The occasion of Kosovo starting participation in the European Union funded Cross Border Cooperation Programmes in 2011, was marked in a special way by the Ministry of Local Government Administration with the support of the EU funded project “Cross Border Cooperation Programme”. Civil servants from Kosovo institutions, media representatives, students, representatives of NGOs and other stakeholders from the bordering regions got together in Pristina’s main cinema to talk about cross border cooperation, and to watch the movie “Donkeys of the Border”. 14 January 2011, Prishtina
The occasion of Kosovo starting participation in the European Union funded Cross Border Cooperation Programmes in 2011, was marked in a special way by the Ministry of Local Government Administration with the support of the EU funded project “Cross Border Cooperation Programme”. Civil servants from Kosovo institutions, media representatives, students, representatives of NGOs and other stakeholders from the bordering regions got together in Pristina’s main cinema to talk about cross border cooperation, and to watch the movie “Donkeys of the Border”.
Mr. Renzo Daviddi, Head of European Commission Liaison Office to Kosovo addressed the audience, as well as representatives from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Republic and the Republic of Albania who expressed the commitment of their respective countries to promote joint cross-border cooperation initiatives with the aim of improving the life of communities living in the bordering regions.
Besnik Osmani, General Secretary of Ministry of Local Government Administration (MLGA), the host of the event, stressed Kosovo’s commitment in implementing the programmes that in his view are “effective tools to turn the borders into opportunities for development, rather than barriers”.
Besnik Osmani: "We are committed to work hard, in order to bring new economical and cultural values to the citizens of regional countries, through the cross-border cooperation project, in particular to the citizens who live in the boundary zones of these countries. We are very happy that Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo are working willingly, and in full partnership, in order to jointly identify and develop joint projects, which gives spirit to this process. Such projects will initially facilitate the regional integration, as well integration of these countries into the European family".
Kosovo’s commitment to good neighbourhood and development in the view of common aspirations towards European Integration were emphasized also by Edon Cana, General Secretary of the Ministry of European Integration and IPA national coordinator.
“Donkeys of the Borders”, is a satiric movie that tells the story of inhabitants living in the border area between Yugoslavia and Albania in the late sixties. Through an artistic language, the Director – Jeton Ahmetaj – describes the absurdity of the totalitarian regimes, where borders were barriers, iron curtains that banned the communication between communities that for centuries have shared the same history, living only a few hundred meters away from each other.
The European Commission is providing assistance to Kosovo to participate in the Cross Border Cooperation programmes with the Western Balkan Countries under the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA). Under this Instrument, Kosovo is participating in CBC programme Kosovo – Albania, CBC programme Kosovo – former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and CBC programme Kosovo – Montenegro.
CBC programmes with Albania and former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia were finalized and approved in December 2010, while their implementation will start as of 2011. Preparation of the CBC programme Kosovo – Montenegro is expected to be completed in February 2011.