“Will come a moment when Kosovo will be forced to be part of “Open Balkans””

The executive director of the Institute for Social Policy “Mousine Koklari”, Visar Ymer, has said that, along with the 2m-euro budget division for the Presevo Valley, the office should be functional for this category.

While according to Valon Murati from the Movement for the Union, beyond financial assistance the issue of Albanians in eastern Kosovo must be resolved, always in relation to what is required for Serbs in the north.

Ymer has also spoken of <x0p Balkans”, stressing that the Government's refusal to become part of this initiative conflicts with citizens' interests.

According to him, the government's destinies with the exception of political arguments are unstable.

Of course, the budget should be added according to the needs Albanians may have there. Two issues are important, the budget should probably also be united with Albania in order to increase influence and political dimension to be more significant. And on the other hand, it is necessary that, in addition to the division of the valley budget, the Valley Office in the Kosovo government, which is initiated by past governments but has never been functional. I think this additional institutional instrument would have been extremely important for co-ordinating the impact that Kosovo has on the well-being of Albanians in Presevo Valley”.

I think Kosovo should not say no to any of the regional initiatives. It's far more important to be at the table and to set the conditions and protection of our interests than to stay out. On the other hand in the idea of the Balkans, regardless of how it started, and what's the possibility of implementing it is actual in this direction that's in our best interests and that is that in Step Balkans, there are two factors, the first is Serbia and the second is Albania. Regional integrations for Kosovo have two benefits -- one is the growth of the market, which is the possibility of economic gain, and the other is the etambimation of an Albanian economic zone that is possible only within regional integration”.

Our classic refusal to become part of such a regional initiative I think goes against our interests as Kosovo, but goes against our interests as citizens as well. Kurti's government has so far been opposing and has not taken any steps to bring this initiative together. So far the controversial arguments that have been heard by government representatives have been largely of economic nature I think do not stand because on one side market growth is increasing opportunities and has its risks. In this direction it can no longer be harmful to Open Balkans, compared to the common regional market. The government's unconventional opposition except for political arguments I think is unstable”, Ymer said.

While Movement for the Union chairman Valon Murati in an interview for Online Economics has said the Government of Kosovo has done well to set up a budget for Albanians in Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanoc who are in dire straits.

According to him, beyond financial assistance the issue of Albanians in eastern Kosovo should be resolved, always in relation to what is required for Serbs in the north.

“It is a good sign that the Kosovo government has allocated a budget for Albanians in Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanoc, who are in serious and difficult condition and any assistance of both Kosovo and Albania is very welcome. But I think that beyond financial assistance in the East Kosovo issue we have to do primary issue in the talks with Serbia, to demand that through reciprocity the issue of Albanians in eastern Kosovo always be resolved in relation to what is required for Serbs in northern Kosovo. This would be the best approach Kosovo would implement and it is far more important than budget”, Murati said.

Murati stressed that seeing OCHOpen Balkans is being backed by the US administration will come a moment when Kosovo will be forced to be a part unable to set conditions.

The question of joining Albanians goes between a really difficult process of dialogue with Serbia. Kosovo must solve the remaining problems with Serbia. More functional state must come out of those talks. Consequently, it would have to be right what the report is building with Albania, and in the wake of that could happen. The issue of Open Balkans is very hot these days”.

“I think that all Kosovo governments to the latter have had an improper approach, even populist in relation to this initiative because it considers Kosovo without deciding to say no should be part of these meetings, to see how it is treated, what is approach and to protect its interest. I'm afraid to see that open Balkans is being supported by American administration will come a moment when Kosovo will be forced to be part of the Open Balkans in a farce without reaching its own terms. Let's go to those meetings and move our interest forward even if we say no to have full arguments with our international partners in this direction”.