UNMIK Headlines 26 August
Merkel: No EU membership without reforms, rule of law (Kosova Sot)
On the eve of the Berlin Summit on the Western Balkans, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that, during the 100th anniversary of World War I, the future must be shaped by overcoming bitter memories of conflicts. Merkel said a common European perspective for the Western Balkans would be possible only through full commitment and implementation of reforms. “We are promising all countries of the Western Balkans membership in the European Union and we stand strongly behind this promise, but it will depend on the countries themselves when and how they will become EU members. Each country must meet the membership criteria by implementing structural and rule of law reforms, fighting against corruption, and establishing transparent structures,” Merkel said.
Thaci starts meetings with political parties (Lajm)
Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci met on Monday with the 6+ Group, a coalition of non-Serb minority parties, and discussed the establishment of new institutions. Thaci wrote on his Facebook account after the meeting that they agreed that the decision of the Constitutional Court was clear and that everyone should respect it. “We also agreed to work together as partners… to overcome the political and institutional deadlock and… establish the Assembly and new government, where 6+ will have its deserved place,” Thaci wrote. Mahir Yagcilar, leader of the Turkish Democratic Party (KDTP) and MP from the 6+ Group, told Epoka e Re that his party is ready to support the PDK in establishing new institutions. “This issue does not depend on us though; a majority is required,” Yagcilar added. Veton Berisha and Etem Arifi, two MPs from the 6+ coalition, told Zeri that they did not promise their loyalty to the PDK leader. They also said that the 6+ coalition will join any party that manages to form the government.
Mustafa: We’re not giving up, we’re the majority (Epoka e Re)
Isa Mustafa, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), said on Monday that the current political deadlock should be resolved in the Assembly. According to him, a broad-based government would not make any sense. He added that the opposition coalition stands firm in its position not to enter into a coalition with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK).
Opposition bloc won’t give up on Assembly Speaker post (Lajm)
Regardless of the ruling of the Constitutional Court, the opposition bloc of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), says it has the right to propose the candidate for Assembly Speaker because it is the biggest parliamentary group. Meanwhile, Ardian Arifaj, political advisor to Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, told the Jeta ne Kosove newspaper that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) is talking to other political parties in order to overcome the crisis. LDK MP Vjosa Osmani told the same newspaper that the LDK has decided not to comment on the ruling of the Constitutional Court until it is published in its entirety.
Jahjaga: Kosovo should be included in visa liberalization (Zeri)
Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga said yesterday after meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia, Miroslav Lajcak, that Kosovo should be included in the visa liberalization process, as this would help bring freedom of movement to the people of Kosovo, in line with other people in the region.
Serbia is violating neighborhood principles (Tribuna)
During a meeting with Austrian reporters on Monday, Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri said the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade in Brussels is held to bring about peace and stability in the region and that the Kosovo government is committed to implementing agreements for normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Tahiri said Serbia is delaying the implementation of agreements and keeps violating good neighborhood principles by illegally interfering in Kosovo, as in the recent case of the Mitrovica bridge barricades.
Families want reburial to be postponed (Tribuna)
The families of identified missing persons, specifically six families from Skenderaj/Srbica and ten families from Drenas/Glogovac, have requested that the reburial process be postponed until the identification of all other mortal remains exhumed in Rudnica.
Investments in Kosovo in Yugoslav times remain a mystery (Koha)
The government in Pristina has no data about Kosovo’s old debts to different countries and international organizations. Foreign investments in the amount of several million euros were made in Kosovo during the time of the former Yugoslavia. Officials at the Ministry of Finance told the paper that the Serbian Popular Bank has this data and that it could be published after the start of talks on succession and debts. The Kosovo government is currently paying back a debt to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; it has until 2031 to do so.