Headlines - 18.01.2016

Pristina-Belgrade dialogue to continue without Mustafa? (Koha Ditore)

The paper quotes sources as saying that it is likely that the upcoming round of dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, scheduled for 27 January, will not take place at the level of prime ministers as originally anticipated. Sources said that in a recent meeting with the European External Action Service director for Western Europe, Western Balkans and Turkey Angelina Eichhorst, Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa insisted he will not be travelling to Brussels for talks for as long as there is no positive recommendation from the European Commission on visa liberalization for Kosovo. 

Mustafa: I will not resign (dailies)

Speaking at a meeting with his Democratic League of Kosovo membership, Prime Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa reemphasized his position that he does not plan to step down because of the opposition’s protests. He said the agreement on the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities is “the best we’ve reached so far” because of the fact it contains the provision stipulating that the Constitutional Court will assess the legality of the agreement. “This has resulted in the Brussels institutions and the Government in Belgrade recognising the authority of the Kosovo’s Constitutional Court,” said Mustafa.  

Haradinaj: People’s patience running thin (Koha Ditore)

The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) leader Ramush Haradinaj warned the Kosovo Government leaders that if they maintain the same stance regarding the agreement on the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and the border demarcation with Montenegro, the people will lose patience and protests could take a new turn. According to Haradinaj, the only solution out of this situation is to organise early elections. “Decisions are very simple, they have to come from the decision-makers in Kosovo [and] the country needs to head to elections,” stated Haradinaj adding that reports of the reshuffling of the government will not solve the crisis.

Thaci President, Veseli Prime Minister (Zeri)

The paper on its front page today reports that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) leader, Hashim Thaci, and his deputy and Assembly President, Kadri Veseli, are planning to take the post of the president and of prime minister of Kosovo. According to the paper, Thaci’s election as Kosovo President would enable Veseli to take the lead of the PDK and to run for Prime Minister in the upcoming elections. Political analysts say Veseli has good chances to take Prime Minister’s post only if PDK come first in elections and of course if he has no problems with international justice. 

Grabovci: Assembly sessions to resume soon (Zeri)

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) parliamentary group chief, Adem Grabovci, told Albania-based Top Channel the Kosovo Assembly sessions will resume in the upcoming days. Grabovci said he expects more peaceful parliamentary sessions, inviting the opposition to return to Assembly and present its views through discussions in the Assembly. According to him, only through dialogue can Kosovo make the right decisions. On the other hand, the opposition parties said they will continue to block the sessions until the government reflects on the opposition’s demands. 

Kadaj-Bujupi: Opposition will block sessions (Epoka e Re)

Head of the parliamentary group of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Donika Kadaj-Bujupi, told Top Channel that the opposition will continue to block the sessions of the Assembly. She said this government has to go, since it violated the Constitution and it cannot stay in power by force. She added that the opposition will decide on the methods of blocking its work once that the date for the next Assembly session is announced.

Municipality staff enter hunger strike to sympathise with Lushtaku (dailies)

The employees of the Skenderaj/Srbica municipality have announced they will enter a hunger strike as of today in support of their mayor Sami Lushtaku, currently on trial for war crimes, who, according to the municipality staff, has been denied adequate medical treatment. The municipality urged Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga, Ombudsperson Hilmi Jashari, and other relevant institutions to take measures against the “serious violation of fundamental human rights” in the case of Lushtaku.