalition partners, Veseli a no-show (media)

Outgoing Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, met yesterday coalition parties’ leaders – Behgjet Pacolli from the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) and Fatmir Limaj from the Social Democratic Initiative (NISMA) – but not Kadri Veseli from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) who was a no-show.

A day before the meeting when asked if he would be attending, Veseli said that what was important at this time was to dissolve the Assembly and head for elections without any unnecessary delays. He also called Haradinaj’s resignation a calculated move.

Haradinaj on his part called Veseli’s statements part of an election campaign, Koha Ditore reports. “It is important we heard Veseli’s statement in support of elections. We agreed not to waste time. To have coordination,” Haradinaj said after yesterday’s meeting.

He also said that if President Hashim Thaci doesn’t take any steps in announcing new elections, steps will be taken towards dissolving the Assembly. “If there are delays on the part of the president, we will next week initiate a no-confidence motion at the Assembly,” Haradinaj said but refused to give any exact dates as to when this could happen. “It is good for all not to give dates but to coordinate a time when all parties would come together.”

Zeri reports that NISMA leader Fatmir Limaj meanwhile said the meeting with Haradinaj was consultative. “We spoke about developments, and how to move forward. It is clear the country is ahead of elections and this issue should be resolved as quickly as possible,” Limaj said. According to the paper Limaj hinted at the possibility of no steps being undertaken until the Democratic Party of Kosovo (LDK) concludes its own elections process. “There are certain procedures that need to be followed, consultations with the president and I believe the LDK will also undergo the process it is expected to. I hope however that the next week will be the time when this issue will be resolved,” he said.

Thaci: A functional government as soon as possible (media)

The President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci has started his consultations with the political parties with regards to the developments after the resignation of the Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj. He met on Tuesday two political parties of non-majority communities respectively representatives of the KTDP and of VAKAT, from 6+ parliamentary group, Minister Mahir Yagcilar and MP’s Duda Balje and Bahrim Sabani.

Thaçi said that a need arises now for concrete steps in conformity with the Constitution and the laws of Kosovo to have in place a functional and effective government as soon as possible.

“This government must reflect the will of political parties for a new governing solution or a new electoral process and to make it possible for Kosovo to get a government as soon as it is possible,” he was quoted as saying in a press release issued by the Office of the President.

Meetings with other political parties will continue in the coming days, depending on the agenda and developments within respective political parties.

President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, will be meeting today with Valdete Daka, Central Election Commission President, in order to continue the consultations for the further steps needed in these new circumstances.

Thaci with formula against elections (Zeri)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has yet to meet leaders of the main parliamentary parties after Ramush Haradinaj’s resignation as Prime Minister. Thaci met on Tuesday with representatives of “smaller” political parties and he implied that a new governing structure could be formed, despite the fact that parties are calling for early parliamentary elections.

After meeting KDTP and Vakat representatives, Thaci said a new governing solution must be found or there should be a new election cycle so that Kosovo can have a new government as soon as possible. The paper also notes that representatives of opposition parties have said they will go to a meeting called by the President only if it is about early general elections.

Mustafa: LDK will win the national elections in September (media)

Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader Isa Mustafa took to Facebook on Tuesday to say that his party will win “the national elections in September”. “The LDK will not form a coalition with those that don’t deserve this, but we will also not hold pathological hatred against anyone. Because people from every political party are people of Kosovo with different ideas, they are our people,” Mustafa wrote.

LDK discusses internal elections and dissolution of Assembly (Indeksoline)

The leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Isa Mustafa, held on Tuesday a meeting with the leadership of this political party. LDK deputy leader Lutfi Haziri, was the only one to give a statement to the media after the two-hour meeting.

“LDK leader consulted close leadership on two issues: fall of the government and discussions from the next week with the leadership of the Assembly, in order to move towards dissolution. The second issue concerns the internal election process, which will finalise on Saturday, 3 August, when the leader of the LDK will be elected,” Haziri said.

Names of the candidates will be announced on the same day of elections.

Albanian PM Rama speaks about Haradinaj’s resignation (Indeksonline)

Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama was asked by reporters to comment on Ramush Haradinaj’s resignation from the post of prime minister after receiving invitation for interview by the Specialist Chambers.

Rama said he valued Haradinaj’s contribution during the conflict in Kosovo but that “whether he resigns or not that is a political and tactical question.”

Sejdiu: LDK, VV should join forces to form new government (media)

Kosovo Assembly independent member Korab Sejdiu said in an interview to T7 on Tuesday that the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and Vetevendosje (VV) should join forces and form the new government. “These two parties have enough capacities to offer a governance that is both brave and intelligent,” Sejdiu said. He also said that the two biggest opposition parties should not focus on who will get the post of Prime Minister in a new government. “Their priority should be to take the country out of the current crisis,” he added.

Fatmir Sejdiu wants to run again for post of LDK leader (media)

Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) former leader, Fatmir Sejdiu, told RTV Dukagjini on Tuesday that he plans to run again for the post of party leader but that he has yet to submit a formal candidacy. Sejdiu said he wanted to run for the post even in 2015 but that he was “obstructed”. He also said he fears that current LDK leader Isa Mustafa will try to remove the competition at the upcoming LDK general convention on August 3.

Serbia submits extradition request for Tomor Morina (media)

Serbia’s Ministry of Justice confirmed to the Serbian news agency Tanjug that it has submitted to North Macedonia the request for extradition of the former KLA member Tomor Morina.

Morina was arrested last week at the Bllace border crossing, based on an Interpol arrest warrant. He is sought by Serbia for war crimes against Serb civilians in Kosovo.

Jetlir Zyberaj from the Kosovo’s Foreign Ministry denied there is a possibility of Morina being extradited to Serbia. He said they are working through diplomatic and institutional channels to ensure Morina’s quick release.

At the same time North Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Osmani, said he plans to visit Tomor Morina at the facility he is being kept since arrest. “Morina should be released. It is truly terrifying what has happened because this affects relations between North Macedonia and Kosovo,” Osmani is quoted as saying for Alsat-M media.

He dismissed allegations of politically interfering in judicial issues saying that the only pressure is for the Ministry of Justice to accelerate the procedure. “This issue needs to be resolved and not have the same be repeated and not find ourselves at a crossroads between Serbia and Kosovo. We want good relations with Serbia but not through Kosovo,” Osmani said further.

Kurti seeks recognition of Israel and Palestine (media)

Vetevendosje Movement leader Albin Kurti held a speech at the meeting of the Socialist International that is being held in Ramallah and Tel Aviv. He said that both Palestine and Israel have not recognized independence of Kosovo and added that they will unite by recognizing it.

He called for a solution of the conflict between these two nations in Middle East saying this helps peace in the world. “According to the polls, population in both countries, Israel and Palestine, prefer the solution of two countries,” Kurti said.