Kosovo has entered a critical phase
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
President Atifete Jahjaga considers that Kosovo has entered a critical phase and its stability has started to shake.
“The country has now entered a critical phase when we are risking to enter a deep budgetary and financial, and not only political crisis. Without constitution of the Assembly we will not be able to adopt the Law on Budget expected to happen by the end of November, and this implies that we cannot guarantee state’s functioning,” President Jahjaga’s spokesperson Arbër Vllahiu told Radio Free Europe.
He said that President urges political party leaders to find a solution for overcoming the crisis related to establishment of institutions.
Thaçi: Government to be formed based on 08 June elections
(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21&KTV)
Caretaker Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi stung AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj saying that the time when Kosovo was governed by leaders who have never managed to win in elections has passed.
Using his Facebook profile, Thaçi reiterated that the new Government will be established based on results of 08 June elections and the Constitutional Court’s verdict.
“The sovereign spoke freely. As expected, the PDK achieved a pure, convincing, and spectacular victory. Unfortunately, five months after elections, building of institutions remains still blocked. The time when Kosovo was governed by leaders who have never managed to win a two-digit percentage of free elections is over for good. The new Government will be established based on the results of 08 June elections and the Constitutional Court’s verdict,” Thaçi wrote on his Facebook profile.
Response of the AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj was immediate, TV21 reported. He reminded Thaçi that establishment of new institutions means that Thaçi should get used to the position of a person in opposition and he must get used to the role that comes with it.
Haradinaj said that Thaçi should give his contribution in solving the political crisis.
“The time has come for Mr Thaçi to give something from him for the interest of Kosovo,” Haradinaj said.
He expects from PDK to become a constructive opposition.
Mustafa: We have sent Thaçi home
(TV21)
LDK leader Isa Mustafa does not believe that entering new elections might aggravate the political crisis further. He said that MPs should be given the chance to form institutions by the parliamentary majority.
In interview with Bota Press, Mustafa said that the parliamentary majority has sent Mr Thaçi home on 17 July.
“General elections bring us to the same position we are in, if not worse. The solution must be found at the Assembly and the chairperson should call continuation of the Assembly constitutive session,” Mustafa said.
Rexhepi: PDK-LDK coalition is the alternative
(TV21)
In an interview with TV21 the PDK deputy chairperson Bajram Rexhepi said that PDK is ready to make compromise with a party of the Bloc for Assembly Speaker’s post just to overcome the political situation created, but not also to compromise for the Prime Minister’s post.
Rexhepi qualified political parties of the Bloc, LDK-AAK-Vetëvendosje and Nisma, as blocking parties in establishment of the institutions. He said that if institutions are not established earlier, than Kosovo should enter elections for which, according to him, PDK is ready.
Rexhepi considers PDK-LDK coalition as an alternative for establishment of institutions.
Journalists call on authorities not to neglect threats and attacks against them
(All monitored broadcasters, Klan Kosova&TV21)
Monday’s attack against Klan Kosova TV station journalist Milot Hasimja, who was stabbed with a knife at his workplace, incited journalism community in Kosovo to protest and seek more safety and protection from threats and attacks against them.
“It is appalling that due to missing protection guaranteed by law a journalist is attacked at his workplace. Unfortunately, this is not the only case. We have 21 similar cases reported by our colleagues and it has been demonstrated that violence cases against journalism is increasing,” said Zekirja Shabani, Head of the Association of Kosovo Journalists, while addressing the protesters.
He called on media owners to implement the law on labour and the law on safety at the working environment.
Constant threats and attacks against journalists are considered as an impingement of the freedom of speech.
Journalists that took part in the protest called on rule of law bodies not to neglect threats and attacks against journalists, but to investigate them with priority. They demanded more institutional accountability for journalists.
The two international organizations dealing with journalism and world media freedom, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Reporters Without Borders, condemned the attack against Klan Kosova TV station journalist Milot Hasimja.
They called for protection of journalists in Kosovo, as this is not the first case, Klan Kosova reported.
