• Thaci: I am ready to announce fresh elections (media)
• Thaci meets representatives of Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian communities (media)
• The delays of the President (Koha)
• Kosnett: Agreement with Serbia would transform Kosovo’s economy (media)
• Haliti: One cannot govern with force in Europe (Zeri)
• Hoxhaj: Serbia becoming Russia’s ‘Trojan Horse’ in the Balkans (media)
• Ramadani: Serbia is sending threatening messages to Balkans (Epoka)
• Russia supports Serbia on preventing Kosovo’s membership at Interpol (RTK)
• Tahiri requests from North Macedonian authorities to release ex-KLA member (Epoka)
• Lawyer: Tomor Morina could get released today (Alsat/Bota Sot)

Thaci: I am ready to announce fresh elections (media)

President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci met yesterday the head of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Valdete Daka and said that he intends to exhaust all options in consultations with parliamentary parties in an effort to “find a response to the new political reality”, in line with Article 95 of the Constitution of Kosovo.

“If political parties are not able to find answer to this new political reality within a reasonable timeframe, I am ready to immediately announce new elections,” Thaci is quoted in a press release issued by his office after the meeting.

He said that he was informed by Daka that the CEC would be ready to organise early elections at any given time and underlined that it was crucial for Kosovo to get “a new, functional, efficient and as all-encompassing government, in order to move forwards the important processes.”

Speaking to reporters as she was coming out of the meeting with Thaci, Daka said they discussed “constitutional timeframes in case elections are held” but not any specific date. “There can be no discussion about a date without all possibilities being exhausted, we always have options about extraordinary elections,” she said.

Asked about the budget for elections, Daka said: “That’s an issue that is discussed if and after elections are announced.” She explained that if elections are announced, the CEC would ask for the necessary funds to be allocated by the government for the purpose.

Thaci meets representatives of Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian communities (media)

President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci met yesterday political representatives of the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities as part of “consultations with the political parties on the steps to be undertaken in the newly created political reality”, a statement issued by his office says.

Thaci said that possibilities are being considered to find the best possible solution in consultation with the political parties represented in the Assembly of Kosovo.

The delays of the President (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that Kosovo President Hashim Thaci began consultations with representatives of minority communities and with the head of the Central Election Commission (CEC) but that he has yet to call a meeting with representatives of Albanian political parties which are adamant on early parliamentary elections. The latter are accusing Thaci of intentionally delaying the process of consultations. The paper notes that “the President’s political career is full of such delays which have often put to the test the patience of locals and internationals. In earlier cases, the President backed down only when their patience was reaching its limits”.

Kosnett: Agreement with Serbia would transform Kosovo’s economy (media)

In his remarks at the USA-Kosovo Partnership award reception, the U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo Philip Kosnett said that it was important for the next government of Kosovo to show commitment in increasing the competitiveness of the private sector and that what Kosovo needs right now is action.

It is important that whatever the shape of Kosovo’s next government, that next government must be committed to concrete action to increase the flexibility and competitiveness of Kosovo’s private sector.  For business to thrive, the government must decrease corruption and promote professional standards in government, business, and education.

Kosnett said that the unresolved conflict with Serbia contributes to the perception of investors of Kosovo being insecure and unpredictable. “Reaching a comprehensive agreement with Serbia would be transformative for Kosovo’s economy and for all of your businesses, because it would enable Kosovo to fully capitalize on one of its most important comparative advantages – its access to the European market,” Kosnett underlined.

Haliti: One cannot govern with force in Europe (Zeri)

In an interview with the paper, Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) deputy leader Xhavit Haliti gave an assessment of the government of Kosovo’s work during Ramush Haradinaj’s term in office and said that there was “nothing extraordinary” in this period which he said was characterized by “routine work”.

Asked on the tax on Serbian products which Haradinaj has insisted on keeping, Haliti said: “I think no one can govern with force in Europe. Each government should follow European rules and function on the basis of international agreements which have been achieved. I have opposed the tax from the outset and I think I was not wrong in doing that based on my convictions.”

Commenting on Ramush Haradinaj’s resignation from the post of prime minister, Haliti said this was a personal decision “but considering that we had a joint coalition I was not pleased when he resigned without consultations the leaders of the ruling coalition, in particular the PDK which led it.”

On the prospect of new elections, Haliti said that according to some polls, PDK is leading and is followed closely by the Democratic League of Kosovo and noted that they would not be making any compromises regarding the post of prime minister. “This would make no sense. As for other posts, each agreement or coalition has its demands and we can agree. The issue of prime minister is nonnegotiable,” he said.

Hoxhaj: Serbia becoming Russia’s ‘Trojan Horse’ in the Balkans (media)

Enver Hoxhaj, deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and outgoing Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, accused Serbia of becoming Russia’s “Trojan Horse” in the region. Commenting on Serbia obtaining armament from Russia, Hoxhaj wrote on Twitter: A country responsible for genocide and 4 wars in the Balkans spends the most in WB in purchasing weapons, mostly from Russia. The militarisation of evil is a clear signal of Serbia’s destructive intentions to serve as Moscow’s trojan horse in Balkans (sic).

Ramadani: Serbia is sending threatening messages to Balkans (Epoka)

Kosovo’s Deputy Defense Minister Burim Ramadani said Serbia is sending threatening messages to the entire Balkans with being armed by Russia. He told the paper that this means Serbia is strengthening its interoperability only with Russia. He added that Serbian leaders have become Putin’s soldiers in their revenge to NATO in Balkans. Ramadani also spoke about transition of Kosovo Security Force, saying that this process is ongoing and will conclude successfully.

Russia supports Serbia on preventing Kosovo’s membership at Interpol (RTK)

Russia’s Ambassador to Belgrade Alexander Bocan-Harchenko gave support to Serbia’s efforts to prevent Kosovo’s membership at INTERPOL. Serbian media reported that Bocan-Harchenko met on Wednesday Serbia’s Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic and their focus in the discussion was Kosovo and its membership at international organisations. They also report that that the Ambassador told Stefanovic that Moscow will support official Belgrade to prevent Kosovo’s membership at INTERPOL and all other international organisations.

Tahiri requests from North Macedonian authorities to release ex-KLA member (Epoka)

Kosovo’s Minister of Justice Abelard Tahiri wrote a letter to his counterpart in North Macedonia Renata Deskoska, requesting release of the former KLA member Tomorr Morina. He wrote that Serbia’s continuous chase of Kosovo people through international warrants has become a senseless political practice, adding that this behavior of Serbia derives from Milosevic’s notorious regime.

Lawyer: Tomor Morina could get released today (Alsat/Bota Sot)

Naser Raufi, lawyer for Tomor Morina, former member of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) arrested in North Macedonia on an international arrest warrant issued by Serbia, said that despite Serbian authorities submitting request for the extradition of his client, he could get released today.