Demarketing: Bulliqi gives details for the new commission

The chairman of this commission, Speed Bulliqi, said the new commission, will have the review of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro, but will also analyse all reports that have been made so far by the preliminary commission.

The problem is that we expect the Government to delegate additional competencies or additional jobs. Otherwise, you know that the preliminary commission has prepared a report and if the Government now estimates that we have to take that report, look at it, analyze it and come up with certain conclusions, then we expect the Government to officially carry it to us”, Bulqi told Rel.

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has said that the current work for demarcation of the border with Montenegro has been done incorrectly, and according to him, this issue should be regulated.

Halil Matosi, from Prime Minister Haradinaj's cabinet, told Radio Free Europe, that Prime Minister Haradinaj, following the first step towards forming the new commission, is considering opportunities for future actions and competencies this commission will have.

The first “has already been completed for the start of a new process. About this topic, the Government of Kosovo -- Prime Minister Haradinaj, respectively -- remains to study all modalities on what will be done in the future. I can tell you that the process will not be prolonged. This issue will take a quick dynamic. What will be done as a next step is being studied all the mode”, Matoshi said.

Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, who at the first meeting of the new Kosovo government, dismissed the State Commission for Marking and Maintaining the State Border, which was led by Murat Meha.

The new leader, Speed Bulliqi, says that the criteria which have been applied for measuring and setting the border line have been wrong and that they should be revised.

“Those criteria have produced a result which is actually coming against practical reality. These additional commitments, if we are given space and opportunity on the part of the government, we are ready tomorrow to enter the work process”, Bulqi said.

He also stressed that the new commission will not do any specific work, but that it will be based on government rules and requirements.

We'll analyze all aspects, even those of International Law, aspects of the criteria, and we can also prepare the Government with a report or assessment or whatever it requires. Still, it remains in the government's competencies where it should lead the development of the” process, Bulqi said.

On the other hand, the European Union Office in Kosovo has called for institutions to work on meeting the criteria on the visa liberalisation issue.

“Sic is also said in the European Commission's legislative proposal in May 2016, ratification of the demarcation agreement with Montenegro is a condition for visa liberalisation”, said in the EU Office's stances in Pristina.

“As long as we recognise the efforts made by Kosovo, it is now essential that Kosovo meet the remaining conditions for visa liberalisation, moving forward and ratifying the border demarcation agreement and boost commitments in the fight against corruption and organised crime. We see this as the joint responsibility of the Government and the opposition to meet the remaining conditions for visa liberalisation”, the EU Office's response reported.

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. Now, these two political parties -- one in Government and the other in opposition -- maintain different positions regarding whether this agreement should be annulled or ratified.