Ruling coalition without agreement on government reshuffle yet (Koha)
The paper reports on its front page that partners of the ruling coalition have yet to reach an agreement on the government reshuffle after the election of Hashim Thaci as President of Kosovo. Sources within the coalition told the paper that it has already been decided that Hajredin Kuci will become Deputy Prime Minister and Enver Hoxhaj will become Foreign Minister. The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has yet to reply to the offer of the Kosovo Democratic Party (PDK) to take up the Ministry of Justice. The PDK in return would get the Ministry of the Kosovo Security Force.
Mustafa denies reports of a new Serb-majority municipality (dailies)
Prime Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa denied recent media reports that a new Serb-majority municipality will be created in Kosovo. Bota Sot quotes Mustafa as saying that such reports are attempts to destabilize Kosovo and added that there are no talks underway for creating the new municipality of Prilluzhe. At the same time, the Serbian List leader Slavko Simic told Tirana-based Top Channel that they will insist in the creation of a pilot municipality of Prilluzhe and will soon formalize their request.
“Kosovo will seek compensation from Serbia for last war” (Kosovapress)
Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio, Edita Tahiri, told the Pristina-based news site Kosovapress that Kosovo will have a new agenda in the political talks with Serbia. “We have made public a list of topics we are interested to discuss. The first is border demarcation with Serbia, second is the dissolving of all Serbian parallel structures in Kosovo which is also a fundamental condition for the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. Then we have the issue of missing persons, the return of the pension fund for all pensioners from the time of former Yugoslavia. We will also seek compensation from Serbia for the major damages and losses caused during the last war. The final process is the mutual recognition between the two countries,” Tahiri said.
Veseli starts battle to take over PDK leadership (Zeri)
In a front-page story the paper reports that after the resignation of Hashim Thaci as leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), the Executive Council of the PDK on Wednesday will set the date for holding the general convention which will elect the new leader of the PDK. This convention is expected to be held in late April or early May. According to PDK officials, Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli is the only serious candidate to take over the party’s leadership.
Mustafa: Solving the political killings, priority for government (Zeri)
Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, through a Facebook post has listed his government’s priorities for this year. He said the relevant authorities will initiate: compensation for war damages, resolving of all cases of missing persons, solving the political killings and electoral reform. “The fulfilling of these objectives is in the interest of the country, citizens and all political entities,” Mustafa said.
Fire set to LDK Beqiri’s car (RTK)
A car owned by the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) parliamentary group head Ismet Beqiri was set alight in the early morning hours in Pristina. Beqiri confirmed the news adding that the vehicle was used for the needs of the LDK parliamentary group. He said this was a criminal act and called on law enforcement authorities to solve the case as soon as possible.
Demolli: Political crisis delaying creation of armed forces (Kosova Sot)
Kosovo Security Force Minister Haki Demolli urged political parties to make efforts to find a solution to the current crisis saying that it is directly affecting important processes for Kosovo, including the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force into the Kosovo Armed Forces.
Kosovo’s Ministry of Trade warns to block Serbian trucks (Koha)
In one of its front-page stories, the paper reports that the Kosovo government has given a deadline by the end of March to Serbian authorities to recognize the ADR certificates issued by Kosovo’s institutions that are needed for the transport of dangerous material such as oil products or natural gas. The paper recalls that Serbian authorities had also blocked Kosovo trucks carrying juice products from entering its territory, but then it revoked the decision several days prior to the CEFTA meeting in Brussels. A senior representative of Kosovo’s Ministry of Trade told the paper that if Serbia does not recognize the ADR certificates, Pristina will introduce reciprocity measures and block Serbian trucks from entering Kosovo’s territory.
“Serbian elections will be held in Kosovo too” (Zeri)
The Serbian List parliamentary group chief, Slavko Simic, told the paper that Serbian elections will be held again this year in Kosovo, same as in 2012 and 2014. He did not want to comment on the statements of Minister without portfolio Edita Tahiri who said that Serbian elections will not be held in Kosovo, saying that Tahiri does not decide on these issues. “It is obviously in the interest of democracy that the elections are held also in Serb-majority municipalities,” Simic said. He also said there were no discussions with the Albanian political leaders in this regard, because “the organization of these elections will be made by the OSCE.” Kosovo government spokesperson Arban Abrashi said the government did not discuss this issue yet but “it will act in accordance with international standards.”
