Headlines - 13.11.2014

President Jahjaga in line with PDK (Koha Ditore)

New circumstances in the Kosovo political crisis have not changed the position of the President, Atifete Jahjaga, who continues to urge political parties to find a solution by themselves, the paper reports on the front page. Jahjaga’s advisor, Arber Vllahiu, reiterated that political leaders should go beyond their interests and build sustainable and inclusive institutions but he did not say whether the President will ask the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) to call the Assembly constitutive session through its MP, Flora Brovina. Vetevendosje MP, Visar Ymeri, said that if the President continues to pretend nothing has happened following the post-election coalition’s decision to let the PDK have the Assembly speaker and, at the same time, Brovina refuses to call a session, “all-out protests will be necessary and unavoidable”.

Thaci and Mustafa together in Brussels (Zeri)

The paper reports that leaders of the major Kosovo parties, Hashim Thaci from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), and Isa Mustafa from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), will meet thousands of kilometres away from Kosovo, in a meeting organised by the members of European people’s parties in Brussels. Officials in both the PDK and LDK deny that there will be some type of a private meeting between Thaci and Mustafa whilst in Brussels.

In search of a consensual prime minister (Tribuna)

Lutfi Haziri from Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Enver Hoxhaj from Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and Blerim Shala from Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) are potential candidates for the future prime minister of Kosovo as part of a consensual agreement between political parties, reports the paper quoting its sources. Haziri enjoys the support of a part of LDK and is acceptable for PDK but lacks international support. In contrast, Hoxhaj has the international support but lacks that of political parties. The third candidate, Shala, has the support of the international community and of PDK but not of his home-party, AAK. One of these three candidates would lead a provisional government that would approve the budget and constitutional reform and would also resume dialogue with Serbia. The Assembly would also be constituted by having the PDK elect a speaker but under a political agreement to have elections next spring. 

AAK rejects Isa Mustafa’s candidacy for prime minister (Epoka e Re)

Avni Arifi, member of the leadership of Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), stated for Gazeta Blic that the sudden and arrogant insistence of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) on the post of the prime minister is against the coalition bloc agreement. “There will be no other agreement which foresees Ramush’s shifting only because Isa was not elected Assembly Speaker. We are the same parties, with the same election result since June,” said Arifi. According to him, serious and sincere agreements are not made by putting partners in front of a done deal. Arifi’s reaction came after the statement of LDK deputy, Abdullah Hoti, that the post of the prime minister belongs to them. 

Cliff: Government to be established by those who have the numbers (Zeri)

Zeri on the front page quotes British Ambassador, Ian Cliff, saying that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) should have the first possibility to establish the government even if it does not secure the necessary votes from MPs. In an interview for the paper, Cliff further noted that there is no justification for blocking of the parliamentary session and added that the Assembly should be established based on the decision of the Constitutional Court. If PDK cannot ensure necessary votes, the possibility is given to others. Cliff also said that the post-election coalition bloc should redefine the agreement and is skeptical of Vetevendosje leading the dialogue with Belgrade. At the same time, Cliff criticized certain politicians who, for personal interests, are continuing to prolong the process and agreed with the statement of the US Ambassador Jacobson on the need to resolve the stalemate. “I also said the same thing, only I don’t have the skills of Ambassador Jacobson in expressing it in Albanian,” said Cliff.

Krasniqi: PDK should realise it does not have allies (Epoka e Re)

Jakup Krasniqi, chairman of the National Council of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) stated on Wednesday that if the coalition bloc needs to change the 10 June agreement, then this should be done jointly. He added that political agreements are not rigid and as such they can change. Krasniqi said that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) should realise it does not have allies to govern Kosovo. Referring to the position of PDK that the Assembly constitutive session would not be called without a prior agreement with this party, Krasniqi said that calling of the session is a constitutional necessity. “MPs also have the right to call the constitutive session,” said Krasniqi.

Mufti Ternava received by Pope Francis (Epoka e Re)

Mufti of Kosovo, Naim Ternava, is participating in the third Forum of the Catholic-Muslim Inter-Religious Dialogue in Vatican. On Wednesday, Ternava with the other participants of the Forum was received at a general audience by Pope Francis. Pope Francis welcomed Muslim representatives at the forum and expressed appreciation for their contribution in building peace, harmony, coexistence and tolerance among populations and religions while Ternava thanked the Pope for the contribution and support of Vatican for Kosovo. On this occasion, Mufti Ternava gave the Pope a monograph of the mosques destroyed during the conflict in Kosovo.