• Kurti to Constitutional Court: Declare President’s decree inadmissible (media)
• Thaci handed over the comments to the Constitutional Court (media)
• Von Cramon: Borrell’s position on borders, dangerous and harmful (Express)
• Mustafa: The second political party can form the government (RTV21, RTK)
• Haradinaj: Government was brought down by Kurti and Vetevendosje (RTK)
• Kurti held a video meeting with Head of EU Office, Nataliya Apostolova (media)
• Infectious Diseases Clinic treating 9 patients with Covid-19, three in serious condition (Koha)
• Cakaj: Recognise Kosovo to become a UN member (RTK)

Kurti to Constitutional Court: Declare President’s decree inadmissible (media)

Acting Prime Minister of Kosovo submitted on Friday to the Constitutional Court the referral on the decree issued by the President of Kosovo.

“Today, the acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Albin Kurti, submitted to the Constitutional Court the referral no. KO 72/20 on the decree issued by the President, just before 16:00, on Friday, April.

Among other things, based on the arguments presented, the Court was asked to declare the referral as admissible and declare the decree no. 24/20, issued by the President, as inadmissible and in contradiction to Articles 4.1, 84.4 and 84.14 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo.

The Government is successfully carrying out its constitutional duties!” informed the Office of the Prime Minister of Kosovo.

Thaci handed over the comments to the Constitutional Court (media)

The Office of the President of Kosovo informed on Friday that they have submitted the comments to the Constitutional Court regarding ‘the merits of the request of the claims of the claimants for the assessment of the constitutionality of Decree No. 24/2020 of the President of Kosovo, dated 30.04.2020, by which Decree, according to the proposal of the Democratic League of Kosovo, Mr. Avdullah Hoti has been proposed to the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo as a candidate for Prime Minister to form the new Government.’

“The President of the Republic of Kosovo issued this Decree after consulting with all political parties represented in the Assembly and the consent of the vast majority of them to form a new Government.

As a representative of the unity of the people and a guarantor of the democratic and constitutional functioning of the institutions, the President through the issuance of Decree No. 24/2020 has acted within his competencies defined by the Constitution and according to the standards defined in the Judgment of the Constitutional Court in case KO103/14,” informed the Office of the President.

 Von Cramon: Borrell’s position on borders, dangerous and harmful (Express)

 Member of the European Parliament and standing Rapporteur for Kosovo, Viola von Cramon, has strongly opposed the statement of the EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, that he is not against change of borders if Kosovo and Serbia agree to discuss this issue. MEP Von Cramon in an interview with Gazeta Express, said Borrell’s position is dangerous and harmful. Von Cramon thinks such an idea would destabilise the region.

Speaking to journalist from the Western Balkans region on 5 May, Borrell said that the EU “should not be more catholic than the Pope” and demand the two countries to exclude land swap from a potential deal. Asked whether he personally and the EU is against the exchange of territories between Kosovo and Serbia, Borrell said: “[…] This is an issue that needs to be resolved in the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo. I see no need for us to be more catholic than the Pope. It is not up to us to tell Serbs and Kosovars what they should agree on or not. Our role will be to facilitate the dialogue.”

But German MEP Viola von Cramon considers Borrell’s statement as wrong. “This is a very dangerous and harmful position. If Borrell says that it does not matter for him what they agree about just have an agreement he implicitly saying that he has no interest in what is going on inside these countries. But this is not OK. We want Kosovo and Serbia to become the members of the EU, it has utmost importance what is the situation inside the countries,” she told Gazeta Express. Further she said that border change and false ideas about ethnically homogenous states are for sure not something anyone wants to see. “This could create a lot of instability in the entire region,” Von Cramon said. “Of course, the dialogue itself is important, but it is not the goal, it is a mean to deliver a result. And a result must be stability in the region, it has to be the development of the region and ultimately a better life for people living in the region. And a land-swap would not facilitate this at all,” she said.

Asked by Gazeta Express whether Germany should play a key role in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Von Cramon said that she hopes that the German EU-Council Presidency in the second half of 2020 can bring some results. “Germany has been clear before to reject any plan which includes a land-swap, I hope they will stick to it. I haven’t received any contrary positions,” she said. Rapporteur for Kosovo in the European Parliament also mentioned the influence Chancellor Angela Merkel and her party, the CDU have in the region. “The German government is one of the very few actors who could very easily influence Mr. Vucic and also Kosovo’s LDK party is the sister party of CDU, their help could facilitate dialogue between the countries as well as within Serbia and Kosovo, as in both countries internal tensions are very high,” she told Gazeta Express.

 Mustafa: The second political party can form the government (RTV21, RTK)

Isa Mustafa, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), said the government can be formed by the second political party. He also quoted Acting Pm Albin Kurti as saying in the past that whoever becomes the first, does not mean he is a king.

“It is clear that the Counstitutional Court said the government can be formed by the second, third or fourth political entity. Kurti himself interpreted it in this manner in 2014, he said whoever becomes the first, is not a king,” Mustafa said.

He further said that Kurti hesitated to form the government, and did not send the name of the PM candidate from his political party.

“No one can use a deadline infinitely. Because, nevertheless, there should be a boundary for the political party which resulted to be the first, to give the name of the PM candidate. The fact that the first party hesitates to give the name, shows this political party is not interested to form the government,” he said.

“The Constitutional Court should respond, because this also helps practices that we will face in the future,” Mustafa added.

“Citizens do not decide who is going to govern, vote of the citizen decides on the MPs and which political party will have more MPs. The parliament is voted  in general elections, not the government. Then the Assembly elects the government, this means that a majority has to make the parliamentarian majority. The democracy cannot be violated in this manner, but the vote of the citizen should be respected,” Mustafa concluded.

Haradinaj: Government was brought down by Kurti and Vetevendosje (RTK)

Ramush Haradinaj leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) spoke about the reasons that lead to bringing down the government of Kosovo.

"Keep in mind, I'm not saying it was desirable at the time, but this is a political reality. A government lost trust precisely at the time of the pandemic crisis. The main merit to remain without a government is the head of the government, and so a crisis was created and the parliament voted the no-confidence motion ", said Haradinaj.

According to Haradinaj, it is not the opposition that caused loss of trust on Kurti’s government.

Speaking about his differences with other political leaders, Haradinaj said ‘I am the leader of the AAK, but I love Kosovo more than the Alliance. The truth is that LVV and Kurti left Kosovo without a government at the worst moment. Opposition did not bring down the government, but Kurti and Vetevendosje did,” Haradinaj said.

Kurti held a video meeting with Head of EU Office, Nataliya Apostolova (media)

The Acting Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti, accompanied by the acting Minister of European Integration, Mr. Blerim Reka and political advisor Mr. Jeton Zulfaj, held a video meeting with the Head of the EU Office in Kosovo / EU Special Representative, Ambassador Mrs. Natalia Apostolova.

“The conversation took place in anticipation of Europe Day celebrations on May 9, on which occasion the Prime Minister congratulated Ambassador Apostolova, recalling that the EU is a project of victory over fascism. On May 9, the Schuman Declaration marks 70 years of peace, social and human progress, and inter-state cooperation, making the European Union one of Europe’s most successful projects.

Expressing the commitment of the Republic of Kosovo in carrying out important reforms for EU membership, the Prime Minister also spoke about the situation we are in. He stressed that the health crisis with COVID-19 has been well managed, proving that the demand for the state of emergency was unreasonable and has shown how the economy is gradually opening up, adding protective measures.

Acting Minister Reka added that for the Republic of Kosovo, EU membership remains a strategic orientation, and that this is what our citizens are looking for, who see Kosovo as part of the EU and who believe in the European idea. Hoping for a swift decision on visa liberalization, acting Minister Reka congratulated Ambassador Apostolova on Europe Day.

Acting Prime Minister Kurti thanked the EU for its assistance in managing pandemics and pledging assistance in economic recovery, as well as the constructive role the EU office has played in recent months.

Ambassador Apostolova thanked the Prime Minister for managing the pandemic and offered EU assistance in terms of economic recovery plans and strategies,” informed the Office of the Prime Minister of Kosovo.

Infectious Diseases Clinic treating 9 patients with Covid-19, three in serious condition (Koha)

Nine patients with COVID-19 are being treated at the Infectious Diseases Clinic. This was confirmed by the infectologist, Salih Ahmeti.

"Of these 9 patients, three are in a more serious condition and are with oxygen therapy, but their condition is manageable," said Ahmeti, reports KOHA.

He added that there is also a patient who has been negative in the last test, but he is still being treated because his condition is not very good, as the infection has caused damage to the body.

Cakaj: Recognise Kosovo to become a UN member (RTK)

Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Gent Cakaj, has supported the importance of full membership of Kosovo in the United Nations.

He attended a meeting organized by the Estonian Presidency of the Security Council to discuss political developments over the past 75 years, following the end of World War II in Europe.

"I call on the member states of the United Nations to recognize the independence of Kosovo and its accession to the United Nations."

Cakaj, also spoke about the Candidacy of Albania to become a non-permanent member of the Security Council for 2022-2023, emphasizing that it is one of the most important current issues in Albania's foreign policy.