Coalition “postponed” to next week (Zëri)

AAK and PDK will decide next week whether to join forces in the ruling coalition government. AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj said that as of next week, he will start “intensive consultations” with Hashim Thaçi’s PDK for setting up a coalition. “I have started a cycle of meetings in a political spectrum. I will also continue with other parties: AKR, LDD, and other mechanisms,” said Thaçi. “Then we will return to work on the possibility of a government coalition,” said Haradinaj.

Assembly approves 2013 budget (dailies)

The Kosovo Assembly passed the 2013 budget law yesterday with 64 votes in favor and 26 against. The budget is just over €1.5 billion and reported to have more expenses than revenues; it was opposed by LDK and Vetëvendosje, while AAK voted in favour. Forty percent of capital investments will go to the construction of the Morina-Merdare highway while €30 million will be allocated for the new Hani i Elezit highway.

Candidates for Belgrade (Express)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs nominated four possible candidates for liaison officers at the Serbian capital, Belgrade. Ambassadors Ylber Hysa, Ilir Dugolli, Lulëzim Peci, and Shkëndije Sherifi Geci will be considered by the President and the Prime Minister, within a few days. Sources of this daily claimed that the Government in Belgrade is considering either sending Oliver Ivanovic or Milivoje Mihajlovic to Pristina. 

Brussels: Do your homework! (Zëri)

Senior European Union officials have told Kosovo institutions that work is required to integrate in the EU. They said criticism by heads of Kosovo institutions against Brussels for not launching SAA negotiations does not hold ground. Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi namely criticized Brussels saying that the European delay in Kosovo’s case is a result of a lack of unity on Kosovo’s political status among member states.

EU officials did not want to comment directly on the criticism by Kosovo’s leaders but said the only reason Kosovo did not receive a positive answer was because it failed to meet the short-term criteria, especially on public administration reforms and issues related to consolidating rule of law.

“The Council of Ministers in Brussels will evaluate Kosovo’s progress in the first half of next year, based on the report submitted by the European Commission. If there will be a positive evaluation, the Council will give the green light for SAA negotiations,” said Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for EU High Representative Catherine Ashton. 

Rexhepi: UNMIK will not have executive responsibilities (Epoka e Re)

UNMIK Spokesperson Olivier Salgado stated on Thursday that UNMIK’s office in northern Kosovo will remain open. Salgado told Radio Kosova that the local staffs’ contracts will not be extended beyond December, but UNMIK international staff will continue to remain there.

Meanwhile, Minister of Internal Affairs Bajram Rexhepi said Thursday that UNMIK’s office in Mitrovica will cease to exist by the end of this month. “The Office of UNMIK for Mitrovica has ceased to exist. The employees will also receive their salaries this month. Therefore, the Office of UNMIK is inexistent,” said Rexhepi.

With regards to the UN’s mission in Kosovo, Rexhepi stated it will continue to remain but only to prepare quarterly reports, holding neither operational nor executive responsibilities. 

Kosovo more corrupt than half of Africa (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo cannot become part of the ‘European family’ for another 50 years if it continues on its path in fighting against corruption, LDK deputy Hikmete Bajrami concluded on Thursday. Bajrami cited the latest report by Transparency International, in which Kosovo is ranked 105, a position that belongs to countries with the highest rate of corruption. “Kosovo is more corrupt than half of Africa and this is really disturbing. In the year 2010, Kosovo was ranked 110 and ranked 105 in the year 2012,” emphasized Bajrami. The situation would have been worse if Amnesty International would have published a report after the “passport scandal” involving the Ministry of Internal Affairs. 

LDK: We did not agree to hold elections in 2014 (Bota Sot)

LDK’s senior official Ismet Beqiri refuted yesterday’s reports in Koha Ditore, which claimed the party “silently agreed” to hold parliamentary elections in 2014. “What the media reported about LDK agreeing that general elections take place in 2014 is not true. This is just another speculation,” said Beqiri, who is also head of the party’s parliamentary group.

Special unit for protection of heritage is formalized (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo police is expected to advertise for its members who want to be part of the special unit for protection of cultural heritage within few days. The unit is a result of the agreement in the framework of political dialogue between Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and Prime Minister of Serbia Ivica Dacic. Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi confirmed that this unit has been established, but also that it has always existed. “This has existed. It has only been formalized. It will be as every other unit,” said Minister Rexhepi.

EU, World Bank conditioning cooperation with Government (Koha Ditore)

The Kosovo Government should immediately start to implement the EU and World Bank conditions for the shutdown of power plant Kosova A if it wants to secure their commitment in Kosovo. “Closure of this power plant is a condition of both our institutions to continue to be involved in the energy sector,” says in the joint letter of World Bank and European Union, sent to Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi.