A parcel for a collective building for RAE community, allocated (Koha Ditore)
The Assembly of Gjakovë/Djakovica, has decided to allocate a parcel for Roma Ashkali and Egyptian returnees, who lived in Montenegro for 15 years. The paper reports that the decision was made after a hash debate, where from the 29 advisers present, 15 voted for the allocation of the parcel for RAE community, 13 were against and one abstained. Representatives of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK,) objected this decision insisting that individuals who do not possess any property is Gjakovë/Djakovica should not return there. “I am telling you that Gjakovë/Djakovica has already many people without a shelter who seek institutional aid, including the ones from the communities. Why should we deal with those who are not in this city for 15 years now and did not contribute anything, instead of looking after our people who lack a shelter?” asked Pjetër Ndou from this party. The discussion on this issue took place twice: initially the Municipal Assembly Speaker proposed to include this issue in the agenda, however this was possible only after a break and consultations. Artan Nimani from the Democratic Party of Kosovo said that Municipality does not have any obligation towards any of the communities that have committed indecent actions. “I am convinced that majority of them are not citizens of Kosovo,” he said. Different from the other members of the PDK, Nimani voted against the proposal. Agron Batusha from Vetëvendosje stated that this case is not integrating this community but it is ghettoizing them. “With the way we are treating them, we are discriminating not integrating them. If we are speaking about integration, we should be building their flats in the center and not in “Kolonia” neighborhood,” said Batusha. Major of Gjakovë/Djakovica Municiplaity, Mimoza Kusari Lila, stated that this parcel is the only free one in the municipality. “We have tried in several villages, but we faced major resistance of the villagers, due to their experience during the war and problems with the missing persons. We do not want to radicalize the situation and create problems with the community…,” said Kusari-Lila. She explained that except for the allocation of parcel, the municipality does not have any other obligations, since the entire investment will come from the European Commission.