UNMIK Headlines 5 November
LDK decides: Mustafa candidate for prime minister (Zeri)
On the front page, the paper reports that the presidency of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) agreed for the reconfiguration of the agreement with parties of the post-election coalition bloc in order to enable the party leader, Isa Mustafa, to lead the Kosovo government. This, according to LDK, is the only option to solve the political deadlock and establish new institutions. Sources of the newspaper inside LDK presidency said that the partners of the post-election coalition have agreed that the agreement should be reconfigured and thus avoid early elections. “Ramush Haradinaj from Alliance for Future of Kosovo (AAK) and Fatmir Limaj from Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), have agreed for redesigning of the agreement,” said the source, adding that before the meeting of the LDK presidency, Mustafa had talks with post-election coalition partners and all agreed to relook the agreement as the MPs, after six months, risk losing their mandates.
Thaci open for cooperation with other parties (Epoka e Re)
Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) gathered on Tuesday its leadership to discuss overcoming of the political situation. After the meeting, its leader, Hashim Thaci, reiterated the position that new institutions cannot be established without his party. He announced that the Steering Council of his party will again meet today and come out with a clear position on how to overcome the political blockade.
UN Security Council discusses Kosovo on 13 November (Epoka e Re)
The United Nations Security Council has decided to hold a session on the current situation in Kosovo on 13 November, reported Presheva e Jone news agency. According to UN officials, Kosovo will be represented by UNMIK chief, Farid Zarif, who will be accompanied by government representatives of Kosovo and Serbia. According to this agency, the UN SG wrote in his report that challenges for the complete implementation of the Brussels agreement, remain, especially with regards to the creation of the Association of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo.
Hoxhaj ready for New York (Tribuna)
Statements with negative tones about political leadership made by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his recent report, were not commented by the Kosovo Foreign Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, who in a statement given to the newspaper said that if the meeting is at the level of foreign ministers, he will be the one to travel to New York. He did not however disclose what he would say in the meeting arguing that this is not a diplomatic practice.
European Parliament wants transparency for EULEX (Koha Ditore)
On the front page, the paper reports that the new EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Federica Mogherini, said she will appoint an independent judicial expert to look into allegations of corruption in EULEX. In her first public appearance since taking on the new post, Mogherini also said that EULEX scandals are top of her agenda and that the appointment of the expert will be treated with urgency. European Parliament political groups have welcomed Mogherini’s quick action and stressed that until now, there was an impression that the EU is trying to cover up traces of scandals in its Kosovo mission rather than tackling them.
Bamieh: EULEX cooperates with mafia and Kosovar politicians (Kosova Sot)
Suspended EULEX prosecutor, Maria Bamieh, claimed in an interview for the Sarajevo newspaper Avaz that she is the one under investigations instead of EULEX. She further accused the EU mission leadership of cooperating with mafia and politicians in Kosovo. “I have talked publicly only then when all possibilities have been exhausted,” said Bamieh.
The crisis weakens EU-Kosovo relations (Kosova Sot)
The paper writes that the political crisis has started to produce negative consequences in the relations between EU and Kosovo. EU Special Representative to Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, said that relations between EU and Kosovo have been very good in the past few years, “but the delay in establishing Kosovo institutions are starting to affect relations of Kosovo with the EU”.
Border security requires regional cooperation (Epoka e Re)
Local and international representatives assessed that regional cooperation is required to strengthen border security and prevent negative phenomenon. Tracey Ann Jacobson, the US Ambassador in Kosovo, stated during her participation at the first regional “Border Security” conference that trafficking and illegal migration are major problems of western Balkans. She praised Kosovo’s undertaken steps to prevent these phenomena.