Headlines - 27.07.2017

• Veseli: Haradinaj to be elected prime minister on 3 August (Kosova Sot)
• Haradinaj: We won’t waste time in forming new government (media)
• Haliti: PAN has more votes than some consider (Epoka)
• “AKR MP plans to vote for Veseli as Assembly speaker” (Kosova Sot/RTK)
• Pacolli: People like Vulin are narrow-minded (Bota Sot)
• Thaci: Everyone in Kosovo will feel equal (media)
• Germany, France support decision to suspend €7.8 million project (media)

Veseli: Haradinaj to be elected prime minister on 3 August (Kosova Sot)

Leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Kadri Veseli, said new Kosovo institutions will be constituted on 3 August and that PAN coalition’s candidate for prime minister Ramush Haradinaj will lead the new government. “All preparations are underway in line with the Constitution, laws and Assembly’s regulation and on 3 August we will have new institutions”, Veseli said.

Haradinaj: We won’t waste time in forming new government (media)

Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo and Prime Minister candidate from the PDK-AAK-NISMA coalition, said on Wednesday that no time would be wasted for forming a new government. Haradinaj also said that “the trust given by the people obliges everyone to continue working on the formation of the new Assembly and government”.

Haliti: PAN has more votes than some consider (Epoka)

Member of the leadership of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Xhavit Haliti, told the paper that the PAN coalition already has the required votes to constitute the Assembly and create the new government. He said that there will be more votes than some think there are. He said that any government which gains the required votes at the Assembly could function without any problem. Haliti denied the news that he is going to be PDK’s candidate for Assembly President, saying that it is only media speculation. “Our candidate for Assembly President is Kadri Veseli, he has the full support of the party,” Haliti said.

“AKR MP plans to vote for Veseli as Assembly speaker” (Kosova Sot/RTK)

Labinot Tahiri, new MP from the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) said he would vote for any candidate for the post of Assembly of Kosovo as long as the candidate is Albanian. “Kadri Veseli was very tolerant to MPs in the Assembly and I actually liked his stance and I think he is the right person to enjoy the post”, Tahiri said. Later on, Tahiri said his statement was misconstrued. He stuck to his statement that he would vote for anyone who is Albanian but said he did not specifically say he would vote for Veseli.

Pacolli: People like Vulin are narrow-minded (Bota Sot)

Leader of the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR), Behgjet Pacolli, slammed the statement of  Serbian Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin who said that there are no sincere interlocutors among Albanians when it comes to issues of crucial significance. Pacolli said “people like Vulin are narrow-minded”. Pacolli said Kosovo should seriously tackle resolving outstanding problems with Serbia and close the process of normalization of relations in mutual recognitions.

Thaci: Everyone in Kosovo will feel equal (media)

Kosovo President, Hashim Thaci, assembled on Wednesday the Consultative Council for Communities to discuss problems faced by minority communities in Kosovo, most media report. Thaci said he would continue to support minority communities and guarantee equal rights and opportunities for all. He said Kosovo is home to all its citizens. “I assure you that you have the support of the Office of the President. I am informed about your concerns, such as the issue of translating school books into Serbian. As President, I meet all leaders of communities, we discuss solutions and processes that involve all communities in Kosovo. Kosovo is home to all its citizens, regardless of their gender, religion or sexual orientation. We guarantee equal rights and opportunities for all. We want everyone in Kosovo to feel equal. Only a new and multiethnic Kosovo can have a bright future,” Thaci said. Gazmend Salijevic, chairman of the Council, said this body is a key mechanism to help community members resolve the problems they face. “Together with my colleagues we are trying to convey the messages of the communities. Through our work, we try to give them different recommendations and proper solutions for the problems our communities are faced with. We did not have enough meetings with some members of certain ministries, we also lacked sufficient support from certain ministries. Kosovo’s laws are good, but we need to work on a better life together,” Salijevic said.

Germany, France support decision to suspend €7.8 million project (media)

The French and German embassies in Pristina said on Wednesday that they fully support a decision by EU Office Head Nataliya Apostolova to suspend a €7.8 million aid to Mitrovica North municipality for a cultural center construction project and a new university building project. A press release issued by the French Embassy noted the “European office emphasizes that the local authorities did not respect the conditions that were mutually agreed upon, namely the removal of illegal buildings and the free access to all working areas”.