Haxhiu calls on parties to give up on elections: Continue the discussions on the president

Kosovo’s acting President, Albulena Haxhiu, has called on political parties to give up efforts to take the country to elections, asking that political dialogue continue to find a name for the country’s president.

After the conference, Haxhiu said that in the current circumstances, political parties should focus on resolving the president issue, stressing that the Assembly has only a few days available to reach an agreement.

“I wish for all political parties to give up their efforts to take the country to elections. Neither for the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, nor for the Republic of Kosovo itself, nor in the circumstances we are in, especially after September 16-17, should it even occur to anyone to take actions that lead to elections,” Haxhiu said.

She said meetings between political parties should continue, and that the Assembly should use the days available to find a name that could be elected president of the country.

“I expect that, as Prime Minister Kurti also mentioned today, they will continue. It is very important that the Assembly of Kosovo, during these few days we have available until October 6, has a name for president. There is already a name, but votes are needed in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo. Therefore, I expect political parties to continue discussions, so that we elect the president,” she said.

Haxhiu also spoke about the Kosovo Government’s opinion regarding the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, announcing that the document is expected to be submitted to the Assembly within this week.

“Regarding this issue, you have had the opportunity to follow Prime Minister Kurti’s conference. According to Prime Minister Kurti, the government will submit the opinion within this week. You know that the government has 30 days available under the administrative regulation. From our communications, they are making maximum efforts for it to be sent to the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo within this week and then for its consideration to proceed in the relevant committees, especially Legislation and other Assembly committees,” Haxhiu said.

Speaking about the four former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army on trial in The Hague, Haxhiu said they need institutional support.

“Those who have been unjustly convicted by the Hague Court — Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi — need institutional support and should not be left alone in a situation that is difficult both for the citizens of the Republic and for the Republic of Kosovo,” she said.

Haxhiu also spoke about the protests held in Pristina, describing them as a democratic expression and praising how they were conducted.

“As for the protests, of course, for me protests are very democratic. I congratulate the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo for the maturity they have shown; the protests were peaceful, but I should also thank the Kosovo Police for managing this situation as well as possible,” Haxhiu said, as Telegrafi reports.