- PAN and AKR reach coalition deal (dailies)
- Mustafa: No one won, early elections inevitable (Telegrafi)
- Vetevendosje and LDK discuss coalition prospects (Koha Ditore)
- Vucic: We discuss with Pristina everywhere, but under EU’s supervision (RFE)
- Kosovo’s Foreign Ministry confirms entry ban against Serbian officials (Koha)
- Serbia asks EULEX to “protect” war crime suspect (Koha Ditore)
- Dehari’s death: Expertise concludes security footage has not been altered (dailies)
Kosovo Media Highlights
PAN and AKR reach coalition deal (dailies)
Most papers report today that the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) led by Behgjet Pacolli reached a coalition deal with PAN yesterday, shortly after Pacolli terminated the pre-election coalition deal with the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). Koha Ditore reports on the front page that according to the coalition deal with PAN, AKR will lead five ministries in the new government while its leader Pacolli received assurances that he would be voted as the new president of Kosovo once the current term in office for Hashim Thaci comes to an end in 2021. Zeri at the same time recalls Pacolli’s criticism of PAN leaders during the election campaign “which he seems to have forgotten yesterday.” Meanwhile, Epoka e Re hails Pacolli’s move saying he unblocked the political deadlock by joining forces with PAN.
AKR is now expected to take over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Economic Development. Pacolli said the decision to join PAN is part of the effort to avoid further crises. “The processes in which Kosovo is going through require responsibility and I took it on,” Pacolli said.
Mustafa: No one won, early elections inevitable (Telegrafi)
The leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Isa Mustafa, commented on the coalition deal between the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) and PAN saying it was a result of PAN’s “daily pressure” and “very generous offer” to AKR. “What is clear from this coalition is that no one won,” Mustafa wrote on Facebook adding that it was Kosovo that lost the most from this deal which will inevitably collapse and in six months’ time new elections will be called.
Vetevendosje and LDK discuss coalition prospects (Koha Ditore)
The decision of the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) to part ways with the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has not prevented the latter from meeting representatives of Vetevendosje and Alternativa in an attempt to reach a coalition agreement. LDK’s Avdullah Hoti said they plan to step up efforts and meet more frequently with Vetevendosje officials and try to agree to a joint platform while Vetevendosje’s Dardan Sejdiu hailed the decision to intensify talks with the LDK saying that Kosovo does not need a government based on numbers but one that focuses on a meaningful platform.
Vucic: We discuss with Pristina everywhere, but under EU’s supervision (RFE)
President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, said that dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo can be held anywhere, but only under the auspices of the European Union. He told the broadcasting network Happy that change of the format of discussions, and inclusion of new factors should be negotiated. Vucic stressed that Serbia’s internal dialogue on Kosovo should take place and that citizens “will not wake up” with the information that Vucic has accepted independence of Kosovo, while Serbia did not gain anything.
Kosovo’s Foreign Ministry confirms entry ban against Serbian officials (Koha)
Kosovo authorities have prevented the head of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric, and Minister of Education, Mladen Sarcevic, from entering Kosovo at the border crossing point in Jarinje. Kosovo’s acting Foreign Minister, Emanuel Demaj, said there was no official request for the visit and as a result the Serbian officials were not allowed to enter Kosovo. However, Demaj said Djuric was offered police escort into Kosovo but “he had no patience to wait.”
Serbia asks EULEX to “protect” war crime suspect (Koha Ditore)
Serbia’s Liaison Officer to Kosovo, Dejan Pavicevic has called on the EU rule of law mission (EULEX) to protect the rights of Bogdan Mitrovic, accused of war crimes and sent to detention. Pavicevic also called on Kosovo authorities to reinvestigate claims against Mitrovic as “there are no indications he committed war crimes.” Pavicevic made the statements after visiting Mitrovic at the high security prison in Podujeva/Podujevo.
Dehari’s death: Expertise concludes security footage has not been altered (dailies)
The Office of Kosovo’s Chief Prosecutor announced that it has received the findings of the expertise into the video footage from security cameras in the detention centre in Prizren at the time of the death of Vetevendosje activist Astrit Dehari confirming that the tapes have not been tampered with. The tapes were sent to the Austrian authorities back in February to determine whether there were parts that were edited or deleted.
