Due to the refusal of local officials to place the state symbols of Kosovo in the premises planned for the meeting, Minister of Infrastructure Pal Lekaj gave up his visit to the Municipality of Gracanica, which was announced today, reports KIM radio, quoting Beta news agency.

"For Lekaj and his cabinet, it is unacceptable to be in an institution that does not identify with the symbols of the state to which it belongs, the Republic of Kosovo," the Ministry of Infrastructure said in a statement.

“I am sad to see the slanderous attacks on Father Sava,” USA Ambassador in Pristina, Greg Delawie wrote on his Twitter profile, KoSSev portal reported.

Kosovo’s Minister of Infrastructure, Pal Lekaj, said today that the construction works on the Decan-Plave road are taking place outside the Special Protective Zone of the Orthodox Monastery and added that the issue has needlessly become politicised. At a joint press conference with Montenegro’s Minister of Transport and Maritime Affairs Osman Nurkovic, in Pristina, Lekaj said Kosovo institutions are aware of the responsibilities that derive from the Ahtisaari package but gave assurances that the works are being carried out outside the SPZ.

Head of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Pal Lekaj, said after today’s consultative meeting of parliamentary groups that it is clear who is blocking the creation of new institutions of Kosovo. He said that PAN representatives would not take part in the Assembly’s constitutive session called for tomorrow as it was announced without prior consultations.

Deputy leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Pal Lekaj, said he regretted the fact some parties chose not to attend the meeting called by President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci. “We are sorry other political parties are not demonstrating spirit of cooperation and building of institutions”, Lekaj said adding that his party was ready for the Assembly’s constitutive session.