UNMIK Headlines 11 November
Mustafa requests Prime Minister post (Kosova Sot)
According to diplomatic sources, the leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Isa Mustafa, has informed foreign embassies in Pristina that his party membership is asking him to be the candidate for Prime Minister and he has not rejected the option of sharing the post on a rotational basis with the leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj. The paper writes that Haradinaj did not yet agree to this request.
Arsim Bajrami to be PDK’s candidate for Assembly Speaker (Zëri)
Bajram Rexhepi from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) said that his party is expected to nominate Arsim Bajrami again for the post of Assembly Speaker. “There are no changes, and I think that Arsim Bajrami deserves to become Assembly Speaker,” Rexhepi said. PDK continues to insist that only an agreement between leaders of political parties can resolve the political deadlock.
Coalition bloc is done (Epoka e Re)
Ali Lajci, Deputy Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), replied to the call by Isa Mustafa, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), for a new agreement between the coalition bloc. Lajci said this might be LDK’s tactic to move closer to the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). He added that a new agreement had not been discussed within his party but added that he personally does not support Isa Mustafa for Prime Minister. Lajci said that, after Mustafa’s statement, his party feels deceived, and added that, after LDK’s perceived move towards PDK, the coalition bloc is done.
Stalemate expected to be resolved next week (Kosova Sot)
Based on reliable sources, this daily reports that no developments in unblocking the political situation in Kosovo are expected this week, especially due to Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader Isa Mustafa’s visit to Germany. However, the vote for the Assembly Speaker, the Assembly Presidency and the candidate for forming the Kosovo government, should take place by Tuesday of next week; otherwise, Kosovo will have to go into new elections. According to international sources, the last option for forming the new government remains the formula of a technical government, without the political leaders of the main parties.
Serbs announce Vucic’s visit to Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
Posters announcing a visit by Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic to Kosovo were put up yesterday in Serb-majority areas in Kosovo. One of the posters states that the visit will take place in December, but officials in the Kosovo Ministry of Interior said they have not received any requests from Belgrade for such a visit.
Serbs attack two Albanians in North Mitrovica (Tribuna)
Two Albanians were physically assaulted in the northern part of the River Iber/Iber bridge in Mitrovica by a group of three Serbs for unknown reasons. Kosovo Police said one of the Albanians suffered injuries and received medical treatment. The police have made no arrests.
Mogherini appoints expert to investigate accusations in EULEX (dailies)
EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Federica Mogherini appointed an international independent expert to review EULEX’s mandate implementation with a focus on handling recent corruption allegations. The person charged with the task will be Jean Paul Jacque, a law professor with 40 years of experience. “I have asked Mr. Jacqué to revert to me within 4 months with his report and his recommendations. As I stressed already during my first days in office, clarifying the allegations is in our interest,” said Mogherini in a press release.
Judge Florit’s connections to intermediary Kamberi (Koha Ditore)
On the front page, the paper publishes the second part of what it says is a collection of evidence showing how EULEX senior leadership was involved in corruption. Today, the paper focuses on former EULEX judge Francesco Florit, who allegedly accepted bribes in a criminal case in exchange for a lenient conviction. Florit is also said to have been very close to one of the intermediaries, Ejup Kamberi, despite publicly stating that they had only met a few times to discuss a PhD thesis on which Kamberi had been working.