Albanians warn they may boycott local elections

PODGORICA President of the Citizen Initiative Vasel Sinistaj said that his party could boycott the local elections in Podgorica. This will happen "if the government continues with the non-fulfillment of promises," he explained. Albanians warn they may boycott local elections This especially applies to the status of Tuzi, which Albanians want to become a full-fledged municipality. According to him, the question of the status of the municipality of Tuzi should be resolved before the local elections in Podgorica, to be held in the spring of next year. Sinistaj added that as far as the Albanians were concerned Mayor of Podgorica Miomira Mugosa did not present a satisfactory offer when he suggested Tuzi should gain greater autonomy, and not the status of a separate municipality. "The Citizens' Initiative only finds it acceptable for Tuzi to receive the three pillars of local self- government - territory, jurisdiction, and budget, and everything else can be a matter of agreement and political will," he told the local media. Tuzi - the local center for the Malesija area along the border between Montenegro and Albania - is predominantly inhabited by ethnic Albanians and currently has the status of an urban municipality within the city of Podgorica. Tuzi Municipal President Fran Luldjuraj recently resigned from that post because, as he explained, a consultative referendum on an autonomous municipality had not been organized by the end of September. The referendum was not held because it should have been preceded by an expert study meant to show whether Tuzi would be economically viable as an autonomous municipality. In late September two such studies emerged, but with completely opposite conclusions - one claimed that based on current parameters Tuzi would not be economically viable, while the other argued that the establishment of a municipality would have "a financial justification." The final decision on whether to grant Tuzi the status will be made by the Montenegrin parliament, on the proposal of the government. Tanjug

Albanians warn they may boycott local elections

This especially applies to the status of Tuzi, which Albanians want to become a full-fledged municipality.

According to him, the question of the status of the municipality of Tuzi should be resolved before the local elections in Podgorica, to be held in the spring of next year.

Sinistaj added that as far as the Albanians were concerned Mayor of Podgorica Miomira Mugoša did not present a satisfactory offer when he suggested Tuzi should gain greater autonomy, and not the status of a separate municipality.

"The Citizens' Initiative only finds it acceptable for Tuzi to receive the three pillars of local self- government - territory, jurisdiction, and budget, and everything else can be a matter of agreement and political will," he told the local media.

Tuzi - the local center for the Malesija area along the border between Montenegro and Albania - is predominantly inhabited by ethnic Albanians and currently has the status of an urban municipality within the city of Podgorica.

Tuzi Municipal President Fran Luldjuraj recently resigned from that post because, as he explained, a consultative referendum on an autonomous municipality had not been organized by the end of September.

The referendum was not held because it should have been preceded by an expert study meant to show whether Tuzi would be economically viable as an autonomous municipality.

In late September two such studies emerged, but with completely opposite conclusions - one claimed that based on current parameters Tuzi would not be economically viable, while the other argued that the establishment of a municipality would have "a financial justification."

The final decision on whether to grant Tuzi the status will be made by the Montenegrin parliament, on the proposal of the government.