UNMIK Headlines 8 May
Rushing towards elections – danger from manipulations (Tribuna)
President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga is expected to decree today the dissolving of the Kosovo Assembly and announce early elections for 8 June, reports the paper on the front page. The two largest parties, PDK and LDK, support 8 June while Vetevendosje and AKR want elections to take place on the 15th of the same month.
Right after the assembly was dissolved, Jahjaga began meeting representatives of political parties and consult them about the possible date.
President Jahjaga begins consultations with political parties (Lajm)
Lajm reports on the front page that Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga has started yesterday consultations with all political parties to set the date for early elections. At the same time, without an official date being set yet, there are different scenarios going around about possible future government coalitions with the prevailing opinion being that this has already been settled and that the new government will consist of the two biggest parties, PDK and LDK. This ruling formula is justified with the argument that this is the wish of the international community but such a coalition is imposed also with the number of MPs and the sensitive processes that lie ahead.
Mustafa: Dissolving the assembly is a victory of democracy (Botapress)
LDK leader Isa Mustafa hailed yesterday’s voting for dissolving of the Kosovo Assembly. In the social network Facebook, he wrote that the move paves way for Kosovo to head to early elections. “This is a victory of democracy, while your vote is going to be a victory for our country’s future”, he wrote.
Kurti: Elections should be held on 15 June (Lajm)
After Kosovo Assembly was dissolved, Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti said that their preferred date of elections is 15 June. He said this date provides enough time to make sure technical and logistical aspects of the process are in place. Kurti made the comments after a meeting with Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga where they talked about elections date.
EU could send a mission to monitor elections in Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
EU officials in Brussels told the paper that they are aware of the bitter experience from last general elections in Kosovo and therefore expect upcoming elections to be conducted in a fair and democratic manner. However, the EU officials are still not clear on what international mechanism should ensure regularity of the voting process. There are already consultations underway to set up an EU mission to monitor elections but this would come only after Kosovo authorities make such a request.
“In all the meetings Commissioner Fule had on Tuesday in Kosovo, both the opposition and the government made a clear request for the EU to send as many observers as possible”, a source told the paper.
Hoxhaj to attend EU ministerial conference (Tribuna)
Kosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj travelled to Greece yesterday where he is to take part in a ministerial conference between the EU and Western Balkans on the 10th anniversary of Thessaloniki Summit. During his visit, Hoxhaj is also expected to meet Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos whose country currently presides over the EU.
Trajkovic: No way for KAF (Zëri)
Kosovo Serb MP Rada Trajkovic stated in an interview for this daily that Kosovo does not need an armed force because KFOR is here to maintain security. She said that the reserved seats for minority communities would be the best possibility for integration of the north in Kosovo institutions. “No, the reserved seats were not the Serbs’ condition to vote for the Armed Forces. I cannot speak on behalf of everyone, but I would not vote for KAF even if the mandate for the reserved seats was extended”.
She added that Kosovo is not ready to offer security through KAF, be it within Kosovo or the region, considering that there is a possibility for new tensions at any time in all the countries around. “I consider that the international community and Pristina have a wrong approach towards the north thinking that they can integrate Serbs in the north by controlling and arresting them. Reserved seats would have been a bridge for the north and they would enable its slow integration in Kosovo institutions,” said Trajkovic.
Serbia is blackmailing Kosovo with bodies (Lajm)
Arsim Gerxhaliu, Director of the Department of Forensics in Pristina has withdrawn on Monday from the exhumations process at the mass grave of Rudnica in Raska of Serbia. His decision comes after the Serb side requested him to sign a document whereby he pledges not to publish pictures from the site were human remains of Albanians killed during the conflict are being exhumed. Gerxhaliu said for Jeta ne Kosove that the Serb side requested him not to publish pictures in his Facebook page. Prenk Gjetaj from the Kosovo Government Commission on Missing Persons says that they will not allow to be blackmailed from the Serb side.
Turkey supports membership of Kosovo in NATO (Lajm)
Turkey expressed readiness to further support the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) with training and equipment and also support Kosovo’s membership in international mechanisms and NATO, stated Turkish Army Land Forces Commander, Hulusi Akar, during a visit to KSF headquarters where he met with Commander General Lieutenant, Kadri Kastrati.