Headlines - 20.10.2014

Murphy: Politicians should set aside personal motives (Koha)

In a front-page interview for the paper, United States Senator Chris Murphy said that all problems can be resolved if people set aside their political agendas and engage together for the good of the country. “I don’t have an opinion on how the future government should look like, but as a real friend of Kosovo, I want to see politicians setting aside their personal motives, sitting at the table and finding a solution for the new government, so that Kosovo’s friends abroad can be real active partners,” he said. Murphy argued that, as a young democracy, Kosovo does not have the luxury of wasting months and months arguing over internal politics while it has many foreign issues that it needs to resolve. He also said he was confident that a future coalition government will be formed through President Atifete Jahjaga’s leadership.

Coalition bloc sticks to initial agreement (Koha)

The coalition bloc consisting of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), the Vetevendosje Movement, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), has not changed its position even after the visit by US Senator Chris Murphy and meetings between Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) leader Hashim Thaci, LDK leader Isa Mustafa and AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj. Unidentified sources however told the paper that relations are becoming more relaxed now, especially between the LDK and the PDK. Efforts are reportedly underway to arrange a meeting between Thaci and Mustafa where the two leaders would discuss a possible coalition. LDK MP Vjosa Osmani however told the paper that the LDK will stick to its position. “We still believe that only the majority in the Assembly can form the institutions and that we should not allow the minority in the Assembly to dictate anything,” Osmani said.

Haliti: There are signs of a breakthrough (Bota Sot)

Xhavit Haliti, deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), said on Sunday that there are signs of a breakthrough in the political crisis. Commenting on PDK leader Hashim Thaci’s meetings with LDK and AAK leaders, Haliti said, “These are all positive signs that leaders are trying to unblock the current situation”.

Solution rests in the hands of internationals (Epoka e Re)

Political parties should find a solution to overcome the political crisis in Kosovo as soon as possible. This was the assessment of the Office of the President of Kosovo, international representatives and political experts. Arber Vllahiu, adviser to the President, said that the facilitation of discussions by President Jahjaga with the political leaders cannot last forever and that the solution lies in hands of leaders and deputies. US Senator Christopher Murphy, during a meeting with students at the American University in Kosovo, called on political parties to find a solution and overcome the crisis. “We as Americans hope that political parties in Kosovo will set aside their personal prejudices and create a coalition which entails personal sacrifice for the benefit of the state. This is in fact what democracy is.” Meanwhile, political analyst Armand Shkullaku told Epoka e Re that the international community will privately have a say on the solution to the political stalemate in Kosovo.

Minorities to ask President to seek explanations from Court (Tribuna)

Minority members of the Kosovo Assembly have drafted a letter through which they will call on President Atifete Jahjaga to seek additional explanations from the Constitutional Court in relation to Article 127. Mahir Yagcilar, leader of the Kosovo Turkish Democratic Party (KDTP), confirmed the information. He said the decision to address the President was made at a joint meeting among all minority MPs. Meanwhile, sources in the coalition bloc told the paper that the request came after the latest meeting of minority representatives with LDK and AAK leaders.

Jahjaga invited to Belgrade as President of Kosovo (Epoka e Re)

Atifete Jahjaga has been invited by the European Commission’s Trilateral Commission to participate at a conference in Belgrade, in her capacity as President of Kosovo. 180 leaders will attend the conference which will be held from 31 October to 2 November. The invitation sent to Jahjaga was signed by the European Chairman of the Trilateral Commission, Jean Claude Trichet, and Jovan Kovacevic, chairman of the Trilateral Commission Group of Serbia.

Hoxhaj receives invitation for Belgrade (Epoka e Re)

The Foreign Ministry of Kosovo confirmed that Minister Enver Hoxhaj has received an invitation from the European Commission to participate at the meeting of Foreign Ministers from the Balkans. Bashmir Xhemaj, political adviser to Minister Hoxhaj, told the Indeksonline news site that the invitation refers to Hoxhaj’s equal representation with other Foreign Ministers. “I can confirm that Minister Hoxhaj has accepted the invitation to participate at the meeting of Foreign Ministers of Western Balkans countries, which will be held in Belgrade on 23 October, where he will be equal with his counterparts from the region. It is a continuance of meetings and pledges made at the Berlin Conference to further relations between countries of the region and move joint projects forward,” Xhemaj said.

Albanian PM’s Belgrade visit postponed until 10 November (Epoka e Re)

The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, has postponed his visit to Belgrade until 10 November. The Office of the Albanian Prime Minister said that Mr. Rama had a telephone conversation with Serbia’s Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vucic, and both parties agreed that the visit should be delayed due to incidents at the recent football match in Belgrade between Albania and Serbia. The visit is also delayed due to their disagreements on those recent developments. “Clear disagreements remain among the two Prime Ministers regarding everything that happened; however, the two Prime Ministers agreed that they should not and would not lose the opportunity to meet and work together towards regional stability, as well as to open a new page in the political and economic relations between the two countries,” a press release issued by the Office of the Prime Minister of Albania notes.

Molotov cocktail thrown at “Civil Protection” building (Koha)

According to Kosovo Police, on Sunday evening, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a building used by members of the so-called Civil Protection in North Mitrovica.