Opposition calls demarce submission game in Parliament

The Kosovo government should first convince MPs of the ruling coalition to vote on Demarkation, then seek help from opposition parties.

So Free Europe told Radio Arben Gashi, deputy of the Democratic League of Kosovo. According to him, the government is the one who must get support for the agreement to get enough votes for approval.

“I have the impression that Prime Minister Haradinaj has sent the agreement to the Parliament only to remove it from the agenda in Government, and no longer a clear plan and a clear idea what he will do with this bill”, Gashi said.

MP Gashi, the government's decision to send to the Parliament agreement, which he has said does not support the prime minister either, considers a game.

Mr. Haradinaj could bring this agreement to government and send the Parliament with negative recommendation, but I think Mr. Haradinaj has been playing with this case and it is unfair to do so”, Gashi said.

Ratification of the Agreement for Marking the border line with Montenegro continues to remain one of the most controversial issues on Kosovo's political scene. This agreement is already in the Kosovo Assembly, but it is still not known when it will proceed at the plenary session for the vote.

Elmi Recica, deputy of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, told Radio Free Europe, that ratification of the demarcation, remains the main condition for visa liberalisation, and it is necessary to vote. He has dismissed claims that the government has deliberately prosecuted the agreement in the Assembly to fail.

It is necessary to come and rank at one of the plenary sessions to discuss and vote. I think that's the goal and I don't believe it and it shouldn't be the attitude to bring the demarcation here in order to fail”, Recica said.

According to him, it is expected that after reviewing the relevant commissions, the demarcation agreement will be brought to the plenary session.

“We are and have been and have not moved from that position to vote for the demarcation. There are communications of leaders and as coalition partners, but even with the opposition having a consensus, there will be an agreement that will ensure the votes needed to pass Demarket”, Recica said.

The border demarcation agreement with Montenegro was signed in August 2015 in Vienna. At the time, partner parties in government were the Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Democratic League of Kosovo.

Analyst Artan Mujaziri thinks the issue of demarcation with Montenegro has become a paradox.

This is a paradox that's happening because the support or stoppage of an agreement is usually done at the Government level, and even the intentions to change it must be done much earlier until you get a job in the Assembly. Prime Minister Haradinaj is a very difficult position because there are great pressures, as in Kosovo, but also from our international partners to pass the demarcation, while his positions have been severe in opposing him”, Muhramiri said.

In the presence of internationals, Pristina and Podgorica have signed the agreement for demarcation. This agreement was ratified by Montenegro's Assembly, but not by Kosovo's.

In Pristina, there are different views about this accord, which has been more vocally rejected by the Vetevendosje Movement and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Kosovo incumbent Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj's party, respectively.

The European Union has made clear to Kosovo institutions that ratification of the demarcation with Montenegro remains a condition for the visa liberalisation process for Kosovo citizens.