UNMIK Headlines 4 December
Jahjaga to host meeting with Thaci and Mustafa (Tribuna)
Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga is expected to host a meeting with Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) leader Hashim Thaci and Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader Isa Mustafa, after Thaci returns from his visit to New York where he will attend the United Nations Security Council session on Kosovo. Sources from Jahjaga’s office said the meeting will focus on the formation of the new government. The paper also notes that the two parties are expected to sign their final agreement before the Kosovo Assembly session scheduled for 8 December.
Thaci: Kosovo has achieved positive results (Epoka e Re)
Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said on Wednesday, one day before the meeting of the United Nations Security Council, that Kosovo has achieved positive results in the last three months. Thaci wrote on his Facebook account that the successful organization of elections, agreement on the new government, conclusion of negotiations for the Stabilization/Association Agreement, positive progress report on visa liberalization, inclusion of Kosovo in the global coalition against the Islamic State, and membership in the Olympic Committee as a sovereign state, are some of the positive aspects that Kosovo has achieved during the last months. He also wrote that Kosovo’s international partners are proud of the positive changes during the last four years and that the priorities for next year are the implementation of the Brussels agreement, the formation of Kosovo’s Armed Forces and the creation of new jobs.
Thaci can’t wait until 2016 to become President (Koha)
The paper notes in a front-page story that Hashim Thaci, leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), could be left without a key post until 2016, when the mandate of President Atifete Jahjaga expires. Unidentified sources told the paper that there are differences between the PDK and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) on the division of key posts. The coalition partners, however, have agreed on the majority of programme points, and names of government ministers will reportedly be announced several hours before the final agreement is signed over the weekend.
Thaci wants most ‘powerful’ ministries (Zeri)
The paper reports on the front page that the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) wants to have the most powerful ministries in the new government in exchange for giving away the post of Prime Minister to the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). Sources from the PDK-LDK coalition told the paper that Thaci wants to have the Ministries of Interior Affairs, Economic Development, Education, Infrastructure and European Integration.
Haliti: PDK hasn’t given up Prime Minister post (Epoka e Re)
Xhavit Haliti, member of the leadership of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), told the newspaper on Wednesday that he did not know which party would get the post of Prime Minister. He said that leaders of the PDK and LDK would meet over the weekend to make the final decisions on the new government. Haliti added that the PDK has not given up on the post of Prime Minister. “We want Thaci to keep the post of Prime Minister, but it is up to the negotiators to decide that,” he added.
AAK and Vetevendosje in favor of new elections (Tribuna)
Representatives of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Vetevendosje Movement said on Wednesday that they are in favor of new general elections, because a new government led by Hashim Thaci and Isa Mustafa would only lead to a continuation of Kosovo’s worrying political and economic situation.
Hoxhaj: Kosovo will fight terrorism (Zeri)
Enver Hoxhaj, Kosovo’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, attended a meeting of the global coalition to counter the Islamic State, organized by United States Secretary of State John Kerry in Brussels. Hoxhaj said Kosovo would engage fully as a responsible member of the coalition.
Jacobson: Corruption harming Kosovo (Kosova Sot)
Tracey Ann Jacobson, the United States Ambassador to Kosovo, expressed concern on Twitter over Kosovo’s high level of corruption. Her comments were related to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, which ranked Kosovo as 110th out of 175 countries and territories. Jacobson said corruption causes serious damages to the economy, society and security of Kosovo.
Cliff: Do not become extremists (Kosova Sot)
The British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ian Cliff, visited the seat of the Bektashi order in Gjakova on Wednesday, where he said that Kosovo has many examples of good religious practices, and that religious extremism and support for foreign wars would be the worst path for Kosovo’s youth. He lamented that a new generation is being convinced to participate in wars in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere, and that they are committing dreadful crimes there.