Western Balkans is becoming a leader in the list of the regions, from where are coming the highest numbers of asylum seekers into the EU member states. The latest report of European Office for Asylum shows this, the data gathered in the first three months of this year tells that the citizens of Western Balkans for the 10th time in a row are the largest group of asylum seekers. From the overall numbers in January, February and March of 2014, 19.240 belong to the Western Balkans.

The Steering Board for organizing the petition for the sexually abused women during the last conflict in Kosovo, chaired by the outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri, has decided on Tuesday to launch the petition which seeks international justice. Signing of the petition will start on 14 July and it would last five days.

Isa Mustafa, Ramush Haradinaj and Fatmir Limaj are expected to meet today at 17:00 in the headquarters of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) to discuss further steps for forming the government. A member of the AAK chairmanship, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Epoka e Re that there is an agreement between the AAK, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), the Initiative for Kosovo (Nisma) and the Vetevendosje Movement to not allow a third term for outgoing Prime Minister Hashim Thaci.

The leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Isa Mustafa, and deputy leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Melihate Tërmkolli, do not agree with President Atifiete Jahjaga’s addressing the Constitutional Court on who has the mandate to govern in Kosovo. They say that this was a hasty decision on her part. Bilall Sherifi from the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) says that the Constitution is quite clear on who has the right to create the government.

Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri opposed the planting of trees on the River Iber/Ibar bridge by members of the Serb community from the north saying that the bridge should be open not only for pedestrians but also cars. She said Kosovo infrastructure laws should be enforced throughout the territory. “I can say there has been a major change of in mindset of the Serbs in the north to think of a park instead of a barricade. We should view this as a positive thing. However, there are laws of the Republic of Kosovo, specifically infrastructure laws”, said Tahiri for the paper.

Outgoing Prime Minister of Kosovo and leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Hashim Thaci said in an interview for Radio Free Europe that he will form the new government. He said his party’s victory in recent elections represents the will of the people and no one can overlook this fact. “I will manage the whole process as mandated by the President, in accordance with the Kosovo constitution and laws”, stressed Thaci.

The New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) expressed its concern over the voting process which, they claim, resulted in irregularities. AKR said it is currently verifying election results and will decide on future steps depending on the final assessment. AKR urged the Central Election Commission (CEC) to recount all votes as fraud is evident.

Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), and Fatmir Limaj, leader of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), met on Sunday to discuss their governing plan, several days after they signed the agreement for a post-election coalition together with Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader Isa Mustafa. Haradinaj said the meeting went well and that the leaders will continue to meet in the future. He also said that experts would continue to discuss the government plan.

Member of the Central Election Commission Florian Dushi stated that more than ten days are required to certify the results of the 8 June elections. The final result of the elections is not expected to be announced prior to the counting of the votes cast outside their designated polling stations as well as those coming from abroad. “After the announcement of the results, political parties and candidates will have 24 hours to submit their complaints on the results or the procedures. Only after the conclusion of the complaints can we announce the official results,” said Dushi.

The Deputy Head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Arsim Bajrami, said the opposition’s agreement on forming the government is unconstitutional and a disappointing act by the opposition, which lost the parliamentary elections. In Kosovo, the government is always formed by the party that won the elections in the first and second round. Points 1 and 4 of article 95 of the Constitution give the mandate for the formation of the government to the party or the pre-election coalition that won the elections, said Bajrami.