Pristina, 3 February 2015
Greetings to everybody
I wish that together with you to share some of the current issues in our country and the commitment of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo in solving them.
I can say that the Government of the Republic of Kosovo has inherited many problems, either accumulated from previous years or as a result of the war, and the pre-war situation, related to with economic development, high unemployment, high poverty, with high level corruption and organized crime.
Kosovo has also remained the only country in this part of the Balkans that is isolated and to which the visa regime is applied.
From our country a large number of citizens are now going away, especially young people, and are seeking refuge in other countries, which speaks of a very serious economic and social situation, but also for other existing problems.
We understand all that. Also, this understanding of these problems will influence us that in the Governing Programme to try maximally to solve these problems, to offer solutions one by one, for faster economic development, higher employment and to fight organized crime and corruption.
These days I am committed to working with municipalities as well, so that in different environments to deal with concrete problems of citizens, those related to infrastructure, environmental protection, health institutions, within our comparative or economic development, especially in agriculture and some branches of agriculture, in some specified municipalities, and which are related to fiscal policy problems which prevent a greater incentive to private sector development and employment.
All these will be taken into account in order to address to the relevant ministries and solve these problems as such.
We are very interested to make the integration of the north, to create bridges of cooperation with all communities in Kosovo, especially the Serb community, to continue the dialogue in Brussels to solve all the problems and issues that we consider are questionable and controversial with Serbian government in order to establish stability in the region and to come to the condition that Serbia would recognize the independence of Kosovo and we will work in this regard.
We will work with all our communities in order to solve their problems and they recognize and experience Kosovo as their country, every inch of Kosovo as their country, but will not allow in any moment that for our territory, for our wealth to discuss with others, because we consider that are inalienable rights of the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo and are a matter of sovereignty of the Republic of Kosovo.
In recent days we were faced with many protests, with disappointment, with strikes in various areas.
We talked with various syndicates of different fields, even with the Syndicate of Kosovo, regarding the problems that are about increase of salaries, about implementation of the Collective Contract which was signed by the previous government.
Of course we are aware to implement all the agreements previously signed. We will make efforts to implement also promises that are given either during the campaign, either other promises, but we are also limited that the fulfilment of these promises to be made within the framework of possibilities in the Budget of the Republic of Kosovo.
We have saved a lot from budget expenditures to allocate a part of funds to afford our obligation towards Collective Contract, and we will allow that the contract be applied for work experience, for all public sectors, education and health.
However, for now we are not able to afford increase of salaries by 25 per cent, because it would require at least 130 million from the budget, which we have not.
So we asked for understanding from syndicates, we ask for understanding from citizens today as well.
We would also like to emphasize that salaries are not low, compared with the region, because the civil servants, the education and health, have salaries above average salaries that are in the region.
But the increase of salaries is not relate to this, nor the fact that the private sector has lower salaries than the public, but the impossibility for us to afford them..
We are also faced with the demands of the protesters, in two previous protests regarding Trepca and regarding minister Jabllanoviq.
I can inform you that from today the minister Jabllanoviq is not part of the Cabinet.
Whereas, regarding Trepca, I can say that if Trepca remained as it was, with the decision of the Special Chamber of the Constitutional Court, today Trepca would be in the process of bankruptcy.
But, this Government and Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo, has decided to amend the Law on Organizing of Certain Enterprises and their Assets, and have prevented that Trepca undergo the process of bankruptcy.
Meanwhile, further reorganization of Trepca and its definition of property will be made after the strategy for Trepca, having consulted in basic eminent local and international experts , and due to this and our interests and economic development not only of the Albanians but, in the interests of all communities and all our citizens, we will decide how to define ownership regarding Trepca.
We have proposed Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Public Enterprises which is in parliamentary procedure, which enables Trepca be defined by a specific law and a particular strategy, and we will respect this.
Meanwhile, the proposed part of the Law which deals with the right to consult municipalities, namely the registration of public enterprises in the municipality to be in agreement with the municipalities, there is nothing to do with Trepca, and it is a wrong interpretation.
It has to do with the properties that will be taken by the Kosovo Trust Agency for the purposes of education, health, culture, sports, and other needs in the public interest of the citizens in municipalities, as well as strategic investments that will be made by the Republic of Kosovo in different projects, for which foreign investors will come, and in no way that we try to nationalize or to transform public enterprises, into private enterprises which are now under the authority of Kosovo Privatization Agency.
We will work with everyone. No decision will be taken for Trepca, nor other issues that are of interest of the country, without consulting all partners, without consulting all stakeholders, and without consulting the citizens, whose interests are affected in case of such decisions.
Thank you!
Last modified: July 31, 2022