UNMIK/PR/698
Following more than five hours of discussions, leaders of the three main Kosovo Albanian parties signed an agreement on the President and Government of Kosovo, breaking the deadlock that has prevented formation of new governing institutions since the 17 November 2001 general elections in Kosovo.
Witnessed by SRSG Michael Steiner, the agreement was signed at 1:15 this morning by PDK president Hashim Thaci, LDK president Ibrahim Rugova and AAK president Ramush Haradinaj. Mr. Nexhat Daci, President of the Kosovo Assembly, also took part in the talks.
The three parties agreed that Ibrahim Rugova should be President of Kosovo, and that the PDK’s Bajram Rexhepi, of Mitrovica, should be Prime Minister. Both posts require a majority vote by the 120-seat Assembly, which is expected to meet Monday. Also on Monday, remaining members of the Presidency of the Assembly will be elected, and 10 ministers are expected to be named.
“It was not easy, there is no doubt about it,” SRSG Michael Steiner said later. “But I think in the end what prevailed was that the leaders recognized that the people want a solution, that the international community want a solution, that it’s even in their interest now to have a solution.”
The agreement states that at the proposal of the Prime Minister, the allocations of ministerial posts will be: four for the LDK; two for the PDK and two for the AAK. According to the Constitutional Framework, one other Minister shall be a Kosovo Serb and one a representative of another non-Albanian community.
SRSG Michael Steiner said he was “very pleased” with the agreement. The choice of Dr. Rexhepi as Prime Minister, which was finalized last night, was a wise one, he said: “He will be very positive for Kosovo—a doctor, acceptable to all, and committed to an inclusive, democratic and prosperous Kosovo.”
Dr. Rexhepi and SRSG Michael Steiner met today (by coincidence) with the Commander of Allied Forces for Southern Europe, Admiral Gregory Johnson, who pledged his support for the democratic processes in Kosovo.
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Javier Solana, European Union High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, both called to congratulate the parties and SRSG Michael Steiner on the agreement.
“I am glad that the political leaders appear to have put their difficulties behind them,” the Secretary-General said from Berlin. “I also appreciate the hard work of my representative Michael Steiner, who having just arrived in Pristina has facilitated this crucial agreement.
“Building a coalition such as this takes courage,” the Secretary-General went on: “Now the leaders should set about the business of governing and focusing on the affairs of the people…”
SRSG Michael Steiner was also cautious about the next steps: “The deadlock has been broken. But now is not time for a vacation. The real work has just begun.”
The Agreement also lays out eight priorities for the new government: consolidating democratic structures of self-government; increasing efficiency and transparency in administration; improving standards of education for all inhabitants; increase the quality of public health for all inhabitants; fostering economic develop and international economic cooperation; increasing employment; providing pensions and welfare assistance to vulnerable groups and integrating all Kosovo communities.
