The Office of Community Affairs, which exists within the Office of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, has launched an initiative for recognition of diplomas from Pristina University, which was relocated to Kosovska Mitrovica, announces the director of the Office, Srdjan Popovic.
“A guaranteed right that at least in 10 percent of the public administration are employed members from the minority communities is an important mechanism for the survival of Serbs in Kosovo. According to analyzes of the credible institutions, in practice, that right is insufficiently implemented. Office of Community Affairs in May last year conducted a survey on the representation of non-majority communities in public institutions and companies, which also showed that many institutions does not meet the quota,” said Popovic.
He says that in practice the Kosovo institutions do not recognize the certificates issued by the Serbian education system in Kosovo, and that the goal of the Office of Community Affairs is to remove barriers so that all interested citizens could be hired according to their education and opportunities.
What problems Serbs face when it comes to recognizing diplomas?
“Lots of ambiguity, lack of clear guidelines for Kosovo administration so they could implement the agreement on recognition of diplomas creates an objective problem to citizens, whose documents on the graduation in the Serbian education system, operating in Kosovo, are not recognized. In such a way they become directly deprived of the possibility of employment in Kosovo.”
When you expect the problem about the recognition of diplomas will be resolved?
“As soon we start, the sooner we can achieve results. As an office whose main mandate is to resolve specific issues that are plaguing members of minority communities in Kosovo, we believe that we need a lot of allies. I call on all relevant institutions in Kosovo, local and international, to advocate that members of non-majority communities exercise their rights, which are guaranteed by law.”
