PDK deputy leader Hoxhaj calls the opposition to dialogue (Koha)
In its leading front-page story, the paper reports that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has made a public offer to the opposition to negotiate a solution to the current crisis. In an interview for KTV on Tuesday, PDK deputy leader Enver Hoxhaj said, “stability needs to be restored in the country and the PDK is ready to sit with the opposition and hold discussions be it on election reform, the election of the president directly by the people, constitutional amendments and also topics covered in the dialogue with Serbia”. Hoxhaj called on the opposition to distance themselves from violence in and outside the Kosovo Assembly. He also said that early parliamentary elections are unacceptable and insisted that the government led by Isa Mustafa will carry out its mandate to the end.
Initiative for Kosovo renounces use of teargas in the Assembly (Insajderi)
The Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), one of the parties of the opposition front, has renounced the use of teargas in the Kosovo Assembly. Bajram Hasani, a member of the NISMA chairmanship, told Tribuna Channel on Tuesday: “We believe that we can no longer use the same methods, especially the use of teargas in the Kosovo Assembly. We need to protest and oppose this government and we must also be adamant about early elections. The use of teargas has not produced the necessary effects and we need to change our methods from now on”.
Three international experts to review border demarcation (Kosova Sot)
President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga has finalized plans for setting up an “ad-hoc” commission to look into the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. According to the Tirana-based Top Channel, Jahjaga is expected to appoint three international experts to the commission by early next week.
Haradinaj against new commission on border-demarcation (RTK)
The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, reacted to reports that President Atifete Jahjaga has established a commission to review the border-demarcation agreement with Montenegro. Haradinaj said such commission should not be created if it will function under the auspices of the current government. “Therefore, any group of experts can be acceptable only if it is completely independent and if its work will be supervised by a new government that will emerge after new elections,” Haradinaj said.
Le Figaro: Thaci could stand accused by special court (Telegrafi)
The French daily paper Le Figaro published an article on Tuesday claiming that serious allegations of abuse of Serb and Roma prisoners could lead to an indictment against Kosovo’s president-elect Hashim Thaci by the special court. The paper writes that one of the witnesses that could be called to testify about the alleged crimes during 1999-2000 is then-UNMIK chief, Bernard Kouchner. “I cannot say that Kouchner knew of organ trafficking but it is impossible that he did not have information about criminal organisations in Kosovo,” a former UNMIK police commander told the French paper.
PDK steering committee to meet today (Epoka e Re)
The steering committee of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) will meet today at 17:00 hours for the first time since Hashim Thaci’s election as President of Kosovo. The steering committee is expected to set the date for the Convention of the party that will elect the new leader. PDK secretary, Basri Musmurati, said they will express appreciation to Thaci for all the work that he did for the party during all these years. Based on the statute of the PDK, the deputy leader will assume the leader’s duties until the election of the new leader.
