UNMIK Headlines 23 July
Proposal for construction of three bridges in Mitrovica (Tribuna)
Kosovo delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister, Edita Tahiri, met yesterday in Brussels with the Serbian delegation led by head of Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric. The two parties discussed in the EU-facilitated meeting the future of the “Peace Park” recently constructed by local Serb authorities in Mitrovica as well as the attempts by Serb and Albanian communities to construct squares in the city.
The paper quotes sources from the meeting saying that there is agreement on both sides to stop construction works and conduct a study into the current situation of the main bridge on River Iber/Ibar and in the meantime work on draft proposals for construction of two other alternative bridges that would enable car traffic. Tahiri said after the meeting that the working groups will be able to give final assessment by late September.
Haradinaj for talks with Vetevendosje, Vetevendosje ready for opposition (Koha)
Candidate for prime minister from the three-party coalition bloc, Ramush Haradinaj, said there is a new momentum for cooperation with Vetevendosje in an effort to convince it to become part of the coalition. “The idea is to agree on general principles based on the political quota as we have done before”, said Haradinaj. Officials in Vetevendosje said that if there are no other meetings with the coalition bloc, they are ready to remain in opposition. “If we don’t become part of the Government, we will be in the opposition but this time even stronger than in the last mandate and we will be committed in representing the interests of the citizens”, said Vetevendosje’s Erzen Vraniqi.
Coalition warns President Jahjaga (Lajm)
The establishment and functionality of new Kosovo institutions is depending on the decision of the Constitutional Court but yesterday, the three-party coalition candidate for prime minister and leader of Alliance for Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, has warned the President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, that she could be faced with a case at the Constitutional Court if she fails to propose a candidate for the establishment of the new government according to constitutional timeframes. This seems to have prompted the US Ambassador, Tracey Ann Jacobson, to call on political leaders to wait for the decision of the Constitutional Court.
US urge Kosovo parties to wait for Constitutional Court decision (Tribuna)
US Ambassador to Kosovo, Tracey Ann Jacobson, called on Kosovo political leaders to prove they respect the rule of law by refraining from actions until the decision of the Constitutional Court is announced. “We had a request from the president asking for clarifications from the Constitutional Court in proposing the candidate for forming of the government and we now have an additional question for the Constitutional Court. We have to wait for this to end. I think this is an ordinary occurrence in a new democracy”, said Jacobson.
The candidate, according to Constitutional Court ruling (Lajm)
The Office of the Kosovo President, Atifete Jahjaga, reacted to the statement of the candidate for prime minister and leader of Alliance for Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, in connection with the President’s proposal of a candidate to form the new Kosovo government. The statement says that the decision for proposing the candidate will be taken based on the decision of the Constitutional Court. “While requesting from all parties self-restraint from political pressures, the Office of the President emphasizes that the candidate for prime minister will be proposed in respect of the Constitution and legality and based on the decision of the Constitutional Court”, says the reaction of the Office of the President.
Pack: I believe they understood my message (Epoka e Re)
Doris Pack, German MEP, has repeated on Tuesday in an interview for Radio Dukagjini her position that Kosovo needs a strong government. She however said that it is completely normal to repeat elections if parties do not find a solution for coalition. “In my opinion, the new government should focus in solution of the problems such as Mitrovica North, therefore I am saying that Kosovo needs a sustainable government to face the problems, but I have to say that dialogue with Belgrade should continue. I think that the government should have powerful numbers at the Assembly,” she said.