Headlines - 09.06.2014 PDK wins elections, opposition fails (Koha Ditore) The paper reports on the front page that the Central Election Commission announced preliminary results showing the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) in first place with 30.94%, followed by the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) with 26.29%. The data came from 90 percent of polling stations. The New Kosovo Alliance (AKR), which was part of the coalition government with the PDK, failed to cross the 5 percent threshold. Vetevendosje, led by Albin Kurti, secured around 14 percent and the Haradinaj-led Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) received 10 percent. The Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), a new political party that broke away from the PDK, managed to become part of the next parliament with less than 6 percent. The paper notes that the PDK announced its victory three hours after polling stations were closed. North voted peacefully, Serbian List to get no more than 10 seats (Tribuna) Northern Kosovo has for the first time taken part in parliamentary elections organised by authorities in Pristina, albeit with a relatively low turnout. Elections in the northern municipalities were conducted in a peaceful manner and no incidents were reported. The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Jean-Claude Schlumberger, said he was pleased with the way elections were taking place. The paper also notes that, based on preliminary results, which show the Serbian List received around 2.5 percent, the coalition cannot hope to win more than 10 seats in the next Assembly of Kosovo. In fact, the Serbian List is even partly to blame for the results as it discouraged Serb community members from taking part in elections, the paper adds. CEC thanks people of Kosovo for their valuable contribution (Epoka e Re) The Central Election Commission (CEC) commended yesterday’s elections and thanked the people of Kosovo for their valuable contribution to the process. In a statement to the press, the CEC said the counting of ballots is ongoing according to plan. It also thanked the media for continuing to present preliminary results based on CEC data. Democracy in Action: Smooth election process (Lajm) The Democracy in Action (DiA) coalition, which monitored the election, reported that the voting process had gone well with only a few minor incidents. Those incidents, however, did not influence the smooth election process. Prosecution: No filling of ballot boxes in Skenderaj (Botapress) The claim by Democracy in Action that ballot boxes were stuffed in Skenderaj/Srbica was rejected by the State Prosecution. In a press release, the State Prosecutor says, that after interviewing 30 commissioners representing all political parties, it was found that there had been no fraud. PDK happy with election process (Lajm) The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) says that yesterday’s parliamentary elections are the best elections held after the conflict in Kosovo. In a third press conference, Minister Vlora Citaku talked also about the Democracy in Action reports of ballot stuffing in Skenderaj/ Srbica, adding that “slander” was also a criminal act, and that the Democracy in Action reports were not true. LDK: There are tendencies for fraud (Lajm) The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) expressed regret about the phenomenon of ballot stuffing from PDK supporters, which allegedly occurred yesterday in a few voting centers in Skenderaj/Srbica. The LDK called on the relevant institutions to take the necessary measures to protect the voting process. The LDK strongly affirmed that it would not accept any result based on fraud. Jahjaga commends people of Kosovo on democratic elections (Kosova Sot) Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga issued a statement saying that yesterday's elections were peaceful, with a satisfactory voter turnout, including from the northern part of Kosovo. Jahjaga congratulated the people of Kosovo for their participation in the elections and their contribution to the democratic process. "Kosovo and its people passed the test with dignity and maturity. In the next couple of days, it is important to show the same commitment and contribute to the conclusion of this democratic process that is crucial for our country's future," she said. Jacobson: Careful with vote counting (Tribuna) The US Ambassador to Kosovo, Tracey Ann Jacobson, commended the way that the people of Kosovo voted yesterday and called for a responsible counting process. Jacobson made the comments after visiting a polling station in Malisheva/Malisevo. Cliff: Kosovars are voting like Europeans (Lajm) The Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Kosovo, Ian Cliff, in an interview for Radio Free Europe, said that the people of Kosovo were voting like European citizens. “What I have seen so far, these elections look like anywhere else in Europe,” said Ambassador Cliff. However, he said that not everything is finished yet, and he called for the same behavior to continue also during the counting of votes. He said the message that there should not be any fraud had been received very well, said Ambassador Cliff. Merkel: Balkans have clear prospects for EU membership (Koha Ditore) German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday that as far as the European Union is concerned, the countries of the Western Balkans, have clear EU prospects but added that “they still have a long road ahead of them”. Merkel said Germany supports their membership in the EU, “but experience has taught us that when there is not progress before membership, the work after membership is certainly not easier”. “Ultimately, it is up to the countries themselves whether or not they will go quickly through specific phases,” Merkel added. Special court will take some time to become functional (Bota Sot) The special court for Kosovo will take some time to become completely functional. The main problem will be the court’s chamber in Netherlands, which according to government officials there, will take at least one year to be established. KTV quotes its sources in the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying that the United States and the European Union asked the Netherlands to assist on the matter. The establishment of the chamber however will need to be adopted by the Dutch parliament and this is expected to take a year. “The basis of the court is problematic, because this will be the first court that is established by the European Union. We need to sign an international agreement with Kosovo, and this would have to be adopted by our parliament,” an official from the Dutch Foreign Ministry told KTV. OSCE: About 120 Albanians from Kosovo fight as jihadists (Botapress) A group of risk analysts based in New York published a report on the involvement of foreign fighters in the Syrian war. The organization cites an OSCE report from March, which concludes that the number of Kosovars involved as jihadists in Syria is up to 120.