Opposition thinking of challenging Thaci’s election (Koha Ditore)
The opposition is expected to challenge the election of Hashim Thaci as President of Kosovo before the Constitutional Court. Although officially the opposition representatives said they are still assessing the election process, the paper reports that they will seek the opinion of the Constitutional Court on the issue of quorum based on the previous ruling on Pacolli case and the voting commission where all the opposition parties did not take part except Ilir Deda from Vetevendosje. Visar Ymeri, Vetevendosje leader, said they are having consultations with the other two opposition parties and legal experts and will soon come out with a concrete position on the matter.
Djuric denies Serbian List MPs voted for Thaci (Koha)
Director of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric, denied reports that the MPs from the Serbian List voted in favour of Hashim Thaci’s election as President of Kosovo. He said the Serbian List MPs were present at the voting as they could not be out on the streets with Vetevendosje protesters but did not vote for Thaci. Djuric also dismissed reports that he met Thaci in a Pristina restaurant ahead of his election.
Several offices of the LDK attacked throughout Kosovo (dailies)
Several offices of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) have been targeted in the past two days by unknown persons, dailies report. The LDK headquarters in Pristina was attacked on Saturday, where masked persons broke the windows of these offices. Kosovo Police confirmed that two LDK offices were damaged in Pristina while the rest of the attacks took place in Peja, Gjilan and Mitrovica, Istog, and Gjakova. The LDK branch in Pristina has reacted by saying the attacks were done in an organized way “by bandits, people of chaos, anarchy and violence.” Also the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) condemned the attacks, saying these actions were carried out by those who, through intimidation and violence, are aiming to take power.
UN SG Ban appeals for refraining from violence in Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern with the violence and inciting rhetoric used by the opposition in Kosovo to prevent the work of the Assembly and called on all those responsible to refrain from undermining democracy and the use of violence. Such actions are unacceptable and have no place in a democratic society, said SG Ban in his quarterly report on Kosovo, expected to be discussed by the Security Council on Monday. Kosovo will be represented in the meeting by its ambassador to the US, Vlora Citaku, confirmed the government of Kosovo. At the same time, Serbia is expected to be represented by its Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic.
First indictments of special court to be filed in September (Kosova Sot)
The paper reports that the first indictments of the special court against the former KLA members are expected to be filed in September this year. This was confirmed by unnamed source within Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The source said since the agreement on the establishment of special court for war crimes was promulgated by President Atifete Jahjaga a few weeks ago, the court will become operational in September.
