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.

Headlines - 27.06.2014

Vetevendosje conditions with reformatting of dialogue and privatization (Koha)

Leader of Vetëvendosje movement, Albin Kurti together with Puhie Demaku, Secretary for foreign relations Puhie Demaku and member of the leadership of this movement, Visar Ymeri, hosted today the Ambassador of Finland in Kosovo, Ms. Anne Meskanen.

According to a press release issued by Vetëvendosje, Kurti spoke at this meeting about the recent developments in Kosovo and about Vetëvendosje’s proposal submitted in written to the partners of coalition for harmonization of positions.

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has denied reports that the opposition coalition has agreed to Vetevendosje’s terms in exchange for its support for the formation of the government. Kujtim Shala, member of the LDK presidency, told Indeksonline that LDK leader Isa Mustafa did not meet this week with Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti. “The LDK has not held any new meetings with the Vetevendosje Movement, but we are continuing our work with coalition partners and we will meet with the Vetevendosje Movement. Everything else is speculation,” Shala said.

Vetevendosje has answered an advisor of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who yesterday visited Kosovo and requested the continuation of the dialogue with Serbia. According to Glauk Konjufca from Vetevendosje, the format of the talks is unequal and only focuses on internal issues in Kosovo. Vetevendosje is not against the dialogue in principle, but the dialogue with Serbia should have certain conditions. For example, Serbia cannot be talked to if its constitution says Kosovo is a part of Serbia, and if Serbia does not recognize Kosovo.

The paper reports on page two that Isa Mustafa, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Albin Kurti, leader of the Vetevendosje Movement, and Fatmir Limaj, leader of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), met on Thursday at AAK headquarters to discuss dialogue with Belgrade. No agreement was reached.

The paper reports on the front page that both coalitions trying to form the next government of Kosovo have given guarantees that they will continue dialogue with Belgrade in Brussels. For the time being, only the Vetevendosje movement is opposing the talks. In fact, the suspension of talks was one of the conditions set by Vetevendosje in exchange for its support for the opposition coalition. But senior Western officials are insisting that the dialogue must not stop.

The heads of the opposition coalition, Isa Mustafa from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Ramush Haradinaj from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), and Fatmir Limaj from the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), have held their regular meeting. After the meeting, Isa Mustafa rejected the possibility of new early elections, adding that the opposition coalition is respecting the laws and constitution. He said he is also having meetings with Vetevendosje.

The former KFOR commander, German General Klaus Reinhardt, is in Kosovo for the 15^th anniversary of the liberation. Reinhardt was also seen on Sunday in the headquarters of several political parties. Is he facilitating the efforts to bring the Vetevendosje Movement into the opposition bloc? On Saturday, Reinhardt was greeted at Vetevendosje headquarters by its leader Albin Kurti and Rexhep Selimi. Sources told Gazeta Express that Reinhardt is playing the role of facilitator in the latest developments.

Isa Mustafa, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), said today that his decision to withdraw from the intention of becoming Prime Minister of Kosovo was a result of the agreement with the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the Initiative for Kosovo (Nisma). “I was nominated by the LDK as prime minister of the country. I would not have given up from the responsibility of becoming prime minister if the LDK would have won the elections. Every agreement requires compromise.