Headlines - 15.09.2014

Coalition bloc and Vetevendosje aim to dismiss the president (Tribuna)

On the front page, the paper quotes sources inside the coalition between Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Alliance for Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) as saying that that they are beginning to sense that they will not be able to get the post of Assembly speaker but in order to appease the LDK, they are now focusing on dismissing the President Atifete Jahjaga so that LDK leader Isa Mustafa can assume her post. The source said that this is why the coalition bloc is insisting on securing 83 votes in the Assembly because this is how much it is required to dismiss the president of Kosovo. “You have seen we are not pleased with the role of President Jahjaga and even leaders have disputed some of her decisions. We think many institutions in the country have been captured and in addition, the president is not exercising her unifying role,” the source inside the bloc said.

LAN to get key posts, Vetevendosje only ministries (Koha)

In a front-page story, the paper reports that Vetevendosje’s inclusion in the coalition of the other three opposition parties, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), will not change the initial agreement of the bloc on the division of key posts. LAN representatives told the paper that the post of Assembly President will go to the LDK, and the post of Prime Minister to the AAK. The LDK, according to the agreement, will also get the post of President, after Atifete Jahjaga’s mandate expires in 2016. Meanwhile, Vetevendosje will get some ministries, following negotiations after the establishment of the Assembly.

Sabri Hamiti creates new parliamentary group (Kosova Sot)

Sabri Hamiti, one of the founders and oldest members of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), together with some other LDK MPs have reportedly decided to continue their political path as members of the LDK parliamentary group and not of the opposition’s joint parliamentary group. “We got our mandates as LDK MPs and not as members of other parties. We are going to remain faithful to the LDK voters and to no one else,” an LDK MP, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Indeksonline news website.

Beqiri: LDK does not split (Epoka e Re)

Ismet Beqiri, General Secretary of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), said that the parliamentary group of this party is united and there are no clashes within. He said that allegations about clashes in their party and about intentions to create a new parliamentary group led by Sabri Hamiti, are ordered by the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). He added that LDK-AAK-NISMA-Vetevendosje block is undefeatable, a fact which according to him has upset those who want to continue to govern by all means. Beqiri said that LDK deputies cannot be bought.

LDK: We are not splitting up (Tribuna)

Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has reacted to reports that its MP, Sabri Hamiti, is about to split from the party and form his own parliamentary group. According to LDK, the reports are slanderous and ordered by political opponents. “Democratic League of Kosovo once again reiterates that it takes all its decisions after debates and that the broad coalition of the majority that LDK has formed enjoys the support of all leading party structures at all levels”, the reaction said.

Serbian List: Vetevendosje should not lead talks with Belgrade (Zeri)

Aleksandar Jablanovic, head of the Serbian List, told the paper that their meeting on Monday with Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, will clarify many things. Jablanovic said that if the opposition coalition wants the Serbian List’s support for Isa Mustafa’s election as Assembly President, then the Vetevendosje Movement should not be the one to lead negotiations with Belgrade. “If dialogue will be led by LAN [the acronym for the opposition coalition], the Serbian List will support this coalition. But if Vetevendosje will lead the dialogue, then the Serbian List will discuss this and decide on future steps … We have no agreement with Hashim Thaci’s PDK [Democratic Party of Kosovo]. What we want to understand is the issue of Vetevendosje’s participation in dialogue. We are not against Vetevendosje, but we are against the revision of the Brussels Agreement,” Jablanovic said.

One part of the Serbian List is with PDK (Lajm)

According to Belgrade-based Blic daily newspaper, some Serb MPs have already reached an agreement with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) to support them in the Assembly. The agreement was reportedly reached on Thursday immediately after the opposition coalition signed an agreement with the Vetevendosje Movement. On the same day, Flora Brovina, chairperson of the constitutive session of the Assembly, received a request from the Serbian List to postpone the session until next Thursday. The request was also supported by Marko Djuric, director of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo. “We want the Serbian List to participate in a government that is oriented towards dialogue,” Djuric told reporters. Meanwhile, Aleksandar Jablanovic, head of the Serbian List, denied reports about an agreement between Serb MPs and the PDK.

Limaj: We are going to establish institutions (Kosova Sot)

Fatmir Limaj, leader of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), reacted after the postponement of the constitutive session of Kosovo Assembly by chairperson Flora Brovina. Limaj called on Brovina not to fall prey of what he called illegal scenarios. Limaj also said that the coalition bloc and the Vetevendosje Movement will respect the decision of the Constitutional Court. “I believe we are going to find a solution that will result in the establishment of the Assembly and also in the creation of the new government,” Limaj wrote on his Facebook account.

Grabovci: PDK does not want new elections (Lajm)

Adem Grabovci, deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), writes on his Facebook account that the PDK does not want new elections and that the people are tired from elections. Grabovci however said that in the event of new elections, the PDK would score a deep victory.

EU does not interfere in internal issues of Kosovo (Kosova Sot)

Maja Kocijancic, spokeswoman for EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, said the European Union respects internal processes in Kosovo as long as they are democratic and in accordance with local laws. Kocijancic said it was very important for the EU-brokered dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia to continue. “We expect the new government of Kosovo to continue implementing agreements and to engage in moving forward with normalization of relations with Serbia,” Kocijancic added.

No official confirmation on death of eight Albanian jihadists in Iraq (Koha)

Kosovo institutions are mobilized after reports that eight Albanian jihadists, six of which from Kosovo, were killed during an air strike in Iraq. Kosovo’s Deputy Foreign Minister Petrit Selimi told RTK that they are trying to get official information about the case. Kosovo Police officials too said they have no official information about Albanians killed in Iraq. According to media reports, 40 Albanians were killed since the start of fighting in Syria and Iraq.