June 12 (SeeNews) - EU enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn expressed hope on Monday that the formation of new government in Kosovo will not be delayed following the inconclusive results of early general elections.
A centre-right coalition led by Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) won Sunday's vote but fell short of outright majority in the 120-seat parliament, according to preliminary official results.
"We take note of the results and we expect tomorrow the report from our election observation mission," Hahn said in a video file posted on the website of the European Commission.
He added that it is important for Kosovo to stay committed to reform and to build upon last year's achievements, such as the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU and the agreed European Reform Agenda. The swift formation of Kosovo's new government will also help the country to implement the outstanding criteria for visa liberalisation, Hahn said.
The PDK-AAK-Nisma alliance won 34.06% of the vote, according to preliminary results from the Central Election Commission based on 99.20% of the ballots counted. Nationalist Self-Determination (VV) party came in second with 27.05% of the votes, whereas the a three-party alliance led by Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) followed with 25.72%. Ethnic Serb party, Serb List, came in fourth with 5.94% of the votes.
The three political parties in the election winning alliance of PDK-AAK-Nisma are led by former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders - Kadri Veseli, Ramush Haradinaj and Fatmir Limaj. Current Kosovo president Hashim Thaci had been PDK leader before he was elected to the post of head of state in 2016.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia unilaterally in 2008, following an armed conflict between Serbian forces and the KLA in 1998-1999. Kosovo's independence is recognised by 115 countries, excluding Serbia and its ally Russia.
"Thaci will bring difficulties and many problems, but we will try to keep stability as well as to continue and accelerate the dialogue, as in this way we guarantee the safety of the Serbs in Kosovo," Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic told reporters on Monday, according to a video file posted on the website of Serbian news agency Tanjug.
Serbs make up between 4% and 8% of Kosovo's population, according to different estimates.
Albania's foreign ministry said on Monday it is looking forward to intensification of its cooperation with Kosovo.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses confidence that new institutions will be established soon, in accordance with the will expressed and the constitution of the country, so as to respond to the priorities, needs and development challenges, by also including the acceleration of the Euro-Atlantic integration process," the ministry said in a statement.
"The voters of Kosovo have spoken. We will work closely with the new government to work for common good," US ambassador Greg Delawie said on his official Twitter account on Monday. "The common good, not politics, must be the goal for Kosovo," he said in another twitter post following the closing of voting stations on Sunday.
The snap election was called in May after Isa Mustafa's coalition government of PDK and LDK lost a no-confidence vote in parliament sought by the opposition and backed by PDK.
The next government will face three issues, the resolution of which is key to the political development of Kosovo - the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro, on which the liberalisation of visas for Kosovars depends, the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO) and the formation of Kosovo Army.