Headlines - 10.05.2017

• Mustafa not keen on Kosovo heading to elections in June (Telegrafi/RTK)
• U.S. official: Demarcation vote before no-confidence motion (Kosova Sot)
• Prime Minister Mustafa makes last efforts to save government (Koha)
• Government to be tested today (Epoka e Re)
• President could announce new elections on Thursday (Tribuna Channel)
• Arben Gashi: Demarcation cannot be voted prior to the motion (Lajmi)
• Kosovo FMA clarifies: Djuric was permitted entry to Kosovo (Klan Kosova)

Mustafa not keen on Kosovo heading to elections in June (Telegrafi/RTK)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, told RTK that his party would not want to see elections taking place in June. He said that the Muslim holy month of Ramadan falls on June this year and as many people will be fasting, they cannot be called on to attend campaigns and vote. Mustafa said he saw no reason why his coalition partner, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), would support the opposition’s motion of no confidence and accuse the government of lack of decision-making when it is also part of the government.

U.S. official: Demarcation vote before no-confidence motion (Kosova Sot)

The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Hoyt Yee had a telephone conversation yesterday with Kosovo Assembly President Kadri Veseli and stressed the need for the Assembly to vote on the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro prior to the opposition’s no-confidence motion. “In case demarcation is not addressed before the motion against the government, other alternatives need to be looked into,” a statement issued by the Kosovo Assembly reads.

Prime Minister Mustafa makes last efforts to save government (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that the Isa Mustafa-led government will face a motion of no confidence in the Assembly today. Mustafa’s party, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), hopes the government will survive the motion and thus pave way to the vote on the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), LDK’s partner in the ruling coalition, said it will announce its official position on the motion of confidence only several hours before it is discussed in the Assembly. The paper also recalls that so far foreign diplomats in Kosovo have argued against early parliamentary elections saying that the ruling coalition needs to conclude the border demarcation deal with Montenegro and establish the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. Martin Menger, a spokesman for the German Embassy in Pristina, told the paper on Tuesday that Kosovo needs to address its most pressing challenges and that early elections would not bring about major changes.

Government to be tested today (Epoka e Re)

Isa Mustafa’s government will face today the greatest challenge since its establishment. Plenary session which will start at 10:00 hours, foresees voting of the motion of no-confidence on the current government, initiated by Fatmir Limaj’s political party, NISMA and supported by the two other opposition parties, the Vetevendosje Movement and Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), as well as eight MPs of the coalition government. This motion becomes unclear due to the lack of an official position of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and criticism of its officials for the government. PM Mustafa announced that if the government survives this motion, he would proceed the agreement for the demarcation of the border with Montenegro at the Assembly on the very same day.

President could announce new elections on Thursday (Tribuna Channel)

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) will hold on Wednesday morning at 09:00 hours a meeting of the steering committee in order to decide if they are going to support opposition’s motion of no-confidence. The news website has learned that if the government goes down, Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci could announce early elections on Thursday, while the election date would be 11 June.

Arben Gashi: Demarcation cannot be voted prior to the motion (Lajmi)

Kosovo Assembly MP from the Democratic League of Kosovo, Arben Gashi, wrote on his Facebook page that the border demarcation deal with Montenegro cannot be proceeded to the Assembly prior to opposition’s motion of no-confidence scheduled for 10:00 today. “The motion of no-confidence was set in accordance to the constitutional deadlines, tomorrow at 10:00 hours. There is no possibility for delay because the deadline is tomorrow at midnight,” Gashi wrote.

Kosovo FMA clarifies: Djuric was permitted entry to Kosovo (Klan Kosova)

Kosovo’s Foreign Affairs Ministry rebutted Serbian media reports claiming that the head of the Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric, was not allowed to enter Kosovo. Officials from the Foreign Ministry said Djuric was given permission to stay for several hours in Mitrovica. “It seems however that Djuric is more interested in making a show at Kosovo borders than actually entering,” said Bashmir Xhemaj, chief of staff to Kosovo’s foreign minister.