UNMIK Headlines 17 November
Rift between LDK & AAK over Prime Minister post (Koha/Zeri)
Koha Ditore reports on the front page that the post of Prime Minister has caused a rift between the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), endangering the functioning of the post-election coalition bloc. Relations between the LDK and AAK deteriorated especially after the request by LDK branches in several municipalities for the post of Prime Minister to go to their party. AAK representatives said their party doesn’t plan to give up the post even if this would lead to the breakup of the coalition. Avni Arifi, advisor to AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj, accused LDK leader Isa Mustafa of orchestrating the move by LDK branches. Meanwhile, Zeri reports on the front page that the LDK will definitely abandon the coalition bloc if Haradinaj does not give up the Prime Minister post.
Sahatqija: Prime Minister post belongs to LDK (Zeri)
Teuta Sahatqija, deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), told Kosovapress that the Constitutional Court made implementation of the coalition bloc’s agreement impossible; therefore, they were forced to reconsider the agreement. “Under the new conditions, based on its majority, LDK has to take over the responsibility of leading the country,” said Sahatqija. She added that the new circumstances were imposed on them, therefore, they, together with the partners, have to find a new solution.
Assembly to be constituted this week (Tribuna)
The paper quotes sources as saying that leaders of political parties have assured President Atifete Jahjaga and international representatives that the constitutive session of the Kosovo Assembly will be called this week and MPs will finally elect a speaker. That is because establishing the Assembly leadership is necessary to pass the budget law for 2015, and any further delays would plunge Kosovo into a deep financial crisis. Once the Assembly is formed, the countdown will begin for the formation of the new Kosovo government, and if this is not done within the set legal timeframe, new elections will be the only remaining alternative.
Limaj negotiating with coalition bloc (Tribuna)
Bilall Sherifi, a member of the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) presidency, told Express that the party leader, Fatmir Limaj, is undergoing talks with partners of the post-election coalition in order to convince them to stay the course and keep the coalition strong. “NISMA’s goal is to have a joint candidate for Prime Minister”, Sherifi said.
Cliff: Poverty increases religious radicalism (Zeri)
The British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ian Cliff, said that Kosovo is the perfect place for the spread of radical Islam, including among youth, because of poverty, unemployment and a lack of prospects for its population. “This is one of the reasons why Kosovo needs economic reform and rule of law”, Cliff told the paper.
Hoxhaj: European agenda a priority for Kosovo (Kosova Sot)
Kosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj congratulated the newly appointed Italian Foreign Minister, Paolo Gentiloni, on his new post. In a telephone conversation, Hoxhaj expressed the Kosovo government’s readiness to continue cooperation and further bilateral relations, especially in economic areas. They also discussed the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) and Kosovo’s European agenda.
Dacic: Serbia won’t recognize Kosovo for EU membership (Kosova Sot)
Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said on Saturday that brotherly relations between Serbia and Russia can never be destroyed, but that the interests of Serbia lie in the European Union. Dacic also said that Serbia would not join the European Union if recognizing Kosovo’s independence was a condition.
Criminal gangs clash in northern Kosovo (dailies)
Citing a report by Kosovapress, several dailies report that gunshots, Molotov cocktails and car chases in the streets of North Mitrovica and Zvecan, among criminal gangs there on Saturday evening, have caused concern among local residents. Kosovapress cites unidentified sources as saying that, on Saturday night, three Molotov cocktails were thrown near a café in Mitrovica and gunshots were heard. Sources also said that police in the north did nothing to prevent the incidents despite earlier warnings.