UNMIK Headlines 30 January
Thaçi loses numbers (Zëri)
The ruling coalition remains alive, thanks to the support of the Alliance for Future of Kosovo. Following a recent fall out of two of its senior officials - Fatmir Limaj and Jakup Krasniqi - the Democratic Party of Kosovo now has 56 deputies.
Apart from Limaj and Krasniqi, PDK’s MP Hydajet Hyseni is also considered to have distanced himself from the party. There are also at least three other MPs from the AKR who declared for several months that they are not part of the government deputies.
AAK changes discourse, wants Government’s dismissal (Koha Ditore)
Ramush Haradinaj’s Alliance for Future of Kosovo said for the first time yesterday that its MPs may vote in favour of dismissing the Government if it receives guarantees that the voting would be successful. “The moment we are convinced that the Government does not have the majority in the Assembly and the motion of mistrust can result successfully, we could vote for it,” AAK’s general secretary Burim Ramadani said. AAK has 12 members at the Assembly.
Coalition or elections (Express)
Ramush Haradinaj will give Hashim Thaçi until February to respond to his offer for coalition. If no agreement is reached by then, AAK’s deputy leader Ahmet Isufi said the party will call for elections.
However, Isufi said AAK still believes that their offer of Haradinaj assuming the prime minister’s post will be accepted by PDK. “February will be the month when a coalition decision could be made,” he said.
Thaçi informs leaders on meeting with Dacic (Zëri)
Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi met with political parties leaders on Tuesday and briefed them on the ongoing talks between Pristina and Belgrade. Vetëvendosje representatives were not present at the meeting.
The meeting between Thaçi and heads of political parties was closed to media. “Regarding the latest talks in Brussels, Prime Minister Thaçi will speak at the session of the Kosovo Parliament on Thursday,” said a press release issued by Thaçi’s office.
Albanians in Valley seek guarantees for monument’s return (Koha Ditore)
OSCE’s High Commissioner for Minorities Knut Vollebaek is expected to meet representatives of Albanian parties in Presevo Valley today and discuss the recent events following the removal of the UCPMB monument by the Serbian gendarmerie.
“The meeting with Commissioner Vollebaek will be held on Wednesday at 14.00hrs; we will present demands for the protection of rights of Albanians in Presevo Valley and will seek guarantees that the monument will be returned to its original site,” said the head of Movement for Democratic Progress, Jonuz Musliu.
They give them their votes (Express)
Delegates of the Democratic Party of Kosovo assured votes for Jakup Krasniqi and Fatmir Limaj in the Steering Council of the Party. Both candidates are among the 50 most voted. “The dilemma was if they were going to be proposed, at the moment when they were proposed, it was obvious that they will be members of this Council. They have their own voters within the party. Jakup could perhaps lose some votes due to recent events, but not enough to not be part of the Council,” said this source.
Pack: Northern Kosovo cannot be compared to Republika Srpska (Zëri)
European Parliament member Doris Pack told Radio Dukagjini that it is foolish to compare Republika Srpska in Bosnia with northern Kosovo. “This comparison does not make sense. The Ahtisaari Plan will be applied for that part. Serbs in the north may assume special responsibilities, as Serbs in other parts of Kosovo. I think this is the offer that should be made for the north. Nothing more,” Pack said.
Kandic: Ojdanic’s admittance of guilt in dialogue (Koha Ditore)
According to the former Director of the Fund for Human Rights in Belgrade, Natasa Kandic, former Serbian army chief Dragolub Ojdanic’s admittance of guilt is very important, despite the fact that this could be motivated by a plea bargain. “Admitting that he is guilty on all charges for which he was being sued represents the first admittance of guilt by a senior military-level officer. He accepts that he is guilty for participating in crimes, and that his intention was deporting Albanians from Kosovo. He confirms the massive killings, property burnings; serious crimes that are considered crimes against humanity. It may be that Ojdanic was motivated by very pragmatic reasons,” Kandic told Radio Kosova, who considers that the Kosovo Government should use this information in the dialogue being held in Brussels.