Protesters warn convictions concerning fireworks in Pristina

Tens of Pristina city activists are seeking to stop lighting fireworks, which have already taken up residence in Campus' green park, on the occasion of Elvana Longs' concert, which the ProCredit Bank organised. This concert is already early and is organised by this bank permanently at Pristina University's Campus.

But the huge amount of pyrotechnics thought to be launched tonight after the concert, expected to begin at 7: 00 p.m., is impeding the citizens of Pristina who have reacted to the issue.

Nora Ahmetaj, human and animal rights activist and part of the civic initiative, has explained to Ksoova Press that they have sought out competent institutions, such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs that has granted permission for the event, the environment, but also the municipality of Pristina and ProCredit Bank to stop this activity, which it claims is harmful to both people and animals.

This was the civic initiative of all of us here together. In protest of the environmental policy of ProCredit but putting a little finger in our government, whether local or central, why is it allowed to have a ton of pyrotechnic tools released or blown out tonight, to celebrate what? Who doesn't know what? ...that the next day or the next few days, or the months following, the population all of those poisons to get into the organism and then carry them to other things, so the damage is much bigger, and we don't talk about population concern because we're in a place that's not good for the outbreak of pyrotechnic tools...” Ahmetaj said.

It has shown that as civic initiatives have been speaking to local and central government representatives for a month, but have understood from discussions that those difficult institutions have known who is competent to grant such permits.

We have encountered in the absence of recognition of competencies between ministries ... of course I am glad that citizens were indignant and reacted and now see the environmental policies of ProCredi as being implemented”, she said.

The other side, Luan Hasanaj, representative of “Let's do it Kosova” and environmental defender, has also spoken of the impact on the environment that the explosion of nearly a ton of fireworks is thought to have planned to light the ProCredit, may have on the environment and the population.

The location of this environment and the location of fireworks is wrong while we're in a university campus in a green area for which we all have investment to become what it's like to be destroyed for a few hours of celebration, which we don't even know what a party it is, a party and a private business, this is unacceptable to each of us. And then for the impact they have, fireworks are Bar and I don't need any other explanation, all respiratory diseases come from it so we're in a location in the middle of Pristina surrounded by residents and objects and I have a concern that I would ask the organisers, who would guarantee that some of these fireworks will not end up in private property here and if someone's life is threatened? Who will give the responsibility then?”, he said, demanding that such practices be stopped forever, because according to him the citizens' interest is first and then marketing, etc.

Hasanaj said they still have no official answers if they will stop lighting fireworks but have warned that they will sue those who cast them in case they do so, as well as those who have given permission to do so.

Kosovo Education Association Chairman Shkelzim Murtezi was also seen in the protest, who said institutions' responsibilities should resign if they light fireworks in areas where Kosovo students learn.

We've come up here today because we're opposed to this event that's harmful to students studying here at Campus and University of Pristina. We have consultu and experts in this field and we have the market since this event planned to throw such large amounts of fireworks at risk as well as the objects that are around us, and there are also the consequences that will run even in the next few days of students studying have leading universities, and we seek responsibility from officials who have left permission and competencies are very precise and who is known who is responsible, the interior ministry, environment and the mission of the Pristina municipality<, he said.

About its noise and impact stemming from fireworks, Vlora Shanica, representative of the Institute for Democratic Values of Kosovo that participated in the protest as well. She has recalled that there are many cancer children in QKU who will be traumatized by fireworks noise.

It's not right besides poisoning that's done to trauma kids with the vibrations that trigger fireworks, it's also been our request to stop this, so to attribute this to a cultural activity, that's very harmful to all the people... children's cancer cases are sonic in the QKU, and that air is polluted in Pristina... I don't understand how you allow it to use something like this, that's going to come and see, and that's unacceptable<”, she said.

So far there is no official confirmation of whether the start of ProCredi's fireworks has been cancelled. However, pyrotechnic vehicles have still occupied the verdant area behind the National Library of the University of Pristina, and members of a private security company have surrounded the area around the stage and tools, and are not allowing physical access to vehicles. The area of the University Campus “hasan Pristina” is public space.