Kurti's adviser shows why she resigned from the Office of Communities

On this occasion the prime minister's adviser, Albin Kurti, Elizabeth Gowing, spoke of what she thought of the government's role in improving the conditions of communities, as well as of the issue of distributed funds that was conducted two weeks ago.

Gowing resigned from the Office for Communities in the prime minister, as he said because the results of the contest were not compatible with the initial call for grants.

She said a new director would follow that, and since he'd not be appointed political, he'd have access to the grant processes, which he said had no access to.

“The issues raised are issues of importance that we have dealt with somewhat. I think there have been many initiatives that have been intended to raise opportunities for communities in Kosovo. In addition to grants that have been identified by the prime minister's office, there are grants for agro-budgece, but also in the Ministry of Local Power and Stock Exchanges for Roma and Egyptians. So there should be initiatives not only in the institutions that are for communities, but in all institutions. We need to make sure that 15% of institutions are with communities”.

This director is not going to be political, so far he's been appointed by the prime minister, so I've had no chance to know who applied, to be in the room to know about the applications. I only knew when it was published on the website. With the help of monitoring the British Embassy, we will have a director who will affect community life, knows community problems. And I believe that by the end of this year this director will be healthier. I think that the opportunity from the office to help the community is a good opportunity. We can do a lot together”, Gowing said.

“I have said the results are not compatible with the call's intentions on that grant. The Commission is not stronger than the laws, but I am stronger than the Commission. The point is whether it came out of these calls what is targeted in these” calls.

Jovana Radosavievic, from the Serb community, said that although the government is making a message that the main goal is to rule the law, when it comes to Serbs the approach is selective.

The government does not understand and understand the problems that have emerged from the community to the north. All the arrests, and especially these arrests that have occurred where we have a large number of people who have left the north as a result of fear of arrest instead of spending months in custody without execution. One of the main messages this Government is carrying is that the main goal is rule of law, although access to Serbs in justice is selective. We also need to talk about the permanent withdrawal of the Kosovo Special Forces, and it also has expenses and I'm talking as taxpayers here. I could talk a lot more, but that's it at the moment, said Jovana.

As for the Bosniak community, Ramce Kasi spoke, where he said they have no financial support from anyone, adding that they see no prospect of living in Kosovo.

I'd start talking about media because we've got another page that works for years now. I would thank the American Embassy for their support. Especially for our Bosnian media because we have no financial support. We expect support from the prime minister's office each year, but what we can do with 2,000 33,000 or 4,000 euros. We have the lady here who was in the prime minister's office. Honestly or it's just made for show and face. We were supposed to get 16 grand. We don't see any kind of perspective. I need to ask why, for what reason we can't get any foundations from either the municipality or the government”.

There's a huge population out there, and nobody's coming to see why these people are leaving. The last example, a competition in the municipality opens, and none of the minorities have been employed. All youths wonder what their prospects are. I hope the government will eventually exploit our problems and demands. For all to live in Kosovo with the majority community”.

Avni Mustafa from the Roma community said that members of minority communities are the last priority of the Government of Kosovo.

“Minority communities' participants are the last priority of the Government of Kosovo. There is no institution working to implement the needs of communities. What I want to say and point out is that the Roma community has 8,000 and a few individuals. Now we're a little bit more. There are generally some policies that are implemented in the EU, and our Government tries to implement these policies, but when we speak in the minority communities here, Serbs, Bosniaks and all those of the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities are mentioned. As such I have to stress that not much has been done in this regard. We're always here to help the government. The organization I work in has always worked on this”.

Srdan Sentiq, said communities should feel that the Kosovo government is committed to their sincere integration.