Mustafa ready to talk with parties on election of new President if Thaci’s indictment is confirmed

Gazeta Express

07/07/2020 16:42

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) will start efforts to meet political parties to discuss election of the new president in case the war crime indictment against current President Hashim Thaci is confirmed. The LDK leader Isa Mustafa told Gazeta Express that finding a solution on President’s issue is related also to the dialogue process. Mustafa denied having discussed extending the LDK-led coalition with other parties as speculated by media.

Mustafa says that it is inevitable to discuss with all parties on finding a solution for electing a new president of Kosovo, in case the Kosovo Specialist Chambers confirms the indictment against current president Hashim Thaci. The Hague based prosecutors in a press release last week announced filing of an indictment against Thaci and PDK leader Kadri Veseli, adding that the indictment is yet to be confirmed by a pre-trial judge. After the publication of the news Thaci said that he will resign if the indictment is confirmed.  

“We have not discussed expanding of ruling coalition. But it is inevitable a discussion on electing of a new president, if the indictment is confirmed before Thaci serves his term or resigns,” Mustafa told Gazeta Express. “The President’s institution is hurt with the media statement published by the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office. In coming days, we will make efforts to meet and talk with all willing to discuss this issue,” Mustafa said.

Mustafa said election of a new president is related also to the dialogue process with Serbia, adding that a broad-based representation of all parties is needed in this process. “We will look for new modalities,” he told Gazeta Express.

Brussels and Washington have intensified efforts for reaching of a final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia. Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti currently is representing Kosovo in international meetings. Hoti on Tuesday met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. On 10 July he will attend a virtual summit in Paris with the participation of French President Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whereas on 12 July he will travel to Brussels to meet with Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic under the facilitation of the EU special representative on dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak and attendance of EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell. /GazetaExpress/