Headlines - 04.05.2017

• Demarcation not included in the Assembly agenda (media)
• PDK’s election scenario (Zeri)
• Zemaj: Voices for coalition breakup have no decision-making powers (Epoka)
• Montenegro ready to support Kosovo in integration processes (Zeri)
• Freedom of the media in Kosovo is deteriorating (Koha)
• Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström to visit Pristina today (media)
• Kosovo not recognising Serbia-issued passports for Kosovo Serbs (RFE/RTK)
• Azemi: Situation in the north could escalate (Klan Kosova)
• Prosecutor doesn’t appeal, Haradinaj won’t be arrested in France (Lajmi)
• Xhaferi: If Ivanov refuses, Parliament will elect government (Koha)

Demarcation not included in the Assembly agenda (media)

Most media report that the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro has not been included in the agenda of the Kosovo Assembly for today. The government did not send the demarcation deal to the Assembly Presidency and heads of parliamentary groups complained on Wednesday that the government was not being serious on the matter.

PDK’s election scenario (Zeri)

Leadership of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) is interested to see Kosovo head to early elections for fear of local election result later this year, writes the paper on the front page quoting sources. PDK is concerned that the result of local elections could spell “a debacle” for the party and this could then reflect on the outcome of general elections which, under the regular timeframe, are to take place in June 2018. Sources said that in this year’s local elections PDK stands to remain without the two largest cities in Kosovo, Pristina and Prizren, the latter named by the party as its Jerusalem.

Zemaj: Voices for coalition breakup have no decision-making powers (Epoka)

The paper runs a front-page interview with Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MP, Armend Zemaj, highlighting his remark that “people calling for the breakup of the coalition between the LDK and PDK have no decision-making powers”. Zemaj said that only the leaders of the two parties can make an assessment of the ruling coalition. He added that practice so far has shown that early parliamentary elections did not produce immediate stability. Asked to comment on the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro, Zemaj said the issue requires a broad-based and national consensus. Zemaj also commented on the motion of no trust against the government, initiated by NISMA, saying that no LDK MP will vote in favor of the motion regardless of their disagreements over the LDK-PDK coalition.

Montenegro ready to support Kosovo in integration processes (Zeri)

Montenegro’s Minister for European Integration, Andrej Pejovic, said in Pristina yesterday that his country is ready to support Kosovo in its EU integration path and that he spoke to his Kosovo counterpart, Mimoza Ahmetaj, about establishing a joint Kosovo-Montenegro council that would address issues of interest for the two parties. “Montenegro, a country that has opened many chapters, a total of 24, has a lot to offer and help Kosovo and is willing to share its experience with Kosovo,” Pejovic said. The two ministers appeared at a joint press briefing after the meeting but took no questions from the journalists attending the event.

Freedom of the media in Kosovo is deteriorating (Koha)

The paper reports on page three that there has been an increase in attacks, pressure and threats against reporters in Kosovo. The Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AGK) organized a protest with the motto “Speak up, don’t be afraid” in front of the government building on Wednesday calling on Kosovo’s institutions to implement concrete measures for protecting reporters. AGK chairman Shkelqim Hysenaj said 2016 was one of the most challenging years in terms of respect for free media and free speech. He added that even more concerning are the six cases of attacks against reporters in the first quarter of this year.

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström to visit Pristina today (media)

Most news websites report that Swedish Foreign Minister, Margot Wallström, will visit Kosovo today and meet with President Hashim Thaci, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj. Wallström and Hoxhaj are scheduled to give a joint press conference at 14:00.

Kosovo not recognising Serbia-issued passports for Kosovo Serbs (RFE/RTK)

Authorities in Kosovo are reported to have informed travel agencies that run buses between Kosovo and Serbia that they would not be recognising Serbia’s passports issued for Kosovo Serbs. The decision has not been confirmed by either the Ministry of Interior or that of Foreign Affairs but Kosovo’s Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, said passports issued by the so-called Coordinating Centre for Kosovo have always been “unacceptable” and the Centre is considered to be a Belgrade-run illegal structure operating in Kosovo.  “Countries that have recognised us did not accept these passports. Furthermore, European Commission stressed that once visa liberalisation begins, it would only apply to holders of Kosovo passports not those with illegal ones. We have now opened offices for civil registration in the northern municipalities in order to equip citizens with our passports,” Tahiri said.

Azemi: Situation in the north could escalate (Klan Kosova)

After a medical clinic and a barrack school were set on fire on Wednesday at the Miners’ Hill in Mitrovica North, party officials and representatives of this neighborhood said the incidents were a campaign against Albanians, who are a minority in that part. Florent Azemi, leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo in Mitrovica North, told Klan Kosova that these incidents are related. In a small place such as Mitrovica North, is not a problem to identify the perpetrators. We cannot say who they are, because this is the responsibility of the institutions. These young people are instrumentalized, they are all night long in the streets,” Azemi said adding that during the last three years, this part of Kosovo lacks institutional supervision. “It is well known the situation escalated in the past as a result of such incidents,” he added.

Prosecutor doesn’t appeal, Haradinaj won’t be arrested in France (Lajmi)

Serbia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dacic, said that the deadline for the appeal of the prosecutor on the decision of the French court with regards to the release of former Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, has expired. This means that France would not be arresting Haradinaj any more based on Serbia’s arrest warrant, if he enters French territory. “It appears that the decision is not coincidental. No one is asking if Haradinaj is guilty or not, but if he should be extradited to Serbia. This is a drastic disrespect to the Serb victims, and here I am not speaking only about the past, but about the threats to peace and stability in the region,” Dacic said.

Xhaferi: If Ivanov refuses, Parliament will elect government (Koha)

In a front-page interview to the paper, Talat Xhaferi, Speaker of the Parliament of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, said that according to the Constitution, President Gjorge Ivanov has a 10-day deadline to mandate the new Prime Minister. “If he [Ivanov] does not reflect in this regard, the Parliament has the exclusive and explicit right to elect the new government,” Xhaferi said. The paper recalls that Xhaferi was elected Speaker of Parliament on April 27 in extraordinary circumstances, when dozens of protesters stormed the parliament building and assaulted the MPs. Xhaferi told the paper that the violent protesters and the MPs that supported them will be held accountable. Xhaferi also said that on April 27, “Albanians did not fall for the trap of Ivanov and Gruevski, whose goal was to incite interethnic conflict and then declare a state of emergency”.