UNMIK Headlines 1 December
LDK & PDK expected to sign final agreement this week (Koha/Zeri)
The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) are in their final phase of consultations and are expected to sign their power-sharing agreement this week, Koha Ditore reports. Representatives of both parties denied having any disagreements between them. Unidentified sources told the paper that the PDK aims to keep the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Development and some others. Zeri reports that the PDK is expected to have eight ministries and the LDK seven. The paper also notes that minority communities want to have four ministries: two for Serbs, one for the Turkish community and one for the Bosniaks.
President’s post, part of PDK-LDK negotiations (Tribuna)
On the front page, the paper reports that one of the scenarios prepared by the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) on dividing government posts also includes the post of President of Kosovo. Although President Atifete Jahjaga’s mandate is set to expire in 2016, the PDK-LDK plan is for her to gradually relinquish her powers so that by the middle of next year, she can step down. The post of the Kosovo President is then expected to go to PDK. If this scenario fails, the parties will go to Plan B, which foresees the establishment of a broad-based government with a limited mandate.
Merkel’s associate meets Thaci & Mustafa (Kosova Sot)
Andreas Schockenhoff, a German MP from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and one of the closest associates of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, met yesterday with the leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Hashim Thaci, and the leader of Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Isa Mustafa. The focus during the separate meetings with Kosovo leaders was the forming of new institutions. The paper reports that Germany was believed to have played a key role in the reaching of the coalition agreement between PDK and LDK.
European diplomats surprised by political developments in Kosovo (Koha)
The paper reports on the front page that, in the eyes of many European diplomats, Isa Mustafa, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), is an enigmatic person. Mustafa recently participated in many high-level meetings of the European People’s Party, but participants there described him as “very withdrawn and silent”. Unnamed European diplomats, who are familiar with political developments in Kosovo, told the paper that it is difficult for them to understand LDK’s decision to enter into a coalition with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK).
Edita Tahiri to lead technical dialogue again? (Epoka)
Edita Tahiri, leader of the Democratic Alternative of Kosovo (ADK), told the paper that she doesn’t know what role she will have in the new government of Kosovo and that she is waiting for the final agreement between the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). Tahiri could neither confirm nor deny whether she will lead the Kosovo delegation in technical talks with Belgrade in Brussels.
Former KLA member arrested in France (Zeri)
Genc Zogaj, a former member of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), who lives in France, was arrested by Interpol on Friday based on an arrest warrant issued by Serbian authorities. Zogaj is charged for alleged murder, kidnapping and terrorist acts against Serb civilians in Gjilan/Gnjilane, in June 1999. The paper recalls that in 2001 Zogaj was arrested by UNMIK for allegedly killing two people, kidnapping six persons and committing terrorist acts. He was later acquitted of all charges.