• Kurti: Date for formation of government not set by president (Koha)

• Mustafa: Elections have not produced absolute but relative winners (media)

• Haradinaj: Kurti is a cheater, will fail to form government (media)

• PDK elects new presidency (RTK)

• Pacolli to Vucic: let people celebrate in peace (media)

• Haradinaj denies murder in Gjilan was member of his close protection team (media)

Kurti: Date for formation of government not set by president (Koha)

Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) leader Albin Kurti said the date for the formation of the new government is not determined by the president of Kosovo. “The president sets the date for constitution of the Assembly and not that for formation of the government. For me the date is determined by the LDK,” Kurti said.

Speaking at the Vetevendosje General Council meeting, Kurti announced that there will be meetings with LDK in the upcoming period aimed at reaching an agreement for jointly forming the new government.

Kurti also said that LDK was offered a post which the voters entrusted LVV with, that of Assembly speaker, but that the party refused it. “80 days were not enough to reach an agreement because there were demands exceeding the mandate. We have received a clear message in elections to have yesterday’s opposition become the future government.”

He said efforts will be underway to reach a coalition agreement. “We don’t like unnecessary obstacles. We would not be LVV if we didn’t work the way the citizens want. We don’t have time to lose because we have no developed economy, no good healthcare services and intervention is needed in almost all sectors,” he said.

Mustafa: Elections have not produced absolute but relative winners (media)

Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Isa Mustafa said that the party is engaged in reaching a coalition agreement with the Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) in line with election results.

“In these elections, LVV has come out as a relative winner with 29 MPs and LDK as the second party with 28 MPs. Elections have not produced an absolute winner which gives or is generous to the other party but we have a situation where the responsibility is divided between those aiming to become partners in the future governance,” Mustafa wrote on Facebook.

He called on LVV to renounce statements alleging that it has been generous to LDK. “LDK has not asked for mercy but offered readiness to serve the citizens in full partnership in proportion with mandates in the Assembly. LDK does not set dates. The dates are determined by the first party in the polls, that which gets the mandate for forming the Government. However, LDK insists on formation of institutions as soon as possible and this does not mean to say LDK will necessarily become part of the government.”

Mustafa further said it is an obligation of the leading party to avoid delays. “We did our job, we unblocked the process despite not having had an agreement or notification that LVV would proceed with Assembly Speaker.”

Haradinaj: Kurti is a cheater, will fail to form government (media)

Acting Prime Minister of Kosovo and leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj called Vetevendosje Movement (LVV) leader Albin Kurti a ‘cheater’ and said that he will not improve the situation in education, economy or healthcare.

“The concept he represents in politics is a deceit. He has pursued the populist form of winning votes, he has chosen confrontation and damage of what has been built,” Haradinaj said at the AAK’s extraordinary council. He said he believed Kurti will not manage to form the government.

PDK elects new presidency (RTK)

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) held a meeting of the Steering Council and elected the presidency consisting of 25 members.

PDK leader Kadri Veseli said the internal election process was open, transparent and democratic. “We as a political force have values, history and pride in state-formation and state-building and we will not cease working for the country, the citizens and Euro-Atlantic values,” Veseli said.

The presidency includes Kadri Veseli – leader and members: Abelard Tahiri, Bajrush Xhemaili, Bedri Hamza, Betim Gjoshi, Blerta Deliu, Donjet Bislimi, Eliza Hoxha, Elmi Recica, Enver Hoxhaj, Ganimete Musliu, Fehmi Mujota, Florete Zejnullahu, Hajredin Kuci, Ilir Kurtishi, Luljeta Veseli-Gutaj, Memli Krasniqi, Migjen Kelmendi, Muzafer Shala, Safete Hadergjonaj, Sami Lushtaku, Shaqir Totaj, Uran Ismaili, Valdete Idrizi, and Xhavit Haliti. They will serve a four-year mandate.

Pacolli to Vucic: let people celebrate in peace (media)

Kosovo’s Acting Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli said he strongly objects statements of the Serbian President Aleksadnar Vucic and other Serbian politicians on Serb Churches and Monasteries in Kosovo. He said Kosovo provides best protection for religious premises, even better one than they have in Serbia.

“I would like to make it clear to Belgrade to stop provoking tension in Kosovo and in other countries in the region. The statements today clearly indicate that Belgrade wants to provoke tension in Kosovo before the Orthodox Christmas, in order to manipulate Kosovo Serbs. Law on Religious Freedoms in Kosovo has approval of the Venice Commission, and it is in line with the European standards and now it will be adopted by the Kosovo Assembly,” Pacolli said.

He further called on them to let people have normal and peaceful celebrations. “No politics is needed in religion, let alone from Belgrade, which is known for its tendencies to manipulate Kosovo Serb citizens,” he said.

Haradinaj denies murder in Gjilan was member of his close protection team (media)

Kosovo’s Acting Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj refuted the news published on some media that the police officer V. H., who killed a citizen on Sunday morning in Gjilan, was part of his close protection team.

“Although we condemned the murder of a citizen by a police officer, we called on law enforcement agencies to take the necessary legal action and clarified that the police officer was never part of my close protection team, some media outlets, driven by the propaganda of partition politics, continue to label the slayer as a person close to my name,” Haradinaj wrote on Facebook.

Haradinaj said such campaign running against him, will not stop him defend Kosovo from division and “trades of a handful profiteers.”