• Thaci announces elections in four northern municipalities (media)
• Officials: No problems for organising elections in northern municipalities (media)
• Haradinaj calls on northern municipalities citizens to go to polls (RTK)
• Elections in the north: Serbian List to consult Belgrade (media)
• OSCE: We have not received request for election assistance (Kallxo)
• “Announcement of elections in the north could worsen Kosovo – Serbia relations”
• LDK count on votes of governing coalition to bring government down (Express)
• Kosnett: Kosovo to adopt convention to prevent gender-based violence (media)
• Justice sought from UN for victims of sexual violence in conflict (RFE)
• Albanian President: Crucial for Kosovo and Serbia to resume dialogue (media)
• Rama and Palmer discuss also about Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RTK)
• Anti-corruption chief: We have filed 105 indictments (RTV Dukagjini)

Thaci announces elections in four northern municipalities (media)

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci yesterday announced that local elections in the four northern municipalities will be held on May 19, the media report citing a press release issued by Thaci’s office.

The statement issued by Thaci’s office reads: “The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, in line with his constitutional and legal competencies, taking into account the note by the Ministry for Local Government and following a consultation process with political parties and the Central Election Commission, today has decided to set the date for the extraordinary elections in the municipalities: Mitrovica North, Zubin Potok, Leposavic and Zvecan”.

Media highlight that the mayors from the four municipalities in the north of Kosovo resigned their posts on November of last year as a sign of protest to the import tariff on Serbia introduced by the government of Kosovo.

Officials: No problems for organising elections in northern municipalities (media)

Officials from the Kosovo’s Ministry of Local Government Administration told Zeri that there will be no problems organising elections in the four northern municipalities after President Hashim Thaci announced them for 19 May. Deputy Minister Beqir Fejzullahu said elections in the north will be held in line with Kosovo legislation.

Head of the Central Elections Commission (CEC), Valdete Daka, told the paper that the government would have to allocate additional funds to be able to prepare for elections in the north. “I hope in the coming days we will take necessary steps to begin organising elections but we will first request the government for additional budget,” Daka said.

At the same time, Bota Sot quotes Daka as saying in the meeting of the CEC that Thaci’s decision was taken without consulting them. “We know these decisions were taken without going through the CEC,” Daka said.

Haradinaj calls on northern municipalities citizens to participate in elections (RTK)

After the decision of the President of Kosovo to announce new elections in northern municipalities, Zubin Potok, Zvecan, Leposavic and Mitrovica North, for 19 May 2019, the Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj called on the political parties to use their constitutional right of representing the interests of the citizens.

He also called on the people of these municipalities to participate in these elections and vote the best candidates who would work for the good of the citizens of these municipalities. “I call for free and democratic elections based on our Constitution and laws as well as on the highest democratic, international standards,” Haradinaj wrote.

Elections in the north: Serbian List to consult Belgrade (media)

Following the announcement of Kosovo President Hashim Thaci that elections in the four northern municipalities will take place on 19 May, leaders of the Serbian List will travel to Belgrade to discuss the recent developments. Serbian List officials told Belgrade news agency Tanjug that all their actions will be taken in coordination with authorities in Serbia.

OSCE: We have not received request for election assistance (Kallxo)

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo has not received any request from Kosovo institutions to assist in the elections process in the four northern municipalities. “We just received the decision, the mission has not received any request for assistance/support,” the mission said.

“Announcement of elections in the north could worsen Kosovo – Serbia relations”

Russia Today reported on Monday on Kosovo President Hashim Thaci’s decision to announce early elections in the four northern municipalities, Gazeta Express reports. According to Russia Today: “this move can cause tensions in relations between Kosovo and Serbia. The decision comes after protests in the northern municipalities in November against the 100-percent tariff on Serbian goods. Prime Minister Haradinaj however has resisted to international pressure and has not lifted the tariff yet”.

LDK count on votes of governing coalition to bring government down (Express)

Besian Mustafa, spokesperson of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), said on Monday they expect that some MPS from the ruling coalition would vote to bring the government down.

“We expect that also a part of the governing political parties, who do not want destruction of the state and Kosovo’s international isolation, would join us in safeguarding our state from many dangers that are threatening due to this irresponsible governing coalition,” Mustafa said.

Kosnett: Kosovo to adopt convention for preventing gender-based violence (media)

The U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Philip Kosnett, urged Kosovo to ratify the Istanbul Convention for preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. “If Kosovo can take this step, your leaders send a strong message that Kosovo is readying itself for Euro-Atlantic integration,” Kosnett tweeted.

Justice sought from UN for victims of sexual violence in conflict (RFE)

Radio Free Europe in Albanian writes that international justice is being demanded for victims of sexual violence during the 1998-99 conflict in Kosovo and that to this end, the Kosovo Women Steering Board submitted to the UN the petition signed by Kosovo citizens.

Edita Tahiri, chairperson of the Regional Women’s Lobby of South Eastern Europe and initiator of the petition, said that after five years of effort, the electronic version of the petition was submitted to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. She hopes that now that the petition has reached the final address, international mechanisms will be put in place to bring to justice perpetrators of sexual violence during conflict in Kosovo. “The UN cannot say it is not aware of the problem and cannot say Kosovo did not seek international justice,” Tahiri said.

Koha Ditore reports on its front page that “the northern Serbs will not take part in the local elections without Vucic’s consent”. Serbian List representatives are set to meet the Serbian President in Belgrade on Wednesday.

Albanian President: Crucial for Kosovo and Serbia to resume dialogue (media)

Most news websites report that Albanian President Ilir Meta took to Facebook on Monday to call on Kosovo and Serbia to resume the dialogue. Meta said it was crucial for the two countries to return to the table of talks and aim for a final and sustainable settlement, respect for European values, normalization of relations and to strengthen peace, security and stability in the Western Balkans.

Rama and Palmer discuss also about Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (RTK)

The Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama hosted on Monday in Tirana a meeting with the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Mathew Palmer.

“Excellent bilateral relations, Albania’s European integration, Kosovo-Serbia dialogue as well as political situation in the country, found us in fruitful cooperation and complete agreement with the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Mathew Palmer,” Rama said after the meeting.

Anti-corruption chief: We have filed 105 indictments (RTV Dukagjini)

Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency chief Shaip Havolli said in an interview for the TV station on Monday, that his agency has filed 107 indictments on corruption charges. “The Agency has filed indictments to the prosecutions on issues related to declaration of assets, corruption and conflict of interest. We have filed around 105 indictments … Many cases involve the conflict of interest,” he said.