Serbian List boycott postpones voting on new government (dailies)
Several media report that nine MPs representing the Serbian List boycotted the Monday afternoon session of the Kosovo Assembly that was expected to vote on the new government. Zeri reports that, following recommendations from Belgrade, the Serbian List is now demanding four ministries and the post of Deputy Prime Minister. The List also has put forth additional conditions associated with the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue, privatization, and the Community/Association of Serb-majority municipalities. Citing unidentified sources, the paper also notes that Marko Djuric, head of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo, met on Monday afternoon with Serbian List MPs in Raska, Serbia. According to the same sources, the Serbian Government does not want the Serbian List to join a government led by Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader Isa Mustafa. According to Tribuna, the Serbian List is insisting on four conditions for joining the coalition government: the post of Deputy Director of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency; Deputy Commander of the Kosovo Security Force; a suspension of the privatization process in Serb-majority areas; and the establishment of the Community/Association of Serb-majority municipalities.
Thaçi: Vetevendosje, AAK and NISMA offered to join us (Epoka e Re)
Hashim Thaci, leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), stated during his speech at the Kosovo Assembly session on Monday that all three opposition parties, namely the Vetevendosje Movement, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), offered to join a coalition government led by the PDK. “I have their offers in my office,” Thaci said. Opposition parties harshly rejected Thaci’s claims.
Kadriu resigns from PDK (dailies)
Margarita Kadriu, the deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), has resigned from her party functions, six months after entering politics. Kadriu said she realized that there is no chance for positive change, which was the reason she had decided to join the political arena in the first place. However, Kadriu will keep her seat at the Assembly as an independent MP.
Lunacek continues visit to Kosovo (Kosovapress)
The European Parliament Rapporteur on Kosovo, Ulrike Lunacek, will continue her visit to Kosovo today and meet a group of Kosovo women MPs. She is also expected to attend today’s Assembly session. In the afternoon, Lunacek will hold a press conference.
Ministry shuts down illegal energy operator in north (Koha)
The Ministry of Local Government has annulled a decision by the Zubin Potok Municipal Assembly to establish a public company that would supply energy to the four northern municipalities. The Ministry said the Municipal Assembly’s decision was invalid because it superseded competencies laid out in Article 17 of the Law on Local Self-Government. A spokesperson for the Kosovo Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) told the paper that any energy operator that wishes to work in Kosovo needs to be registered with the ERO.
