Dalibor Jevtic, Minister for Returns and Communities in the Kosovo Government, said today that Kosovo Serbs do not support the idea of forming the Army of Kosovo, “because this was never part of the coalition agreement between the PDK, LDK and the Serbian List”. Jevtic argued that the funds that would be used for the army should be used for opening a factory. He did not say when the Serbian List could return to the Kosovo institutions and also called for the immediate formation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities.

Anti-corruption NGO Çohu has expressed concern over the appointment of Driton Gashi to the post of Kosovo Intelligence Agency director. Çohu claims Gashi has been politically affiliated with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and was even member of the party’s presidency of the Pristina branch. The NGO considers that Gashi’s appointment to the post is continuation of the PDK’s efforts to stretch control over Kosovo institutions and as such is unacceptable.

Kadri Veseli, President of the Kosovo Assembly and leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), said that this month he will organise a round-table with political leaders to discuss major unresolved issues such as the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities and the border demarcation with Montenegro. Representatives of opposition parties however are saying that they will not attend the roundtable if the ruling parties will only try to “recycle” these issues.

Several news websites report that the Kosovo Assembly has decided to discuss on Friday the recently-built wall in Mitrovica North. Pal Lekaj, head of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) parliamentary group, initially suggested that the wall should be discussed today but later agreed for discussions to be held on Friday. Assembly President, Kadri Veseli, said he agrees with Prime Minister Isa Mustafa’s proposal to discuss the matter on Friday.

Kosovo Assembly MP from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Nezir Çoçaj, said at the extraordinary Assembly session today on Astrit Dehari’s case that they have gathered to discuss a tragic case, which should have been held after the conclusion of the investigation on the grenade attack on the Assembly of Kosovo. “This is what Asrtit Dehari together with other Vetëvendosje activists was arrested for,” he said.

Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP, Shukri Buja, said in an interview with Tribuna Channel that spring next year is the ideal time for early local and national elections. Buja is adamant that the PDK should break up its coalition with the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), “because this coalition was not right since the beginning”. Buja also said he voted against sending the 2017 draft budget to the Assembly, “because it contains many mistakes”.

The news website reports that the draft budget for 2017 is being kept “hostage” by the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) at the parliamentary committee for budget and finance. Although, Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) representatives said they have agreed to pass the draft budget, a PDK MP has a different position. Shukri Buja, a member of the parliamentary committee on budget and finance, told the news website that the PDK has yet to make a final decision to vote in favor of the current version of the budget.

 The opposition MPs did not mage to include debate on death of Vetëvendosje movement activist, Astrit Dehari in the agenda of the Kosovo Assembly session.  Two major parties of the coalition government, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), were against the debate.

Vetëvendosje movement MPs together with those from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), left the session.

Vetëvendosje movement MPs blocked today for a few minutes the Assembly pulpit, holding a banner with inscription “Justice”, requesting in this manner justice for Astrit Dehari, who died at Prizren prison.

Vetëvednosje movement leader, Visar Ymeri, held a speech expressing dissatisfaction regarding the delays on shedding light on the case of Dehari’s death. He said that Astrit Dehari’s death is responsibility of the institutions of the government of Kosovo.

The inability of the ruling coalition to conclude issues such as the border demarcation with Montenegro – a requirement for visa liberalisation – and delays in meeting certain obligations from dialogue with Serbia and the inability to form the Armed Forces could take Kosovo to early elections next spring. Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, who is also the leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo, is opposing the idea of early elections.