Tomorrow's meeting at the American Embassy for Association: What do you know so far?

A meeting called by the American Embassy in Pristina about a week ago tomorrow, Tuesday, January 31st, 2023, with political parties in Kosovo and members of civil society discussing the Association of Serbian municipalities, has sparked many reactions in Kosovo opinion.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti has told Radio Free Europe that there was no invitation for a meeting at the American Embassy.

Kurti's statement sparked many reactions, especially from the ruling camp, since it was interpreted as the Kosovo government's avoidance from such an important meeting.

Nevertheless, so far, reportedly at this meeting by the government will be deputy prime minister Emilia Rexhepi, of which the Albanian Post has reported that it will be at the American Embassy, as well as the Minister for Communities and Kthim, Nenad Rassic, Who has confirmed last week's invitation and participation in this meeting.

Even the presidency has confirmed that it will send its representative to this meeting, to the American Embassy, until even the Office of the Speaker of the Parliament, Mr. Glauk Konjufca has confirmed to the Albanian Post that they will send a representative to this meeting.

The head of the ruling party's parliamentary group, Mrs. Vetevendosje,Mimoza Kusari-Lila, sOt before reporters said the government cannot be avoided on a topic like the Association of Serbian municipalities.

She definitely said one thing that is also said by all connoisseurs of constitutional order in our country, that without Government, association is not done.

Meanwhile, it is the ruling party's deputies, as well as today that a verbal offensive of opposition to association took place.

Kosovo has its own municipal association, where the mayor is the mayor of Ferizaj municipality, Agim Aliu. I am convinced that there is room for Serb majority municipalities to join this association! If we think about living together with one Republic, then we also live together with an Association. Otherwise, the division of municipalities into different parallels on ethnic grounds is pre-level for the division of Kosovo”, wrote Dimal BashaKosovo majority deputy Periscope follows.

Against Zajednica, also wrote the other deputy of Vetevendosje, Enver Dugolli:

All the pressure for {Zieednica is being done because Serbs don't want to be a minority anywhere. This stems from the Serbian “Bota” project, which is the new name in the XXI century for the “Greater Serbia” project from the XX century. Consequently, Albanians will become minority within é Zayednica, minority in their Kosovo state! Bosniaks in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegrins in Montenegro have already become minorities in their countries!”, he writes.

Opposition: We go to a meeting with the Embassy, but the address is Albin Kurti.

In all these political developments in the country, the Kosovo opposition says it will go to the meeting invited by the American Embassy in Pristina, but that the only one on such topics is Prime Minister Albin Kurtiekon.

Abelard Tahiri, PDK's GP chief, said today that this party will go to the meeting adding if I don't know if The PDK has ever refused any meeting called by the American Embassy in Kosovo, but that responsibility for topics such as Association belongs to the Government of Kosovo and Prime Minister Kurtiú.

And LDK has confirmed participation in meeting We called tomorrow from the American Embassy.

Association bill, according to FES

The Friedrich Ebert (FES) Foundation in Pristina has introduced the draft state of the Serb majority municipalities, drafted by this organisation in partnership with the European Institute for Peace. Under this draft status, the association will be formed in line with the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, the Online Economy reports.

FES representative for Kosovo and Northern Macedonia Renè Schlee has said this is a project based on political pragmatism.

He has said that the draft is a concrete proposal, adding there has been debate, but little progress in association.

He has said the three objectives of the draft-status are that he is in line with the Constitution, the concerns and requirements of the Serbian community are taken into account and is in line with Brussels' agreements, the 2013 principle agreement.

We know the importance of this issue of association, and we are very aware of the challenges. This publication should be seen as the starting point for discussion on this issue, that's just the beginning. Again, as I referred to the objective as foundation supporting dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. There's been a lot of debate on the matter, but there's been no introduction. He said we should have reached two targets.

Susanne Gentz, senior manager of the European Community Programme, said the process so far has gone in co-operation with experts.

This task is online with all existing agreements. In cooperation with the foundation, we have had an opportunity to see the principles of how to get away. The process so far has gone in co-operation with experts, hopefully reflecting what is potentially applicable. We hope to improve the situation further”, she said.

Egzon Osmanaj, project co-ordinator, has said one of the key points of the process is the 2013 agreement.

According to him, the draft was the product of FES and the European Institute for Peace.

“has had a tendency to connect with other factors that it was ordered by someone. The flow of drafts has increased pressure on our colleagues. We wanted to be transparent and open. The terminology used is based on the constitution of the Republic of Kosovo and its legal framework. To be more inclusive, we've organized series of workers we've discussed with experts, academics and all discussions are involved as long as we've had access to”, he said.

Article 1 point 2 says “The statue will be approved by the founding assembly of Association/Uniship formed by members of municipal municipalities vote participating in accordance with the Law for Ratification of the First Agreement and the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. The statue will be adopted by the Kosovo Government's legal act and will assume the power of a government regulation under Kosovo's legal system following review by the Constitutional Court.

This draft state states that the association will be as a legal person established in accordance with the Constitution and the Kosovo judicial system. The key point is that the Association/Uniship will have its own official symbols, including the coat of arms and flag, which will be designed by the Association/Unibility Board in line with the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo and the Law on Local Governance./Periscopi