Headlines - 12.02.2016

Kurz: Opposition to renounce violence (dailies)

Austria’s Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz during his visit to Kosovo yesterday called on the opposition parties to renounce violence and cooperate with the government. "We know that you are in a difficult position. I would like to make an appeal to all to renounce violence and opt for democratic dialogue. Violence is definitely not the solution and must be punished,” Kurz said. He further stated that Austria considers the dialogue and agreements with Serbia to be very important. Regarding visa liberalization, Kurz said his country will support Kosovo only after all requirements are met. He made these comments during a press conference with Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci. Thaci said Kosovo is in the right path towards visa liberalization and is implementing all agreements reached with Serbia so far. He also said the public opinion will be informed in the coming days regarding the date of the election of president.  Kurz also met with Prime Minister Isa Mustafa. 

Government seeks to elect new president before 17 February (Koha Ditore)

The paper reports that the Kosovo government is making final preparations for holding a plenary session of the Assembly where Hashim Thaci’s candidacy for new president of Kosovo will be voted. The scenario of Thaci’s election is already in place and invitations for the guests to take part at the session have been printed out. The session is expected to be organised in a matter of days. To this end, Kosovo Assembly President Kadri Veseli met yesterday ambassadors of the US, UK and Norway and today he is expected to meet ambassadors of Germany, Italy and France. A source told the paper that in the meetings, Veseli received the green light to proceed with president’s election process. “The presidency will meet following necessary consultations and set the date of the plenary session for election of the president,” the source said.

Haliti: President must be elected in accordance with Constitution (RTK)

Kosovo Assembly Deputy Speaker from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Xhavit Haliti said yesterday the Constitution doesn’t say who should be present in the Assembly during the vote for the president. According to him, the Constitution stipulates that a candidate for president must have 81 votes in the first and second round, while only 61 votes will be enough in the third round of voting. “The candidate must run in accordance with the Constitution and should be voted,” Haliti said. He also said he believes Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci will be elected president in the first round of vote. 

Ymeri: Vetevendosje ready to run with a joint ballot (Epoka e Re)

The leader of Vetevendosje movement, Visar Ymeri, said in an interview for Klan Kosova, that the only solution for Kosovo is early elections. Ymeri added that his party is ready to run in these elections together with the two other opposition parties, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA). “The other two parties, AAK and NISMA, also expressed readiness but we do not have anything concrete,” Ymeri said. Ymeri called the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hashim Thaci, a politician that caused major damages and added that he would be remembered for the drastic increase of corruption during his term in office as prime minister. 

Haradinaj: Elections are not thirst for power (Epoka e Re)

The leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, met on Thursday members of his party in Istog, Klina and Peja. They spoke about the processes that Kosovo is going through, responsibilities of the government and political crisis at Kosovo institutions. They expressed readiness to join the protest of 17 February, in order to increase the opposition front towards degradation of governing and living in Kosovo. Haradinaj said it is a mistake to misunderstand his proposal for early elections as a desire for power. This proposal, he explained, is a political offer in order to overcome crisis. He added that governing in Kosovo has degenerated, Constitution has been violated and corruption has increased. “Therefore, the best response to the violators would be involvement of the population which would resolve this crisis with its vote,” Haradinaj said. 

Viets: Liberalization of visas is close (Epoka e Re)

The German Ambassador to Kosovo, Angelika Viets, said on Thursday during a visit at the “International School of Pristina” that the people of Kosovo should not be concerned about the liberalization of visas, being that they will be removed soon. “I cannot give you a certain date, and I am not even saying that it is going to be in 2016, but it is close,” Viets said. She said that she is certain that there will be a positive recommendation by the end of this year. 

Ombudsperson wants Serbia to pay back pensions to Kosovo citizens (Koha)

The Kosovo Ombudsperson Institution has published an opinion it submitted to the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers expressing concern about the non-execution of the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) by Serbian authorities granting the right to two elderly people from Mitrovica to receive the pensions they stopped receiving in 1999. According to the Ombudsperson, ECHR decision also recognizes the right to all other potential applicants to receive backdated pensions from the Serbian Pensions and Disability Insurance Fund.