Headlines - 25.05.2016

PDK nominates Hoxhaj, Kuçi, Koci to Mustafa-led government (Koha)

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has formally submitted to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa names of its officials proposed to fill posts vacated by the election of Hashim Thaçi president of Kosovo. As has been previously reported in the media, Enver Hoxhaj has been proposed to the post of foreign minister, Hajredin Kuçi, currently minister of justice, is expected to become deputy prime minister while his successor to the justice ministry will be Gani Koci.

Demarcation to be sent to Assembly soon (Zeri/RFE)

Kosovo government spokesperson, Arban Abrashi, told Radio Free Europe that the government is expected to send the agreement on border-demarcation with Montenegro to the Assembly very soon. “We have a goal, that the issue of visa liberalization be treated within 90-100 days. So, we have to ratify the agreement with Montenegro within this period,” Abrashi said. Meanwhile, Muharrem Nitaj, spokesperson for the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), said the MPs should understand the seriousness of the issue and should not hasten to ratify the agreement that gives away eight thousand hectares of Kosovo’s territory.

Veseli: Border demarcation should not hinder visa liberalisation (Telegrafi)

Kosovo Assembly President Kadri Veseli in a visit to the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) branch in Peja/Peć said that visa liberalisation will be not be delayed because of “some technical issues” such as border demarcation with Montenegro. Veseli said “we are in talks with political parties in an effort to find common ground regarding the ratification of the border demarcation agreement. Naturally, we have differences of views but common ground needs to be found”.

Government doesn’t give in to pressure for Association (Epoka)

Despite the requests of the Serbian Government and Kosovo Serbs for the establishment of the Association/Community of the Serb-majority Municipalities, the government of Kosovo does not intend to move forward on this direction writes the paper. According to the executive, the agreement for Association will be implemented only when Serbia implements the agreement on the international dial code and the agreement for the independence of KOSTT (Kosovo Electricity Transmission, System and Market Operator). For the representatives of the Serbs in Kosovo institutions, these conditions are not justified. Minister of Administration of Local Government, Ljubomir Marić said any further delay of the Association is unacceptable. He requested from the international community to make pressure on the government of Kosovo on this issue. On the other hand, Kosovo’s Minister for dialogue, Edita Tahiri, said that the European Union should increase pressure on Serbia to implement the already reached agreements.

Government offered opposition ample alternatives on demarcation (Epoka)

Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio in charge for the dialogue Edita Tahiri, said that the government has offered sufficient alternatives to the opposition with regards to the agreement on the demarcation of the border with Montenegro. During her meeting with the Austrian Ambassador to Kosovo, Gernot Pfandler on Tuesday, Tahiri expressed her views that the Assembly of Kosovo will ratify this agreement, because, according to Tahiri, “as a state, we have to exercise sovereignty and international responsibility.”

Stojanović: We are ready to discuss about Armed Forces (Zeri)

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and member of Serbian List, Branimir Stojanović, told the paper that the Serbian List is ready to discuss about the establishment of Kosovo Armed Forces only through official meetings and not through the media. The paper writes that Stojanović indicated that the leaders of the ruling coalition never requested from the Serb MPs to support the establishment of Armed Forces.  Meanwhile, Faton Abdullahu, political advisor to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, told the paper that the government considers that it will have the necessary support when the time comes to a final decision on this matter. Opposition parties’ representatives say that the statements of the government that Kosovo will have its army are only a political disguise.

Constitutional Court’s decision could lead to interethnic tensions (Telegrafi)

The decision of the Constitutional Court to allocate land to the Orthodox Monastery of Deçan/Dečani which the municipality claims to be socially-owned could lead to interethnic tensions, writes the news website. The mayor of Deçan/Dečani, Rasim Selmanaj, said the court’s decision is unjust and politically motivated. “I am in coordination with other parties and depending on the circumstances, we will decide what methods to pursue to oppose this decision”, Selmanaj told Telegrafi. He however said that they plan to appeal to the Constitutional Court but at the same time ruled out any possible interethnic tensions. Analyst Arben Qirezi said that the decision of the Constitutional Court is “scandalous”. He said that the Orthodox Church should not be target of the residents’ frustration with the court’s ruling, but also added that they have the right to protest against it. Another analyst, Imer Mushkolaj, said he was certain that the residents of Deçan/Dečani will never accept the court’s decision and this will only worsen interethnic relations. Kallxo.com quotes Selmanaj as saying that they will hold a municipal session today and then, in coordination with other parties, protest against the decision of the Constitutional Court on Thursday.