Bernard Nikaj resigns from the group of dialogue experts

Four months after the formation of the Council of Experts for Counseling the Kurti Government about dialogue with Serbia, the first resignation has come. Bernard Nikaj, former trade minister, has left the Group of Experts for the dialogue, which was founded after formalising co-operation between the executive, Norway's Embassy in Pristina and the Group for the Balkans.

Bernard Nikaj, who was once Kosovo's ambassador to Brussels, has recently joined the Democratic Party as part of the new leadership, which was elected in August.

Political engagement in the largest opposition party has prompted Nikaj to resign from the counsel of Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi.

Contacted by Online Journal “Reporter.net”, Nikaj has indicated that the Group of Experts for Dialogue has left before PDK membership.

“I have resigned from the expert group before the political incriminating”, was short in response to Nikaj.

However, Veton Surroi, Blerim Shala, Leon Malazog, Robert Muharrem and Muhamet Mustafa still stand in the team of experts.

Despite interest, the government has not returned answers to this group's advice since its officialisation.

Meanwhile, the Group for the Balkans, which is part of the co-operation agreement with the Kurti Government, has said there is no information about the work experts have done since their commitment.

“Ekipi works closely with Government from the beginning and we don't know and we don't want to know the details. They have their own work dynamics that call ZKM Besnik Bislimi, and we as Group for the Balkans are not involved. For all these questions, just Z KM Bilm may have answers. Under the agreement and the project, the Group for the Balkans supports and engages experts, but they assign beneficiaries” responsibility, said in response by Balkan Group Executive Director Naim Rashit, to Reporter.net.

Otherwise, according to the initiative, committed experts will advise Kurti Government for a period of three years aimed at strengthening Kosovo institutions and advancing its state consolidation.

So far, two meetings between Prime Minister Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq have been held in Brussels, which were described in clashes between Kosovo Prime Minister and Serbian leaders.

Meetings with European officials in Brussels have also realised Kurti's deputy, Besnik Bislime, with whom he has announced he has discussed agreements reached so far between Kosovo and Serbia in the 10 years of existence of dialogue.