Kosovo today seeks clarification from Albania for tax on Nation Street

Kosovars have reacted Sunday to the five-euro award set by the Government of Albania for one direction, for anyone driving through the Nation Road.

Setting the tax, according to many ministers, deputies and ordinary Kosovo citizens, is the unwise and harmful decision by the Albanian government of Edi Rama.

Minister of Infrastructure, Pal Lekaj, has said the Kosovo government has had no announcement that there will be road fees for the Nation Road.

He has said that on Monday he will address his Albanian counterpart, seeking clarification and lowering the road tax.

Neither have a consultant done with Kosovo. We should have at least talked about this tax on Monday. I'm going to give them an official letter for a meeting and we're going to see... ”, Lekay said on Sunday for Express.

“Actually, it's a huge tax for Albanians”, he added.

But, the Government of Albania has announced that it cannot lower the price set to pay anyone passing through Albanian highways including the Nation's Road.

Infrastructure and Energy Minister Dardan Malaj's adviser, Dardan Malaj, has said all the tendering and concession procedures have been passed in 2016.

Kosovo Minister Paul Lekaj's reaction has also been said because of lack of information.

Meanwhile, Kosovo Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Anton Berisha has said putting the tax on the road to the Nation is against interAlbanian integration, as well as the interests of the nation itself, while the most hit by this decision are Kosovo citizens.

But, Berisha says, this decision will harm Albania as well.

Even the National Coordinator for State Reform, Besnik Tahiri, has reacted about the payment imposed by the Government of Albania for anyone driving across Nation Street.

Tahiri, via a Facebook text, has called the price of 5 to 10 euros in one direction. He has done so by comparing payment with prices in the region.

Meanwhile, Democratic League of Kosovo Secretary-General Ismet Beqiri has reacted sharply to the highway tax.

Beqiri has hit Edi Rama for the tax on the Calimash tunnel, calling Albanian Prime Minister insolent.

According to him, the tax on the Nation Street constitutes punishment for Kosovars.

If you ever fry, I don't think you should have a face...”, Beqiri wrote on Facebook.

Democratic League of Kosovo MP Arben Gashi, while commenting on the 5 euro tax imposed on any car passing through the Calimash tunnel, has said this tunnel is about 5km, which amounts to a monthly payment of euros.

Crossing a tunnel in Calimash from today costs a euro, the Calimash tunnel is about 5km, bad “, Gashi wrote on Facebook.

Even LDK deputy Fidan Rekaliu has said that he considers that the road tax imposed on vehicles that will travel from Kosovo to Albania is high, disproportionate and produces unnecessary costs for businesses, and especially Kosovo families that have high frequency on the Albanian coast.

Rekaliu says the Government of Kosovo, the Ministry of Infrastructure, should establish contacts and hold negotiations with the Government of Albania to achieve acceptable and affordable solutions for Kosovo citizens.

Alternative MP Mimoza Kusari-Lila has reacted against the highway tax.

Through a Facebook post, she has said this tax stripped both governments of claims that they are working at joint meetings to bring about differences between states.

Tax objector Zafir Berisha has also been declared by the Social Democrat Initiative.

He has said he considers the tax on Calimashi high, while seeking to reconsider it.

Meanwhile, lawyer and political analyst, Dastid Pallaska, has said the payment for the nation's road is aimed at covering the provisional drop in drug business.

Rama got into a drug business, so she put the street tax on it, rated Pallaska.

But there have also been in Kosovo those who have backed Edi Rama's government's decision on highway taxes.

Pristina Mayor Shpend Ahmeti has sided with Edi Rama for the National Road tax.

Through a “certium” in its account on the social Twitter network, on the internet, Ahmeti has argued the decision made by Rama's government.

A LDK deputy has also supported the line of nation.

Haxhi Avdyli has indicated that the cost of payment for “The nation's path” is high, as its setting should not surprise anyone.

Avdyli has said Albania's authorities should review the issue once again. He says the idea for the fee is good, but the value should be discussed again.