Havenier: Government moves ahead with Association, send draft to Constitutional

The United States' ambassador to Kosovo, Jeff Hovenier, has reaffirmed the American government's stance on the possible nature of the Association of Serb majority municipalities, stressing that this mechanism should not have executive authority.

“We have been quite clear that an Association of Serb majority municipalities should not have executive authorities. It should not be a Republika Srpska or entity similar to Republika Srpska. It should not require any change in the Constitution of Kosovo as it currently exists. There must be a mechanism by which these municipalities co-ordinate issues among themselves on how to exercise the functions that they already have under your constitution, such things as education, health care, land sharing, land use, economic development, such things. ”- said Hostier interviews on the “Context” show on ATV.

In this context, Hovenier called for the draft status proposed by the European Union, for which he has support from the United States, to be handed over to the Constitutional Court of Kosovo for assessment. That action, he said, would help clarify any doubt whether he is in accordance with the Constitution, offering a clear and judicial solution based on this sensitive issue.

We expect the Kosovo government to move forward. Our current requirement is that since there is a good draft state drafted by the European Union that the United States supports, as well as Germany, France and Italy at a very high level, which all did. Since it is this question whether it is in accordance with the Constitution or not, we believe there is a really easy way to find the answer, which is to hand it over to the Constitutional Court, and when Kosovo takes that step, it has already taken pledges from its partners that a number of positive things will start to happen for Kosovo. I hope the Kosovo government will take that advice and act. ” he said.