Major political parties to meet on election date (Tribuna)
Leaders of the biggest political parties in Kosovo are expected to meet next week to discuss the date for parliamentary elections. The paper reports that political leaders will also try to achieve consensus on the mandate of the EU rule-of-law mission (EULEX) and the eventual war crimes tribunal in Kosovo, whose headquarters and structure have yet to be determined.
Opposition criticizes Thaci for not reporting on Brussels talks (Telegrafi)
It has been a year since Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci last reported before members of parliament for talks in Brussels. Opposition MPs argue that a resolution adopted in parliament obliges Thaci to report on talks. Meanwhile, ruling coalition representatives say Thaci is willing to report to parliament whenever this is required.
LDK MP Eqrem Kryeziu said information about meetings between Pristina and Belgrade delegations in Brussels should come from Thaci. “I prefer receiving first-hand information, from the key stakeholder, the Prime Minister of Kosovo. But I don’t know why he is not reporting in parliament,” he said.
AAK MP Donika Kada-Bujupi said Prime Minister Thaci was avoiding discussions on all national issues. “Just recently we have seen him avoid discussions on budget. He made some decisions by completely ignoring parliament. As far as dialogue is concerned, he was never ready to be transparent and discuss this in parliament,” she added.
Vetevendosje MP Rexhep Selimi said the government has never been accountable to parliament.
Kirby: Kosovo-Crimea analogies are completely wrong (Telegrafi)
In an interview for Belgrade-based Politika newspaper, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia, Michael Kirby, said American diplomacy believes that comparisons between Kosovo and Crimea do not stand, “because the process that led to Kosovo’s independence was completely different from what we are seeing now in Crimea”.
Kirby said Kosovo was an international problem that required the involvement of many parties.
“Our position is clear and we condemn what Russia is doing. The EU has also condemned this. Serbia can do whatever it wants. If we talk about what Serbia should do in the case of Crimea, you should ask yourselves how do you see your territory. Think about your approach toward territorial integrity,” Kirby said.
Demaci: Kosovo Army to deploy in the north too (RTK)
In an interview for RTK, human rights activist Adem Demaci said Kosovo’s Army should deploy in the north too, “if not, this would mean that that part is not Kosovo’s territory”. Demaci also suggested that the European Union should change its approach vis-a-vis Serbia and that with new prime minister Aleksandar Vucic Belgrade would have a completely different policy.
According to Demaci, parallels between Crimea and Kosovo are hypocritical. “These parallels do not stand. There was no war or rebellion in Kosovo. The situation in Crimea was peaceful, whereas we in Kosovo were subject to a wild regime,” he added.
