Main Stories 21 December 2009

______

  • ECAC’s instruction awaits CEC’s decision (Koha Ditore)
  • PDK accepts re-voting (Koha Ditore)
  • Coalition instable, new elections in spring? (Koha Ditore, Express)
  • Minister Hyseni receives support for recognition of Kosovo (dailies)
  • Spain with constructive approach on Kosovo (Lajm)
  • Türk visits Kosovo (dailies)
  • Proceedings against Vetëvendosja’s movement suspended (Zëri)
  • Concerned over Brezovica (Zëri)

Kosovo Media Highlights

ECAC’s instruction awaits CEC’s decision (Koha Ditore)

The paper reports that the Central Elections Commission (CEC) did not hold a meeting yesterday to address the instruction of the Elections Complaints and Appeals Commission (ECAC) for a revote in Prizren, Gjilan and Lipjan municipalities.

CEC Spokesperson Fehmi Ajvazi said the meeting will take place early this week while at the same time, a source within CEC told the paper that it is not known whether the CEC will approve ECAC’s decision. According to the legal provisions, notes the paper, the CEC has to implement ECAC’s decision unless specified otherwise by a higher instance court.

PDK accepts re-voting (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has accepted the decision of Election Complaints and Appeals Commission (ECAC) for the repeating of runoff elections in municipality of Prizren, Gjilan and Lipjan. The Deputy Head of PDK Hajredin Kuçi said that the instruction which has been given by ECAC to the Central Election Commission has legal basis. “Democratic Party of Kosovo considers that Election Complaints and Appeals Commission as an independent institution has taken a decision according to the constitutional and legal competencies it has. Democratic Party of Kosovo recognizes this decision,” said Kuçi adding that he believed the PDK will once again win in these municipalities as it did since 2007.

Coalition instable, new elections in spring? (Koha Ditore, Express)

The papers quote reports from Radio Free Europe saying that the ruling PDK-LDK coalition is becoming increasingly instable and that it is very likely that parliamentary elections in Kosovo are heldin spring of 2010. Zafir Berisha from PDK in Prizren said the runoff elections in this municipality showed that PDK and LDK cannot continue the coalition while LDK’s Bujar Bukoshi said the current coalition is in crisis and is not functioning. “This government or this coalition should be reconsidered,” said Bukoshi.

Minister Hyseni receives support for recognition of Kosovo (dailies)

In his second day of visit to Saudi Arabia, Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni met a number of ambassadors from countries that have not recognized independence of Kosovo. In this respect, Hyseni met ambassadors from Yemen, Pakistan, Qatar, Iraq and Egypt. In separate meetings Hyseni urged the ambassadors to recognize independence of Kosovo.

Spain with constructive approach on Kosovo (Lajm)

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos is quoted as saying that his country during the six-month presidency of the EU will have a constructive approach to Kosovo despite the fact that Spain has not recognized its independence. Spain, said Moratinos, will be status neutral to Kosovo and will be engaged in strengthening EU’s presence there. Moratinos also confirmed that Kosovo leaders will receive invitation to take part in a high-level EU meeting in spring but that they will be invited through reference to the UNSCR 1244.

Türk visits Kosovo (dailies)

Express reports that Slovenian President Danilo Türk together with Defence Minister, Ljubica Jelusic will visit Kosovo on Monday. Türk will meet his Kosovar counterpart, Fatmir Sejdiu and Jelusic will meet with the KSF Minister, Fehmi Mujota.

Proceedings against Vetëvendosja’s movement suspended (Zëri)

The paper writes that it has been two months now since the 22 activists from Vetëvendosja movement, detained following a protest when several EULEX cars were demolished, have been released and no legal action since then has been taken. Vetëvendosja leader Albin Kurti said the decision to suspend proceedings was political.

Concerned over Brezovica (Zëri)

Serbian authorities have expressed concern over the statement of ICR Pieter Feith that privatization of tourist facilities in Brezovica will be carried out in a transparent manner and will achieved through EU’s regional cooperation and through Pristina and Belgrade. “Such statements are biased, damage Serbia’s property and are in conflict to the international law,” officials from the Serbian Ministry for Economy and Regional Development told Belgrade daily Politika. According to Serbian authorities, the facilities in Brezovica ski resort are not socially-owned enterprises.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page

  • Distrust of partners – paralyses Government
  • Kosovo Democratic Party accepts re-voting
  • Sibovc, 100 percent Kosovo property

Other headlines

  • Coalition unsustainable, new elections in spring? (2)
  • Plus of the week: Commission for Complaints and Appeals (2)
  • Minus of the week: Greedy deputies (2)
  • ECAC directive awaits CEC decision (3)
  • AKR: If votes were re-verified in Gjakova, situation would have been different (3)
  • Re-voting requested also in Rahovec (4)
  • Albanians’ request for release on bail, denied (4)
  • Minister Hyseni meets ambassadors of Yemen, Qatar, Iraq and Egypt (5)
  • Kosovo far from fulfilment of Kyoto standards (7)

Zëri

Front page

  • CEC to set the date of re-voting
  • Support for recognition of Kosovo
  • Seats of lazy ministers endangered

Other headlines

  • Editorial: The last chance (2)
  • Slovenian President to visit Kosovo (2)
  • Arabia strongly supports Kosovo (2)
  • PDK accepts ECAC decisions (3)
  • AKR: ECAC decision scandalous (3)
  • Process on hold (4)
  • They isolated us for god knows how long (5)

Kosova Sot

Front page

  • We are not a Government of experiments
  • CEC to decide today on re-voting
  • Kosovo democracy ready with the three answers for ICJ
  • Coalition for Kosovo state or for Government

Other headlines

  • PDK-LDK, voices for breach of coalition (2)
  • PDK recognizes ECAC decisions, green light is on (3)
  • Danilo Türk visits Kosovo today (3)
  • Kosovo and Albania sign a memorandum of understanding (3)
  • Ruining the myth of fair elections (4)
  • Informal economy distracts investors (7)

Epoka e Re

Front page

  • OK, but we will win again
  • Kosovo is grateful to all Albanians from Macedonia
  • Ali Ahmeti, BDI leaderagain
  • Great prosperity in agriculture

Other headlines

  • Good news from Arab countries (3)
  • Tuesday, the deadline to answer ICJ questions on legality of Kosovo’s independence (4)
  • Makolli requests re-voting in Mitrovica and Kamenica (4)
  • Slovenian President Turk to visit Kosovo (4)
  • Kuçi: PDK will win again in Prizren, Gjilan and Lipjan (5)
  • Kuçi: Appeal for president Sejdiu was not personal (5)

Express

Front page

  • Election suffering
  • Appeals for recognition
  • Bad predictions
  • Shala: Silent and neutral

Other headlines

  • Maliqi: The third, the final? (2)
  • PS Convention on 27 March (4)
  • Requests premature election (5)
  • PDK and LDK ruining democracy (5)
  • Re-voting also requested in Rahovec (6)
  • Turk visits Kosovo (6)

Lajm

Front page

  • Elections should be held also in Gjakova and Mitrovica
  • Decision, partial
  • 48 hours of intensive lobbying
  • Law for the President will not be completely implemented

Other headlines

  • President Obama’s support for KSF highly appreciated (2)
  • Slovenian President to visit Kosovo today (2)
  • Spain with constructive approach toward Kosovo (4)
  • Gruevski continues to ignore Ahmeti (5)

Bota Sot

Front page

  • Cancellation of elections triumph of justice

Other headlines

  • Hyseni meets Ambassadors of Yemen, Pakistan, Qatar,Iraq and Egypt (2)
  • Makolli: Cancellation of elections proves the fragility of democracy (3)
  • Decentralisation towards failure (4)
  • Teki Dervishi: Sentimental tale (5)
  • Not known when elections in three municipalities will be held (7)
  • Kosovo ideal place for money laundry!? (10)

Infopress

Front page

  • Kosovo without visa in 2011?

Other headlines

  • Third time lucky (2)
  • On Monday, Türk in Kosovo (3)
  • Islamic countries promise recognition (4)

Disclaimer

This media summary consists of selected local media articles for the information of UN personnel. The public distribution of this media summary is a courtesy service extended by UNMIK on the understanding that the choice of articles translated is exclusive, and the contents do not represent anything other than a selection of articles likely to be of interest to a United Nations readership. The inclusion of articles in this summary does not imply endorsement by UNMIK.