7 hours agoDo MPs speak with one voice during visits outside Kosovo?
Periskopi(7 years ago)
(7 years ago)MPs from the ruling political and opposition parties, in addition to disagreements over internal affairs, have serious disagreements and criticism of the way Kosovo is represented in the international arena. MPs, whether as parliamentary commissions or MP groups, make joint visits to parliaments of various states or [...]
Democratic Party of Kosovo MP Evgeni Thaci-Dragsa, member of the Commission for Foreign Policy, Diaspores and Strategic Investments, told Radio Free Europe, that some MPs from the Vetevendosje Movement, at meetings abroad do not hold Kosovo's unique positions on specific issues, but speak of party interests.
“Representatives of this party, Vetevendosje, in many cases have made [or] expressed attitudes which are not in the interest of Kosovo and integration processes for which we are trying as long as”, said MP Thaci-Dragusha.
) Euphoria) pales over visa liberalisation
She has particularly criticised her colleague from the Vetevendosje Movement, Victory Pacolli, who is also a member of the Commission for Foreign Policy, Diaspore and Strategic Investment.
It, representing its party's interests, fails to stick to [the common] policy and tries to make sure that all the populist policy it uses in the country, even at meetings we have with representatives from other countries, especially European ones. This has led us to express that frustration of us and we have publicly come out to condemn this”, Thaci said Dragusha.
Thaci-Draggusa, said the European Integration Minister, Gift Hoxha, in her latest report to the Commission for Foreign Affairs, has indicated that international representatives, as she said, have cited the non-unification of the lobby policy for liberalisation and other issues.
On the other hand, Vetevendosje Movement MP Victory Pacolli, speaking of Radio Free Europe, said such claims by her MP colleagues are untrue.
She stressed that MPs and representatives of the ruling parties when they fail or when misusing public money start on charges against the opposition and designated persons.
Pacolli said her name is mentioned in such matters, but so far no one has offered any evidence.
I whenever I can talk to deputies of any European state or members of any European state or government outside the EU, I try to represent the country in the best possible way. So, I don't make politics as claimed by MP Evgenia or Minister (Hoja). I represent the interests of the citizens and the state of Kosovo and do not respect anyone else's interests in any meeting I hold”, Pacolli said.
She added that at various meetings abroad, institutions are not criticised, but, according to her, when it comes to corruption relatives they emerge, as, as Pacolli says, they are known and exist.
“In the European Union reports, this state is reportedly captured by specific people. So the European Union has names and they know people who are involved in organized crime and who are simply corrupt and who are still in Government or they have charges. These are things that are known and we don't need to repeat, even though they might ask what you're doing to fight corruption? And we say nothing is being done to fight corruption because that's the truth”, said MP Pacolli.
Delayed Parliamentary Diplomacy
The Commission for Foreign Policy, Diaspore and Strategic Investment, in the Kosovo Assembly and the Commission for European Integration, are two commissions that mostly have a role in issues of lobbying. So members of these commissions make frequent visits to different states.
The recent visits that members of these commissions have held in some countries reportedly aimed at the visa liberalisation issue as a goal and priority of all political forces in Kosovo.
Commission for European Integration Chairman Blerta Deliu-Codra told Radio Free Europe that the commission it heads consists of MPs from various parties that are in power and opposition, but, according to her, so far on any specific issues at meetings abroad, had no opposing positions.
On the commission I am in and head the Commission for Integration, we have had a very good co-ordination with the opposition. Of course, I should be thankful to the deputies... with minor exceptions, but largely have been unique in the attitude of the visa liberalisation process, to reflect Kosovo's achievements in the integration process, but also to represent Kosovo's interest in these” meetings, Deliu-Codra said.
MP Deliu-Codra said that when it comes to a process such as visa liberalisation, institutions -- in this case, both the Parliament and MPs -- it is important that they have real and unique positions, especially in terms of criteria Kosovo has fulfilled and which the European Union knows.
