Headlines - 18.07.2017

• PAN’s game with numbers (Koha Ditore)
• MPs’ holidays delay Assembly’s constitutive session for 27 July (Epoka)
• Vetevendosje and LDK officials meet (Klan Kosova)
• Hoti: We neither buy nor sell our citizens’ votes (Bota Sot)
• LDK’s MP suggests a broad-based government (Klan Kosova)
• Kusari-Lila against Pacolli’s idea of a broad-based government (Koha)
• Simic: Serbian List has not decided on eventual coalition yet (RTK)
• Rakic elected Serbian List leader (Kosova Sot/Epoka e Re)
• Hyseni: Kosovo to join Interpol in September (RTK)

Kosovo Media Highlights

PAN’s game with numbers (Koha Ditore)

PAN coalition between the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), and Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), considers not all conditions are in place for calling a constitutive session of the Assembly although they vow to have enough numbers to form the new government, the paper reports on the front page. PDK deputy leader, Enver Hoxhaj, said after a party presidency meeting yesterday that the coalition has secured the votes but did not say who else will be part of new institutions. “Apart from having necessary numbers, other technical preparations depend on the Assembly administration not political parties”, Hoxhaj said. However, the paper notes that the Assembly’s administration is not responsible for calling the session as the initiative has to come from the Kosovo President. AAK meanwhile dispelled reports that the party leader and PAN’s candidate for prime minister, Ramush Haradinaj, has not secured enough votes and that this is why the Assembly session is not being called. AAK spokesperson Muharrem Nitaj said such reports are “speculations” and are aimed at misleading the public. Nitaj also criticized the media for quoting “unconfirmed reports” in mentioning names of three MPs, two from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and one from New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) said to be ready to support Haradinaj-led government.

MPs’ holidays delay Assembly’s constitutive session for 27 July (Epoka)

PDK-AAK-NISMA coalition has foreseen for the constitutive session of the Assembly and voting of the new government to happen on 27 June. A source within the Presidency told the paper that the session cannot take place this week, being that 40 MPs are out of Kosovo for holidays. PDK’s deputy leader Enver Hoxhaj and member of AAK’s leadership Muharrem Nitaj also let it to be known that the session will be held next week.

Vetevendosje and LDK officials meet (Klan Kosova)

Officials from Vetevendosje movement and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) met on Monday in Pristina to see the possibility for an eventual coalition. Shkodran Hoti, Vetevendosje’s official for the media, confirmed the meeting. “It was discussed about the way forward and some program issues,” Hoti said. These two political parties met a few days ago as well, and Vetvevendosje’s candidate for Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, said that they discussed major issues not the positions at eventual joint governance.

Hoti: We neither buy nor sell our citizens’ votes (Bota Sot)

LAA coalition’s candidate for prime minister, Avdullah Hoti, said the constitutive session of the Kosovo Assembly is not being called as the PAN coalition has not secured enough votes to form the new government. In a Facebook post, Hoti said that the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) remains strongly committed to its democratic and institutional approach and “we neither buy nor sell our citizens’ votes but protect it as sacred”.

LDK’s MP suggests a broad-based government (Klan Kosova)

New MP from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Naser Rugova, said in an interview to Klan Kosova that Kosovo is in a crisis and cannot afford to remain without a government. “If we all agree on certain reforms, why not form a broad-based government”, Rugova said. Rugova is one of the new LDK MPs who the media said plans to vote in favour of a Ramush Haradinaj-led government, reports which he denied saying that he would vote in line with LDK’s decision. The idea of a broad-based government was first proposed by New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) leader Behgjet Pacolli who said Kosovo leaders should reach consensus on major issues and form a comprehensive government with a one-year programme.

Kusari-Lila against Pacolli’s idea of a broad-based government (Koha)

Leader of the Alternativa, part of LAA coalition, Mimoza Kusari-Lila rejected the idea of New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) leader, Behgjet Pacolli, for a broad-based government. In a Facebook post, Kusari-Lila said such an arrangement would not be a solution of the problem. She said the recent government of Kosovo consisting of two major parties showed it only governed in the direction of their own interests.

Simic: Serbian List has not decided on eventual coalition yet (RTK)

Slavko Simic, deputy leader of the Serbian List, said that his party has not decided which coalition to join after the 11 June elections. He added that he does not believe that the constitutive session would be held this week. He said that MPs are not registered yet; therefore it is impossible to create the government this week due to the unfinished procedures.

Rakic elected Serbian List leader (Kosova Sot/Epoka e Re)

Mayor of Mitrovica North, Goran Rakic, has been elected leader of the Serbian List at the party meeting yesterday. Rakic said he would continue efforts to improve the rights of the Serb community in Kosovo. Serbian List agreed to take all decisions in full consensus with the nine-member party presidency and in consultation with authorities in Belgrade.

Hyseni: Kosovo to join Interpol in September (RTK)

Kosovo’s Ministry for Internal Affairs, has already created the team which is working for Kosovo’s membership at Interpol. Acting Minister Skender Hyseni, believes that Kosovo will gain required support to become member of this international security organization in September. Hyseni however admits that challenges in this process will be major. Serbian media reported yesterday that the Serbian state has created state mechanisms that would impede Kosovo’s membership at Interpol. They reported that Serbian officials also expect Russia’s, China’s and African states’ support in blocking Kosovo’s membership. Kosovo needs two thirds of the votes of Interpol General Assembly member states.