• Arrests made in connection to police officers’ killing in 2004 (dailies)
• Kocijancic: EU has no preferences over who forms government (RTK)
• PAN has not yet decided on candidate for Assembly speaker’s post (Zeri)
• Abdixhiku: Cooperation with PDK, the biggest sin (Klan Kosova)
• Bahtiri: AKR would support Kurti for prime minister (Koha)
• Deda calls on AAK and NISMA to join LAA and Vetevendosje (Rrokum TV)
• Yee: Western Balkans far from EU integration (Zeri)
• Serbia complains to U.S. over Kosovo army (Kosova Sot) 

Kosovo Media Highlights

Arrests made in connection to police officers’ killing in 2004 (dailies)

In a joint operation yesterday, Kosovo Police and EULEX arrested several persons over the 2004 killing of two police officers, one from UNMIK and the other from the Kosovo Police. In a press release, the Kosovo’s State Prosecutor said that two persons have been arrested upon order of the judge, whereas two others have been arrested by Kosovo Police for Illegal Possession of Weapons. Another individual is expected to be extradited from a foreign country and arrested during the day for the same case. The press release stated that the case was being investigated and coordinated by an International Prosecutor of the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo.

Kocijancic: EU has no preferences over who forms government (RTK)

The European Commission Spokesperson, Maja Kocijancic, told Observer that whoever forms the government in Kosovo, has to be determined on the path towards the EU. “The European Union does not have any preferences on who creates the government, as long as the Constitution and parliamentary procedures are fully respected,” she said. “Each new cabinet should be ready to undertake rule of law and economic reforms, to be determined on the obligations related to visa liberalization and to constructively engage in the dialogue. All these are crucial for Kosovo when its progress on its European path is concerned,” Kocijancic said.  

PAN has not yet decided on candidate for Assembly speaker’s post (Zeri)

The paper reports that the PAN coalition led by the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has not yet decided who to nominate for the post of Assembly speaker as this post is constitutionally given to the entity that has won the most votes in elections. The paper notes that the most talked about candidate is PDK leader Kadri Veseli who already served one term in the post.

Abdixhiku: Cooperation with PDK, the biggest sin (Klan Kosova)

Lumir Abdixhiku from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), considered among top ten most voted candidates of the party, said in an interview to Klan Kosova that LDK stands firm in its position against cooperating with Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). “The biggest sin would be to cooperate with PDK,” Abdixhiku said.

Bahtiri: AKR would support Kurti for prime minister (Koha)

Mitrovica mayor and member of the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR), Agim Bahtiri, said his party would support Albin Kurti for prime minister if a coalition is reached between Vetevendosje and LDK-AKR-Alternativa coalition.

Deda calls on AAK and NISMA to join LAA and Vetevendosje (Rrokum TV)

Ilir Deda, co-founder of Alternativa, said that the PAN coalition does not have the votes to create the government and added that they are only pretending to have them. “I appeal to the AAK and NISMA to join LAA coalition and Vetevendosje to create the government, and send PDK home,” he said. “I do not believe that PAN has the votes and neither will they manage to have 61 MPs,” Deda said.

Yee: Western Balkans far from EU integration (Zeri)

The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia, Hoyt Yee, is quoted as saying that the Western Balkans region is far from EU integration. “Priority number one should be economic development. Majority of the countries in the region have grown their economies by three to four percent a year but even if this figures would have been six, it would still not be enough to reach the EU average. This cannot be achieved in the next three decades”, Yee said.

Serbia complains to U.S. over Kosovo army (Kosova Sot)

Serbia’s Minister of Defence, Aleksandar Vulin, expressed concern to the U.S. Ambassador in Belgrade, Kyle Scott, over activities of authorities in Pristina aimed at creation of a Kosovo army. Vulin said KFOR was Serbia’s only partner in, as his said, safeguarding the administrative borderline with Kosovo, Serbian news agency FoNet reported.