Priština: Coalition in place until elections

Leaders of two major parties of Kosovo Albanians and coalition partners Hashim Thaci and Fatmir Sejdiu agreed to temporarily maintain their coalition. Thus the Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Democratic League of Kosovo will continue to cooperate. The two also agreed to call early elections, Pristina's daily Koha Ditore reported on Friday. Pristina: Coalition in place until elections The agreement was reached on Thursday at a meeting between Thaci and Sejdiu, the first after Sejdiu resigned from the position of the president of Kosovo. A well-informed source told Koha Ditore that the atmosphere at the meeting was not very friendly, however, the coalition partners opened the discussion on the possible date of the elections. Neither date, nor month was specified, but both Taci and Sejdiu agreed that the elections should be held in total conformity with Kosovo's constitution, the daily reports. Meanwhile, another Albanian language daily, Bota Sot, quotes party sources and writes that Thaci offered Sejdiu the post of prime minister for the rest of the mandate, while he would take over as president. According to this, Sejdiu did not yet respond to this offer. Sejdiu, who is at the helm of the Democratic Alliance of Kosovo party, said today that they will not support the idea to hold early elections in Kosovo. Sejdiu made the comments after a party meeting, and according to local media in Pristina added that the best time-frame to hold elections would be four to six months, a He also noted that legislation concerning elections and election lists should first be adopted. Sejdiu also confirmed that the ruling coalition will continue to function. Media in Pristina in the meantime report that Thaci is "attempting to secure support in the future negotiations with Serbia". According to this, he sought the support for this from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo deputy president Blerim Sala, and said the government in Pristina would in return cover the legal expenses of party leader Ramush Haradinajs Hague war crimes trial. The sum mentioned by the Zeri newspaper, which quoted sources from Haradinaj's party, was one million euros needed for this defense. Brussels-based WAZ.euobsever writes today that "for the time being, EU officials are sticking to the original plans, pretending the resignation of the president will not affect the dialogue". The article however notes that "in Kosovo the received wisdom is that the talks will only start once Kosovo has held elections and new institutions are in place". The online publication further asserts that early elections would be favorable for Thaci should he resign as well, as was rumored this week. "Both his major rival parties are currently decapitated. The LDK has to find a successor to Mr Sejdiu while the leader of the biggest opposition party, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Hjaradinaj, is behind bars and awaiting a partial re-trial at the War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague. Mr Thaci can count also on support from the international community which has identified him as a major force to push for compromise with Serbia," says the article. "Whatever the Kosovo institutions decide to do, it will be the major powers of the so-called Quint group (US, UK, France, Germany, Italy) that will have the last word on what should happen next. After meeting Quint ambassadors in Pristina, Mr Thaci seemed to leave open the possibility of the dialogue with Serbia commencing before new elections, anyway. 'Kosovo will not run away from dialogue with Serbia as two independent states',", he said, writes WAZ.euobserver.

Priština: Coalition in place until elections

The agreement was reached on Thursday at a meeting between Thaci and Sejdiu, the first after Sejdiu resigned from the position of the president of Kosovo.

A well-informed source told Koha Ditore that the atmosphere at the meeting was not very friendly, however, the coalition partners opened the discussion on the possible date of the elections.

Neither date, nor month was specified, but both Taci and Sejdiu agreed that the elections should be held in total conformity with Kosovo's constitution, the daily reports.

Meanwhile, another Albanian language daily, Bota Sot, quotes party sources and writes that Thaci offered Sejdiu the post of prime minister for the rest of the mandate, while he would take over as president.

According to this, Sejdiu did not yet respond to this offer.

Sejdiu, who is at the helm of the Democratic Alliance of Kosovo party, said today that they will not support the idea to hold early elections in Kosovo.

Sejdiu made the comments after a party meeting, and according to local media in Priština added that the best time-frame to hold elections would be four to six months, a

He also noted that legislation concerning elections and election lists should first be adopted.

Sejdiu also confirmed that the ruling coalition will continue to function.

Media in Priština in the meantime report that Thaci is "attempting to secure support in the future negotiations with Serbia".

According to this, he sought the support for this from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo deputy president Blerim Sala, and said the government in Priština would in return cover the legal expenses of party leader Ramush Haradinajs Hague war crimes trial.

The sum mentioned by the Zeri newspaper, which quoted sources from Haradinaj's party, was one million euros needed for this defense.

Brussels-based WAZ.euobsever writes today that "for the time being, EU officials are sticking to the original plans, pretending the resignation of the president will not affect the dialogue".

The article however notes that "in Kosovo the received wisdom is that the talks will only start once Kosovo has held elections and new institutions are in place".

The online publication further asserts that early elections would be favorable for Thaci should he resign as well, as was rumored this week.

"Both his major rival parties are currently decapitated. The LDK has to find a successor to Mr Sejdiu while the leader of the biggest opposition party, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Hjaradinaj, is behind bars and awaiting a partial re-trial at the War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague. Mr Thaci can count also on support from the international community which has identified him as a major force to push for compromise with Serbia," says the article.

"Whatever the Kosovo institutions decide to do, it will be the major powers of the so-called Quint group (US, UK, France, Germany, Italy) that will have the last word on what should happen next. After meeting Quint ambassadors in Priština, Mr Thaci seemed to leave open the possibility of the dialogue with Serbia commencing before new elections, anyway. 'Kosovo will not run away from dialogue with Serbia as two independent states',", he said, writes WAZ.euobserver.