• COVID-19: 827 new cases, 16 deaths (media)
• Kosovo elects new Government with Kurti Prime Minister (media)
• Congratulations pour in for new Government of Kosovo (media)
• Kurti expects to take new post today, calls for swift election of president (Telegrafi)
• Hoti to hand over duty to Kurti today (media)
• Hoxhaj: We will not send Kurti’s mandate to the Constitutional Court (EO)
• Haziri: LDK has not discussed approaching Constitutional Court (T7/Klan)
• “Constitution does not oblige PM to offer two ministries to Serb community” (Koha)
• Rama does not mediate dialogue, says he defends Kosovo’s interests (RTK)
• Zemaj writes to COVAX concerning lack of vaccine rollout in Kosovo (media)
• Vulin: Serbia to work incessantly to prevent Kosovo from joining Interpol (media)

 

COVID-19: 827 new cases, 16 deaths (media)

Kosovo has recorded 827 new cases of COVID-19 and 16 deaths in the last 24 hours. 518 persons have recovered from the virus during this time.

There are 13,634 active cases of COVID-19 in Kosovo.

Kosovo elects new Government with Kurti Prime Minister (media)

Kosovo's Assembly elected yesterday Albin Kurti to be the new Prime Minister of Kosovo with 67 votes in favour, 30 against and no abstentions.

The new government of Kosovo will consist of fifteen ministries of which five will be led by women. Also of three deputy prime ministers, two are women.

The names of the new cabinet include: Prime Minister - Albin Kurti

First Deputy Prime Minister – Besnik Bislimi

Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora – Donika Gervalla

Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister – Emilija Rexhepi

Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure - Liburn Aliu

Minister of Industry, Trade and Entrepreneurship - Rozeta Hajdari

Minister of Labour, Finance and Transfers - Hekuran Murati

Minister of Justice – Albulena Haxhiu

Minister of Health – Arben Vitia

Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation – Arberie Nagavci

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports – Hajrulla Ceku

Minister of Administration of Local Government – Elbert Krasniqi

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development – Faton Peci

Minister of Defence – Armend Mehaj

Minister of Internal Affairs and Public Administration – Xhelal Svecla

Minister of Economy – Artane Rizvanolli

Minister of Communities and Returns – Goran Rakic

Minister of Regional Development – Fikrim Damka

In his remarks to MPs before the vote, Kurti said Kosovo's immediate challenge is the COVID-19 pandemic vowing to take measures to fight it and pledging to provide vaccines for 60 percent of population during 2021. Kurti also spoke about his other priorities: employment and justice. He said the judicial vetting will continue adding that "an impartial justice system is vital for the country."

Kurti said Kosovo has already made enough compromises by accepting the Ahtisaari status proposal in exchange for declaring independence and that no more compromises will be made to Serbia. “No further compromise can or will be done. This should be stated loud and clear by all of us,” Kurti said.

He also said the issue of missing persons will be a priority in the dialogue process and that Serbia needs to recognise the truth and the reality. Without these happening, Kurti said "there can be no normalisation between the two peoples and the two states."

Upon election, Kurti said that he will be a prime minister for all citizens of Kosovo and pledged to cooperate with the opposition and the civil society. He said issues of national interest require cooperation.

"We have to be united in face of Serbia. We will call for a parliamentary discussion until exhausted. We need to reach consensus on education too. We need to find coordination for the future of our children. This needs to be done in the security sector too. We will also seek coordination on the health insurance fund as well as energy issues and policies. The decision taken by our government impacts future generations and children yet unborn," he said.

Representatives of opposition parties criticised Kurti's presented platform saying it is fails to provide specific solutions to Kosovo's most pressing matters.

Acting leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Enver Hoxhaj is quoted as calling Kurti's programme a 'wish list'. “I did not see concrete plans as to when [COVID] vaccines could be secured, I didn’t hear any strong economic policy, I didn’t see education as a project of individual and collective development and I didn’t see foreign policy as a strategic orientation,” Hoxhaj said.

Leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Lumir Abdixhiku called on Kurti not to let his overwhelming victory at the February 14 elections lead to him to “arrogance.” “Kosovo needs stability,” Abdixhiku said. “As opposition we intend to contribute to this stability, but the new prime minister that will be elected today should remind himself that he is not only the head of his party but the prime minister of the Republic.”

Head of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) parliamentary group, Besnik Tahiri, said the election winner has decided to act alone rather than seek cooperation and coordination with other political entities. "We are against the domination logic. We refuse in any way to become an active part of an arbitrary political culture, we know that this leads to arbitrariness."

Serbian List's representative Igor Simic meanwhile accused the now new government of violating the Constitution of Kosovo for not giving the Serbian community lead over two ministries which he said they are entitled to based on the result of February 14 elections.

Emilija Rexhepi, nominated for the third Deputy Prime Minister for Minority Affairs and Human Rights, responded in the Assembly to the Serbian List’s dissatisfaction with only one ministry in the Kurti 2 government and its threat to send it to the Constitutional Court. She said that according to the Constitution, one minister belongs to the representatives of the Serb community, and another ministry to non-Serb communities. "If there are more than 12 ministries, one ministry is given to minorities but it is not specified which minority," she added.

AP reports that the new government will be facing the challenges of managing the coronavirus as confirmed cases mount in the small Balkan country. "Kurti named the coronavirus pandemic as his top challenge and pledged to secure vaccines for 60% of Kosovo’s population this year. Kosovo is the only European country that has not started administering vaccines yet," AP writes. It adds that reviving Kosovo’s economy, including beating back unemployment, as well as managing the coronavirus pandemic, organized crime and corruption remain top challenges for the new government.

Reuters writes that Kurti, 46, a leftist and an Albanian nationalist, whose coalition secured 67 votes in the 120-seat parliament, said its main priorities will be the fight against corruption and the creation of jobs in a country with the youngest population in Europe and unemployment of around 30%. "If it wants to join the European Union, Kosovo must also improve relations with neighbouring Serbia, which is a candidate for membership in the bloc."

Radio Free Europe in the coverage of the event highlights that the new government will have to deal with a troubled economy and frayed relations with Serbia. It quotes Kurti as saying in his address to lawmakers ahead of the vote that the coronavirus pandemic is Kosovo's main challenge, and said that his cabinet would implement "a plan to bring COVID-19 under control with measures that reduce the number of new cases and lead to the elimination of deaths."

Prishtina Insight points out that as Kurti embarks on his second spell as prime minister, having been removed from office through a motion of no confidence just 50 days into his first mandate, one of his first challenges looks set to be appointing a new president, with Vetevendosje’s likely candidate Vjosa Osmani facing public opposition from both PDK and AAK.

Congratulations pour in for new Government of Kosovo (media)

International community representatives in Kosovo have congratulated Kosovo and its people on the election of the new government.

Head of EU Office in Kosovo, Tomas Szunyog, congratulated Albin Kurti for being elected Prime Minister of Kosovo. “Ready to deepen EU-Kosovo cooperation for open & effective government that swiftly addresses issues of vital importance for Kosovo. @EUKosovo will continue to support Kosovo's progress with all its capacities,” Szunyog wrote on Twitter.

Barrie Freeman, deputy head of UNMIK, hailed the record number of women in the new parliament. "Gender equality is a key contributing factor in building and sustaining peace," she tweeted.

The British Ambassador to Kosovo, Nicholas Abbott, extended congratulations too. “Congratulations Albin Kurti on your election as Prime Minister. I look forward to working with you and your government on our common priorities,” he wrote.

“Congratulations to Albin Kurti and his Cabinet on the successful election as Prime Minister and Government of the Republic of Kosovo,” reads the tweet of the German Ambassador to Kosovo Jorn Rohde.

“Congratulations to the new Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti and his government. I wish them success and look forward to working together to strengthening the partnership between our countries ever more,” wrote on Twitter Italy’s Ambassador to Kosovo Nicola Orlando.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz wrote on Twitter: "Congratulations to the new Prime Minister of #Kosovo @albinkurti. Austria will continue to support Kosovo on the #Europeanpath and the COVID19 pandemic."

European Commissioner for Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, congratulated the new parliament and prime minister. "I look forward to working with you on taking forward the reforms on #EU path & continuing fight against #COVID19. Dialogue with Belgrade on normalisation of relations remains key."

Candidate for Kosovo president Vjosa Osmani congratulated Kurti saying his election is the most sincere reflection of the will of the people expressed in February elections. "Challenges are many, be it inherited or new, but in the journey that starts today I wish your policies to be the best  embodiment of the needs, requests and dreams of the citizens of our country," she wrote.

Albanian opposition leader, Lulzim Basha from the Democratic Party, congratulated Kurti and new MPs on election. "I am convinced the political forces in Kosovo will be able to find common language to overcome obstacles by putting the best interest of Kosovo and its citizens above everything else," he wrote on Facebook.

North Macedonian Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani tweeted: "Congratulations to PM @albinkurti & the new #Kosovo Government. Looking forward to working w/@MFAKOSOVO, Donika #Gërvalla; continue on North Macedonia-Kosovo close cooperation & our joint efforts securing a EU future for the region."

Ali Ahmeti, leader of the Democratic Union for Integration from North Macedonia congratulated Kurti. "In me and all at DUI you will find partners in advancing our relations in the interest of our citizens," Ahmeti wrote on Facebook adding that Kosovo and the region are ahead of difficult challenges.

Kurti expects to take new post today, calls for swift election of president (Telegrafi)

Albin Kurti, new Prime Minister of Kosovo, said to reporters after his election that there is one more step left to fully consolidate new institutions - the election of the new president of Kosovo.

He said the sooner Vjosa Osmani is elected president, the better for everyone. "Kosovo is in a multifold crisis, I don't think we need another one. It would be best if we came out of these crises. The sooner we manage to call the next session, following the replacement of MPs who got elected ministers and elect Ms. Vjosa Osmani as president, the better for all."

He said Kosovo has no time to lose and "I believe all technical arrangements will be in place for me to take over the duty tomorrow morning".

On Twitter Kurti wrote: “Humbled by the tasks before us, we mark the beginning of a new chapter for the people of Kosova. Let us disagree and let us debate fiercely for truth and justice, but let us never fail to come together for the good of our country. And now the work begins.”

Hoti to hand over duty to Kurti today (media)

The outgoing Prime Minister of Kosovo Avdullah Hoti, held a press conference on Monday evening. He said that he will officially hand over his duty on Tuesday to the new Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

"I congratulate every citizen for closing a democratic electoral process. Today the assembly is constituted and the government is elected. I congratulate each MP for state behavior. I congratulate the new speaker, the new prime minister for the tasks they have taken on to lead two of the most important institutions in the country," Hoti said.

"I sincerely wish them success. Their success is also our success, and their failure is our failure."

Hoti said that he has led the government of Kosovo in the most difficult year.

"I have tried to be a prime minister with dignity. It has not been easy to face extreme polarizations, often unprincipled and undemocratic. This has not happened for ten years now," he said, among other things.

"Tomorrow I will hand over the duty according to the state protocol. I have prepared a complete file for the new Prime Minister with information on the works that are in progress,” Hoti said.

"I will submit to the new Prime Minister full information on the European integration process, on the level of implementation of the SAA, on the IPA programs that we have developed, on the discussions that we have had separately with the countries of the European Union on the visa liberalization process," Hoti said.

"I will provide full information on the dialogue process, how it has been conducted so far, the preparations that have been made, the experts that have been engaged, the agreements of our international friends," he stressed.

"I will submit the information about the Washington agreement," Hoti added.

Hoxhaj: We will not send Kurti’s mandate to the Constitutional Court (EO)

Acting leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Enver Hoxhaj, said they will not send election of Albin Kurti as Prime Minister to the Constitutional Court.

“We will send anything to the Court to contest Mr. Kurti’s mandate, who did not have the right to be candidate for Member of Parliament, and who was elected Prime Minister today. I do not want to use the Constitutional Court as an instrument to block the will of Kosovo citizens,” he told the media.

Hoxhaj also mentioned the name of Murat Jashari for President of Kosovo, saying that he is a brilliant candidate, however, he added that PDK does not have a proposal for this post.

“The manner this government was elected, is a new phase of non-stability, uncertainty, fogginess. This building (the Assembly of Kosovo) was a target of violence, clashes. I mentioned to Mr. Kurti the case of Joschka Fischer who apologised for the violence against German police, about what he did earlier. I consider that a Prime Minister should reconcile the population,” Hoxhaj said.

Haziri: LDK has not discussed approaching Constitutional Court (T7/Klan)

Deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Lutfi Haziri said the party has not discussed the prospect of addressing the Constitutional Court in seeking interpretation on whether Albin Kurti can be prime minister of Kosovo as he was barred from running for MP due to a previous conviction.

"LDK has not discussed the issue, we mentioned it, Mr. [Arben] Gashi spoke about a prime minister that has this handicap, he underlined it as fact," Haziri said adding that the LDK expressed clearly the role it will play in the newly-designed political scene. "I don't believe he [Kurti] will go as a result of some action from the LDK, it was not discussed, because through the LDK leader we explained our role," he continued.

“Constitution does not oblige PM to offer two ministries to Serb community” (Koha)

Eugen Cakolli from the Kosovo Democratic Institute think tank said there is no provision in the Constitution of Kosovo that obliges the prime minister to offer two ministries to the Serbian community.

"The 'Kurti 2' government is likely to be faced with the Constitutional Court in the first days, through an alleged violation from the Serbian List for not providing the two ministries to the Serb community. Although the LS has the necessary number of deputies to challenge the decision of the Assembly to elect the Government, the Constitution in Article 96.3 stipulates that if there are more than 12 ministries, a second ministry is allocated to one of the non-majority communities, and not exclusively the Serb one", Cakolli said.

Rama does not mediate dialogue, says he defends Kosovo’s interests (RTK)

The dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia was one of the topics of discussion in the meeting between the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, and the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. After the meeting held on Monday in Paris, the head of the Albanian Government stated that, among other things, they discussed at length the situation in the region, the progress of relations between the countries of the region, the dialogue process between Serbia and Kosovo, about the process of implementation of the four EU freedoms in the framework of the regional Schengen and about other topics, which have occupied a part of the long conversation.

Rama told reporters in Paris that he will not be the mediator between Kosovo and Serbia to approximate their positions, as according to Rama he was a party in this case.

"I am not the right person to mediate between Kosovo and Serbia, because I am a party, and as a party I necessarily defend the interests of Albania and Kosovo together. This is a process where it is up to the leaders in Kosovo to move the dialogue forward, as they see fit. Of course, with all my support and that of the Government, today and tomorrow, in Tirana, of course at certain moments we may have different approaches to how to reach the goal, but the goal is absolutely the same and I am a party," Rama said.

Zemaj writes to COVAX concerning lack of vaccine rollout in Kosovo (media)

In his last day in office, Health Minister Armend Zemaj, wrote a letter to the WHO-led COVAC initiative and to diplomatic representations and missions in Kosovo regarding the absence of COVID vaccine rollout in Kosovo.

Zemaj said the Ministry of Health has made utmost efforts to meet all requirements set out by COVAX and despite everything, it remains the only country in Europe that has not received a single dose of vaccine. "I am kindly asking you to use your authority to enable the arrival of planned doses of the COVID vaccines to Kosovo as soon as possible," he said.

Zemaj is expected to hand over his duties today to his successor from the Vetevendosje Movement, Arben Vitia.

Vulin: Serbia to work incessantly to prevent Kosovo from joining Interpol (media)

Serbia's Minister of Internal Affairs, Aleksandar Vulin, said that Serbia will work relentlessly to make sure Kosovo does not join Interpol. "Kosovo cannot be a member of a global organisation, particularly of one which stores data on drug gangs," Vulin said.