Analysts hopeful Kosovo institutions to react calmly, rationally to resignation

Following Kosova [Kosovo] Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj's resignation and his decision to go to the Hague tribunal [International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia - ICTY], Kosovar political analysts do not rule out the possibility that Kosova could face an institutional crisis. In addition to affecting the work of the Kosovar institutions, Haradinaj's departure to The Hague will most probably be a blow for his party (AAK [Alliance for the Future of Kosovo]), too, because, as is known, the latter is identified with Ramush Haradinaj.

Demaci: Ramush had no alternative

Following Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj's irrevocable resignation, activist Adem Demaci did not rule out the possibility that Kosova could face an institutional crisis. According to Demaci, Prime Minister Haradinaj did not have any alternative but to resign after he received the indictment by the Hague tribunal.

"At the moment he laid down his weapons, he (Ramush) entered this game," Demaci said. [Passage omitted]

Meanwhile, analyst Haqif Mulliqi said that when a prime minister resigns, short-term or long-term institutional crises, depending on the circumstances, are seen anywhere in the world.

"Under the current circumstances in Kosova, where the political and economic situations are neuralgic, this could have various consequences," he said.

"Nevertheless, I think that the main political parties which govern Kosova and the Kosova Assembly, as the most important institution in the country, will react in an urgent and rational manner to overcome the situation and not allow an institutional vacuum, which would naturally be harmful for the current and future political processes in the country," Mulliqi assessed. [Passage omitted]

Krasniqi: Kosova respecting its strategic partners

According to analyst Milazim Krasniqi, Haradinaj's resignation and his voluntary departure for the Hague tribunal is a positive development for him and Kosova because it shows that Kosova has become capable of respecting its strategic partners, such as the United States, the European Union, NATO and the UN.

"From this point of view, one can hope that there will be no problems in Kosova following the prime minister's resignation, and that the institutions of Kosova, along with democratic procedures, will find ways of filling the vacuum that has been created with the prime minister's resignation," Krasniqi said.

Regarding [Labour Minister] Ahmet Isufi's resignation, Krasniqi outlined that he does not have information on the motives that led Minister Isufi to resign.

"It could also be related to the aspect of self-organization within the AAK; it could be a moral act of Minister Isufi. The important thing is that Kosova should become capable of overcoming a difficult time with a show of normality, by preserving its institutional sustainability," Krasniqi outlined.

According to him, it now remains to be seen whether the existing coalition between the LDK [Democratic League of Kosovo] and AAK [Alliance for the Future of Kosovo] can survive. In any case, these are procedural and technical problems.

Source: Kosova Sot, Pristina, in Albanian 9 Mar 05 p 5