LDK warns: Unless there is agreement for president, elections in January

The September 4th agreement on economic normalisation with Serbia, reached in Washington, will be implemented even after the American administration is changed.

So says Infrastructure Minister Arba Abrashi, who adds that for the <x0m> Peace Highway”, Besi-Merdare has already made official application to the EURZh for construction financing and is expected to start in the spring.

LDK Secretary-General Abrashi in an interview for Kosovo Press has said that if he does not agree quickly among the political parties for the president's name, the country will go to the polls in January.

“The LDK has a real organisation through branches and subdegs in municipalities. President Mustafa has made it clear that if there is no solution very soon, during the beginning of January we should prepare or slide towards the elections, because they should end early so that the country will not be left without a president, as the task coupling has a six-month term, so problems would arise as to who will prefigure elections but other problems that may arise from non-political stability<1>, says Abrashi.

Minister Abrashi does not believe the 16-point agreement between Kosovo and Serbia reached 4 September at the White House, envisioning a series of economic projects, such as the construction of the highway, the railway line and the launch of Pristina-Belgrade flights. The feasibility study on Uyman Lake, as well as accessing “mini-Schengen”.

I don't believe it. We keep in touch, we discuss the “Peace Highway”, we also discuss projects like railways. So far, every political level or DFC officials in Washington, we've had virtual meetings. They have confirmed that the agreement will remain as such to be implemented. They are working hard on implementing that agreement and projects”, he says.

Minister Abrashi believes the pledge of the September 4th agreement in Washington for infrastructure projects has a co-operation and a very good common approach between the EURZH, Brussels and Washington.

For this reason, according to Abrashi, official application was made two days ago in the EURZh for financing the highway project.

The Republic of Kosovo through the Ministry of Finance has officially applied to the EURZH for financing the “Paces” highway project, respectively, Besi-Merdare Street ... I believe that in spring we finalise the agreement so that the work can begin. Besides, we parallelly apply to this window that I mentioned earlier for additional grants. And there's a possibility that we get 40 percent grant. We will apply for other projects as well, it is a good opportunity for Kosovo, because there is the possibility of applying for grants not only in infrastructure, but as the minister we have prepared a long list of projects, but also in other areas”, he stresses.

For the government's next challenge following the Economic Resiliency Law, which is the adoption of the 2021 budget in the Assembly, Isa Mustaf's party secretary says the economic recovery is related to next year's budget, and for that he believes there will be consensus among parliamentary groups for voting of this budget, which is 2 billion and 412m euros.

The reform law is related to the 2021 Budget Bill, so I believe there will be consensus among parliamentary groups, but the government will still talk to everyone in order to pass the budget law that goes beyond party and government interests, because it needs a budget and financial stability for next year and especially now when we have problems and challenges with the stability of institutions after January<1>, he says.

The minister of Infrastructure has also spoken on the <x0-Dukagjin” highway project, which according to him, has a political agreement between the LDK and the AAK.

However, with the 2021 budget for this project, only 200,000 euros have been earmarked.

“We have a political agreement which we as coalition partners pledge that according to budgetary opportunities that we intend to address the project, project drafting has started earlier. The ministry also has obligation to the company that has drafted the project. Therefore, the tools which have been shared and the discussion on the tools that have been shared have to do with a total of 200,000 euros for the company. But with 200 grand I can't start the highway. Only 200 thousand euros are divided into the category of new roads for the construction of the Dukagjin highway. How the minister will see that project where there will be discussions with mayors, citizens, with other interest groups and see whether or whether there should be evidence of that project. But anyway, all the financial wine, because for the next year, as I said, it's only 200 thousand euros”, Abrashi claims.

We remember that for the implementation of the “Dukaginium” project, it was one of the AAK conditions to enter the ruling coalition with the LDK following the collapse of the Kurti government. /