Headlines - 30.08.2017

• Thaci: The key to success (Koha)
• Thaci indicates broad-based team for dialogue with Serbia (Koha)
• New phase of dialogue, with old issues (Bota Sot)
• Haradinaj: I am surprised with Vetevendosje’s and LDK’s mindset (Epoka)
• Lekaj: New institutions, in the beginning of September (Epoka)
• Limaj: No doubt Haradinaj will be prime minister (RTK)
• AKR favors a technical government with a two-year mandate (Zeri)
• Kosovo verifying data on the arrested Serb in Prizren (Epoka)
• North municipalities still work with UNMIK regulations, don’t pay taxes (Koha)

Thaci: The key to success (Koha)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci writes in an editorial for the paper that on Thursday together with Federica Mogherini and Serbian President Vucic, he  will discuss preliminary ideas on how to move forward in the process of talks with Serbia. Thaci writes: “we certainly need to be responsible and transparent in the process, and we need to go about it in institutional fashion. This is why we urgently need to constitute the new Assembly and Government of Kosovo. Any further delay bears in itself multidimensional consequences. Moreover, such delays prevent building a common platform that I find necessary for the crucial state processes awaiting us. I am confident that the models we have applied in the past have given historical successes for our country … We all expect the political parties to act responsibly and make functional the new Assembly and Government without delay. Immediately after this, I will work on building a unity team with representatives from political parties, civil society, etc. We must make good preparations and be united, because Kosovo has no time to lose”.

Thaci indicates broad-based team for dialogue with Serbia (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that Kosovo and Serbia Presidents, Hashim Thaci and Aleksandar Vucic, will meet in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the new format of talks between Kosovo and Serbia. The paper notes that President Thaci plans to initiate the formation of a broad-based team for talks with Belgrade that would include representatives of the government and the assembly. Bekim Collaku, Thaci’s chief of staff, told the paper on Tuesday, that the meeting on Thursday is a continuation of talks for the normalization of relations between the two countries. “The President of Kosovo, in line with his constitutional mandate, represents Kosovo in the process of dialogue. President Thaci has indicated he will form a broad-based team for dialogue that will include representatives of all state institutions, namely the assembly and the government. The President also calls for the formation of new institutions as soon as possible, because Kosovo has no time to lose,” Collaku said.

New phase of dialogue, with old issues (Bota Sot)

EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Frederica Mogherini, is scheduled to meet on Thursday with Presidents of Kosovo and Serbia. Ardian Arifaj, advisor to President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, said the leaders are expected to discuss the implementation of agreements reached so far, and modalities on how to continue dialogue in the future. Kosovo’s outgoing Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, accused Serbia for not implementing the eight reached agreements. “I think that peace among the two great nations in the region, Albanians and Serbs, could be reached with mutual recognition, namely with Serbia admitting war and genocide committed in Kosovo, apologizing to Kosovo is recognizing its statehood and forever end conflicts and hostility,” Tahiri said.

Haradinaj: I am surprised with Vetevendosje’s and LDK’s mindset (Epoka)

Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AKR), said during a press conference on Tuesday that no more time will be lost on the formation of new institutions. Haradinaj said he was surprised by the mindset of the Vetevendosje Movement and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) vis-à-vis the political situation. “I have asked for consultations and meetings. I am surprised that they have refused to meet a former colleague. We could sit around the table. From the moment the Assembly is constituted, the dynamics will change,” Haradinaj said.

Lekaj: New institutions, in the beginning of September (Epoka)

Pal Lekaj, deputy leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) told the paper on Tuesday that the new Assembly and Government will be formed next week. According to Lekaj, an agreement with the Pacolli-led New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) is very close. He also argued that talks between the LDK-AKR-Alternativa coalition and the Vetevendosje Movement are “political games aimed at delaying the formation of institutions”.

Limaj: No doubt Haradinaj will be prime minister (RTK)

Fatmir Limaj, leader of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), told RTK on Tuesday that there is no doubt that Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) leader, Ramush Haradinaj, will be the new Prime Minister of Kosovo. Limaj also argued that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has the right to decide who will be the new Assembly President. Asked when the next assembly will be held, Limaj said: “there is no reason for further delays, the state is being damaged”.

AKR favors a technical government with a two-year mandate (Zeri)

Agim Bahtiri, deputy leader of the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR), denied claims made by PDK-AAK-NISMA (PAN) coalition representatives that the AKR will vote in favor of their candidates for Assembly President and Prime Minister. Bahtiri said his party has proposed a technical government with a two-year mandate and then early parliamentary elections. Bahtiri appealed to political parties to sit and discuss this proposal in order to reach an agreement and proceed with the Assembly session.

Kosovo verifying data on the arrested Serb in Prizren (Epoka)

The Spokesperson of the Prizren Basic Court, Aferdita Kicaj, confirmed to Radio Free Europe that Kosovo Police has arrested a Serb citizen suspected for war crimes. “The Basic Court in Prizren is waiting for verification of the data on the individual by Kosovo Police,” Kicaj said.

North municipalities still work with UNMIK regulations, don’t pay taxes (Koha)

The paper reports in a front-page story that the municipalities of Mitrovica North, Zubin Potok, Leposavic and Zvecan, are still not implementing the law on taxes on immovable property and the law on construction and planning. Municipal representatives there claim they have yet to develop the required local capacity and complain about lack of staff, but the paper notes that there is no political willingness to implement the laws. Meanwhile, Kosovo’s central institutions blame one another on who is responsible that these laws are not being implemented. The paper further notes that Mitrovica North and Zvecan are still working with an UNMIK decision that doesn’t foresee income from immovable property taxation, construction permits, use of public properties or other sources of municipal incomes.