Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI), today held a public debate with citizens, members of the Assembly of Gjakova region and head of the municipality with the theme “Kosovo – Serbia dialogue: perspective of citizens of Gjakova region.” This debate aimed at promoting conversation between citizens and elected officials regarding this process.

Part of the discussion panel was chairwoman of Gjakova Mimoza Kusari-Lila, MPs, Hajdar Beqa (PDK), Armend Zemaj (LDK), Driton Çaushi (VV) and MP Teuta Haxhiu (AAK).

At the opening of this debate life Krasniqi KDI has stressed that this process is considered by citizens as non-transparent and non-inclusive, despite the fact that this dialogue has an impact on the lives of all Kosovars. According to its affairs that are of interest to the citizens of this municipality as the issue of missing persons and war crimes remain unaddressed in this dialogue, although the government has pledged to discuss in Brussels.

Mimoza Kusari-Lila, mayor of Gjakova, regarding the dialogue process has stressed that the Kosovo side has no strategy in relation to Serbia and no proactive role, because each time only deals by reacting to problems caused by Serbia. According to her, now is the key moment to redefine the dialogue which according to her should include: redefinition of priorities of the Kosovo side, designation of other priorities, to require succession with Serbia and to solve the issue of missing persons, the largest number of which is from Gjakova Municipality.

MP Haydar Beqa, said it is necessary to increase the level of transparency from the Government regarding this dialogue both towards deputies and the citizens and to not use this dialogue for political campaigns but have full consensus on it. Beqa has considered that the level of representation in this dialogue should be increased, so Kosovo will not only have protective role in these negotiations, but to be more offensive. While adding that institutions should take responsibility in a more dynamic way in order to solve the issue of missing persons, which he stated, that Serbia should be conditioned.

Beqa commented on the issue of transformation of KSF, saying it should have full consensus on the transformation of KSF. He added that this is an internal issue of Kosovo and considers that it should not be discussed in Brussels.

While MP Armend Zemaj, has estimated that transparency in the process of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue has been delayed both towards Parliament as well as the citizens.

According to him, Kosovo policy should be adapted to the specific topics because it is the key moment that issues of vital interest such as justice, the army, the partnership with the international community, war crimes topics to be concrete topics in this dialog. Zemaj added that Kosovo should request accountability for the past and raise charges in any form against Serbia for its actions during 1989-1999 years. Regarding the transformation of KSF, he said that we should not necessarily connect issues related to the strengthening of Kosovo's state subjectivity with the dialogue process because according to him, the push of Serbian state against MPs of Srpska list shows that they have no willingness to allow constitutional changes.

MP Driton Çaushi, criticizing the way it was dialogued and agreements that have been reached so far in the framework of this dialogue, stressed that there can be no dialogue without conditions and principles. According to him, the agreements reached so far besides causing resentment have made Kosovo less independent.

Also he added inter alia that Kosovo should condition Serbia in the dialogue with mutual recognition, the removal of Kosovo as part of Serbia from the Serbia constitution, the return of the missing persons, reparations and prosecution of those who committed crimes. Regarding the transformation of KSF, Çaushi said that it should be a draft law well thought out and should not be part of negotiations in Brussels.

While Deputy Teuta Haxhiu, said that six years of dialogue with Serbia is taking place without clear objectives and the main problem, according to her, is at Kosovar leaders. She estimated that all the agreements reached so far should be analysed and then to see how this dialogue should continue. She also said that Serbia should be conditioned until all missing persons are found.

As for the transparency of this dialogue, Haxhiu stressed that this process is not transparent since the agreements are discussed only after being signed.

Also panellists responded to citizens' inquiries regarding the many issues related to the process of dialogue and new topics that citizens considered that should be opened in the framework of this dialogue as the issue of missing persons as well as compensation for war damages.

 

This debate is 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.