Crisis develops in Kosovo due to Haradinaj's refusal to resign
The crisis continues in the ruling elite of the self-proclaimed “state” of Kosovo due to the refusal to resign from the post of “prime minister” of one of the leaders of the Albanian separatists, Ramush Haradinaj, who decided to withdraw his resignation letter made before being summoned to The Hague for questioning in a war crimes court .
On Friday, Haradinaj attempted to hold a “government” meeting.
“Deputy Prime Minister” from the Democratic Party Enver Hoxhai said at the very beginning of the meeting that the “Cabinet of Ministers” no longer has the authority to make decisions, the American Radio Liberty reported.
“After the new situation, from a political point of view and from a legal point of view, this meeting cannot be like all the others. I know you have an agenda in front of you. I believe that we do not have the authority to make decisions on its issues and that we need an interpretation of the law. Urgent issues can be considered, but we will not consider the rest at the moment,” Hojai said.
Haradinaj, who initially announced his resignation but said he had changed his mind after returning from The Hague, said he intends to appeal to the Constitutional Court to seek an interpretation of the powers and responsibilities of the “retired government.”
“We will not make decisions other than those related to the budget in early parliamentary elections, and ministers will continue to carry out only certain tasks,” Haradinaj said, as quoted by Pristina’s Koha Ditore.
He explained his appearance at the Cabinet meeting with his desire to prevent a vacuum in the work of government institutions.
“I am no longer prime minister, I am a retired former prime minister,” Haradinaj clarified his status, KTV reports.
“I have fulfilled my legal obligation to respond to the call of the Special Prosecutor's Office as a suspect in the investigative process. I resigned as head of government because the challenge itself has political consequences. Since I have appeared in court twice and given the opportunity to the international judicial system to review this war period as a whole, I am very surprised by this challenge,” he said in an interview with Voice of America.
Haradinaj commented on the assumption that the legal challenge was dictated by his position on refusing to seek a compromise with Belgrade and carry out an exchange of territories, as well as lifting the economic blockade of Serbian enclaves in Kosovo and granting them autonomy (even after appropriate calls from EU leaders).
“I can confirm that I believe in the political views that I have expressed in the most honest way to international partners: Kosovo’s borders are not disputed and there can be no talk about changing the territory and borders. In an agreement with Serbia, it is necessary to achieve mutual recognition within the existing borders, because Kosovo cannot allow the creation of something like the “Republic of Dodik” - this will lead Russia to Kosovo. The duties are canceled with recognition,” Haradinaj announced his ultimatum.
“It is wrong to accept Serbia’s conditions for dialogue, because it offends one side, in this case ours, and we are the victims,” the separatist added.
“Imagine that, as prime minister, I was summoned to testify in an international court for the second time. For the second time, I am resigning while Mr. Aleksandar Vucic, who was then with Slobodan Milosevic, and everyone knows that it was the Milosevic regime that committed crimes not only in Kosovo, but also in other countries, remains in power, and no one this does not cause such concern. Thus, this indicates an imbalance of pressure from the international community, which must be corrected as soon as possible,” Haradinaj complained.
Meanwhile, according to Balkan media, “President” Hashim Thaci, competing for influence with Haradinaj, may take advantage of the current situation to eliminate his rival from the political field.
The “Kosova clan,” citing its sources, claims that in circles close to the “president” there are ideas floating around to replace Haradinaj with the current “head of the Foreign Ministry” Behget Pazolli.
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