Hamza: A PDK-LVV agreement on the president is possible, optimistic that the bill on the Specialist Chambers passes tomorrow

The chairman of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Bedri Hamza, has said that reaching an agreement between the PDK and Vetëvendosje (LVV) on the election of the president still remains possible, while expressing optimism that tomorrow the Assembly will vote on the bill supplementing and amending the Law on the Specialist Chambers.

After the joint meeting of the Parliamentary Group and the Presidency of the PDK, Hamza said that the negotiations between LVV and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) have so far not resulted in success.

“Yes, the main topic is the approval of this law, an important topic, and naturally because the 6th is the final deadline, the day when the president must be elected. We know there have been negotiations between Vetëvendosje and the Democratic League of Kosovo. So far at least they have not resulted in success, and it remains an optional possibility that there could be an agreement between the Democratic Party of Kosovo and Vetëvendosje for a president by agreement,” Hamza said.

He said the term “consensual president” is not accurate if there is no agreement from all the political forces represented in the Assembly.

“Some others are saying consensual, but I am saying by agreement, because consensual requires all the political forces represented in the Assembly for the country to have a president. I consider that it is necessary, it is useful for the country, for the country to have a president. And not to go to elections, because there is no reason,” he declared.

According to Hamza, if the agreement is reached, the votes would be secured through an understanding between LVV and the PDK.

“And if the agreement is reached, then the numbers are between Vetëvendosje and the Democratic Party of Kosovo. What I am sure of, in all the meetings I have had, is that the Democratic Party of Kosovo will have a unified vote for the agreements that may be reached,” he said.

Hamza also spoke about the bill supplementing and amending the Law on the Specialist Chambers, which is expected to be on the agenda at tomorrow’s session of the Assembly.

He said the initiative, proposed by the PDK and also supported by the Government, has already met the conditions for proceeding in the Assembly.

“Tomorrow I am optimistic that all the deputies will support the law, and I urge and invite all the deputies of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo to be in support of this bill, and for this law tomorrow to complete all the necessary procedures within the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo,” Hamza said.

He described the bill as important for, as he said, establishing justice.

“It is a very important law, it is a law that seeks to establish justice. We are not against justice, we are against injustice,” he declared.

The PDK leader criticised the process at the Specialist Chambers, claiming that so far there has been a lack of transparency, accountability and oversight.

“And so far, what we have seen in the process: we have seen a lack of transparency, a lack of accountability, a lack of oversight, and we have an unjust decision. A decision in which the history, the present and the future of Kosovo are being judged,” he said.

He demanded that decisions be based on facts and evidence, while opposing what he described as “fabrications” in the judicial processes.

“The joint criminal enterprise cannot and does not stand. Those people are innocent. People cannot be judged for crimes they have not committed. Crimes must be proven by facts,” he emphasised.

Hamza said the PDK is not against the investigation of crimes and the rights of victims, but opposed the way in which, according to him, the process has been conducted.

“But we are putting mechanisms in place, we are putting it back within juridical and legal norms,” he said.

Hamza also repeated the PDK’s position that the solution to the institutional deadlock must begin with the approval of the bill on the Specialist Chambers in both readings.

“We are saying: approve the law in both readings. Then propose the name for president and elect the president, and avoid elections,” he declared.

He said the PDK’s position is linked, according to him, to the institutional interest of the country.

“The history, the present and the future of Kosovo are bigger than everything. Kosovo is bigger than us,” Hamza said.

The PDK leader added that if the other political entities choose an approach that leads the country towards new elections, the responsibility for such a development, according to him, belongs to them.