Headlines - 11.07.2017

• Vetevendosje and LDK refuse meeting Haradinaj (dailies)
• Haradinaj: Offer to LDK is serious and sincere (Klan Kosova)
• Pacolli: We support decisions of the LAA coalition (RTK)
• Haradinaj has not yet won over minority communities (Zeri)
• PDK’s Krasniqi: Government to be formed in 15 days (Tribuna Channel)
• Deda: LAA-VV cooperation should not remain hostage of PM post (Koha)
• Jessen-Petersen: Kosovo to change political leadership (Zeri)
• Bahtiri: I will not bargain with administrative border (Epoka)
• Dacic: Grateful to Greece and Cyprus for not recognizing Kosovo (RTK)

Vetevendosje and LDK refuse meeting Haradinaj (dailies)

PAN coalition’s candidate for prime minister and leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj invited the leader of Vetevendosje, Visar Ymeri, and that of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Isa Mustafa, to a meeting today following the certification of election results. However, both Ymeri and Mustafa said they would not attend the meeting scheduled for today at 11.00hrs. Ymeri said Vetevendosje would accept the invitation only if it came from Haradinaj’s capacity as AAK leader not as part of PAN. Similarly, Mustafa said LDK has vowed not to cooperate with PAN.

Haradinaj: Offer to LDK is serious and sincere (Klan Kosova)

In an interview to Klan Kosova, PAN coalition’s candidate for prime minister, Ramush Haradinaj, said the idea behind his invitation to Vetevendosje and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) was to discuss possible coalitions but when asked whether he preferred a coalition with LDK or Vetevendosje, he replied: “I see that the distance is bigger with Vetevendosje and I think a coalition with LDK would be more realistic”. Haradinaj said the offer to LDK is “serious” and there would not be any dominating partner in his government. “I will do all I can to show LDK how real and sincere the offer is”, he noted.

Pacolli: We support decisions of the LAA coalition (RTK)

Behxhet Pacolli, leader of the Alliance for New Kosovo (AKR) said that his political party supports decisions of LDK-AKR-Alternativa coalition. Pacolli told the media that his positions on creation of the government of Kosovo are the same with those of the joint coalition, excluding in this manner the possibility of co-governance with PAN coalition. “We are together when the positions of the coalition are concerned,” Pacolli said.

Haradinaj has not yet won over minority communities (Zeri)

Ramush Haradinaj, candidate for prime minister from the PAN coalition, has said he has secured 61 votes needed to form the new government of Kosovo but Serbian List officials said they have not yet discussed a possible coalition. Leader of the Serbian List, Slavko Simic, said they did not have talks with any of the Albanian parties but that they would be ready to discuss the creation of Kosovo institutions with all. “We expect Albanian parties to realize that without a strong presence of Serbia in the political process we cannot have European institutional, social values in Kosovo”, Simic said.

PDK’s Krasniqi: Government to be formed in 15 days (Tribuna Channel)

Memli Krasniqi, deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), told Tribuna Channel on Monday that the new assembly and government will be formed within 15 days. Krasniqi said it was normal to hold negotiations with every member of parliament “that wants to move things forward in the country”. He also said that having an effective and stable government is the most important thing for Kosovo.

Deda: LAA-VV cooperation should not remain hostage to PM post (Koha)

Ilir Deda, deputy leader of the Alternativa, told KTV on Monday evening that cooperation between the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and the Vetevendosje Movement should not remain hostage to the Prime Minister’s post. Deda suggested that both parties should come up with a different candidate, neither Albin Kurti nor Abdullah Hoti. “Kurti said last week that he would not keep hostage the formation of the government because he is a candidate for Prime Minister. Let us see what will happen. Such a step would pave way to changes within our coalition too. There should be a change in the position of the LDK too, we need to find a male or a female candidate, acceptable for both parties, but not someone outside the political parties and not someone that is not a member of the Kosovo Assembly. There are many persons that have legitimacy in the eyes of the people and who have both the knowledge and experience to hold the post [Prime Minister]. Considering Kurti’s statement that he is willing to step down, I think we should do the same … Who becomes Prime Minister is not that important, more important is the work of the government,” Deda said.

Jessen-Petersen: Kosovo to change political leadership (Zeri)

Former head of UNMIK, Soren Jessen-Petersen, said in an interview to Zeri that people of Kosovo voted for changes in June elections and that it is time for Kosovo to either change political leadership or have it reassess its priorities. “It is important for Kosovo to form new government which will serve the interests of the people”, said Jessen-Petersen. He underlined the need for Kosovo to have a government with a sustainable majority which would govern not several weeks or months but which would enjoy the trust of the people. Jessen-Petersen said the indictment of the specialist chambers “could cause some problems, tensions” but that it would not be right to speculate as to who would be actually indicted.

Bahtiri: I will not bargain with administrative border (Epoka)

Agim Bahtiri, mayor of Mitrovica municipality, said he would not bargain with the administrative border between Mitrovica South and North municipalities. He told the paper that the border will remain the same as determined by Ahtisaari’s plan, and there will be no giving in on the matter. According to Bahtiri, the attempts of Mitrovica north municipality to change that border are vain. He called on the international community and the government of Kosovo to move this process forward. Speaking about the situation in Mitrovica, Bahtiri said time of interethnic tensions in  this city is over.

Dacic: We are grateful to Greece and Cyprus for not recognizing Kosovo (RTK)

Serbia’s Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic, visited Athens, to meet with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Kotzias. “Serbia remains determined on defense of Cyprus’s territorial integrity, and we are grateful to Cyprus and Greece for the support to Serbian state, especially when Kosovo is concerned,” Dacic said.