A budget proposal was passed after a heated debate at the meeting of the Government of Kosovo on Friday, 25 million euros are reserved for municipalities in northern Kosovo (20 million for capital investment, and five for operative costs).
Three million euros are reserved from the budget for returnees and those who have recently returned to Kosovo and are in need for help.
The proposal was put on the table by vice president Edita Tahiri and in the discussion she had great support from the Minister of Internal Affairs Bajram Rexhepi. Although the decision was made unanimously, the Minister for Return and Communities, Dalibor Jevtic confirmed that he was against such a draft budget and he hopes that through parliamentary procedure it will be possible to prevent “complete stopping of the return process”.
– I do not want to talk about some kind of “conspiracy theory” but it is obvious that there is some intention – when you already give Serbs, let us take from them. I’m not against giving funds to municipalities in the north, on the contrary. But the return of displaced persons and the rights of non-majority communities must be a priority, says Jevtic.
With this budget proposal, the Ministry of Communities and Returns in 2015 will have half the money, while, on the other hand, 253 families are waiting for the construction of houses in which they would return, and whose total value, according to the calculations of the Ministry of Communities and Returns is about eight million euros.
– This practically means that next year the return will be lowest so far. Central Commission for the return has approved 253 requests for 253 families who need to return to Kosovo, and by budget cuts their return is questionable. Almost there will be no stabilization project, and all signed memorandums with foreign donors, which provide our participation, are questionable. About these issues I spoke at the session, and besides that, I have informed in writing the Ministry of Finance – says Jevtic.
