Headlines - 16.07.2014

Opposition doesn’t want Vetevendosje to lead dialogue (Koha)

The paper reports on the front page that the opposition coalition -- consisting of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) -- has turned down Vetevendosje’s request to lead dialogue with Belgrade and to send the 19 April Agreement to the Venice Commission. These were two out of five points from an annex that Vetevendosje presented in Monday’s meeting. The LDK-AAK-NISMA coalition agreed on the other three points: one related to the dialogue in general; another on establishing a parliamentary committee to investigate privatization; and a request for issues related to the dialogue to be decided through consensus. Vetevendosje representatives warned the opposition bloc that if an agreement is not reached, there would be a “Thaci 3 government” but without Thaci as Prime Minister. “This would be a perfect situation for Thaci; his orientation (deals with Serbia, neo-liberal privatization) would continue, but without his responsibility,” Vetevendosje wrote on its Facebook profile.

Americans and Germans against Vetevendosje in government (Zeri)

KTV quoted reliable sources on Tuesday as saying that German officials have told the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) that the Vetevendosje Movement has no place in the new government. According to the same sources, even the United States is against Vetevendosje’s inclusion in the government.

Haradinaj: Minorities willing to enter partnership (Epoka e Re)

Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), said on Tuesday after a meeting with non-Serb minorities of Kosovo that they have expressed a willingness to enter into a partnership with opposition coalition. Speaking about the agreement between the opposition coalition and Vetevendosje, Haradinaj said that everything is now “back to point zero.” He however expressed optimism that an agreement with Vetevendosje could be reached.

President, speak up! (Tribuna)

On the front page, the paper reports that disagreements between political parties as to who is entitled to get the post of Assembly Speaker may lead President Atifete Jahjaga to seek once more the opinion of the Constitutional Court. The main question Jahjaga is expected to ask is whether parliamentary groups can be formed before the constitutive session of the Assembly as the parties are disagreeing over which is the largest parliamentary group. Sources close to Jahjaga did not rule out the possibility of her addressing the Court but said that her cabinet will first review the issue and then make sure that the Court would accept the request.

Diplomats to avoid Assembly’s constitutive session (Tribuna)

Indeksonline has quoted what it called reliable sources as saying that diplomatic offices in Pristina have decided to lower the level of their representation at the Assembly’s constitutive sessions for fear of possible physical clashes between the MPs. Ever since 2001, diplomatic officials in Kosovo have always been invited at the highest level to the first Assembly session as special guests.

Chancellor Merkel supports Kosovo in European integration (Tribuna)

The President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, took part in an informal ministerial conference of the Brdo Process along with Kosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was also present and is reported to have expressed her support for Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic prospects.

Jahjaga at summit of South-Eastern European business leaders (Bota Sot)

The President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, participated at the opening of a summit of South-Eastern European business leaders, which is being held in Cavtat, Dubrovnik, at the same time as the Brdo-Brioni Summit. Jahjaga and the other Presidents of the region presented aspects of economic development and possibilities for investment in South-Eastern Europe. “Membership in the European Union remains the main agenda that unites us, that holds peace and stability in the region, and is the catalyst for change, for strengthened cooperation and partnership between us and the citizens of the countries we represent. We do not seek shortcuts; instead our progress toward the EU should be conditional on our willingness to transform our countries and to normalize the relations between our states,” said Jahjaga.

Preparations underway for agreement between Mitrovica mayors (Koha)

Directors of urbanism departments from the municipalities of southern and northern Mitrovica held a meeting in Pristina on Tuesday but failed to achieve any concrete results. However, the Kosovo Ministry for Environment and Spatial Planning, which organized the meeting, said that in the next couple of days mayors of these municipalities would sign a cooperation agreement at the local and central level. Minister Dardan Gashi said that illegal constructions, including squares and parks, would be demolished. He also said that first they must wait for results from talks in Brussels on the matter. “Decisions by the municipal assembly that are against the law are illegitimate. The municipal assembly is not a central parliament that adopts laws. It implements laws. We will demolish everything that is illegal,” Gashi said.

Tahiri: After 22 July the law will speak (Epoka e Re)

Edita Tahiri, outgoing Deputy Prime Minister and head of Pristina’s negotiations with Belgrade, told RTK on Tuesday that at the last meeting in Brussels no agreement could be reached on the removal of the barricades in Mitrovica. However, she said there is a plan initiated by the European Union aimed at removing barricades in the north and that it is expected to be implemented soon. “However, everything will be clarified after the next meeting in Brussels which will be held on 22 July,” she said. “We are in favor of cooperation and we request a coordinated project. We have agreed to have a moratorium on these actions. If these actions continue, we will act with the force of law. Kosovo has its own urban planning; therefore, construction at the bridge cannot happen without permission from the respective Ministry. The message to all those governing municipalities is to respect the law,” said Tahiri.

Ministers and Zbogar meet Orthodox Church representatives (Tribuna)

The Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning announced that it held the 13th meeting of the Implementation and Monitoring Council. It was chaired by Minister Dardan Gashi and attended by the Head of the EU Office in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Memli Krasniqi; OSCE Head of Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger; and a representative of the Orthodox Church, Bishop Teodosije. The meeting focused on issues relating to cultural heritage and special zoning areas.

Albanians at UN HQ for FYROM protest (Kosova Sot)

Albanians living in the US protested yesterday in front of UN Headquarters in New York, to support recent demonstrations by Albanians in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). They expressed outrage at what they said was discriminatory and selective justice by FYROM authorities against the Albanian population.

NATO supports Kosovo Security Force (Epoka e Re)

NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Gen. Sir Adrian Bradshaw, said on Tuesday during his visit to Kosovo that he values Kosovo’s aspiration for NATO membership and willingness to contribute to peacekeeping missions in the future. During his meeting with the outgoing Minister for the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), he said he is happy with Kosovo’s considerable progress in security capacity building. He promised that NATO support for the further advancement of the KSF would continue.