Headlines - 10.08.2017

• PAN delaying Assembly’s constitution, waits for AKR to come on board (Koha)
• Pacolli: LDK and Vetevendosje have ten days to agree on a coalition (RTK)
• Veliu “slightly surprised” by Pacolli’s statement (Telegrafi/Express)
• Hoti: LAA waiting for its turn to form new government (Kosova Sot)
• Court to fine and release group of Serb and Russian nationals (Koha Ditore) 

Kosovo Media Highlights

PAN delaying Assembly’s constitution, waits for AKR to come on board (Koha)  

Kosovo Assembly will not be constituted today because of the boycott of the PAN coalition, the paper writes on the front page. PAN has requested for another consultative meeting and for scheduling the next Assembly session sometime next week which the paper says coincides with the ultimatum the leader of the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR), Behgjet Pacolli, has given to the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and Vetevendosje to come up with a list of their MPs who support the idea of an “alternative” government as that of PAN’s Ramush Haradinaj. If this list doesn’t make a majority, Pacolli could shift position and vote for PAN, the paper reports adding that the first sign of this changing position was evident in a meeting Pacolli had with PAN’s candidate for prime minister, Ramush Haradinaj. Pacolli told the paper that the two did not discuss sharing government posts but the concept of a broad-based government.

Pacolli: LDK and Vetevendosje have ten days to agree on a coalition (RTK)

Leader of the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR), Behgjet Pacolli, said his party will take on a constructive stance and make the first step towards resolving the political deadlock following the failure of the Kosovo Assembly to elect president. Pacolli said he met the leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Isa Mustafa, and will also meet Vetevendosje’s candidate for prime minister, Albin Kurti, and that the message he passed on is: “You have ten days to reach agreement amongst yourselves and if you are not ready to form a government I don’t see what is the purpose of me staying in the [LAA] coalition,” Pacolli said. He reiterated his idea of a broad-based government that would tackle the most urgent issues such as border demarcation with Montenegro and visa liberalisation during a one-year period after which Kosovo would head to new elections.

Veliu “slightly surprised” by Pacolli’s statement (Telegrafi/Express)

Deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Agim Veliu, told Express he was slightly surprised by the statement of the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) leader, Behgjet Pacolli, that he gave LDK and Vetevendosje a ten-day ultimatum to form a coalition or he would leave LAA. Veliu said the LAA coalition has so far been united in opposing a coalition with PAN but that “neither Pacolli nor anyone else for that matter can issue ultimatums to LDK. We have our leadership and take our own decisions”, Veliu said.

Hoti: LAA waiting for its turn to form new government (Kosova Sot)

LAA coalition’s candidate for prime minister, Avdullah Hoti, called on PAN to publicly admit it does not have sufficient votes to form new institutions and pass the turn to LAA which would do so by reaching coalitions with other parties, except the PDK.

Court to fine and release group of Serb and Russian nationals (Koha Ditore)

The Basic Court in Pristina has decided to fine a group of five Serb and six Russian nationals and to release them after the prosecutor failed to secure evidence that the group is part of a larger network. Each defendant will have to pay a fine of €250 plus court expenses. The group was arrested Tuesday by the Kosovo Police for illegal border crossing.