Headlines - 03.07.2017

• Dialogue of presidents, Thaci and Vucic meet in Brussels (Zeri)
• Thaci and Vucic hail statement on joint European perspective (Zeri)
• Thaci: New institutions to be formed without delay (Telegrafi)
• Thaci: The winner has the mandate to form the new government (media)
• Mustafa: We will not be moved by any international request (Epoka)
• LDK could take Kosovo to new elections (Koha)
• New government expected to be formed before summer leave (Epoka)
• Lekaj: PAN has votes to create new government (RTK)
• Vetevendosje protests if not given mandate to form govt? (Indeksonline)
• Vucic: If Haradinaj becomes PM, Serbs have to live with that fact (RTK)
• Djuric: Serbs to get one of three leading posts in Kosovo (Zeri)

Dialogue of presidents, Thaci and Vucic meet in Brussels (Zeri)

The format of dialogue for normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia could move to the level of presidents, reports the paper. Ahead of his meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Brussels, President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci said they will be discussing and exchanging “preliminary ideas on how to proceed with dialogue at this new stage” which, according to the paper, implies that from now on the process will be led by presidents of the two sides. This is however being opposed by representatives of most political parties. Avdullah Hoti from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) called on all parties to oppose Thaci leading dialogue with Serbia. He said such a move would be unconstitutional and argued in favour of the process being more inclusive. Vetevendosje officials meanwhile consider the dialogue should take place with Kosovo Serbs. “Serbia wants Kosovo in an endless dialogue not to resolve issues but to prevent Kosovo from resolving problems with integration of Serbs in Kosovo”, said Rexhep Selimi.

Thaci and Vucic hail statement on joint European perspective (Zeri)

President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci and President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic hailed a statement endorsed by the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) on the region’s European perspective.  South-East Europe leaders expressed their commitment to enhancing cooperation for strengthening democratic processes and the rule of law in the region. “We also reaffirm the importance of the EU membership perspective, which remains the most powerful tool to encourage the implementation of necessary reforms, as well as to maintain long-term peace, stability and security in the region. We are convinced that European integration will not be complete until all SEECP Participants become part of the EU”, the statement reads.

Thaci: New institutions to be formed without delay (Telegrafi)

President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, met at this year’s Dubrovnik Forum  U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Hoyt Yee, and discussed political developments in Kosovo, the creation of new institutions, transformation of the Kosovo Security Force, dialogue with Serbia, and relations with the U.S. Thaci is quoted as saying in the meeting that the Kosovo June elections were free, fair and democratic and that new institutions will be formed without delay in the same manner.

Thaci: The winner has the mandate to form the new government (media)

Kosovo President, Hashim Thaci, said on Sunday that the mandate to form a new government belongs to the winner of the 11 June parliamentary elections, most news websites report. “As far as the mandate is concerned I think everything is clear. The winner moves toward forming a new government of Kosovo. I say with full responsibility that I will respect the ruling of the Constitutional Court in 2014 which makes it clear that the winner forms the government if it has the required votes,” Thaci told RTK. He also said that the Constitutional Court’s ruling leaves no room for different political interpretation.

Mustafa: We will not be moved by any international request (Epoka)

In an interview to the paper, former Prime Minister of Kosovo and leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Isa Mustafa, said that the LDK-AKR-Alternativa coalition will not enter into a new government with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and that this position has been made clear to the international community. “No message or request from internationals can move me or the LDK”, said Mustafa. He said he was ready to meet the leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj to discuss creation of a new government but under the condition of him terminating coalition with PDK.

LDK could take Kosovo to new elections (Koha)

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) is considering not joining a coalition with the Vetevendosje Movement or with the PDK-AAK-Nisma coalition at the cost of taking Kosovo to new parliamentary elections, the paper reports on its front page. Sources told Koha Ditore that the lack of determination by the LDK is due to the fear that a joint governance could contribute to Vetevendosje’s further strengthening. “In the previous coalition with the PDK, the LDK had power in government, in fact it led the government. Whereas now, when it is not expected to have the post of Prime Minister, the LDK fears that it could go unnoticed because of the dominating force of Vetevendosje,” the source said. Asked to comment on the issue, LDK officials told the paper that no decision has been made yet. “The only option we have ruled out with a unanimous decision is a possible coalition with the PDK or PAN. We still haven’t discussed other options in detail and no decision has been made yet,” LDK MP Vjosa Osmani told the paper.

New government expected to be formed before summer leave (Epoka)

Citing what it calls a reliable source, the paper reports that the PDK-AAK-Nisma coalition has the necessary votes to form a new government shortly after the certification of the 11 June election results. According to the source, the necessary votes were secured following meetings that PAN candidate for Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, had with certain MPs from the LDK-AKR-Alternativa coalition, who reportedly promised him they would individually vote in favor of his government.

Lekaj: PAN has votes to create new government (RTK)

Pal Lekaj, member of the leadership of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), said the winning coalition PDK-AAK-NISMA has the required votes to create a new government. Lekaj also said that the coalition’s candidate for Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, is interested in a wider coalition in order to have a stable government. “We will not have any delays, right after the procedures of considering the complaints, the session will be called, President of the parliament will be elected and after this, the new government will be established. We do not speak about dates yet,” Lekaj said.

Vetevendosje protests if not given mandate to form govt? (Indeksonline)

Rexhep Selimi from Vetevendosje movement, told Inteksonline that if anyone who does not have the numbers tries to usurp the victory of Vetevendosje movement, they should also bear consequences for the situation that will be created. “If Thaci does not respect the right of the mandated majority, Vetvendosje with partners, then he will face the determination of the citizens to defend their vote and victory,” Selimi said. Asked if this means that there will be protests, Selimi said that people will decide, because they know the best.

Vucic: If Haradinaj becomes PM, Serbs have to live with that fact (RTK)

Serbia’s President, Aleksandar Vucic, told Sputnik that he believes that the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade will be officially held at the level of presidents. Speaking about the possibility of Ramush Haradinaj creating the new government, Vucic said that Serbs have to live with the fact. “Initially, Albanians started to change their behavior. Everything started to be treated as an internal matter and they started to impose the idea that there is no need to negotiate with Belgrade. I will repeat it: This a Kosovo matter and we are an independent state. Our response was: if it is so, let us stop negotiations and see how this would this function. If Kosovo Serbs should cooperate and discuss with all, above all with Haradinaj, then it is very difficult  for Belgrade to sit and discuss and be happy with someone who was persecuted based on an arrest warrant for serious crimes,” Vucic said. “Serbs will have to live with this fact because Belgrade will not be occupied by Haradinaj or Kurti. I do not see any difference between them,” Vucic said.

Djuric: Serbs to get one of three leading posts in Kosovo (Zeri)

Director of the Serbian Government for Kosovo, Marko Djuric, said that the upcoming meeting between presidents Aleksandar Vucic and Hashim Thaci could bring about relaxing of tensions between Kosovo and Serbia and increase commitment to implementation of agreements reached so far. Djuric also spoke about the forming of new Kosovo institutions following parliamentary elections in June and noted that there is no reason why Serbs should not get one of the three leading posts in Kosovo.