Pristina Mayor Progress Rama has led fierce criticism of the Kosovo government, accusing him of lack of financial support, procrastination of major projects and blocking the capital’s development.
In an interview for Online Economy, Rama argued that Pristina through its citizens and businesses contributes at least 2.1 billion euros to the state budget, while from the central level gets only 161m euros, out of which almost half is spent for salaries.
Yeah, I’ve called on the government to think about the capital because the capital pays half the state budget. So if the state budget is 4.3 billion, Pristina with its citizens, with its businesses it pays the central rate of 2.1 billion at least. 2.1 billion. Until it gets back 161 million, where nearly half of them are salaries, Rama said.
In addition to budgetary divisions, Rama has also raised concerns about the fate of the capital ring, a project that, according to him, has been stumbling for more than four years.
He has stressed that building this ring is not only in the interest of Pristina, but also in the interest of all Kosovo citizens who circulate through the capital.
Likewise, you don’t think we’ve been looking for the ring to build the capital ring for almost four years, because it’s for the good of not only the capital, but all of Kosovo. They’ve been blocking this process, and now after four years they’re saying they’ve been budgeting it, he’s got it.
On the other hand, Rama has recalled that in 2021, according to the European Bank’s analysis of reconstruction and Development ( The cost of building the ring was estimated at 206m euros.
However, according to him, the amounts shared by the government over the years have been evidently lower than the value needed for project implementation.
So in 2021 the budget, which was analysed by the EBRD from the European Development Bank, was 206 million to build the ring. How much did the government split them? One million in the first year, 10th, 50th. So a total of 61 million, Rama has been expressed.
He has demanded that at least 206m euros be provided for the project, stressing that the actual cost could be even higher due to price hikes.
According to him, the capital ring should be built within 24 months, or at most, within three years.
The ring has to be built for two years, 24 months, or probably three years. So it’s going to have to split up at least 206 million in advance since 2021. And given that the prices have moved, there should be more than 206 million more, he added.
Pristina’s leader has continued on charges against the central level, claiming that delays in realising infrastructure projects are damaging the capital’s development.
Rama has accused Government of promising citizens investment, while hindering their realisation.
So, the government unfortunately shuts up to the citizens of the capital, continues with lies, continues in a row against the capital, but this is now happening. I’m saying, we as the capital are continuing with major projects, as they continue with sab run-offs, blockades and roots, he’s got a point.
Despite the criticism, Rama has called on central institutions to reflect and co-operate with the Pristina Community in implementing projects in the interest of citizens.
I wish them to reflect, actually invite them to reflect and cooperate, Rama told EO.
He has also expressed disappointment with the Opera project, rejecting the way central institutions are planning developments in the space linking the Youth Palace with the Arberia neighbourhood.
According to Rama, the municipality had previously been prevented from developing projects in that area with the reasoning of protecting cultural heritage, while building a major object is now being planned.
You have seen their project with Opera, for example, that completely ignores this platform that connects the youth palace together with Arberia. So, so far on behalf of that cultural heritage we’ve been blocked, and now I’m doing a super large building there that doesn’t come to the capital, because we have the concert hall, Rama added.
Rama has stressed that major projects should be planned in co-operation between institutions, so that public funds can be exploited for the needs of citizens rather than for political clashes.
In the end, Rama has declared that the consequences of blocking projects are not delivered personally, but by the citizens of Pristina, especially the young.
We’ve been discussing and saying, come and talk about it because these, all of these developments have to be co-ordinated, co-ordinated for the good of the citizens, not for the sake of spending funds on the citizens’ budgets that pay taxes, so, to be wasted, even more used for blockades, so against the citizens, actually, that I don’t care. Citizens, our youth, our future is blocking and sabotaging, not Rama, has ended.
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Source Layer: Signal