Thaci urges inter-party cooperation (Tribuna)
Outgoing Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, is quoted as saying that all political leaders interested in building new institutions should communicate, cooperate and reach a stable institutional solution. “We need to make haste and work faster in reaching an inter-party agreement as soon as possible and respond to the President’s invitation for a joint meeting”, said Thaci. He added that no political leader should think of personal or party interests and should focus instead on the interests of the people of Kosovo. Thaci made the comments in a reception on the occasion of Kosovo’s acceptance to the International Olympic Committee.
Rexhepi: We’d give up post of assembly speaker, but not PM post (Bota Sot)
Bajram Rexhepi, deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), said on Tuesday that his party is ready to reach a compromise with any party of the coalition bloc on the post of Assembly Speaker but not the post of Prime Minister. In an interview for RTV21, Rexhepi said the coalition bloc is blocking the formation of new institutions. Rexhepi argued in favor of a coalition between the PDK and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). He also said he hopes parties that joined against the PDK will change their position; otherwise, the country would go to new elections.
Political dialogue to resume after formation of new government (Epoka)
Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister, Edita Tahiri, who leads technical dialogue with Serbia in Brussels, said on Tuesday that political dialogue between the two sides would resume after the formation of new institutions in Kosovo. Tahiri said that technical dialogue meanwhile is going normally.
EULEX chief prosecutor did not allow investigations (Koha)
In the third part of a report about “strong suspicion for corruption in EULEX”, the paper reports on the front page that EULEX chief prosecutor Jaroslava Novotna did not allow investigations against Francesco Florit, former chairman of the EULEX Assembly of Judges, despite the fact that she had sufficient evidence. A EULEX officer had reportedly insisted to carry out the investigations but he was ordered not to do so by now former EULEX chief Bernd Borchardt. One day later, EULEX had initiated investigations against prosecutor Maria Bamieh who had secured evidence for corruption inside the EU mission.
Northerners fail to respect budgetary limits (Koha)
The municipalities of Zvecan, Leposavic, Zubin Potok and North Mitrovica have adopted their municipal budgets without respecting limits set out by budget planning 2015/01 and 02 by the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry then turned back the budgets asking the municipalities to harmonize them with budget planning. Meanwhile, Albanian councilors in Mitrovica North told the paper that the municipal budget is discriminatory against Albanians and that their requests have not been taken into account.
Protest against lack of safety for reporters (dailies)
Reporters from all media in Kosovo protested on Tuesday in downtown Pristina against violence and threats made against them, especially against the recent stabbing of Klan Kosova reporter Milot Hasimja. Reporters called on law enforcement authorities to undertake necessary measures in order to create a safe environment for reporters to do their job.
