This conference was a good opportunity for all of us to share our experiences and best practices in order to improve local governance. Prishtina, September 15, 2012
Dear guests from the participating countries,
Representatives of local governments, non-governmental organizations and the media,
The Ministry of Local Government Administration has organized the international conference on local governance for the third year in a row. The Conference was organized jointly with our partners: Office of the European Union in Kosovo and the Association of Kosovo Municipalities.
This conference was a good opportunity for all of us to share our experiences and best practices in order to improve local governance.
I want to thank the representatives from the United Kingdom, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia and Turkey, who have honored us with their participation in the plenary sessions and working groups, and brought their experience in Kosovo.
Dear participants,
As organizers, we had several objectives:
First of all, our objective was to show our political commitment to support local authorities. This was proved in the best way through the contribution of the country’s top officials: – Kosovo President, Prime Minister and many ministers and leaders of independent institutions.
Our aim was to show that the international community is with us in this process. Ambassadors, senior representatives of the European Union, KFOR, EULEX, etc., were present during the whole proceedings of agenda.
We had intended to show that foreign aid to the local institutions will continue. Around 30 partners from the donor community were part of the proceedings and hence had an excellent opportunity to see our progress and experience.
We had intended to implement our political commitment to cooperation in the region. During these two days, we have together demonstrated a unique example that such cooperation is excellent and therefore we must continue to work together towards the advancement of local government.
Our objective was to hear what the participating countries have achieved and what they have chosen to achive. Tens and hundreds of people who work every day in our municipalities have joined the agenda and were very active in presenting a variety of topics.
Our conference without a doubt was an ideal place to talk about our achievements and concerns.
Dear participants,
This time we came up with an original idea and we brought in one place Kosovo municipalities to present their values and traditions. Now mosaic of local government was enriched with the Fair of the Municipalities.
The Fair of the Municipalities has presented without a doubt the creativity of municipalities and their potential in a very original way.
Today and yesterday, during free discussions, I have heard more than once people wandering which municipality will win this event. I’m not saying it’s irrelevant. But, I can tell you first of all that the most important thing is the local government in Kosovo is the winner of this Fair.
Dear participants,
The participants has identified the need to encourage partnerships among state government, inter-municipal and cross-border cooperation, as an important factor for improving the quality of services, increasing social cohesion and providing government closer to the citizens.
We have all together emphasized the need of our government to provide professional and financial assistance to the municipalities. Moreover, we have also stressed the great need for increased local autonomy, in the way that local authorities could bring important decisions to improve the quality of life of citizens.
All along we have provided an important role and the key role played by units of state administration in fulfilling aspirations for European integration of all countries in the region. That was the central theme of this conference.
Let me finally thank the Association of Kosovo Municipalities and twinning project of the European Commission, interpreters and Information Technology experts who have organized this agenda.
Deep gratitude to the local media in general, but also international ones for paying attention and proper access to the conference, which helped this event to have an echo, and communicate its contents to the wider external and internal opinion.
Once again thank you for your contribution and we’ll see you at the next conferenc