Headlines - 26.11.2014

Prime Minister and Assembly Speaker to be elected on 8 December (Epoka e Re)

Hashim Thaci, leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and Isa Mustafa, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) agreed on Tuesday to proceed with the constitutive session of the Kosovo Assembly on 8 December. According to a press release issued by the Office of the President, the Assembly Speaker, Deputy Assembly Speakers and the new government are expected to be elected on the same day. The two leaders also coordinated their work on discussing the establishment of the institutions with the minorities.

“The President of the PDK, Mr. Thaçi and the President of the LDK, Mr. Mustafa informed President Jahjaga that their political subjects and the working groups for the harmonization of joint governance coalition will be ready to call the session of the Assembly of Kosovo to elect the organs of this institution and to vote for the Government and its government program on December 8, 2014,” the press release noted.

Thaci postponed government formation to attend UNSC session (Gazeta Blic)

Outgoing Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, is expected to attend the upcoming United Nations Security Council session scheduled for 4 December. After a meeting with President Atifete Jahjaga, leaders of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Hashim Thaci and Isa Mustafa, said that they were trying to make sure the Kosovo Assembly constitutive session continues on 8 December. They also agreed that Thaci would be travelling to New York to attend the Security Council session.

Mustafa breaks the silence: I am Prime Minister of Kosovo! (Gazeta Blic)

After meeting Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga on Tuesday, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) leader Isa Mustafa told Klan Kosova that he will be the new Prime Minister of Kosovo. Mustafa did not mention names of possible ministers and said that working groups were harmonizing the program of the new government.

Serbian List asks its share in the government (Tribuna)

Serbian List has officially begun negotiations with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) about the possibility of joining the new government of Kosovo. The first meeting took place yesterday and the List is expected to lead two ministries. Furthermore, the Serbian List will be in charge of establishing and leading the Association of Serb Municipalities. Aleksandar Jablanovic, Serbian List leader, told Radio Free Europe that they have certain conditions to join the government that include the formation of the Association of Serb Municipalities, return of property to the Serbian Orthodox Church, return of displaced Serbs, and annulment of privatization in predominantly-Serb areas.

Possible ministers from LDK and PDK (Koha/Zeri)

Citing sources from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), the paper reports that this party has already proposed its candidates for ministers: Bardhyl Metaj (Minister of Trade and Industry), Avdullah Hoti (Minister of Finance), Skender Hyseni (Minister of European Integration), Anton Cuni (Minister of Defense), Teuta Sahatqija (Minister of Healthcare), Lirie Kajtazi (Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports) and Arben Gashi (Minister of Justice). Sources from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) told the paper that Enver Hoxhaj would keep the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs and that this party would try to secure ministerial posts for Bekim Haxhiu, Margarita Kadriu, Rrustem Mustafa and Bajram Rexhepi. Zeri reports that current PDK ministers Agim Ceku, Edita Tahiri and Memli Krasniqi are not expected to be part of the new government.

Ceku: Kosovo to have an army soon (Epoka e Re)

Agim Ceku, the outgoing Minister of Kosovo’s Security Force (KSF) stated on Tuesday that Kosovo would soon have its army. “The Kosovo Security Force is waiting for a new mission, new obligations, responsibilities and competencies. Therefore, I believe that among the first decisions of the new Assembly will be to announce the decision of transforming the KSF into an army,” Ceku stated. According to Ceku, the transformation of the KSF into armed forces enjoys strong support from Kosovo’s international allies.

Tahiri: EU points, conditions for Serbia (Tribuna)

Edita Tahiri, Pristina’s chief negotiator in dialogue with Belgrade, said that the eight criteria EU has introduced to Serbia before actual membership include normalization of relations with Kosovo. Belgrade media reported that one of the points relates to the draft-statute of the Association of Serb Municipalities but Tahiri stressed that Serbia will have no role in drafting of the statute. She said it is the responsibility of the managing group consisting of representatives of northern municipalities to prepare the statute but that the process has stalled because of Belgrade authorities’ interference.

EP lobbies for Kosovo’s membership in international organizations (Kosova Sot)

European Parliament Vice President and Rapporteur for Kosovo, Ulrike Lunacek, said on Tuesday she hoped Kosovo would soon be accepted in different institutions of the United Nations. In a teleconference on the topic of multilateral diplomacy, Lunacek said that there are problems in Kosovo and that it would have been easier for it to join international organizations if it had a government in place. She also stressed that many of her colleagues in EP are lobbying for Kosovo’s membership in the UN.

Gallucci: Serbia will have to recognize Kosovo before EU membership (Koha)

Gerard Gallucci, former United Nations administrator in Mitrovica, told Belgrade-based Vecernje Novosti that Serbia would have to recognize Kosovo’s independence before joining the European Union. Gallucci also stated that the Ahtisaari Package foresaw that Pristina and the Quint countries would have to accept a formula of local autonomy for Serbs.