Headlines - 01.06.2017

• Thaci: Kosovo has built tradition of free elections (RTK)
• U.S. calls for free and credible elections (Kosova Sot)
• CEC certifies voters’ lists, over 100,000 new voters added (Kosova Sot)
• Poll: PDK-AAK-NISMA lead, VV and LDK-AKR follow (Klan Kosova)
• Thaci “campaigning” for PDK (Zeri)
• Hoxhaj to Vucic: Kosovo was never Serbia’s to begin with (Zeri/Bota Sot)
• Fight against corruption, an unfulfilled criteria for visa liberalization (Koha)
• Gabriel: EU should be more active on supporting Balkans (RTK)
• Daul: EPP supports visa liberalization for Kosovo ASAP (Koha)
• Jablanovic: Shots in Leposavic ordered by SNS and Serbian List (Zeri)
• Serbian List relies on Aleksandar Vucic (RTK)

Thaci: Kosovo has built tradition of free elections (RTK)

The President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, hosted on Wednesday a meeting with the head of Central Election Commission, Valdete Daka and Police General Director, Shpend Maxhuni, who informed him about the preparations for the election process. “Kosovo has built a tradition of free, fair, just and democratic elections, and I am convinced that the next elections will be the same,” Thaci said. “CEC possesses the required experience and professionalism to organize elections of high standards. Kosovo police possesses the required preparation to assure that everything will be quiet and peaceful until the conclusion of elections,” he added. He also called on Kosovo people to participate in elections, and on the political parties to continue with constructive language and fair and quiet competition.

U.S. calls for free and credible elections (Kosova Sot)

In a statement issued at the start of election campaign, the U.S. Embassy in Pristina  called on political parties to ensure free, credible, and peaceful elections. The Embassy said that it would assist in the election process by deploying observation teams on election day but warned that there have already been “credible allegations of intimidation related to the election”. “We strongly condemn anyone attempting to influence the election process or the voters’ choices through these mechanisms.  We expect all citizens, including those aspiring to be the future leaders of Kosovo, to speak out strongly against this type of behavior, and we support the efforts of the Election Task Force and the Kosovo Police in investigating any such reports”, the U.S. Embassy said.

CEC certifies voters’ lists, over 100,000 new voters added (Kosova Sot)

The Central Election Commission (CEC) certified yesterday the final list of voters for 11 June elections. The list contains 1.8 million voters of which over 100,000 are new. The CEC also announced that it had removed around 33,000 dead voters from the 2014 election lists.

Poll: PDK-AAK-NISMA lead, Vetevendosje and LDK-AKR follow (Klan Kosova)

Privately-owned research and polling company, Index Kosova, published its most recent survey regarding the outcome of 11 June elections. Of 986 respondents, 25% said they would vote for the coalition between the Democratic Party (PDK), the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), 17% for Vetevendosje and 16% would opt for the coalition between the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Alternativa and New Kosovo Alliance (AKR).

Thaci “campaigning” for PDK (Zeri)

The paper reports that although legally not politically affiliated, the President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci just days before the official start of election campaign has set on a tour to different parts of Kosovo, especially to strongholds of his former Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK).  Political analysts the paper spoke to said that Thaci should refrain from involvement in any campaign and that his actions could lead up to constitutional violations. Meanwhile, Thaci said his visits to different schools are part of his annual agenda but analysts express concern over the timing of these events.

Hoxhaj to Vucic: Kosovo was never Serbia’s to begin with (Zeri/Bota Sot)

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, reacted to new President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, who said in his swearing-in ceremony that he pledged to keep Kosovo part of Serbia. “Vucic is not only a liar but he is also sending out negative messages to the region by using the same rhetoric towards Kosovo”, Hoxhaj said adding that Kosovo was never part of Serbia. At the same time, Kosovo’s Ambassador to the U.S., Vlora Citaku, accused Vucic of having the same mindset as during Milosevic’s time in power, Bota Sot reports.

Fight against corruption, an unfulfilled criteria for visa liberalization (Koha)

European diplomats refuse to be involved in debates about the potential date of visa liberalization for Kosovo, saying that Kosovars, including their political leaders, should have drawn lessons from the past. “Instead of mentioning often unrealistic dates, Kosovo politicians should focus on meeting the two remaining criteria. In doing so, they would provide a much better service to the visa liberalization process instead of mentioning dates,” an unnamed EU diplomat told the paper’s correspondent in Brussels. The paper also quotes EU officials as saying that nothing will change in terms of visa liberalization for Kosovo until the two remaining criteria – ratification of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro and concrete results in the fight against organized crime and corruption – are met.

Gabriel: EU should be more active on supporting Balkans (RTK)

German Foreign Minister, Sigmar Gabriel, said that the EU should work more in order to make its great support for Western Balkans more visible. He made these comments at the Conference for South-Eastern Europe, held at Check Embassy in Berlin. “It should not happen for instance that a majority of population in Serbia, according to surveys, still believes that Russia is the greatest supporter of the country,” Gabriel said.

Daul: EPP supports visa liberalization for Kosovo ASAP (Koha)

Joseph Daul, President of the European People’s Party (EPP), on the eve of his visit to Kosovo, told the paper that the EPP stands fully behind Kosovo in getting visa liberalization as soon as possible. Commenting on Kosovo’s path toward EU integration, Daul said the EU enlargement has been of the most successful European policies and an efficient tool in promoting freedom, democracy, peace and economic development. “The European People’s Party has always supported all Balkans countries, including Kosovo, which want to become part of the EU, and will continue to encourage such policies in the future”. Daul also said that Kosovo must continue to implement necessary reforms, fight corruption, respect the rule of law and  establish an independent judiciary. “Only then will the economy grow stronger, foreign investments will be attracted and new jobs will be created. This will encourage young people to stay in their country,” he added.

Jablanovic: Shots in Leposavic ordered by SNS and Serbian List (Zeri)

Aleksandar Jablanovic, leader of the youngest Serb political party in Kosovo - the Kosovo Serbs Party (PSK) – held an urgent press conference on Wednesday after shots were fired at PSK premises in Leposavic. Jablanovic blamed the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) led by Aleksandar Vucic and the Serbian List led by Slavko Simic for “ordering the attack with the goal of killing people”. “I say with full responsibility that we believe those behind the attacks are those who have attacked us verbally and physically so far: the Serbian List and the SNS. Those were their bullets,” Jablanovic told reporters.

Serbian List relies on Aleksandar Vucic (RTK)

Slavko Simic, leader of the Serbian List, congratulated on Wednesday Aleksandar Vucic on the occasion of becoming the President of Serbia. “I am convinced that the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue will continue at the high level with Vucic’s election for President of the Republic of Serbia. I hope that we will soon be together to fight for the establishment of the Association of Serb Municipalities,” Simic said.