Haradinaj raises Preševo Valley "issue"

Ramush Haradinaj has asked for an office to deal with the position of ethnic Albanians in Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja. Albanian language media in Pristina are reporting that Haradinaj, who leads the opposition Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, met with a delegation of Albanians from the southern parts of central Serbia yesterday. Haradinaj raises Presevo Valley "issue" This delegation was led by Serbian parliament member Riza Halimi. After the meeting, the former leader of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, said an office should be open to deal with "the issues of the Presevo Valley". "It is possible and logical that there will not be a ministry, but an office for the Presevo Valley inside the government, that would have its own budget and experts who know the situation there." "That would be entirely in line with the government's jurisdiction and would not violate international norms, calling on a legitimate interest in the status of Albanians that live outside of Kosovo," he was quoted as saying. Media reports also said that the meeting yesterday between Haradinaj and representatives of the three municipalities discussed problems arising from Belgrade's decision not to recognize UNMIK approved Pristina University diplomas, and plans to shut down TV Presevo, the only outlet in this part of Serbia broadcasting in Albanian. The area known as the Presevo Valley is home to the largest ethnic Albanian community in Serbia outside of Kosovo. Local KLA offshoots clashed with security forces in the wake of the 1999 war in the province. The region was brought back from the brink of war with an internationally brokered ceasefire in 2001.

Haradinaj raises Preševo Valley "issue"

This delegation was led by Serbian parliament member Riza Halimi.

After the meeting, the former leader of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, said an office should be open to deal with "the issues of the Preševo Valley".

"It is possible and logical that there will not be a ministry, but an office for the Preševo Valley inside the government, that would have its own budget and experts who know the situation there."

"That would be entirely in line with the government's jurisdiction and would not violate international norms, calling on a legitimate interest in the status of Albanians that live outside of Kosovo," he was quoted as saying.

Media reports also said that the meeting yesterday between Haradinaj and representatives of the three municipalities discussed problems arising from Belgrade's decision not to recognize UNMIK approved Priština University diplomas, and plans to shut down TV Preševo, the only outlet in this part of Serbia broadcasting in Albanian.

The area known as the Preševo Valley is home to the largest ethnic Albanian community in Serbia outside of Kosovo. Local KLA offshoots clashed with security forces in the wake of the 1999 war in the province. The region was brought back from the brink of war with an internationally brokered ceasefire in 2001.