Kusari breaks silence following Haki Abbas' charges: I have Kurt's full support

The head of the Vetevendosje Movement Parliamentary Group, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, says it has personal agendas against none of the Kosovo Assembly deputies. Responding to MP Haki Abazi's accusations, LVV chief MP says their parliamentary group is an example of domestic democracy.

Kosovo's former deputy prime minister, currently Vetevendosje Movement MP Haki Abazi, has been critical of his chief in the parliamentary group, saying that “is undermining discussions within”, as is “handidep the largest” that does not come from the Vetevendosje Movement, but the position belongs to it as part of the coalition with the Kusari-Lila party, Alterntive.

Kusari-Lila, in an interview for KosovaPress, suggests MP Abazi using internal mechanisms for any complaint, including the General Council of Vetevendosje.

According to her, MP Abazi's claims of minimising democracy within the parliamentary group are unstable, and the same have not been initiated in the decision-making body of the Vetevendosje Movement.

In addition, Kusari-Lila also underlined the full support it has from LVV chairman, at the same time Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

The “not only has democracy but certainly the Parliamentary Group of the Vetevendosje Movement, not only in this legislature, but also the past is an example of the way domestic democracy is debated and developed. The reason and the fact that many news comes out of our parliamentary group, of course we are also the largest group, where MPs freely express their opinion shows this functioning or level of democracy. So even though they are part of a parliamentary group, MPs express their opinions that they are not always in line with the general policy of the political subject or the parliamentary group. As far as individual charges from specific MPs are concerned, there are literal forms and forums within the framework of the Vetevendosje Movement. Whatever is related to the subject is addressed in either the parliamentary group or the General Council. Anyone before deciding to introduce them to the media, I believe the internal mechanisms should be consumed. This is a debate that should be held on the General Council. The information I have, it's never developed and never initiated. I, as leader of the LVV parliamentary group, have been nominated by the party chairman, voted by majority MPs. Then the position is confirmed in the General Council, has been voted back for my position, while in December of last year I have requested reconfirmation of this position and over 70 percent I have received approval of deputies”, says Kusari-Lila.

It shows there have been differences in opinion even with other deputies of the LVV parliamentary group, even, according to it even more dramatic, but continues communication and co-operation at other points.

The question is for him, not for me. All I do is within the agenda and the way I lead the group. I personally do not hold agendas against anyone, it is in full co-ordination with the parliamentary group. It turns out that we have had differences in thought with other MPs much more dramatic, but we continue communication and co-operation at other points. The policies of the Parliament and this legislature are of different natures. The last or no effect is when matters personalize. In those cases I refuse to enter the debate, as we are not here in personal capacity, but we are on mandate that voters have given us”, she adds to Kosovas.

On the other hand, the LVV MP's chief is optimistic about visa liberalisation for Kosovo. It says discussions on new conditions are not confirmed as a whole, though, the same calls them unacceptable.

What has come out of the last meeting is not in the sense of a confirmed political sense. Since it is information, it is not 100 percent conditioning. More are discussions that have come from member states, and an official communication of the Czech presidency informing the opinion that by October 20th they will be able to concreteise or states can give their written opinions ...We cannot at this stage believe there can be additional criteria for Kosovo. It's the opposite of what should happen so far. But we don't want to harm a process that we believe is on the right track to be crowned successfully. Connecting visa liberalisation process for Kosovo with E system TIAS has not been confirmed, we know it has been discussed, but it is not just for Kosovo, but for all Schengen area countries”, he says.

Regarding the new Franco-German initiative for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Kusari-Lila refused to elaborate, but says Prime Minister Albin Kurti in the near future will report to the Assembly regarding this process.

We don't have official information about concrete proposals. I believe this is in the power of the government and the prime minister. Until we receive information, either details or the dynamism of the process, as we are seeing that there are attempts from all sides to identify the process, but also in relation to concrete proposals. I can't give a statement because it's beyond my mandate in this case, or it would be incorrect to make any speculation. The role of the Assembly is what has been established in previous legislatures to be oversight of the process in time. I guess the prime minister and deputy prime minister in the near future will do this before the plenary session. There are sessions where there is significant information that the plenary session is closed”, notes Kusari-Lila.

Weeks ago, Kusari-Lila's colleague in the LVV parliamentary group -- the MP, Haki Abazi -- demanded her resignation from the MP's chief position. According to him, the same is undermining democracy within the group.