Pristina, 6 February 2016
Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, held meetings with representatives of war veterans of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), respectively, with a delegation of the Council for the Protection of the Rights of KLA fighters, headed by Xhevdet Qeriqi, and a delegation of the War Veterans Organization of KLA, headed by Smajl Elezaj.
In the meeting were also present the First Deputy Prime Minister, also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hashim Thaci and the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Arban Abrashi.
In the conference held after two meetings, Prime Minister Mustafa expressed further support of the Government of Kosovo for veterans of the KLA.
Prime Minister Mustafa said that it has been discussed of the concerns, worries, the demands and needs of war veterans of the KLA.
“We showed the commitment of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo to jointly solve all the potential problems that can be solved at certain times and in certain periods of time. The Government has made efforts to ensure funds to effort the pensions for veterans. Of course the number of veterans is such that we should try to meet all their requirements according to the decisions taken, to meet in view of time, to take care of war invalids of the KLA ” said the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Mustafa also thanked the veterans for their cooperation, understanding and for their commitment to solve all problems through discussion, through arguments and by means of cooperation.
Smajl Elezaj by the Organization of War Veterans of KLA, considered as a very constructive the meeting and understanding encountered by the Prime Minister, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour and Social Welfare for finding ways to overcome the difficulties that veterans who claimed for war invalids.
“We discussed on the verification of the veterans, to extend the verification that lasted long, to end the chapter and other veterans concerns. The issue of payment of veterans who complaints from the field and war veterans, and we agreed since the time when veterans have applied, the Kosovo Government is obliged to offer payments to war veterans, “said Elezaj, expressing confidence that this meeting will be fruitful.
Regarding recent developments in Kosovo, in the reports of the majority and the opposition, Elezaj expressed the will of the KLA fighters not to happen those scenes like those were seen regarding two topical issues, raised now for five months in the Parliament of Kosovo, where used tear gas and violence on the streets of Kosovo.
“I think we have to think much more about building Kosovo to strengthen the institutions of Kosovo and that the majority and the opposition for each issue raised, not only those two, to exists transparency, cooperation and agree through dialogue and through other ways, “said Elezaj.
Regarding the invitation of President Jahjaga for meeting of political leaders in the country, Prime Minister Mustafa expressed willingness to participate and talk to overcome the situation.
“I as Prime Minister also invited to meet and without a doubt I, as well as Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Democratic Party has shown interest and willingness to both participate. Once again we make an invitation to opposition leaders to be there because we are interested all issues to resolve through dialogue, conversation, based on the arguments and solutions and not through violence, “said Prime Minister Mustafa.
First Deputy Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci, said that the two Heads of the major parties in the country, will respond to the invitation of President Jahjaga for meeting on Monday at 9:00 in the Presidency.
“I believe that is the right step and a process of internal institutional consultations, that a dialogue is the only process through which we can achieve the common objectives of national interest between the government and opposition leaders and not with other forms and methods that do not coincide with tradition of the citizens of Kosovo and Kosovo political philosophy in the last 25 years. Therefore, confirming the positive response, at the same time we invite opposition leaders to respond positively to the invitation, to join the dialogue. It is the only and best option and this is the will of the citizens of Kosovo, at the same time is the advice of the international community. We, in any case should sit, we should talk. We have a clear agenda of interests of the Kosovo state, and I think that this dialogue overcomes all party interests, therefore I believe that today we will have a positive response from the opposition because it is in their interest as well, “said Deputy Prime Minister Hashim Thaci.
