Minister Hodzic: The humanitarian crisis in the north is political game, however remove tax

So is Minister of the Management of Local Power Adrijana Hodzic, who has long managed with the Office in the North. She in an interview for Economy Online admits that in the four northern municipalities, there is a lack of certain food items and that shelves are half empty, but that's all she calls “political game”.

For citizens it is not easy. The humanitarian crisis is a political game, it's political decisions that are making citizens themselves victims. I can say that yesterday even today, shelves in shops in northern Mitrovica have been half empty. I doubt that behind this are high policies”, Hodzic said.

Hodzic says that after the tax is imposed, a tense situation has developed in the north, and hopes Kosovo and Serbia will find a common language to overcome this situation.

It is true that a tension has been created on the field, this has been a political decision and a political decision is needed to make a solution again. I hope both sides will find the compromise, which will result in something good for the citizens themselves living in the northern municipality. I, as MAPL minister, am here to carry out the decisions I make”.

Hodzic speaks up against the tax and adds that both countries -- Kosovo and Serbia should have free trade.

I think the economy should be free, economic development should be in the interest of everyone. Political decisions need to be changed, and I think we need to find a compromise. I hope both sides that are in the process of dialogue find a compromise, where the two sides will be satisfied or not satisfied”, she said.

Despite insists by Serbia that the tax be abolished, Pristina authorities have reiterated that the tax will remain in force. According to the Government of Kosovo, the implementation of this tax, in addition to the political impacts aimed at punishing Serbia's lobbying positions against Kosovo, has also produced economic effects.