Mitrovica, 24 May 2014
Deputy Prime Minister, Edita Tahiri together with the EU Special Representative, Mr. Samuel Zbogar participated in the round table with the topic “Role of youth in the implementation of the Brussels agreements” in Mitrovica, where it was discussed about the importance of youth participation from all communities for comprehensive and effective implementation of Brussels agreements. In this meeting organized from the Centre for Training and Gender Studies, supported by Norway`s Embassy, Albanian, Serbian and other community youth discussed and expressed the willingness to work together on the implementation of the agreements and assessed the current results on the integration of northern Serbians in Kosovo`s institution.
Specific topics for discussion were: Agreement on integrated management of inter-state border between Kosovo and Serbia, Free Movement Agreement, Agreement on the payment of custom duties at the two border crossing points Jarinje and Bernjak and the Development Fund.
Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri, in her speech emphasized that Brussels agreements have contributed in establishing order and normality in the northern part of the country and the integration of northern Serbians is moving on the right way. She emphasized that the Government has successfully exercised its sovereignty and democracy in this part of the country, local democratic elections were held and the northern municipalities now operate legally under legal statutes. She urged youth and women to be supported the Development fund, and support for several ethnical projects.
EU Special Representative, Mr. Samuel Zbogar, highly praised serious commitments of the Government of Kosovo in the Brussels dialogue and the effective implementation of the agreements. He said that Brussels dialogue brought Kosovo closer to the European Union, Kosovo received the Stabilization and Association Agreement, which is the first formal step of Kosovo`s integration in the European Union.
After conclusion of this meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri visited the northern part of the country where she met some citizens and stayed for a coffee at one of the coffee bars called ‘Dolce Vita’.
Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri, after the visit stated that “I had planned to visit the northern part and this was the opportunity since the conference was held at the Cultural House in Mitrovica and I used this opportunity. The weather was good, so I walked across the bridge, of course there was a concern since the barricade was still present at the bridge. I stood at the north for some time at the coffee bar Dolce Vita, I talked with some of the citizens living there, and listened to the concerns and issues that they wanted to discuss”, said Ms. Tahiri .
Deputy Prime Minister Tahiri said that she repeatedly addressed the European Union with a request to assist in removing this barricade. “For some time now, I constantly have been addressing the European Union with a request for removing this barricade. The promises have been continuous, but the barricade still stands there. As you know, most of the barricades have been already removed, and so should this, as soon as possible”, said Ms. Tahiri.
Last modified: July 31, 2022