Headlines - 12.07.2016

Opposition doesn’t change its mind on demarcation (media)

Koha Ditore reports on its front page that the United States Assistant Secretary of State, Victoria Nuland, did not meet opposition representatives during her visit to Kosovo on Sunday. Representatives of opposition parties - the Vetevendosje Movement, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) – said on Monday that they did not consider this as a message. The paper recalls that the U.S. Embassy in Pristina has continuously criticised the actions of the opposition since September last year, and according to NISMA representatives, Nuland’s agenda could have been dictated by the Embassy. The paper also notes that opposition parties have not changed their position against the demarcation deal with Montenegro despite Nuland’s statement that the matter must be resolved by autumn. Epoka e Re reports that AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj wrote on his Facebook page on Monday that Kosovo is strongly determined on its Euro-Atlantic way and that voting against ratification of the current version of demarcation only strengthens this determination. Jakup Krasniqi, Head of the NISMA National Council, said on Monday that “the border is determined by scientific parameters and that any political trade with it is treason”.

Abdullahu: Kosovo Assembly to ratify demarcation agreement (Zëri)

Faton Abdullahu, advisor to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, confirmed for the paper that during the first meeting this week the government will sent the border-demarcation agreement to the Kosovo Assembly for ratification. “Being consistent in our approach and convinced that the work on demarcation was done well and professionally, the government during its next meeting will review the draft law on the ratification of border-demarcation agreement with Montenegro,” Abdullahu said, urging the Assembly to ratify the agreement since it is in the interest of the citizens. “Our strong recommendation is that this agreement be ratified in the Kosovo Assembly because it is in the national interest of our country, it benefits our path towards European integration and normalizing relations with the neighbouring country,” Abdullahu said.  Also Sokol Havolli, advisor to Mustafa, confirmed that the border-demarcation agreement will be sent to the Assembly during this week.

“Demarcation with Montenegro, bad precedent for that with Serbia” (Koha)

Vetëvendosje senior official, Driton Çaushi, said in an interview for KTV that he wouldn’t be surprised if the government tries “to smuggle” the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro to the Assembly this summer but warned of consequences if this does happen. “This would not only be an unforgivable loss of territory but would also set a very bad precedent for demarcation with Serbia”, said Çaushi. He added that that the border demarcation agreement should not be allowed to be put to vote at the Assembly. “Teargas is just when used for a highly important cause”, he said.

AAK and NISMA to return to Assembly (Klan Kosova)

Opposition parties – the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) – are expected to return to the Assembly very soon, senior officials from these parties announced. “The return of AAK and NISMA to the Assembly of Kosovo will be done in time for the voting of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro”, the source said adding however that the two parties will continue to oppose the deal.

Lajçi: Demarcation requires national consensus (Epoka e Re)

Former member of the government commission for determination of the border with Montenegro, Ali Lajçi, called on the government not to rush with ratification of the agreement with Montenegro. In the front page interview of the paper, Lajçi said that the issue should not reach the Assembly prior to a national consensus. According to him, the current version of demarcation should be reconsidered being that it violates sovereignty of the territory of Kosovo. He warned that ratification of the current version of demarcation would bring serious consequences for Kosovo. He considers that further public meetings with the citizens, civil society, experts and MPs are required.

Veseli era starts in Prizren, he will dismiss all municipal directors (RTK)

The news website quotes unnamed sources as saying that the new leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Kadri Veseli, is expected to dismiss all municipal directors in the city of Prizren, where PDK is the ruling party. “New PDK leader, Kadri Veseli, has been dissatisfied with the work of his party members for quite some time now. He was especially irritated after a little girl died after a house collapsed. Experts had warned about this,” a senior PDK official, close to Veseli, told RTK.

Russell: Government to address citizens’ real problems (Zëri)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Coordinator in Kosovo, Andrew Russell, in an interview with the paper said that unemployment, lack of economic growth and poverty are deepened by corruption, and that the government must address these problems. According to Russell, with a right public policy, transparency and rule of law, Kosovo would see many positive changes. Russell also mentioned the findings of “Mozaik” report, according to which the citizens even more have lost the confidence in the way public money is spent and how public procurement functions. He is convinced that trust in institutions will return with an increase in transparency. While regarding unemployment, UNDP chief criticizes the government for not working hard enough in this regard.

Albin Kurti attends Srebrenica massacre commemoration (media)

Several news websites report that Vetëvendosje MP Albin Kurti attended on Monday the ceremony commemorating the victims of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre. Kurti was invited by the Movement of the Mothers of the Enclaves of Srebrenica and Zhepa and by the chairman of the Association of Victims and Witnesses of Genocide.