Prishtina, 22 February 2008
Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister, Hajdredin Kuçi, the Strategic Group on Transition held a meeting today with the participation of UNMIK chief Joachim Rucker, European Union Special Representative for Kosova, Pieter Feith, representatives from the government, opposition parties and also from the diplomatic missions in Kosova.
Following welcoming remarks by Mr. Joachim Rucker and Mr. Pieter Feith, Deputy Prime Minister Ramë Manaj presented a comprehensive report by the group tasked with reviewing draft laws deriving from President Martti Ahtisaari’s proposal. Mr. Manaj thanked all the participants for the good work they are doing in preparing laws stipulated in the Ahtisaari proposal.
The Deputy Prime Minister also said that it is a good signal that the Government is chairing the Transition Group for the first time. “This means that many competencies have been transferred to the Government of Kosova,” said Mr. Kuçi on the occasion pointing out that this process will be carefully steered and in cooperation with UNMIK and the European Union mission. Mr. Kuçi also thanked Mr. Pieter Feith for the readiness to support the Government of Kosova in this period of transition.
European Union Special Representative for Kosova, Pieter Feith, highly assessed the commitment shown for the work on the Draft Constitution and the good work by deputy prime ministers, Kuçi and Manaj, saying that the Draft Constitution currently in discussion is a very good document. Mr. Feith also said that we need to ensure, as it is written in the Constitutional Declaration, that the concerns of the minority communities in Kosova are included in this document.
The Strategic Group on Transition also discussed in today’s meeting the report on planning and the preparations for the Donors’ Conference that will take place in May or June this year.