Headlines - 22.04.2014

Government will sponsor special court (Koha)

The paper reports on the front page that the Kosovo government will meet today to adopt and send to the Assembly the draft law for the ratification of the international agreement between the Republic of Kosovo and the European Union on the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo. The draft law also provides the legal basis for the establishment of the special court that will address allegations made in Dick Marty’s report. The government so far has refused to have a role in the establishment of the court.

A source told the paper that the government will send the bill to the Assembly. “The bill was drafted by the Ministry of Justice and it was sent to the President last week. She did not send it to the Assembly. Now we have to decide to send it to the Assembly for voting,” the source said.

Beqiri: There is agreement to dismiss the Assembly (Lajm)

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) insists that the Assembly should be dismissed immediately after the adoption of the special court. LDK Secretary-General Ismet Beqiri said his party has discussed the matter with all other parties, except for Vetevendosje. “All parties, except for Vetevendosje, have agreed in principle that the Assembly should be dismissed after the adoption of the special court and the extension of EULEX’s mandate,” he added.

Maliqi: Assembly should dissolve this week (Epoka e Re)

Political analyst Shkëlzen Maliqi has assessed that the Assembly of Kosovo should dissolve this week, if the political parties intend to hold elections by the end of May or beginning of June. “If the Assembly does not dissolve this week, then the elections might be postponed until the end of June. He added that it would have been better for deputies of this legislature to decide on the creation of the special court and transition of KSF into the Kosovo Armed Forces. Speaking about the chances of the political parties in the coming elections, Maliqi said that Thaçi still has greater chances to win. “I think that Thaçi still has a chance to win another mandate, because he appears to be the most skillful and he is working the most,” said Maliqi.

Jahjaga requests help from Emirates (Epoka e Re)

The President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, met on Monday in Abu Dhabi with Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Mahyan, and bestowed upon him the Order of Independence. They discussed the deepening of relations between the two countries, especially with respect to the economy and investments. President Jahjaga expressed appreciation for the contribution of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Kosovo’s state-building and invited a team of experts from the UAE to visit Kosovo.

Thaci disappoints International Monetary Fund (Zeri)

In a front-page report, the paper quotes Jacques Miniane, head of the IMF mission in Kosovo, as saying that currently the IMF does not have any financial agreement with Kosovo, and there will be no agreements before elections. The Fund is concerned by Prime Minister Thaci’s latest decision to increase budget expenditures. The IMF is also concerned with the government’s measures to increase salaries as this will lead to increased fiscal pressure and at damage competition in the private sector.

Plan to establish Kosovo Armed Forces fails (Kosova Sot)

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said during the weekend that the Assembly should dissolve only after it decides on three capital issues: the special court, the mandate of EULEX and the establishment of the Armed Forces of Kosovo. Members of the Assembly however are sceptical that the current government will manage to transform the Kosovo Security Force into the Armed Forces.

“Thaci made a promise to minority parties that they would have another mandate for reserved seats; however, several opposition parties do not support the idea. Therefore, it will be difficult to secure the necessary votes [for the transformation of the Security Force into the Armed Forces],” a source told the paper.

Recognition from Vatican will come (Epoka e Re)

The statement of Serbia’s Prime Minister, Ivan Mrkic, that the Vatican would not recognize Kosovo, has not impressed Kosovo’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Petrit Selimi. He stated that recognition of Kosovo by the Vatican will happen. He reminded Serbia that the Vatican was led by Albanians in the past. “Let us not forget that two Albanians were Popes, and despite the current political considerations, we have to remember that our connection with the Vatican goes beyond formal recognition,” said Selimi. He added that Kosovo will get closer to 110 recognitions by June.

Kosovo Deputy PM Petrovic visits Tirana (dailies)

Several dailies report that Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Slobodan Petrovic led a delegation of minority MPs that visited Tirana on Monday. The delegation met Albanian Parliament Speaker Ilir Meta and Albanian Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati. Meetings focused on the integration of minority communities into institutional life in Kosovo, Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic future, and regional cooperation. Petrovic thanked the Berisha government which five years ago allocated €400,000 for the mainly-Serb inhabited municipality of Gracanica.

Northerners refer to Kosovo government as “neutral” (Koha)

The paper reports that the statute adopted by Zvecan municipality last week does not comply with the Constitution of Kosovo and the law on local self-government. The paper has secured a copy of the statute which does not include the insignia of the Republic of Kosovo as required by the law on local self-government. The part of the statute that talks about funding refers to the government of Kosovo as “a neutral government”.

A source in the Ministry for Local Government told the paper that in an effort to avoid extraordinary elections, Zvecan has been asked to change only article 5 and to clearly define the content and form of the emblem of the municipality.