Next Assembly session on Friday, opposition warns of escalation (dailies)
Despite warnings by opposition parties that calling the next plenary session would be a decision for escalation, the Presidency of the Assembly of Kosovo decided that the next Assembly session will be on Friday at 16:00. Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli has not indicated how he will react if the opposition blocks the work of the Assembly again. “We will provide opportunities to each other to get out of this situation. Nobody has the right to block the work of the Kosovo institutions,” Veseli said. According to him, there should be less violence, less teargas and less undignified behaviour in the Assembly. Meanwhile, representatives of the opposition parties said that it is wrong to call a session as long as there is no decision to annul the recent agreements with Serbia and Montenegro.
Internationals will not interfere in the Assembly (Zeri)
The paper on its front page reports that the representatives of the Quint countries in Pristina will not interfere to solve the political crisis in the Kosovo Assembly, regardless of the fact that the government and the opposition are not managing to agree on the plenary sessions. According to them, the Assembly should carry out its duties, since the people are tired of political confrontations. According to the German Ambassador to Kosovo, Angelika Viets, the people of Kosovo have many other problems and this fact should be sufficient argument to overcome this situation. She also welcomed the intervention of President Atifete Jahjaga in an attempt to find a solution. Representatives of the US Embassy in Pristina also urged political parties to refrain from any threat of violence, and said that the functioning of the Assembly is vital for Kosovo.
Veseli: Politics should pay the price, not people (Epoka e Re)
The President of the Assembly of Kosovo, Kadri Veseli, said in an interview for this daily that opposition parties are using cruel and anti-democratic methods. He said that the Assembly should not fall under the dictate of violence, but return instead to normality and its work, for which it was voted by the people of Kosovo. Veseli called on reasonable voices in the opposition to overcome the situation together. He said that Kosovo has always moved forward when the triangle of Washington-Pristina-Brussels functioned. “This triangle has brought freedom, independence, state building, and strengthening of the international subjectivity. It has also brought the recent agreements for normalization of the relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Leaving this triangle of partnership is the greatest provocation that could be done to Kosovo’s population. But I am deeply convinced that our citizens are politically mature not to pursue this political adventure of the opposition,” Veseli said.
Vetevendosje to apply “creativity” in upcoming Assembly session (Telegrafi)
Vetevendosje MP Faton Topalli, believed to have set off teargas in the last session of the Assembly, said that the opposition will apply “creativity” in the forthcoming session scheduled for Friday. “We will meet and coordinate with the rest of the opposition the next steps,” said Topalli.
US embassy makes calls for renouncement of violence (Koha Ditore)
In a statement to the press, the US Embassy in Kosovo has expressed strong support for the efforts of the Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga to foster dialogue among the parliamentary political parties. “The Parliament is Kosovo’s most important institution and its function is vital to Kosovo’s democracy, prosperity, and security. Only a functioning Assembly can debate and approve the measures needed to improve the lives of Kosovo’s citizens and ensure that Kosovo continues on its path towards Euro-Atlantic integration. We call on all parties to renounce any threats of violence, which are both illegal and not compatible with a modern democratic state,” the US embassy said.
Limaj: Referendum, the only way out (Kosova Sot)
Leader of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) Fatmir Limaj said in an interview for RTV 21 that only a referendum would resolve the current political crisis in Kosovo. He admitted that the Kosovo legislation does not recognise the right to referendum but added that this could be quickly changed. “We can have a law on referendum in two days’ time. The citizens should have a say,” said Limaj.
Serbian List demands punishment for MPs (Zeri)
The Serbian List parliamentary group chief, Slavko Simic, during an interview with the paper demanded the punishment of MPs that are causing incidents in the Assembly, referring to recent cases of throwing teargas in the Assembly hall. “The MPs causing incidents should be removed from the Assembly, in which case this would unblock the work of the Assembly. This is foreseen by Assembly’s Rules of Procedure,” Simic said. In his view it is unacceptable that 30 MPs impede the work of the majority in the Assembly. Simic said that the opposition should be more reasonable and negotiate with representatives of political parties in order to overcome this situation. He also added that the Serbian List doesn’t support early elections.
Thaci: There will be no technical government (RTK)
Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci, said for RTV21 that during the meeting with President Atifete Jahjaga, he told the President that the Kosovo institutions have complete legitimacy in the eyes of the citizens and that violence is not a solution. “We appeal on the opposition to present its arguments at the Assembly. There will be no early elections and no technical government,” Thaci said. He added that “the biggest anti-Albanian headquarters, Serbia’s Academy of Science, has accepted the reality in Kosovo, while the opposition in Kosovo claims that we are working for the benefit of Serbia.”
Collaku: SAA to be signed within few days (Epoka e Re)
Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Bekim Collaku, stated that the Stabilization Association Agreement between Kosovo and the European Union, will be signed within a few days. He told Kosovapress that this agreement will change completely Kosovo’s reflection towards the EU. “I can say that signing of SAA is the turning point with respect to the European integration…It is not any more a matter of weeks or months, but a matter of days,” said Collaku adding that only then Kosovo’s European future is guaranteed. “This will replace the debate from rhetoric to practice,” Collaku said.
Tahiri: Serbs not interested for new energy operator (Zeri)
The paper reports that Serbia until now hasn’t shown any interest in applying to become a new energy operator in Kosovo, as it was foreseen in the Pristina – Belgrade agreement on energy. Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio, Edita Tahiri, told the paper that two Serb companies were supposed to apply immediately after this agreement was reached on 25 August. “These are new companies. We expect them to apply at the Kosovo Business Registration Agency. Until now, they didn’t submit their applications… they are late. They have to apply according to Kosovo laws. According to the agreement, the companies that will operate in Kosovo have to be established and registered in Kosovo,” Tahiri said. She added that Kosovo already notified the EU regarding this issue.
