Headlines - 25.07.2014

Haradinaj accuses PDK for delaying establishment of institutions (Koha)

Ramush Haradinaj, the opposition’s candidate for the post of prime minister, accused on Thursday the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) led by Hashim Thaci for delaying the establishment of new institutions. “We knew from the beginning that there would be obstacles. These obstacles are coming from Thaci’s regime. This regime has proved the practice of seizing institutions publicly in front of two million people when they seized the session of the Assembly. There is a solution for every obstacle. The solution rests with 2/3 of members of parliament. What we did in the assembly session with 83 MPs, we will do the same with other processes,” Haradinaj said.

Haradinaj: News about indictment against me is sponsored by Thaçi (Zëri)

Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), reacted on Thursday to media reports that he could face an indictment for war crimes. Haradinaj said that the same way statements by the Pristina-based Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) are sponsored by Thaci, the news about a possible indictment against him are sponsored by people who are trying to shift the public attention to other topics.

Tahiri: Djuric is not telling the truth (Lajm)

Kosovo’s outgoing Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Pristina delegation for talks in Brussels, Edita Tahiri, said an agreement was reached in Brussels to remove all barricades in Mitrovica, including the Peace Park and the Car Lazar Square. In an interview for Politiko, Tahiri said Marko Djuric was not telling the truth when he told media that the parties in Brussels agreed not to remove the Peace Park on Iber/Ibar Bridge. “He is not telling the truth, because on 22 July, he agreed on behalf of the state of Serbia that all barricades, including the Peace Park, should be removed,” Tahiri was quoted as saying.

Williamson to publish his report on 29 July (Lajm)

The Special Investigations Task Force announced that prosecutor Clint Williamson will announce his findings at a press conference in Brussels next Tuesday. A spokesman for the SITF said Williamson would for the first time take questions from reporters at the conference.

Rexhepi: EC report, positive, but we have to fulfill minor things (Epoka e Re)

Interior Minister, Bajram Rexhepi, said that the recent report of European Commission on visa liberalisation for Kosovo is realistic and positive. “However, there are some minor issues left which can be done without a major problem. We are in the final stages of implementing criteria and conditions from the visa liberalisation roadmap”, said Rexhepi. He added that if there is will from European institutions, Kosovo will meet the remaining criteria in a very short time.

Mogherini: Kosovo to sign SAA during Italian presidency of EU (Koha)

In an interview for the paper, Italian Foreign Minister, Frederica Mogherini, said she hopes Kosovo will sign the Stabilization/Association Agreement during the Italian presidency of the European Union. “We will be greatly engaged in this direction. As far as visa liberalization is concerned, we are aware of the feeling of frustration among many Kosovars, especially the youth. We will work with the European Union, but meanwhile our embassy issues long-term visas for those that meet the requirements,” Mogherini was quoted saying. The Italian Foreign Minister also said that dialogue with Serbia is very important for the European future of Kosovo and said Europe would be engaged in resolving the problem of the barricade on Iber/Ibar Bridge.

The north rejects Kosovo funds (Koha)

The paper reports on the front page that the Fond for the North has collected over €2 million that are dedicated for capital projects in Mitrovica North, Leposavic, Zvecan and Zubin Potok, but that mayors of these municipalities don’t want these funds. The fund was created in December last year after the agreement between Pristina and Belgrade in Brussels. The board consists of three members: Danijela Zubac, representative of the community living in the north, Besim Beqaj, representative of Kosovo institutions and Samuel Zbogar, special representative of the European Union in Kosovo. The paper further notes that while local authorities in northern Kosovo are rejecting funds from the government in Pristina, the Government of Serbia is implementing a large number of projects in the north. Kosovo’s outgoing Minister for Labor and Social Welfare, Nenad Rasic, said on the matter: “there is still this political barrier in the north, where funds from the Kosovo Government are not openly accepted by local institutions, but I am confident that we can find different local institutions that can utilize these funds and implement projects in the service of the people. I know that for the time being, there is lack of cooperation between the northern mayors and central institutions”.

Three candidates for LDK leader (Tribuna)

Lutfi Haziri, Mendim Rugova and Vjosa Osmani are expected to run for the post of Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader in the upcoming party convention set to take place in September, reports the paper on the front page. If by that time, the current leader, Isa Mustafa, achieves his goal of becoming Assembly Speaker, he will not run for the top party post. A source told the paper that Lutfi Haziri and Vjosa Osmani are viewed by the party membership as symbols of victory for the large number of votes they won in recent elections while Mendim Rugova, the eldest son of the late President Ibrahim Rugova, in a recent interview for the paper left open the possibility of running for the post his father held until 2006.