Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Skip to main content

Confronting the Roots of Kosova’s Downward Spiral (Zeri, Gazeta Blic)

by Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi/ Six years after “supervised independence” began in Kosovo and fifteen years after NATO airstrikes brought an end to Serbia’s genocidal war in Kosovo, December 2014 marks a disappointing turning point in Kosovo’s recent history. The six-month stalemate in Kosovo’s political process, following the general elections on June 8, and ending with the breakup of the coalition that opposed the return of Hashim Thaci as prime minister and his ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), has deepened Kosovo’s democratic deficit.

President Jahjaga meets Assembly Speaker Veseli (Gazeta Blic)

Kosovo Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli, said after a meeting with President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, that four draft laws will very soon be presented to the Assembly for approval. These laws include the establishment of the Special Court and Electronic Surveillance. “The meeting was about the need of inter-institutional cooperation, and taking of very important decisions for the citizens”, said Veseli.

“The fight” for LDK leader’s post! (Gazeta Blic)

Lutfi Haziri, member of the chairmanship of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and Mayor of Gjilan, is one of the top candidates for the post of LDK leader, according to a high-ranking source within the LDK. The same source said that LDK leader and Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, will most probably run again for the post of LDK chief. “But if Mustafa withdraws from the race, Agim Veliu [senior LDK official] has great ambitions for the post,” the source added.

Kada-Bujupi: Kosovo Assembly’s break, absurd (Gazeta Blic)

Head of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) parliamentary group, Donika Kada-Bujupi said the decision of the Kosovo Assembly to go on a winter break until 20 January is unacceptable. She said it is absurd for the MPs to go on holidays at the most challenging period for Kosovo. “At the beginning of this year, there is a need for a much more serious approach from all institutions”, said Kada-Bujupi. She further said that the decision to go on a break was taken “arbitrarily” and “unilaterally” by the Assembly Speaker, Kadri Veseli.

PM Mustafa persistent: There is no money to increase salaries (Gazeta Blic)

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, justified in an interview for Bota press the decision for coalition with the Democratic Party of Kosovo, calling it “a coalition for the benefit of Kosovo and the only solution that functions within the current constitutional order which offers prosperity and stability.” Speaking about the trade unioninsts' announcements for protests,  Mustafa said that he does not see reasons for protests. “Because I do not see any results from protests.

KAF depends on the Serbian List (Gazeta Blic)

Transformation of the Kosovo Security Force into the Armed Forces of Kosovo (AFK,) will require political coordination between Pristina, Brussels and Belgrade. This transformation cannot happen without the approval of NATO and without the required constitutional and legal changes. However, the Constitution cannot undergo changes without 80 votes of the deputies of the Kosovo Assembly and approval of the two thirds of the minorities represented at the Assembly. Last time Serb deputies boycotted the session in order to make this transformation impossible.

Is the new government provoking extraordinary elections? (Gazeta Blic)

Journalist Petrit Musolli in an opinion piece for Zeri writes that the continuous mass escape of Kosovo people towards the EU countries and threats for protests, will create a negative atmosphere against this government and the leadership in general. So far, only former advisor of Hashim Thaci, now Minister of European Integration, Bekim Collaku, has given some ideas on how to "manage" the phenomenon of illegal migration. Although, his ministry is more technical than political.