Former Presevo Mayor: We have no power to decide for exchange of territories

These days have been much discussed in opinion on the issue of exchange of territories with Serbia. This, following the request of representatives of the Presevo Albanians to join the dialogue with Serbia, include the rights of Albanians in the Valley.

For this, there was also Thursday meeting between Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, with political leaders of the Presevo Valley Albanians, who said they would not have this partition of Kosovo.

Former Presevo head, now a member of the Party for Democratic Action (PVD), Ardita Sinani, has said it is not theirs to propose territorial exchanges, but demanding that the Valley Albanians not be denied basic rights.

“We have our requests laid out right to the authorities in Belgrade even before the demands of Serbs. It's not ours to propose exchanges or other scenarios, we don't have the power to decide even if we want to because these are the major powers. Albanians in the Presevo Valley have long expressed their will with the 1992 March 1 and 2 Referendum of. What we think is necessary for long-term peace in the Balkans is creating unique standards for minorities in this part of Europe. We are denied basic rights, while the same Serbia demands for Kosovo Serbs rights that exceed existing EU standards. The vital is that our demands are constantly presented”, Sinan has indicated.

Sinani has already told of meeting with President Thaci. She has stated that at that meeting it has been required that topics concerning Albanian rights be laid out in Brussels talks.

“As part of the approval of the Political Declaration by Albanian consultants of the Presevo Valley is also our request addressed authorities in Pristina for greater commitment to the realisation of Albanians' rights in the Presevo Valley. Our meeting with the President was in this position. We have asked that topics involving Albanian rights be laid out in Brussels talks. Chapters 23 and 24 which Serbia brings to Serbia's commitment to improving minority rights are not bringing the expected results, so we think the 35th chapter should be used, and with this direct use of Brussels talks that our rights there be laid down in reciprocity with the rights of Serbs”, the former Presevo mayor has stressed.

Political representatives of the Valley Albanians expect the president and Kosovo institutions to take over obligations to Albanians.

“As stated personally, President Thaci took on his greatest commitment and Kosovo institutions to the issues of Albanians in the Presevo Valley. We expect both the president and the Parliament and the Government of Kosovo to take these obligations”, Sinani has said at the end of the interview.

Otherwise, Thaci, after meeting with representatives of the Presevo Albanians, has declared that he would not want this partition of Kosovo, and that the legally binding agreement at the conclusion of the dialogue will be signed by the two independent states. /Indesksonline/