Headlines - 27.10.2015

Kosovo to sign Stabilization/Association Agreement with EU today (Zeri)

Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, travelled to Strasbourg today to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union. The accord will be signed by the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, EU Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Johanes Hahn, Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and Kosovo European Integration Minister Bekim Collaku.

AAK to support ratification of SAA (Gazeta Blic)

Muharrem Nitaj, senior member of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), told the news site that the AAK is going to support the ratification of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA). He noted that regardless of the stances of the two other opposition parties, Vetevendosje Movement and Initiative for Kosovo, the AAK will be part of the ratification of this agreement, even though according to him, this agreement is incomplete. However, Nitaj doesn’t consider this as the end of the unified opposition. He said that the opposition would never accept the agreement on Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro.

Assembly session this week, opposition irritated (Zeri)

Citing unidentified sources, the paper reports that the next Assembly session will be held this Thursday, while the opposition bloc again sends signals that they would use teargas to stop the Assembly’s work. Assembly President Kadri Veseli today called a meeting of the Presidency during which it will be decided on the date and agenda of the next session. Vetevendosje Movement MP Rexhep Selimi said that calling a new session is a provocation. "The one that calls the session must be held accountable for the escalation of the situation," Selimi said. According to him, the opposition will again use teargas. The Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA) MP, Haxhi Shala, told the paper that the opposition would not allow the holding of the session, even if it is intended to be held in any other location.

Government rules out possible referendum on agreements (Koha)

The Kosovo Government has ruled out a request by the opposition to hold a referendum on agreement on the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro. Arban Abrashi, spokesman for the government, told the paper on Monday that both agreements are legally binding. “They are not subject to a referendum even if this were to be foreseen by law. These are inherited obligations that were then voted by the opposition too. So if they [the agreements] were not subject to a referendum then why should it be any different now,” Abrashi added. “Any initiative to hold discussions outside the Kosovo Assembly would imply the creation of parallel institutions that would undermine the power of the Assembly as the supreme authority that represents the people”.

“There is no parliamentary crisis in Kosovo” (Epoka e Re)

Kosovo Assembly Vice President Xhavit Haliti told the paper on Monday that there is no parliamentary crisis in Kosovo, but that the minority is hindering the majority from doing its job. He stated that the Assembly sessions should be held and that the opposition through debate should convince the ruling-coalition MPs and the people of Kosovo that they are right on their demands. Haliti said that he is against a referendum and against new elections. According to him, there is no place in world that new elections are organized just because the minority is not satisfied with the majority.

Thaci: A drunken MP can wreck the people (Bota Sot)

In an interview for Klan Kosova, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci suggested that there should be alcohol tests performed on MPs before they enter the Assembly sessions. “A drunken MP is more dangerous than a drunk driver because a drunk MP can wreck the whole people with their actions,” said Thaci seemingly referring to the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) leader Ramush Haradinaj who was seen at the last Assembly session sipping a liquid which he said was tea but the ruling parties claim was alcohol. Thaci further said that two opposition parties have expressed interest in joining the ruling coalition while the former Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti wants to destabilize Kosovo.

Agreements with Serbia lack status of international agreements (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that none of the documents signed between the Kosovo and Serbian authorities in Brussels meets the requirements of the Constitution of Kosovo or the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties to have the status of international agreements. The Serbian Government refers to the Brussels agreements as “political acts” whereas the government in Pristina does not comment on the status of the agreements.

Prosecution gives five-day deadline to opposition MPs (Koha)

The Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Pristina gave a five-day deadline to four opposition MPs to give their statements to the police. Albin Kurti, Albulena Haxhiu and Faton Topalli from the Vetevendosje Movement and Donika Kadaj-Bujupi from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo are suspected of committing the penal act of causing general danger during several sessions of the Kosovo Assembly. The chief prosecutor of the Basic Prosecution in Pristina told the paper that if the MPs do not comply with the five-day deadline the Basic Court in Pristina will issue arrest warrants for them.

Italy mediates Kosovo-Serbia dialogue on UNESCO membership (Bota Sot)

The paper quotes sources as saying that Italy is mediating a dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia on UNESCO membership and the status of the Serb Orthodox Church in Kosovo. According to the source, the Serb Orthodox Church is expected to gain a similar status to that of the Holy See in the Vatican and stand independent from both Serbia and Kosovo. The Serb Orthodox Church would also recognise the independence of Kosovo and become an observer member of UNESCO.

Police arrest suspect for the bus stoning incident (Kosova Sot)

Kosovo Police spokesperson Xhavit Ibraj confirmed that they have detained an 18-year-old person in connection to the stoning of a bus with Serb worshipers in Peja/Pec. The suspect said that he was provoked by some youths inside the bus and felt insulted but denied having been aware of what ethnicity the passengers were. Peja/Pec Mayor Gazmend Muhaxheri condemned the act saying it is unacceptable.