Headlines - 12.06.2014

PDK to go to court if not allowed to nominate Prime Minister (Koha)

Hajredin Kuci, deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), said on Wednesday that if President Atifete Jahjaga will nominate a candidate for prime minister from outside the PDK, the latter will raise the case with the Constitutional Court. Kuci said the PDK would then respect whatever decision the Constitutional Court makes. “According to the Constitution of Kosovo, the candidate for prime minister belongs to the winning party. After the certification of results, we will start working on forming coalitions,” Kuci added.

New Assembly could be dissolved after first session (Tribuna)

The paper on the front page reports that the new Kosovo Assembly could have the shortest lifespan imaginable, as it is likely to be dissolved after just one session when it comes to the election of the speaker. Once election results are certified, President Atifete Jahjaga has one month to call the first session of the new Assembly but the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) insists that, as winner of the elections, it should get the post of speaker. But the agreement between the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo clearly stipulates that the post should go to the LDK.

Dialogue should resume in September (Tribuna)

The candidate for prime minister of Kosovo from the opposition bloc, Ramush Haradinaj, yesterday met international diplomats accredited in Pristina and discussed with them the recent political developments. The paper says that Haradinaj also spoke about the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and gave assurances that he would be constructive. Earlier in the day, outgoing Prime Minister Hashim Thaci also spoke about the dialogue in a telephone conversation with EU High Representative Catherine Ashton where he is reported to have expressed readiness to resume talks with Serbia. The paper quotes sources as saying that the EU team that facilitated negotiations between Pristina and Belgrade plans to resume them in September.

Borchardt: We will cooperate with whoever forms the government (Koha)

EULEX chief Bernd Borchardt said on Wednesday that the EU mission would cooperate with whoever forms the government. “As the majority of parties have supported our mandate, we think we have good partners. Whoever forms the government, we will do our best to meet the expectations,” Borchardt said when asked by reporters if he has doubts that PDK leader Hashim Thaci will be able to form the new government.

Certification of elections in ten days (Epoka e Re)

Member of the Central Election Commission Florian Dushi stated that more than ten days are required to certify the results of the 8 June elections. The final result of the elections is not expected to be announced prior to the counting of the votes cast outside their designated polling stations as well as those coming from abroad. “After the announcement of the results, political parties and candidates will have 24 hours to submit their complaints on the results or the procedures. Only after the conclusion of the complaints can we announce the official results,” said Dushi.

Kosovo, member of Venice Commission (Tribuna)

Kosovo has on Wednesday been admitted as a member to the Venice Commission which the paper says is a step forward in gaining membership in the Council of Europe. A statement issued by the Kosovo Foreign Ministry stated that 35 countries voted in favour of Kosovo’s membership in one of the most important institutions of the Council of Europe. Kosovo is expected to benefit directly from membership in the field of strengthening democracy as well as constitutional and election reforms.

EULEX to transfer competencies to local institutions on Sunday (Koha)

Starting this Sunday, the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) will hand over competencies to local institutions. Panels of judges from now on will consist of two local judges and an international judge, and EULEX officials will have only a supporting and advisory role. On Wednesday, EULEX, the EU Office in Kosovo and the Ministry of Justice published a progress report on the agreement, which includes achievements and challenges of rule of law institutions in Kosovo. The report notes that witness intimidation continues to be a challenge in Kosovo, but that progress has also been made in witness protection.

Netherlands: No visa liberalization without rule of law (Koha)

The paper covers a study visit to The Hague by reporters from Kosovo, Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, highlighting remarks by senior Dutch officials that the people of Kosovo will remain the most isolated in Europe until there is absolute rule of law in Kosovo. They also said that the position of 28 member states of the European Union will change only after reports show that Kosovo institutions are making considerable progress in the judiciary. “The rule of law is certainly the biggest challenge,” Hagar Ligtvoet, an official with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the paper. Some Dutch MPs, who preferred to remain anonymous, confirmed that the European Union has introduced strict criteria after the economic crisis and the influx of Bulgarians and Romanians into European labor markets. They said they will not allow the same “mistake” to be made in the case of the Western Balkans.