Headlines - 19.10.2015

Quint ambassadors call for dialogue between political parties (Kosova Sot)

The paper reports that the current political crisis has forced foreign embassies in Pristina to encourage political leaders to start a dialogue for finding a solution. According to unidentified sources, the paper writes that Quint ambassadors have proposed to President Atifete Jahjaga to coordinate and to find ways for the government to sit with the opposition leaders to find a solution. Following her meetings with the US ambassador to Kosovo Greg Delawie and Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, Jahjaga is expected to start contacts with political leaders early this week to learn their views on organizing a joint meeting of party leaders.

Assembly presidency contemplating future course of action (Koha/Telegrafi)

Koha Ditore reports that the presidency of the Kosovo Assembly is reviewing the possibility of not calling plenary sessions for a certain period in order to give the opportunity to the President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga to step in and try to facilitate in overcoming of tensions between the ruling and opposition parties. Jahjaga on her part said she is ready to give her help in resolving the crisis within her constitutional mandate but the opposition has refused any type of dialogue until Prime Minister Isa Mustafa withdraws his signature from the agreements with Serbia and border demarcation with Montenegro. Meanwhile, Telegrafi writes that the heads of parliamentary groups in the Assembly will meet again today to set the date for the next Assembly session. Only two points will be on the agenda today: the approval of the minutes from the previous meeting and preparations for the next plenary session.

Mustafa: Opposition to take revenge through votes (Epoka e Re)

Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, during an interview with the paper called on the leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, and leader of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), Fatmir Limaj, not to be part of the destruction of institutions. “Haradinaj and Limaj should not allow the destruction of the Kosovo institutions because they both fought for this country and have sacrificed a lot,” Mustafa said. He said he is ready for dialogue with the opposition, but that this dialogue, according to him, should take place in the Assembly. Speaking about the recent actions of the opposition, Mustafa said that these actions do not coincide with democracy. “Because of their actions, the opposition is not being supported by any international country. The opposition can take revenge through votes in the next elections,” he said. Despite the objections of the opposition, he said that he has no intention of resigning. “Resignation is a synonym for failure,” Mustafa said. According to him, the coalition is stable and there is no need for new elections. "The elections will take place in 2018,” he said. 

Thaci convinced the situation will be resolved peacefully (RTK)

In an interview for the public broadcaster RTK, Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci said that he is hopeful the current political situation will be resolved in a peaceful manner. “The state cannot succumb to someone who will never be able to win elections,” he said adding that no one has the right to stone Kosovo Police forces. Thaci said the opposition has no arguments against the agreements to set up the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and the border demarcation with Montenegro and that it will not succeed in blocking the work of the Kosovo institutions. “Kosovo is not in a crisis, there is no blockade, only attempts of the opposition leaders to obstruct the work of the Assembly,” he stressed.

Kurteshi: Interventions will not deter the opposition (Zeri)

The Vetevendosje Movement MP, Ismajl Kurteshi, during a press conference on Sunday said that even an intervention by President Atifete Jahjaga attempting to resolve the crisis would be only a waste of time and nothing more. "Now we have made a step. We have 200,000 citizens against the recent agreements with Serbia and against border demarcation with Montenegro. Anyone who makes an effort to convince the opposition or put pressure on it to renounce this goal, I think it would be only a waste of time and energy,” Kurteshi said. Meanwhile, another Vetevendosje MP Mytaher Haskuka, said that with the recent agreements reached in Brussels between Kosovo and Serbia, the Kosovo education laws will not be applied in northern Kosovo. 

Hoti: Blocking of Assembly threatens international agreements (Koha)

Kosovo Minister of Finance Avdullah Hoti warned that if the blockade of the Assembly continues any further, this would cause problems in the implementation of international financial agreements. He said that as long as the Assembly is blocked, the government will not be able to submit the draft law on the next year’s budget which, he added, contains capital projects.

Tahiri: Removal of barricade, result of the dialogue (Epoka e Re)

Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio, Edita Tahiri, said that the start of work to revitalize the Ibar River bridge was a very important process for Kosovo. She said that thanks to the Pristina – Belgrade dialogue in Brussels, after 15 years the merger of Mitrovica is being done in a democratic and peaceful spirit. Tahiri said that the revitalization of the bridge will be completed in June next year, when the bridge will open to pedestrians and vehicle traffic. 

Busek: Teargas is not an argument in the Assembly (Zeri/Kosovapress)

The former Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, Erhard Busek, during an interview with Kosovapress said that the situation created recently in Kosovo, blocking the work of Assembly and the protests, are a wrong message and problematic for Kosovo.  According to him, teargas is not an argument in the Assembly. In regards to foreign investments in Kosovo, Busek said that their interest in investing in Kosovo is decreasing, “as a result of the political situation in and the corruption that has plagued Kosovo.” “The government should take decisions and find a solution to this problem,” Busek said.