Headlines - 11.09.2017

• Haradinaj: Demarcation is wrong, we won’t delay visa liberalization (VOA)
• Haradinaj to officially take on new post today (Zeri, Indeksonline)
• Ruling parties boycott Sunday’s Assembly session called by opposition (dailies)
• Indicted ministers part of the new government of Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
• EU urges new government to cooperate with Serbia (Kosova Sot)
• Lunacek messages Haradinaj, mentions demarcation and Serbia (Express)
• Analysts: Government of Kosovo with “glass legs” (Zeri) 

Kosovo Media Highlights

Haradinaj: Demarcation is wrong, we won’t delay visa liberalization (VOA)

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj told Voice of America that his government will act quickly on the issue of the border demarcation with Montenegro. He argued that the current version of the demarcation is wrong “and we will correct it”. “It is a great fortune that Montenegro is a neighboring country, we have welcomed Montenegro’s progress, especially their membership of NATO, we too want to join NATO, and I see no great difficulties on this issue. I believe we will find a quick solution from the current situation. However I cannot specify exactly what steps we are going to take but we will emerge from this situation soon and we will not delay visa liberalization,” he said. Haradinaj also said there is no alternative to talks with Belgrade, but that initially an internal dialogue in Kosovo is needed.

Haradinaj to officially take on new post today (Zeri, Indeksonline)

Prime minister-elect, Ramush Haradinaj, is expected to take over his new duties from his predecessor Isa Mustafa midday today. The news was confirmed by Alliance for the Future of Kosovo senior official Muharrem Nitaj. Haradinaj was elected new prime minister of Kosovo on Saturday with 61 votes in favour and one abstention. Opposition representatives did not stay for the vote.

Ruling parties boycott Sunday’s Assembly session called by opposition (dailies)

Representatives of the ruling parties chose not to attend Sunday’s Kosovo Assembly’s session called on by the opposition to discuss the new government’s programme. Vetevendosje’s Albin Kurti said the new government is one of the weakest Kosovo has ever had and that it depends entirely on Belgrade while Avdullah Hoti from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) warned Kosovo is entering a “dark” period. “Is it unforgivable to return Belgrade’s full control over the Government of Kosovo when we still have around 1,600 people missing,” Hoti said.

Indicted ministers part of the new government of Kosovo (Koha Ditore)

The paper reports that the new government of Kosovo is made up of ministers that have either been indicted by the prosecution or are being investigated for criminal activity. One of these officials, according to the paper, is Minister of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Besim Beqaj, Minister of Infrastructure Pal Lekaj, and Deputy Prime Minister Fatmir Limaj.

EU urges new government to cooperate with Serbia (Kosova Sot)

The European Union has hailed the forming of the new government of Kosovo and urged it to cooperate with Serbia. “We call on the new government to immediately begin work on implementation of necessary reforms in justice and economy,” said European Commission spokesperson, Maja Kocijancic, adding: “The new government should have an active role in the region and work with Serbia to reach qualitative progress in the dialogue facilitated by the EU.”

Lunacek messages Haradinaj, mentions demarcation and Serbia (Express)

Ulrike Lunacek, the European Parliament’s Rapporteur on Kosovo, said the new government in Pristina must start addressing Kosovo’s urgent problems as soon as possible. “A way out from the economic crisis, an initiative to attract investments, create new job opportunities, especially in the area of renewable energy resources and energy efficiency and in improving healthcare and educational services,” Lunacek said. “Law enforcement institutions and the rule of law must grow stronger and the fight against corruption and organized crime must be stepped up”. She also said that the new Assembly will very soon have to ratify the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. Lunacek said the Serbian List’s vote in favor of Haradinaj is a positive sign for the EU-brokered dialogue.

Analysts: Government of Kosovo with “glass legs” (Zeri)

Political analysts the paper has spoken to said that the new government of Kosovo led by Ramush Haradinaj is destined to fail as it rests on “glass legs”. University professor Rrahman Pacarrizi said the government will be very fragile and risks seeing its term cut short. He said that attempts to address crucial topics could be the government’s breaking point. “Haradinaj government will walk along the edge and this can be attractive and mobilizing on one hand but also dangerous on the other,” Pacarrizi said. Editor of Aktivpress news website, Agron Halitaj, said practice has shown that a government that has no stable majority cannot last long but that its lifespan will depend on compromises it is willing to make to appease the Serb community. At the same time, analyst Haki Abazi said the new, “glass-legged” government will be unable to take important decisions.