Minister Elbert Krasniqi: No space for Zajednica

In an interview for The KP, the minister also talks about the fourth grant to municipalities, co-operation with neighbouring mayors, as well as changes expected in the Law for Local Self-government.

Despite the loss of the Vetevendosje Movement in last year's local elections, Krasniqi promised municipalities implementation of the fourth grant. He says the election results will have no impact on the implementation of this old promise, but will only be based on the merit and performance of municipalities.

The fourth “Grant is the process, is part of the local government's Finance Law. [...] Not necessarily, except that the results of the local elections will not affect even the fourth grant on these programmes. We have planned them along with the Ministry of Finance, an example of the Law on Performance Grant, refers to the general grant of municipalities and predicts until this grant can be increased, which is up to 2.5 per cent of the general grant of municipalities”, he says.

Krasniqi says his legal initiatives for complying with the Law on Local Self-government and the municipal performance management Bill will correct past shortcomings and improve the efficiency of municipalities.

“Ide is that not substracialally affected local self-government, but correct some shortcomings stemming from the existing assessment of the law, but also our professional experience with municipalities and the ministry. Explaining the situation, the reports even among municipal bodies are regulated, the legal deadlines for response from the ministry are cut short, the question of the municipal assembly's deputy chairman regulates, the appointment situations of deputy speakers from the community ranks, above all that this law leaves no municipality in Kosovo to challenge any constitutional principle”, he adds.

He is optimistic about adopting laws on local self-government, even though two-thirds of it is needed even by communities in the Assembly.

The minister says they will not be blackmailed by any other community for association, until it underlines that Kosovo is a multiethnic state and space for one-ethnic ethnicity.

“We have prepared the law in that form as envisioned in legal initiatives, it is aware that this law is among the most vital laws and requires two-thirds of the Kosovo Assembly and I am optimistic that it will be voted, but this remains to be seen in the Parliament. [...] It must be understood once and for all that Kosovo has been built as a state of all citizens in the multiethnic spirit. In a multiethnic state, there is no room for one-ethnic association and ethnicity. This is once again important when the opinions of other communities living in Kosovo --” -- are taken on the basis, Krasniqi said.

Opening his priorities, Minister Krasniqi promises greater co-operation to the mayors.

There is always room for improvement. Now as minister, but also as a municipality, I believe we will be able to meet more and talk more. We have after regular meetings even within the framework of our programmes, communication is on a daily basis, our administration monitors the process at the local level is in support of municipalities. [...] I to the mayors and all citizens of the municipalities, I promise we will engage as governments to offer better partnership and co-operation with their mayors and elected in order to better develop local democracy and local development”, he says.

In addition, Minister Krasniqi wants Egypt Community Memorial Day to be included under national holidays on 24 June.

We're not talking about something that's the choice option, but we're talking about a constitutional obligation that the state of Kosovo has in relation to citizens of each ethnic group. We as a community do not enjoy that right and that is a right of our rightfulness that the Law for National Festivals has June 24th as the Egyptian Community Memorial Day. Even at that time, the Serbian List has not voted, now in the current situation, it does not stay in the hall when it comes to order of this law. This is a very important reflection, not only of our community, but also of all our strategic citizens and partners that we cannot have instruments which one community can use at the expense of another community or majority in Kosovo”, he says.