Petrit Gashi, chairman of the board of the Privatisation Agency of Kosovo, told Radio Free Europe that “Serbia has no shares in any property in Kosovo” and that “Belgrade knows well that Trepca is Kosovo’s property”.
The status of the Trepca mining complex has been a topic of discussion for quite some time in Kosovo. In your opinion, what is the best solution for the mining complex in Mitrovica?
The Trepca issue is one of the most important economic issues discussed in the last couple of years. But it was addressed more seriously in 2016, in terms of finding a final solution for the mining complex. This year discussions were held with all institutions or stakeholders involved in Trepca, including the Government, Assembly and the Privatisation Agency of Kosovo. As administrators of Trepca, we have discussed and analysed different ways of treating the mining complex. We have looked into several case studies on how various countries dealt with such mining complexes. PAK recently initiated a feasibility study and once it is concluded it will provide answers how to transform Trepca. To be honest, finding a solution for Trepca is not easy. There is also the draft law that was sent to the Assembly yesterday. The draft law creates space, it is flexible to find a final solution for Trepca; it is not easy to find a final solution that will take into account the interests of all stakeholders. We need to understand the complexity of Trepca; we should not look at it only from an economic standpoint, but also from a political and security standpoint. This is a very complex step and it needs to be well-thought before a final solution is found.
Whenever Trepca was discussed, authorities in Belgrade intervened saying that Serbia is the sole owner of the mining complex and that the Trepca problem cannot be resolved without Belgrade. Does Serbia have a share in the mining complex?
Serbia has no shares in any property in Kosovo. Based on the legislation on which PAK functions, all properties belong to Kosovo, including Trepca. This is how we have treated the mining complex and we have cooperated both with operations in the north and the south. I believe this is a political standpoint, because they [Belgrade] too are aware that Trepca does not belong to Serbia, but to Kosovo.
Mr. Gashi, what will happen if the Kosovo Assembly does not pass the draft law on Trepca on Friday?
I don’t want to think about this alternative. We have timelines as an agency. As administrators of Trepca we have a deadline and even mentioning November 1st is a nightmare for us. But what will happen with Trepca on November 1st, according to the moratorium that defines the mining complex. On November 1st, Trepca will go to liquidation. If this deadline, which requires changes in legislation, is postponed it would enable us as PAK and other stakeholders to prepare a plan for the final solution of the ownership of Trepca or to prepare the final transformation of the mining complex.
