UNMIK Headlines 23 August
Pacolli returns to the party that “strangled” him (Koha)
The paper reports on its front page that Behxhet Pacolli and his New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) are getting ready to join the PDK-AAK-NISMA (PAN) coalition to formi a new government. The paper recalls that Pacolli used to say he will stay away “from those who do not wish good on Kosovo and who don’t know how to govern” referring to PDK officials. The paper reported on Tuesday that talks are already underway between the AKR and the PAN coalition. Separate meetings were held with PDK and AAK leaders. PAN officials confirmed the meetings saying that they discussed the division of government ministries but said it was too early to say what will be AKR’s share in the new government.
Hoxhaj: New government could review demarcation deal (Koha)
Kosovo’s former Foreign Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, told Der Standard that “Kosovo’s new Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, is expected to initiate the review of the demarcation deal with Montenegro” and that the agreement will be adopted by the end of this year. “The new government could appoint a new committee that will review the demarcation. We can look into all the documents again to see if everything is OK. The new prime minister will then have to decide whether or not he wants to amend the law on demarcation,” Hoxhaj said. He also said he expects the process of talks between Pristina and Belgrade to conclude with Kosovo’s membership in the United Nations.
Vucic: I once told Edita Tahiri “leave the room” (RTK)
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic did not want to comment on a statement by Kosovo’s Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, who said that there could be no reconciliation until Serbia does not apologise for the war and genocide in Kosovo. In an interview for Serbian media, Vucic said: “there is no point in commenting her statements. During the Brussels talks, I once told her ‘leave the room’ and she had to leave. I did not want to continue the conversation, because sometimes it doesn’t make any sense to listen and reply, it is better to keep silent and say nothing”. Vucic also said that resolving the Kosovo problem is one of the key issues for Serbia. In her reaction, Tahiri told Pristina-based Lajmi news website that: “Serbia is known for its policy of lies. They are known to be liars in politics. Their political doctrine was drafted by those that inspired Serbian nationalism. Lies are Serbia’s politics”.
McAllister: A legally binding agreement between Kosovo and Serbia (DW)
Gazeta Express reruns an interview that David McAllister, the European Parliament’s Rapporteur on Serbia, gave to Deutsche Welle, highlighting his remarks that a legally binding agreement is needed between Kosovo and Serbia so that they can fulfill their obligations. “The normalization of relations with Kosovo is most important and this means the resumption of dialogue between the two sides. Unfortunately, there is no progress for the time being, because of the uncertain political situation in Pristina. Dialogue, as formulated by the EU, means that both sides, Serbia and Kosovo, can continue on their European path without blocking one another in the process,” McAllister said.
Agreement on division of ministries (Zeri)
The paper reports that the political parties are on the verge of dividing ministries of “Haradinaj’s” government. The paper reports that the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AKR) will leave the LAA coalition on Thursday and will vote the PAN nominee for the Assembly President, Kadri Veseli. As a reward, Behxhet Pacolli’s political party is expected to gain at least two significant ministries. Sources of the paper informed that Behxhet Pacolli is expected to lead the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and one of the members of his party will be leading with the Ministry for Economic Development.
According to the sources of the paper, except for the position of the Assembly President, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) will also have the position deputy prime minister, Minister of Finances, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of KSF, Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of European Integration.
Based on the pre-election agreement, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, will have the position of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Ministry of Health and that of Education.
The Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) will be leading with the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, and they are discussing the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
The Ministry of Environment is expected to belong to Dardan Gashi, who mediated for Teuta Rugova’s voting for the PAN coalition.
The Serbian List is expected to lead with the Ministry of Agriculture and there are great chances that they will also lead with the Ministry for Returns and Communities and the Ministry for Local Government.
Some other ministries will belong to the non-Serb minorities which supported PAN on creation of central institutions, the paper reports.
Vetevendosje activists released from detention and house arrest (Zeri)
Activists of the Vetevendosje movement, accused of terrorist offence of attacking the facilities of the Assembly of Kosovo, are released. The Basic Court in Pristina approved the request of the defense to release Frasher Krasniqi, Egzon Haliti and Adea Batusha from house arrest and Atdhe Arifi from detention. They will all have to report to the police station. The next trial session will be held on Friday at 10:00 hours. All four defendants pleaded not guilty on the charges of the prosecution.
EU calls for calm after FYROM, Serbia diplomatic incident (Kallxo.com)
The EU has expressed hope that Belgrade and Skopje will “deal with the issue calmly” after Serbia withdrew all diplomatic staff from the country.
An EU Commission spokesperson told BIRN that the diplomatic incident in Skopje “is a bilateral issue between the two countries, which the EU is closely following”.
“We look to both sides to exercise restraint and deal with the issue calmly, in the spirit of good neighborly relations,” the EU Commission said.