Headlines - 26.10.2016

• Declaration on demarcation, hostage of LDK and AAK (Koha)
• Abrashi: There will be more meetings of political leaders (Koha)
• LDK MPs: Veseli wants to become prime minister prior to special court (Zeri)
• Constitutional Court rejects Serbian List demands (Kosova Sot)
• Fadil Demaku resigns his MP post (Zeri)
• “Serbia is dangerously reemerging hegemonistic project” (Epoka e Re)
• Interior Ministry hosts international conference against extremism (RTK)

Declaration on demarcation, hostage of LDK and AAK (Koha)

The paper reports on its front page that the meeting of the main political leaders in Pristina on Tuesday ended without an agreement on the border demarcation with Montenegro. According to the paper, one word in the document was the reason why the leaders did not sign the declaration. Unnamed sources told the paper that on Monday evening, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) asked to change the sentence that talks about the agreement to look into the demarcation agreement. The AAK wanted the word “look into” to be replaced with the word “review”. The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) meanwhile was firmly against the proposal. “The plan was to have a ceremonial meeting today [Tuesday] to sign the agreement. But at the last moment, the AAK wanted to include the word ‘review’. This caused a harsh debate and the situation became tense. Prime Minister Isa Mustafa was adamant that he was ready to sign only the previously-agreed version of the document, whereas Ramush Haradinaj was fanatically defending the proposal of his party,” the source said. “In that situation, Kadri Veseli and Jakup Krasniqi tried to reach compromises, proposing to either remove the word or replace it with another one. Visar Ymeri [Vetevendosje leader] held a neutral stance”.

Abrashi: There will be more meetings of political leaders (Koha)

Kosovo Government spokesperson Arban Abrashi said after yesterday’s meeting of the political leaders that failed to result in a joint statement on the issue of border demarcation that the leaders will continue to meet in the coming period. “We will continue to work in experts and technical groups until we reach an agreement,” said Abrashi adding that these efforts could be finalized in the near future.

LDK MPs: Veseli wants to become prime minister prior to special court (Zeri)

The paper reports on its front page that according to Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) MPs, the leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Kadri Veseli, is planning for Kosovo to go to early elections, aiming to take the prime minister’s post before the special court becomes operational. The LDK MPs also believe that this is because the special court will mostly damage the PDK. Representatives of opposition parties meanwhile say that Veseli now understands the ruling coalition has failed in many important processes. They also don’t rule out the possibility that the PDK will favor early elections because of the special court. Political analysts on the other hand believe Kosovo could go to early elections because of the special court, but not before next year.

Constitutional Court rejects Serbian List demands (Kosova Sot)

Kosovo’s Constitutional Court has declared “inadmissible” two cases that the Serbian List presented to it: to review the legality of two paragraphs in an administrative instruction on the procedures for applying and complaining on state-funded pension schemes issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and to assess the legality of the Law on Kosovo Property Comparison and Verification Agency. The court’s decision now paves the way for the President of Kosovo to sign the disputed legislation.

Fadil Demaku resigns his MP post (Zeri)

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP, Fadil Demaku, yesterday announced he is resigning his MP post after the Court of Appeals in Pristina upheld original sentences for the members of the so-called “Drenica 2” group convicted of war crimes. Demaku through a Facebook post said the court’s decision was fixed by EULEX mission and was taken without any fact, contrary to all legal norms. However, he says that "time will be witness of heroic actions of any of us.”

“Serbia is dangerously reemerging hegemonistic project” (Epoka e Re)

Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio, Edita Tahiri, said on Tuesday that that “Serbia’s pretentions for a comprehensive dialogue between the Serbian and Albanian population, in order to achieve peace among them, are false”. Tahiri told the paper that in this manner, Serbia is revealing in a dangerous manner it hegemonistic project for greater Serbia. According to Tahiri, the Serbian government is not interested in good relations between the two nations. She said that recognition of Kosovo by Serbia is the essential condition to reach a new chapter of peaceful relations between Albanians and Serbs.

Interior Ministry hosts international conference against extremism (RTK)

The Ministry of Internal Affairs will organize a two-day conference “Together against violent extremism. This conference is supported by the OSCE mission in Kosovo. The conference will be of international level and it will bring in Pristina many scholars, advocates and representatives of different institutions and organizations from the entire world.