Neither a meeting nor an agreement on barricades (Koha)
The meeting between Pristina and Belgrade in Brussels, called by Baroness Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, to discuss the created situation in Mitrovica after the establishment of the new barricade at the River Iber/Ibar, did not bring any concrete results. Furthermore, notes the paper, the meeting between the two parties did not even happen. Instead, representatives of Baroness Ashton held during the day discussions with each party.
The press release of the Office of the Baroness Ashton says that the two parties met on 11 July in Brussels at the invitation of the High Representative and discussed all issues related to the Mitrovica bridge, following the latest tension there. “They agreed to form a working group to this end. The working group will meet on 22 July in Brussels. We urge both parties to refrain from any action on and in the vicinity of the Mitrovica main bridge and other bridges without prior agreement” continues the press release.
However, the paper notes that both Pristina and Belgrade representatives stated that they did not hold any joint meeting and they even refused to shake hands when they met in the corridor. “We have come as a delegation with representatives from many ministries and we were prepared. However, Belgrade sent only Marko Djuric, which proves that Serbian party is not interested to reach an agreement,” said Edita Tahiri, the outgoing Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo.
Marko Djuric, head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija at the Government of Serbia, stated that works at the Peace Park will continue.
Isa Mustafa definitely candidate for Assembly Speaker (dailies)
The General Council of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), endorsed on Friday the reached agreement for co-governance with the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the Citizens Initiative (NISMA) which foresees proposal of LDK leader Isa Mustafa for the post of the Assembly Speaker. With 84 votes for, six abstentions and no vote against, members of the LDK General Council said “yes” to the coalition.
Cliff: We do not interfere on creation of the government (dailies)
Ian Cliff, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Pristina stated for Radio Dukagjini that none of the political leaders in Kosovo should expect interference of the international community on creation of the new government of Kosovo. According to him, both Europeans and Americans are firm: Kosovars should resolve their political problems in their own. “Political parties should now cooperate closely, without any international interference, to create their new government. We do not know at this moment who is going to create it, but we, as Great Britain expect cooperation,” said Cliff.
Rakic: Open call for conflict (Zeri)
Goran Rakic, mayor of Mitrovica North, stated that the announcement of some the Albanian advisers of the Assembly of Mitrovica North, that they would block the roads in “Bosniacka Mahala” if Serbs block the roads and build squares close to River Iber/Ibar, are nothing else but an open call for conflict and inter-ethnic non-tolerance. Referring to one of the Albanian advisers, Rakici noted that “Cimili’s announcement that Albanians would interrupt the traffic and condition the movement in some neighborhoods only with special permissions, cannot be considered anything else but a call of Albanians to oppose the legal decisions of Mitrovica North municipal bodies,” wrote Rakic in a press release.
Mustafa: Vetevendosje should support us without conditions (Zeri)
Isa Mustafa, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), said in an interview for this daily that he is not certain whether deputies of the Vetevendosje movement would vote for the opposition coalition. “They have set some conditions which we are discussing, not in the sense for us to accept them but in the sense of considering what is more important. Is it more important for Vetevendosje to set conditions and block election of Assembly Speaker and the government or to leave the conditions aside for now and conclude some issues,” said Mustafa.
