LDK candidate Ishmael: Gjilan needs fair leadership, not actors who talk about everything and do nothing

Based on his experience as former mayor of the municipality and on close co-operation with citizens, Ishmael pledges a responsible, transparent government and no empty promises.

In this interview, he shares his plan for the development of Gjilan, the recovery of remaining projects, the halting of youth evacuation, and many other topics that directly affect the lives of residents of this municipality.

The following is your full interview:

Periscope: Why should citizens vote Arber Ishmael, what are your priorities in the Gilani race?

Arber Ishmael:  I think citizens should vote me because I have experience, vision and will to govern differently. I've been deputy mayor and I know Gjilan in every way, I know his problems, potential and solutions. I will never promise miracles like these today, but for one thing I am sure, that will install a responsible, efficient, and very honest government. I have institutional experience, deep knowledge of municipality and close cooperation with citizens. I am unequivocal, clear in communication, and committed to converting trust to institutions. I was part of government when the most strategic projects for Gjilan were launched.

Periscope: Since you were deputy mayor, you certainly have experience and you know Gjilan in detail. What's your vision of Gjilan at short points?

Arber Ishmael:  We've just operated the professional team with the best field experts on our local governing program. Our schedule will be built by visiting every neighbourhood in town and villages, and will be drafted on the basis of every resident's demands. I'm a follower of what I'm going to sit with citizens if there's a need to work for days until we can harmonise their demands and needs in detail. Basically, my vision will be • 1. Gjilan with a functional administration and a clean Gjilan, 2. Youth with perspective and employment, 3. Modern education and safe schools with all the infrastructure needed to create a favourable climate for quality teaching and teaching, 4 Health with dignity and efficient infrastructure, 5. Transparency and digital government, etc.

Periscope: As deputy mayor of the municipality under the direction of Lutfi Haziri, you were part of projects such as the economic area and the debate, Gjylani 2017. Plus, what are the three concrete investments you'll continue if you win the race?

Arber IshmaelI think three tops of investments that we need to focus urgently on intervention and their full realisation are: 1. Economic zone, 2. Intervention on the sewer and water supply network, 3. Indigenous intervention in the city's road network because of the mess that has brought us current local governance. So, in the full intervention and functioning of the Economic Zone that started in our time, but because of the office's launch, it has remained forgotten by the acting government. It's an area we started with clear planning and support from the central level back then. We'll end up with concrete partners. Also, we're going to focus on the sewer and water supply network in the areas because the city is now expanding and we need a modern and functional emergency plan for many years in this direction. Another urgent focus that will be on investments and immigration interventions in the streets of the city because of the sad situation we currently are in.

Periscope: The economic zone never started in the mandate of Vetevendosje government in Gjilan. Do you still have a priority on building an economic zone?

Arber Ishmael: This area is going back to our very priorities. The economic area is the key to sustainable employment and economic development. We will work with the central and investment level to fulfill this late promise and be forgotten by the current government

Periscope: The current chairman, Alban Hyseni, is accused of failing to complete large projects, what will you change in access to capital projects like stadiums and squares?

Arber Ishmael: In my mandate, we will not have projects that start only for political marketing. The stadium, the square, the expansion of exit and exit routes, and others, will have clear deadlines, guaranteed budgets, and will end without procrastination. Citizens are tired of promises and jobs left in half.

Periscope: Entering the town of Gjilan, which is called the Pristina road, has not started, at the time Haziri was mayor, has also been former Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti. What happened to this project, and what's your plan?

Arber Ishmael:  The works were launched during the Haziri government, with the support of Prime Minister Hoti. Today, that job is abandoned. We're going to turn it into a national agenda and we're going to ask for co-finance to complete it. It's the city's main entrance and its mirror. We have a moral and civic obligation to complete these projects forever.

Periscope: Since small cities are being emptied as a result of a lack of perspective, Gjilan has also been affected. What are you going to do differently from the current chairman to stop young men from leaving Gjilan?

Arber Ishmael:  It is time for us to engage and work hard. Give them space and create conditions for our young. We will focus on creating new entrepreneurs, financing their projects and ideas, and giving them support in achieving concrete results. We will give employment opportunities, involvement in cultural and sports activities, and professional education by stimulating them in various forms. Our youth needs opportunities, not rhetoric. We will invest in them transparently, not to give grants to party militants, as the local government is doing, publishing the profit lists of the codes, not names.

Periscope: Local governments have not given much importance to tourism, which in many countries in the region is being invested in this sector. Where is tourism in Gjilan and your investment plans?

Arber Ishmael:  We will focus on developing natural and cultural tourism. Tourism will be part of economic development and the particular sector of our future governance. We will focus on mapping and publishing a full tourist guide for Gjilan, and we will focus on supporting infrastructure for tourist areas, and we will create standard in maintaining roads and parking areas near tourist attractions. We'll focus on building waiting centers. (info-center) at the entrance of the city and in the most frequent areas. For the first time, we're going to do research on picnics and camping sites in the most favourable locations for citizens. We will create initial subsidies for small hotels and rural hotels that offer traditional products. We will subsidize citizens who create tourist images for Gjilan, artisans, wine, honey and souvenirs. Also, one of our focuss will be developing cultural tourism and festivals. We will create the possibility of funding even with foreign funds, IPA grants application, Transborder Co-operation and Regional Funds of Southeast Europe. The best of the best is that we're going to focus on creating a Municipal Fund for Tourism, where some of the local taxes go directly to promotion and maintenance of attractions. So, Gjilan is probably, there are people with ideas for development and what we need is a full will for serious and responsible work.

Periscope: Schools are still considered a problem because of suspicions of narcotics use, this is not a problem in Gjilan, but most of Kosovo's cities. What's your plan to eliminate this problem?

Arber Ishmael: Using narcotics on the part of young people is one of the serious problems of our society, and we should urgently focus on a concrete plan detailed in overcoming this challenge. We'll work closely with the police, parents and schools for prevention education. We'll add surveillance to schools and we'll have training and counseling centers. It's a challenge not in words, but with institutional co-operation. It is a large link of chains that we will include in preventing this phenomenon.

Periscope: Do you have any plans for a full-day class in Gjilan schools?

Arber Ishmael: Yeah, we got plans to start some pilot school all day. This requires additional budget and adequate infrastructure, but it is feasible. We'll start with schools that have the most capacity and space. We have to go that way. We will focus on priorities in this direction together with experts and education professionals.

Periscope: Will you be aware of the paralyzed populist promises, or will you promise everything you will remember, as did the past?

Arber Ishmael: I believe that the citizens of Gjilan know me very well. I've entered this race because the citizens have asked for me. In this race, along with the best field experts in Gjilan, we will combine the demands and needs of the citizens of Gjilan, harmonise those requirements, and you will be convinced that we will set new standards in promise of implementing only those projects and jobs that are feasible. So I'll just talk about what's feasible. I won't promise you things that have no basis, because four years walk fast and citizens ask for accounts, and I'm never interested in bringing myself into a condition where I have to go from face to face with citizens for impossible promises.

Gjilan needs an honest, stable and transparent leadership and not actors who talk about everything and do nothing. /Periscopi/