Rounds of public debates about Kosovo – Serbia dialogue continued in Peja with the panelists: Chairman of Peja Municipal Assembly, Mr. Islam Husaj and MPs: Ms. Besa Gaxherri (LDK), Ms. Safete Hadërgjonaj (PDK), Mrs. Donika Kadaj-Bujupi (LVV) and Ms. Time Kadriaj (AAK).

Jeta Krasniqi, project manager at KDI, emphasized that the process of dialogue by the majority of citizens is considered as non-transparent and non-inclusive, despite the fact that this dialogue has an impact on the lives of all Kosovars, including citizens from Peja region. More specifically, Ms. Krasniqi elaborated on the issue of suspension of dialogue by the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, raising the debate on the future of the process in general and topics that need to be discussed with Serbia in particular.

Islam Husaj, Chairman of the Municipal Assembly of Peja, regarding the dialogue process has stressed that the debate on the dialogue should have started at the local level with citizens of the country before being raised at the Assembly. Mr. Husaj stated that Kosovo should continue the dialogue with Serbia, because this is the only way we can protect our national interests, and the topics that need to be dialogued should be consulted in advance with the  citizens and their interests should be taken into account. Mr.Husaj called for more transparency in the dialogue process and that citizens' demands on this process be considered.

LDK MP, Ms. Besa Gaxherri, pointed out that since the beginning of the dialogue process, the current Government has negotiated based on nine principles, including the statehood of the Republic of Kosovo, the extent of the country's sovereignty in the north, war reparations and other matters of special interest to the country. Ms.Gaxherri declared that Kosovo will never discuss with Serbia on independence of the country or regarding internal issues of the Republic of Kosovo. She said that the level of transparency by the Government should be increased, although not always issues discussed behind closed doors in Brussels could be made public. She evaluated the agreements reached positively, and also stressed that the dialogue process has led directly to the signing of the SAA with the European Union.

On the other hand, the PDK MPs, Safete Hadërgjonaj, mentioned several agreements concluded with Serbia that have a direct impact on strengthening of statehood, such as agreement telephone code, extinguishing of parallel structures, revitalization of the bridge over Ibar River etc. Ms. Hadërgjonaj declared that as a result of the dialogue process the interstate border with Serbia is now set, Kosovo has extended its sovereignty in the north on the field of security and customs. She said that the dialogue should continue, and that topics dealing with the consequences of war should be discussed in this dialogue. She also stressed the need of building an overall unity to this process.

AAK MP Time Kadrija declared that the debate about the dialogue should have started at the local level and transmitted to the central level. She also stated that the Assembly has given consent for dialogue on technical issues but not political ones. Ms. Kadriaj said that due to lack of transparency deputies did not know if the wall  built in the northern Mitrovica was part of the deal to revitalize the bridge over the Ibar river or not. AAK despite the fact that at some stage has supported this process, estimates that non-implementation of the agreements reached loses the sense of dialogue and that dialogue should not continue.

 

Meanwhile, Donika Kadaj Bujupi of Levizja Vetevendosje! declared that her party was not against dialogue in principle, but against unprincipled dialogue. She declared that Kosovo has been a subject, not an equal party in these discussions in Brussels. She said that the suspension of the dialogue does not come as a result of the Assembly Resolution, but the suspension is due to the presidential elections in Serbia. She added that this dialogue should not continue.

Panelists also answered to the citizens' questions about many issues related to the dialogue process. From this discussion emerged the citizens' demand for unification of the political spectrum for dialogue with Serbia and the inclusion of topics related to the war  such as missing people, raped women and war damages.

 

This debate was organized in the framework of the memorandum of cooperation signed between KDI and Parliament aimed at increasing the participation of citizens within the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and strengthen the supervisory role of Parliament over the Government, with funding from the Swiss Embassy.