• LDK to decide on candidate for prime minister today (media)
• Kurti: Prime minister's post not a condition for coalition with LDK (Telegrafi)
• Haradinaj: Allies want Kosovo to be a sustainable partner, not submissive (RTK)
• Limaj: NISMA-AKR coalition to run on its own (RTK)
• Thaci’s advisor: Kosovo to form new government without delay (Euronews/Kallxo)
• China: Kosovo-Serbia agreement to be acceptable for both parties (Beta/RTK)
• Kosovo condemns attack on bus travelling through Serbia (media)
• Kosovo in the process of lobbying for INTERPOL membership (RTK)
• Haradinaj meets Zaev in Skopje (Klan Kosova)
• AAK calls on Thaci to appoint their official to CEC (media)

Kosovo Media Highlights

LDK to decide on candidate for prime minister today (media)

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) is expected to decide today on its candidate for prime minister during the meeting of its chairmanship.

Telegrafi says that so far Vjosa Osmani has been mentioned as a possible candidate but it is not certain whether she will actually be nominated by the leadership of LDK. Several media outlets report that today's meeting follows that of Saturday which party's senior officials Lutfi Haziri and Agim Veliu did not attend while Gazeta Express writes that discontent in the party is growing as now former MPs, Armend Zemaj, Arben Gashi and Driton Selmanaj, were not elected members of the chairmanship.

Kurti: Prime minister's post not a condition for coalition with LDK (Telegrafi)

Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti is quoted to have said in an interview with RTV Dukagjini that the post of prime minister is not a condition for a possible election coalition with the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK).

He said working groups of the two political parties are focusing on harmonising positions and programmes and that each will have its candidate for prime minister. “I never said I have to be one at all cost. I never made such a statement. Let’s agree on what we want first and then agree on the names,” Kurti said.

He noted that a government led by a coalition between Vetevendosje and LDK would bring Kosovo stability, economic development and fight corruption and organised crime.

Haradinaj: Allies want Kosovo to be a sustainable partner, not submissive (RTK)

Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, said during a meeting with the structures of his political party in Decan that this city was always aligned in the right side of history.

“And now, it will say yes to the new direction that the country is heading, from adjusting to sovereign decision making, in order to conclude Kosovo’s national issues. Along with decisions of vital importance and facing prevention of dangerous projects for the country, we have never let out of focus internal economic transformation. During this active governance, allies let us space to make big decisions, such as the army, safeguarding territorial integrity, return of Kosovo resources such as Trepca as well as safeguarding economic substance. They want Kosovo as a sustainable partner, not subservient,” Haradinaj said.

Limaj: NISMA-AKR coalition to run on its own (RTK)

Fatmir Limaj, leader of the Social Democratic Initiative (NISMA) said on Sunday in Mitrovica that said these elections are crucial for Kosovo as the new Parliament will decide on the final agreement with Serbia. “Therefore, it is very important what kind of MPs we send at the Parliament,” he added.

He said that NISMA-AKR coalition will run on these elections on its own. “We will strongly engage on defense of the interest of the country and not to support different blocks,’ Limaj said.

Thaci’s advisor: Kosovo to form new government without delay (Euronews/Kallxo)

Ardian Arifaj, advisor to President Hashim Thaci, told Euronews that it is crucial for Kosovo to form government as soon as early elections are over. “It is very important that right after the elections a new government is formed in the shortest possible time, that it doesn’t take months for political parties to come to an agreement on forming a government.”

Arifaj said that any delay in forming a new government would affect many processes such as “a peace agreement with Serbia that will bring mutual recognition and a UN seat for Kosovo, a continuation of reforms on rule of law, economics on political institutions and our aspirations to join NATO and the EU.”

China: Kosovo-Serbia agreement to be acceptable for both parties (Beta/RTK)

China’s Ambassador to Belgrade Chen Bo, said the position of her state towards Kosovo has been clear and unchangeable from the beginning. She said China respects Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Speaking about the solution of the problem between Pristina and Belgrade, she said this should occur within the framework of the UNSC Resolution 1244 and other important resolutions.

“We value Serbia’s efforts to find a solution through dialogue,” Chen Bo said. She further mentioned the fact that Serbia is the only state of the South-Eastern Europe that China has strategic partnership. She added that this partnership will continue with numerous investments.

Kosovo condemns attack on bus travelling through Serbia (media)

Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reacted to the stoning of a bus travelling from Kosovo through Serbia calling on the EU to facilitate freedom of movement and saying that travel alert for people planning to travel through Serbia remains in place.

Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli strongly condemned the attack. “Serbia is continuously failing to ensure safety to our travelers and freedom of movement. We urge investigations and assurances on the safety of our citizens,” he wrote on Twitter.

Vetevendosje Movement has also condemned the incident in Serbia saying “the official rhetoric of authorities in Serbia, reproduced by the church, schools and media, is what fills the citizens of Serbia with hatred towards Albanians. This ideology caused ethnic cleansing, killings and rapes in the past and it can still do the same if not sanctioned.”

Kosovo in the process of lobbying for INTERPOL membership (RTK)

Current political situation is not an obstacle to fulfill the agenda of the institutions of Kosovo for membership at INTERPOL. Astrit Zemaj, coordinating secretary at the working group for INTERPOL membership, of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, told RTK that they are lobbying and consulting with each state separately in order to succeed in this direction.

“After applying and acceptance of the application despite Serbia’s objection, I think that we should be enthusiastic and work much harder in order to achieve this. Even though chances are 50:50, I think that this barrier could be overcome only with real lobbying, especially with the support of the friendly countries,’ he said.

Haradinaj meets Zaev in Skopje (Klan Kosova)

Kosovo’s outgoing Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj met in Skopje the North Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. Along with a picture from the meeting posted on Facebook, Haradinaj wrote: “Friendly discussion with Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, in Skopje tonight. Always a pleasure to get together with good friends.”

AAK calls on Thaci to appoint their official to CEC (media)

Muharrem Nitaj from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) called on President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci to without delay appoint an official from AAK as member of the Central Election Commission.

“It is incomprehensible how the president of the country, Hashim Thaci, has not yet appointed member of CEC from AAK. The AAK has submitted the name of its candidate for CEC a while back and this has not yet happened. Few days ago, he appointed a candidate from PDK but not once from AAK,” Nitaj wrote on Facebook.