The LDA Kosovo with its further activities will be a bridge towards Europe not only for the host city, Peje/Pec, but for the all the country as a whole.
All the participants to the opening ceremony of the new offices of the LDA, that took place in Peje/Pec the 21st of November, stressed that this is not just a hope, but a certainty.
Kosovo need Europa as Europa need peaceful relations between Kosovo and Serbia and the completion of the diplomatic path between the two countries, sine qua non condition for the stability of the entire region.
The LDA Kosovo wants to play an important role in this game.
The ceremony was attended, among others,by Mr.Ali Berisha, Mayor of Peje/Pec, the host city and local partner of the LDA, Mr.MaurizioCamin, President of TavoloTrentino con ilKossovo, Colonel AndreaBorzaga new Commander of the Italian contingent in Kosovo and Commander of the Multinational Battle Group West KFOR (Kosovo Force), andMrs. Antonella Valmorbida, Director of ALDA, in connection from Italy.
During the meeting was finalised and signed by partners the Agreement that will be the operational basis of the LDA, the Association “TavoloTrentino per il Kosovo” was confirmed lead partner and was appointed the Director of the LDA, Mr. Elbert Krasniqi.
The LDA is promoted by ALDA under the auspices of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, in cooperation with international and local partners.
The ribbon cutting for the new headquarters at the Shtepia e Kultures (rrEnverHadrip.nPeje/Pec),gave to the ADL a physical place where start to implement projects and activities that already are in its agenda.
LDA Kosovo can count on the support of the network of ALDA and other 12 LDAs currently active in the Balkans and South Caucasus.
Decentralisation of power and development of administrative capacities at the local level, together with a capable and vivid civil society, represent a fundamental step in the process of democratisation, stability and development of Kosovo.
With these aims, the LDA Kosovo will develop projects which will foster inter-ethnic dialogue, promote international cooperation, encourage civil society to participate actively in the life of the local community, develop the growth of democracy and good local governance, promote the economic development, giving answers to problems and needs of the population.
The international partners of the LDA are actively engaged in Kosovo since several years, as the Lead Partner Association Table Trentino with Kosovo (TCK) – (Italy and Kosovo) for over 10 years working with the Municipality of Peja/Pec and numerous local organisations, AiBi, Friends of the Children (Italy and Kosovo), RTM Reggio Third World (Italy and Kosovo), the Only Equal Rights Association (Italy), ALFA Formation (France), the town of Yalova (Turkey). LDA local partners are the Municipality of Peja/Pec, which is also the host city, and AKM, Association of Municipalities of Kosovo.
The role of the international partners will be to provide core financial support, participate in activities where they have the skills and capacities, to encourage their own partners to participate in the work of the LDA and to promote the work of the LDA in their own community and encourage wider participation.
On occasion of the opening of new offices of the LDA, an international conference took place on the anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, approved by the UN General Assembly on 20 November 1989, which ended with a series of entertainment activities organised for children and families in Peje/Pec at the Youth Centre.