U.S. brings back Kosovo’s UN seat into dialogue with Serbia (Koha Ditore)

The paper reports on its front page that the United States of America have brought back the issue of Kosovo’s membership of the United Nations into the process of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. In an interview for Belgrade-based Vecernje Novosti, the U.S. Ambassador to Serbia, Michael Kirby said that for Washington the process of normalization of relations between Pristina and Belgrade also implies paving way to Kosovo’s membership of the United Nations. “We are not asking Serbia to recognize the independence of Kosovo, but normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina. It is up to the European Union to define exactly what this normalization will ultimately imply, but in our opinion it includes Kosovo’s membership of the United Nations,” Kirby was quoted as saying.

Prime Minister Mustafa rules out enlargement of ruling coalition (media)

Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, has denied reports about the eventual enlargement of the ruling coalition early next year. In an interview for RTK, Mustafa said the coalition agreement with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) will be implemented in its entirety including the point that foresees the election of PDK deputy leader Hashim Thaci as President of Kosovo. Mustafa said there would be no early elections in 2016 or 2017. He argued that “with their actions, the Vetevendosje Movement can never win the elections”. Mustafa also called on the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) to reflect on the current situation. “The AAK has proved in the past that it is a state-forming party ... People in NISMA used to be members of the PDK. These two parties were always part of state-building processes,” Mustafa said.  

Derguti: Mustafa and Thaci betrayed the country, we want them in prison (Lajmi)

Vetevendosje deputy leader and Kosovo Assembly Vice President, Aida Derguti, criticized Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and Deputy Prime Minister Hashim Thaci for insisting on establishing the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. “Although the Constitutional Court told the Kosovo government that the August 25 agreement is in violation of the Constitution of Kosovo, they [Mustafa and Thaci] stubbornly want to resume work in establishing the Association. It should be clear to these violators of the Constitution that they can no longer govern! Because they have committed treason against the country, we want them in prison,” Derguti writes on her Facebook account today. She also called on the people to join the opposition’s protest scheduled for January 9 in Pristina.

First indictments of special court around October next year (Zeri)

Citing unnamed international sources, the paper reports that the first indictments for alleged crimes committed by the former Kosovo Liberation Army could be raised around October next year. The same sources said that by that time, international and local institutions are expected to take all necessary actions. The paper reported several weeks ago that numerous protected witnesses, who are expected to testify against former KLA leaders, have already been moved with their families in various countries of the European Union. According to the paper’s sources, the majority of the protected witnesses are former KLA senior officers.