Kosovo Government Approved Plan For Reforming Of Local Authority
RTK
February 23, 2005

Pristina, Feb 22 (RTK) - Kosovo Government has approved the framework document of the Working Group for decentralization of local authority in Kosovo. Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj assured that there isn't going to be any partition or cantonization of Kosovo. The plan foresees the execution of pilot municipalities as an immediate action and the compiling of needed legislation as a process. According to the plan, Prishtina is going to have a special status while the Gracanica municipality inhabited by a majority of Serbs is going to be under it. Then Partesh of Gjilan, Hani i Elezit, Junik of Decan and Mamusha of Prizren inhabited by the majority of Turkish are going to be transformed to municipal units.

"The material contains two main aspects, the first one of immediate actions for building of pilot units in the municipalities and the aspect of preparing of needed legislation", stated Haradinaj.

Haradinaj expressed his belief that the opposition is going to also approve this plan which is going to be discussed in the next parliamentary session.

According to the Minister of Local Authority, Lutfi Haziri the process of decentralization has two aspects, the execution of pilot municipalities as tested projects and the compiling of needed legislation.

"Today the government has decided on the document of work for the future period over the testing phase of reforming of local authority since the full reforming of local authority is going to happen based on the evaluation that the government is going to take over and based on the legal infrastructure", stated Haziri.

Haradinaj made it known that he has received the support of different states to financially help the implementation of pilot projects.