Arba Abrash reporting on the White House agreement: All clashes with Vetevendosje deputies

The report by Infrastructure Minister Arba Arbashi on the Commission for Agriculture, about Washington's agreements has been forwarded with numerous verbal clashes.

Abrashi, as he presented the projects discussed in Washington, said they are projects that empower Kosovo in many ways and make it a more attractive place for investment.

The first two projects that have been submitted have been the continuation of that letter were the building of the now remaining Trudda highway, Bessie up to Merdare, which has a length of 27km and is a project that is ready for implementation because there is also feasibility study, there is also environmental impact research and the cost of this project is known. The second project we've discussed has also existed a compatibility and consultation with the American side and agreed with them, then it's shown about building the railway from Pristina, Fush Kosova up to Merdare, which means rehabilitation of this line and has a length of 45km, there are previous feasibility studies, but they're not very accurate, because there's been a lot of change in the terrain, and more commitment to this project is needed by including the study itself and feasibility”, he said.

Abrashi has also talked about the highway and railway project, which he said rehabilitation of the railway line from south to north is being done by EU-funded projects, while now rehabilitation of the line from west to east by the American side.

“For the highway project and specifically the railway has to make that now the state of Kosovo through projects financed by the European Union is finalising or rehabilitateing the railway line from south to north, which includes Skopje to Lesak, until the American side in this case has taken over the construction of the railway line or financing the railway line from west to east. These first two projects have been, which have been within the letter of good purpose and are postponed forward, but this period that I mentioned from June to September when we went back so that the west or west line is as stable as it is then as meaningful as the cabinet for a new line, which runs through Pristina, Albania, to the Adriatic Sea. It means the fundamental idea if we had asked for financing for the construction of the line from Pristina to, now it's mentioning Nis too, but really it's the trans-European 7-European corridor, we've asked for this line to have more stability and financial stability, then it should explore the ideas that this line goes up to the Adriatic Sea, we haven't specified where exactly”, he said.

Abrashi said that in the context of Pristina's connection to the Adriatic Sea, they have presented the idea of building a deep-cut port that, according to him, would be able to handle ships with larger tones.

He has mentioned other projects that have been discussed as opportunities but that have not received vows, such as the construction of the highway from Gjilani to White Men, the Brezovica project.

Commission Chairman Lieburn Aliu has asked the minister to know what will happen to Elez-Lesak Railway Line, where he has asked to know if this railway will continue beyond Mitrovica.

What will happen to this project, will we do the two projects, when expected to be completed and the question is concrete, will this project continue beyond Mitrovica until Lesak. My question also concerns Vuciki's statement after returning from Washington, which says we have made a major breakthrough that Kosovo's idea of building railways and stations to bring the northern part stations under control is avoided and now the railway linking Nis through Merdare will be built. Will this railway continue beyond Mitrovica”, he said.

In his reply Abrashi said that the railway east from Hani Elez to Leshak will continue until he mentioned that he was unhappy with the pace of the work being done in rehabilitation.

The project of construction or rehabilitation of the railway from Hani Elez to Leshak is a project that is continuing, which is working, although I as minister am not satisfied with the pace of the work being done. At the moment, the first part, or stage, is contracted from Elez Khan to Fushe Kosovo on which it is working... The second phase is in the process of final selection of the company and starts very soon, I believe before the new year and the second phase meaning rehabilitation of the Kosovo Fusha line until Mitrovica. Stage three is in the study of feasibility... North is on its way. It won't stop. What Vuciqi says he has a choice, he has his electorate, I don't take us with him”, he said.

The clash between MP Aliu and Minister Abrashi had with regard to the Besi-Merdare railway project. MP Aliu said this line is not in the development plan nor in space plans.

I can't fix it. That's what plans, studies, so I'm telling you the reference to plans. We've had plans to connect to the corridor with Albania. Why did you deviate from that plan, why aren't you accomplishing it? You had the line you had on the project. You might say it's on the plan, we have it on the table, but what plan? So I'm going to give you a concrete reference to this difference you're saying, about this other option. This east line that's connecting us to Sofia if we're in a country that keeps customs in Merdare we're ok, we go to the next point. When we connect both projects, we're also seeing the origin. Did you have party chairman Isa Mustaf, was he prime minister? Your pride in campaigns has been strategic development plans and they are not meant to be invested now, absolutely not, you have had the next line in which all of them have been hired, he said.

MP Bajrush Xhemajli's PDK said that with these agreements Serbia is achieving its goal of winning sea access.

“With railways and with all the good it's going out there, but that doesn't automatically mean that I'm the one that's doing us harm, but I think that until mutual recognition, this makes us a vegetable and I stay in what's very harmful because Serbia can do this along with this economic agreement, even the association of municipalities with executive competences it's intended, doesn't have to recognise us, he said.

Vetevendosje Movement MP Speedy Bulliqi said the port issue for Kosovo has become “boze”, where he said any government that came to power has said they are taking Shengjin. He addressing Minister Abrashi said let him admit that the agreement has been imposed.

The west line, the Adriatic Pristina, the port issue, the deepening of the port, you know very well now the issue of this port has become ink for years. Every government that came to power, said we were taking Strynin, taken, went and had lunch in St. But no action has been taken until today. Every meeting you have held with Eddie Rama so far, he has given you the port of Stedini, but you never got it, and I'm afraid it's not even the goal of that port now, but the line to Merdare and the change of delivery. So it's better to show people that it's imposed on us, it's nothing than we're seeing it, with your hands in your pockets you've come in with some letters and you're taking what's ready”, he said.

Infrastructure Minister Arban Abrashi said all agreements have been discussed in advance with American officials and that they have not gone there unprepared.

The reason for the confrontation between Minister Abrashi and the chairman of the Lieburn Aliu Commission also became a map presented by the latter. Abrashi has accused the VV deputy of having Serbia's railway map at stake.

I'm sorry, but some of the commentators here when we discussed ideas and spatial development plans before themselves had the map of Serbia's railways, Libron had the map and it's bad for me to fuck them before there's enough maps of Infrakos”, he said.

But immediate was the reaction of MP Lieburn Aliu, who said that the Republic of Kosovo is written on the map.

And this is your map, Mr. Minister, this is your map. Here says the Republic of Kosovo, you've had it before you wrote, you've taken it off when you came this way. Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Kosovo, your map before it went, when you returned, you took this off. So, it's your map, take a good look, Republic of Serbia, and it's the clear border where the Republic of Kosovo writes it you've taken it down there”, he said.

At this commission meeting, Minister Abrashi also spoke of mini-Shengen, who said years ago he was rejected because he was unclear.

“We've done it before after we've had access to the customs union, we've had fear even though some leaders, I'm not saying one or two, but some have spoken in the name of Kosovo without questioning. They wanted to be bigger than us or the nation's fathers, and we said no. Today we have a pledge before the White House where we become powerful participants in an initiative we will build ourselves. We'll sit down and say what we want to do. Is it the customs union? No, they don't, they don't. It is a new situation, a new political environment and a guarantor like the US”, he said.

The commission's member MPs have also raised the question of where the port will be built since only the Adriatic Sea is mentioned, and not the country, what Minister Abrashi said was left to the feasibility plan to determine.

“Let this job be opened, feasibility will show. Therefore, in the pledge agreement wrote railway lines with ports in the Adriatic Sea, it is neither Durres nor Strygin nor anything, but it is specified that feasibility will show where it is best to be built”, he said.