Organisations emerging from the war suspend cooperation with the Municipality of Drenas, Lladrovci reacts

The organisations emerging from the Kosovo Liberation Army war — the Drenas branch — announced on 2 October that they are suspending institutional cooperation with the Municipality of Drenas, as Klan Kosova writes, justifying the decision with the continuing lack of cooperation and support from the municipal institutions. In their announcement, OVL, SHFD and SHIL in Drenas say that for years they have been excluded from solemn activities and meetings for important dates, including 17 February, 5, 6 and 7 March, and 14 June — Liberation Day. “We are excluded from every activity, being offered no cooperation, no help and no support,” the announcement, signed and stamped by the organisations’ representatives, is quoted as saying.

The organisations claim that requests addressed to the Municipality have been refused or left unanswered, while around 50 non-governmental organisations benefit from various forms of municipal support. The announcement also mentions “the non-permission and obstruction of the use of land plots”. They apologised to the families of the fallen, veterans, war invalids and citizens, saying they cannot continue cooperation with an institution which, according to them, excludes and obstructs them.

The Mayor of Drenas, Ramiz Lladrovci, reacted to this development, saying that the Municipality has valued and continues to value the contribution of the associations emerging from the war. “The contribution of the associations emerging from the liberation war has been valued by the Municipality of Drenas. I have valued and I value every family of the fallen, the martyrs and the missing, as well as every invalid and veteran of the KLA,” Lladrovci told Klan Kosova. He stressed that the associations are separate from the local government, which is elected by the citizens’ vote, and that associations which benefit from public funds are subject to application, control and oversight procedures. “The associations emerging from the war, I do not expect them to be part of the agendas of any individual or group. I do not submit to blackmail or to statements from political campaigns,” Lladrovci declared, adding that the Municipality provides free offices for the associations emerging from the war.