10 Sep 14
Four political parties aspiring to form the new government in Kosovo have handed management of the crucial EU-led talks with Serbia to the nationalistic Levizja Vetevendosja party - well known for its opposition to the dialogue.
Nektar Zogjani BIRN Belgrade

A coalition agreement reached between four opposition parties that aim to form a government in Kosovo has assigned management of the EU-led dialogue with Serbia to the nationalist Levizja Vetevendosje [Self-Determination Movement] party.

The agreement was reached on Wednesday between Levizja Vetevendosje and a three-party coalition established after the June general election - the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK, and the Initiative for Kosovo.

According to the deal, “the Kosovo Government will appoint a member from Levizja Vetevendosje to run the dialogue [with Serbia].”

The talks between the three-party bloc and Levizja Vetevendosje have been going on for three months.

However, Vetevendosje's demand to take charge of the dialogue with Serbia delayed the signing of a coalition agreement.

The terms of the agreement have clearly unsettled Kosovo's foreign allies. The EU Special Representative in Kosovo and the heads of mission of the EU member states issued a joined statement emphasising the importance of the dialogue.

“We reiterate the great importance of a constructive and result-oriented continuation of the EU-facilitated dialogue at the political and technical levels, leading to a comprehensive normalisation of relations with Serbia,” they said in a statement.

Levizja Vetevendosje is well known for organising noisy protests against dialogue with Serbia, castigating agreements reached in the talks, mediated by the European Union, as a sellouts.

The party maintains that Serbia must first recognise the independence of Kosovo, proclaimed in 2008, before any talks on normalisation of relations continue.

This agreement comes only two days before the constituent session of the assembly, when a new speaker may be elected. The Constitutional Court of Kosovo earlier annulled the election of a candidate put forward by the three-party bloc.

Three months on from the general election, the election of the speaker is a matter of urgency in order to proceed with the election of a new government.

The court gave the chance to elect a speaker to the largest parliamentary party, the Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK. But it is not clear whether the PDK can muster the 61 needed votes it needs to do so.

The opposition coalition parties have made it clear that they will not vote for a PDK candidate and will again nominate their own candidate for the post of the speaker. Thus, the political deadlock created after June 8 elections, could continue.