Rama open letter Kurt: It is time for the Pristina Ring to be unblocked, start works without delay

Pristina Mayor Progress Rama has written an open letter to incumbent Prime Minister Albin Kurti asking him to “unblock the capital's project for the ring.

Rama writes that the project remained “blocked at the central level” for more than 4 years.

During the election campaign, you have publicly called for unlocking the Pristina Ring, acknowledging its strategic and national importance. Today, following the clear expression of the democratic will of Pristina citizens, there is also an institutional mandate to move this project forward without further delay of”, he writes, among other things.

He has demanded that the citizens' “interests be placed on any political calculator”.

Rama's letter, posted on his Facebook account:

Open letter to Kosovo Republic acting prime minister

Honored Prime Minister in charge,

Pristina's ring is one of the most important infrastructure projects for the capital and for the economic development of the Republic of Kosovo. This project is not only an urban need for easing traffic and increasing city functionality but also a strategic investment of national and regional importance.

For more than four years, however, the implementation of this project has remained blocked at the central level, despite full technical, legal and procedural readiness of the Pristina municipality. This prolonged impasse has caused direct consequences for citizens of the capital and is seriously affecting public interest.

During the election campaign, you have publicly called for unlocking the Pristina Ring, acknowledging its strategic and national importance. Today, following the clear expression of the democratic will of Pristina citizens, there is also an institutional mandate to move this project forward without further delays.

I would like to stress that the Capital Ring project has been approved for financing by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), worth a total of 206m euros, of which up to 40% are grant funds, up to 82.4m euros in irreversible means, respectively. These funds are conditional on clear time deadlines, and any institutional procrastination directly jeopardises their loss.

This project is known as part of the Western Balkan highway network, which makes it a national strategic priority, not a local-level project. The loss of over 82m euros in grants would be a major damage not only to Pristina, but to the Republic of Kosovo as a whole, while also undermining the country's institutional credibility towards international partners.

On behalf of the citizens of Pristina, I publicly request that the acting Government of the Republic of Kosovo put this national project into every corner of the <x0 quadangle” Kant, Mill, Aristotel of government, but unplug it! We request that all administrative and institutional barriers that are hindering the realisation of the Pristina ring and enable the start of operations without further delay be opened.

Unlock all administrative and institutional barriers that are hindering the realisation of the Pristina Ring and enable the start of operations without further delay.

This is not a political project. It does not serve a party or a mandate, but the country's long-term development, economy, urban furniture and quality of citizens' lives. Continued blocking undermines public interest and unjustly penalise the capital due to institutional non-coordination.

It is time for the Pristina Ring to be opened.

It is time for citizens' interests to be placed on any political calculations.

With respect,

Progress Rama

Pristina chairman