Four members of the Kosovo Assembly who come from the region of Prizren, confronted Prizren citiznes today, to discuss the dialogue progress between Kosovo and Serbia. This roundtable organized by KDI aimed at promoting the dialogue with citizens, the increase of transparency and the increase of accountability by the deputies of Kosovo Assembly towards citizens regarding the process.

Panelists in this table were members of the Assembly of Prizren region: Mr. Nait Hasani (PDK), Mr. Zafir Berisha (NISMA), Mrs. Emilija Redzepi (NDS) and Mr. Hatim Baxhaku (LDK).

In opening the discussion, the Executive Director of KDI, Mr. Ismet Kryeziu, emphasized the fact that Kosovo's citizens do not feel close this dialog and lack information about it. He explained that the KDI's research have highlighted that 75% of citizens are dissatisfied with their level of information by institutions when it comes to this process and have demanded greater accountability from the Assembly.

Deputy Nait Hasani, in his speech stressed that Kosovo, since the declaration of independence had to enter into diplomatic relations with neighboring countries, including Serbia.

He said that, this relationship must exist despite the past that the two countries have had, because of the Albanians living in Serbia so that they have equal rights. He mentioned the stages in which the dialogue between the two countries was developed and the fact that now takes place at the Presidential level. He said that this means that this dialogue will go to the benefit of citizens.

Whereas, deputy Zafir Berisha emphasized that talks with Serbia have begun as technical but then exceeded becoming political talks “on Kosovo's internal affairs”. He considered that the error was made in the first steps, since Kosovo, according to him, entered in this dialogue being uneven with Serbia, which did not apologize for war crimes and continues to treat Kosovo as its province. Also among other things, the deputy Berisha has considered harmful the Agreement on Association and on Justice.

Deputy Emilija Redzepi, stressed that the process of normalization of relations between the two countries may take a long time but it is necessary to happen. All those who believe in the state of Kosovo, its opening to the region and good neighborly relations must believe in this dialogue between the two sides. She said that, without believing in this project it cannot succeed.

Meanwhile, the deputy Hatim Baxhaku stressed that the agreements that have emerged from the process of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia have not been sufficiently transparent nor to citizens or to the Assembly. He said that this dialogue has started in circumstances that were not very appropriate because there was not a willingness of both countries to talk. However, he said that this dialogue should continue, but with another agenda, a platform well prepared after a discussion in the Assembly and with citizens.

Also panelists in the debate responded to the great interest of the citizens about the process from where was articulated the need for increased transparency about the dialogue, increased accountability to citizens by the Government as well as the Assembly and reshape of the dialogue in the future.

This table is organized in the framework of the memorandum of cooperation signed between KDI and the Assembly aimed at increasing the participation of citizens in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia as well as strengthening the oversight role of the Assembly towards the Government, financed by the Swiss Embassy in Kosovo.