UNMIK Headlines 4 November
Provisional government and postponed elections (Tribuna)
The paper reports on the front page that political parties are exhausting all possible options for overcoming the political crisis. Furthermore, the lack of consensus on how to redesign the post-election coalition, combined with the resistance of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) to move into the opposition, are taking Kosovo towards elections. However, with the current political polarization and winter weather conditions, managing elections would be difficult and would risk escalating the present situation. According to international sources, the solution would be to have a provisional government in place which would prepare the ground for elections in the summer of 2015 or 2016.
Thaci says no solution without PDK (Kosova Sot)
The leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Hashim Thaci, after the meeting of the party presidency, said that political parties should engage in dialogue in order to establish Kosovo institutions as soon as possible. He added that, without the participation of his party, the current deadlock cannot be overcome.
Haradinaj won’t be Prime Minister (Zeri)
Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), is counting his days as the post-election coalition’s candidate for Prime Minister of Kosovo, because the ambitions of the leaders of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) have increased. They are expected to redefine the coalition bloc’s agreement. At the same time, a number of Quint representatives have also sent signals that they do not support Haradinaj’s leading of the government, indirectly supporting a coalition between LDK and the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). International sources told this daily that the main issues concerning the establishment of the new institutions will be resolved within the following two weeks. If this does not happen, President Atifete Jahjaga will announce new elections.
Kosovo is being damaged in international relations (Epoka e Re)
The UN Security Council will discuss on 14 November the quarterly report on Kosovo. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will present his latest report for the period 16 July to 15 October, while Pristina and Belgrade will be represented at the level of Foreign Minister. In his latest report, Ban expressed concern over the failure to form new institutions in Kosovo. Petrit Selimi, Deputy Foreign Minister of Kosovo, said that the lack of new institutions is affecting Kosovo’s relations with its friends and international relations in general. Speaking about the report of the UN Secretary- General, Selimi said that it highlights achievements and stalemates in Kosovo during the three-month reporting period.
Mogherini to facilitate dialogue (dailies)
Dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade will be facilitated by the EU High Representative for Security and Foreign Policy, Federica Mogherini, said her spokesperson Maja Kocijancic.
EU debates EULEX scandals behind closed doors (Koha Ditore)
On the front page, the paper reports that the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Federica Mogherini, on her first day of work in the new post, tackled recent scandals involving EULEX officials. Mogherini’s spokesperson, Maja Kocijancic, said it is in the EU’s interest to clarify recent allegations with the greatest possible transparency. However, the paper writes that this commitment to transparency was not upheld during a subsequent closed-door debate on EULEX, called by the EU’s External Action Service.
Thaci rejects claims of former EULEX prosecutor Bamieh (Kosova Sot)
The Office of the Kosovo Prime Minister rejected claims by former EULEX prosecutor Maria Bamieh that Romual Pichard, former political advisor to the former head of EULEX, worked for Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci after ending his work at EULEX. “Pichard never worked as an advisor to Prime Minister Thaci,” says a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.