Headlines - 23.04.2018

• Veseli proposes “consensual” and “inclusive” platform (Koha)
• Government expects dialogue platform to pass at the Assembly (Epoka)
• Opposition against dialogue being led by President Thaci (Koha Ditore)
• Dacic: Kosovo’s platform of discussions, a worthless paper (RTK)
• Haradinaj: Visa liberalisation by end of year (Koha Ditore)
• Maxhuni appointed new head of Kosovo intelligence agency (Telegrafi)
• Gashi: We are in a delicate phase, political unity required (RTK)
• LDK does not have power to bring down the government (Epoka e Re)
• Djuric: An association with Serb municipalities leading the way they want (Lajmi)
• Kosovo marks Missing Persons Week (RTK)

 Kosovo Media Highlights

Veseli proposes “consensual” and “inclusive” platform (Koha)

In a letter to leaders of parliamentary parties, head of the Kosovo Assembly and Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) leader, Kadri Veseli, has unveiled a platform on Kosovo’s agenda which he says is “consensual” and “inclusive”. The agenda tackles issues of interest to Kosovo and its Euro-Atlantic integration and includes the dialogue with Serbia, establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities, formation of a Kosovo army, European integration, and election reform. Veseli said that unification of positions on dialogue is of crucial importance, especially at this time when the process enters its final stage. In this light, he proposes the establishment of a joint negotiating team, led by President of Kosovo, which would include all political and institutional leaders as well as civil society representatives. With respect to the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities, Veseli notes its establishment is part of Kosovo’s international obligations and the consensus ought to be built on the basis of the “international agreement” which has been ratified by the Assembly of Kosovo as well the ruling of the Constitutional Court. Veseli also speaks in the letter about the need of a consensus on the creation of a Kosovo army and a joint platform on the issue but does not elaborate on what this platform would entail.

Government expects dialogue platform to pass at the Assembly (Epoka)

The government of Kosovo expects from the Assembly of Kosovo to approve the platform for finalization of the dialogue with Serbia. Government officials said they welcome proposals of the opposition parties on this platform, adding that this document aims unity of the political specter in this process. However, opposition political parties have in principal opposed this platform, considering it to be poor. “The new platform for the dialogue with Serbia is poor in content, does not define issues, principals or deadlines. LDk will make its decision in consultation with the parliamentary group,” said Avdullah Hoti, caucus of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). Vetevendosje Movement MP, Ismajl Kurteshi also criticized the content of this platform saying that has many drawbacks. “There cannot be normalization of relations between the two countries while there is no insistence to reach Serbia’s recognition of Kosovo as an independent state,” Kurteshi said.

Opposition against dialogue being led by President Thaci (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo opposition parties have refused the government’s call for consensus on the platform for dialogue with Serbia, the paper reports on the front page. Chairperson of the Assembly’s committee on foreign affairs and MP from the opposition Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Vjosa Osmani, said the recently-adopted dialogue platform is an “escape from responsibility”. She said it is unacceptable for the dialogue to be led by President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci who does not report to the Assembly and has no implementing mechanisms. “Furthermore, so far [the president] has not been a factor of unity and even carried out secret negotiations with Serbia,” Osmani said. Albulena Haxhiu, chairwoman of the Assembly’s committee on legislation and Vetevendosje MP, also said it is unacceptable for Thaci to lead the dialogue. “Thaci has arbitrarily authorised himself for, as they call it, the final stage of the dialogue without asking Haradinaj or the Assembly,” Haxhiu said. “He [Thaci] now needs this process to remain alive in the political scene and to use this process for blackmail,” she added.

Dacic: Kosovo’s platform of discussions, a worthless paper (RTK)

Serbia’s Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic, said that the platform of the government of Kosovo for the discussions with Serbia, can only by glued at the door of the government. “They can endorse whatever they want, this is a paper for internal use that they can put on the door of the government in Pristina,” Dacic said. According to him, this platform is a piece of paper without any importance. “We know what they want from the start and this is exactly what we are talking about,” Dacic said.

Haradinaj: Visa liberalisation by end of year (Koha Ditore)

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, reaffirmed his view that Kosovo will get visa liberalisation by the end of the year. In a convention in Ferizaj/Urosevac of his party, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Haradinaj said Kosovo has been put on the right track. “Demarcation was unblocked and no one can stop Kosovo from moving forward by citing lack of progress. We have done all that the international community has requested and by the end of the year we will all travel freely without visas,” Haradinaj said.

Maxhuni appointed new head of Kosovo intelligence agency (Telegrafi)

President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci and Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj have appointed the current director of the Kosovo Police, Shpend Maxhuni, as the new head of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency. Maxhuni has been with the Kosovo Police since its establishment in 1999 and has served as director from 2011.

Gashi: We are in a delicate phase, political unity required (RTK)

There is no information if the other political parties would respond to the call of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) for a joint round table in order to coordinate on significant matters, prior to extraordinary elections. Despite the public call, LDK’s MP, Arben Gashi, says there was no official invitation to the other political parties. “Being that we are in an unclear phase about the coalition and events that are expected to happen, especially with regards to the publication of the Progress Report and other matters, I think that we are in a delicate phase that requires leadership and cooperation. This requires also raise of awareness of the political actors,” Gashi said. He added that LDK is ready for new elections, explaining that legally, LDK does not need internal elections.

LDK does not have power to bring down the government (Epoka e Re)

Blerim Kuci, Kosovo Assembly MP from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), considers that the initiative of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), for a round table that would set the date of new elections, is not serious. He said AAK will not be part of this conference. He said LDK has harmed the process of reaching some kind of consensus. Speaking about early elections, Kuci said they will be held in 2021. He said LDK is incapable to bring down the government.

Djuric: An association with Serb municipalities leading the way they want (Lajmi)

The director of the office of Kosovo at the Serbian government, Marko Djuric, said he does not believe Pristina authorities would voluntarily establish the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities. “I do not think Kosovo Albanians will establish Association based on their own will, especially not as stressed in the previous agreements in Brussels. On the other hand, Serbs are not interested to establish an Association that would violate their interests. Serbs are for an agreement which is in full compatibility with the previously reached agreements,” Djuric said.

Kosovo marks Missing Persons Week (RTK)

The Office of Prime Minister of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj, has presented the agenda of activities organised to mark the Missing Persons Week starting today until Friday. The activities include meetings with families of missing persons in several Kosovo municipalities culminating in a memorial service in the village of Meje, Gjakova/Djakovica municipality.