Workers of the Municipal Public Enterprise “Urban Traffic” and those of the public–private transport sector protested today in front of the Pristina Municipality and the Government of Kosovo, demanding that the municipality repay its debt to the enterprise, since due to this debt there will be no public transport service as of today.

The protest was also joined by the Mayor of the capital city, Përparim Rama, who directed the protesters toward the Government, requesting an emergency meeting with the acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, and the acting Minister of Finance, Hekuran Murati.

The head of the Urban Traffic union in Pristina, Ilmi Gashi, apologized to citizens for not being able to provide them with public transport.

Gashi explained that the enterprise owes 1 million euros to companies for fuel, and fuel supply has been blocked. Meanwhile, the Municipality of Pristina owes 3.2 million euros to the enterprise.

Furthermore, the union leader said that this is not a political issue but a matter of the survival of Urban Traffic for the citizens of Pristina.

“Urban Traffic workers have a 1-million-euro debt for fuel, workers still haven’t received two salaries… 3.2 million euros is what the municipality owes the public company Urban Traffic, 1.6 million euros we owe to suppliers, there is no money to serve us, we have no means to work, no fuel, no salaries, workers are discriminated against with this salary they haven’t received. This is not a political issue; it is about the survival of Urban Traffic for the citizens of Pristina,” Gashi said.

Meanwhile, the head of the public–private transport association, Izet Smajli, added that they are demanding the funds for the services they have provided

“Workers haven’t been paid for six months… We do not owe the municipality or anyone else anything; to bring us to this condition is unacceptable. We are asking for our money for the service we performed. We feel sorry for the citizens who use public urban transport,” Smajli added.

The protest was also joined by the Mayor of Pristina, Përparim Rama, who stated that the municipality’s own revenues continue to be blocked by the acting Ministry of Finance.

“The funds of our capital city, the own-source revenues that by law must be transferred to the capital, have been and continue to be blocked. As a result, we have been unable to pay many other companies that provide services to the capital. Nothing is hidden; the problem is over there at the Ministry of Finance. I’m requesting an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance… At 15:30 they allocated 3.2 million; they owe us around 35 million; at 15:45 they closed the possibility of payments,” Rama said.

Rama, together with the workers of public and private transport, stood in front of the Government building, protesting and demanding an emergency meeting with Minister Murati.

The head of the Urban Traffic union, Ilmi Gashi, called on the competent officials to come out and state clearly which institution is at fault.

“Since the Government is here, we ask the Government or the competent people to come out in front of the crowd, not to leave Urban Traffic like this… Let reason prevail and let the competent authority come before us—someone from the ministry must be here to tell the mayor to his face whether he is right or not,” Gashi said.

After some time, Rama was forced to leave, but he told the protesters that the moment the ministry calls for a meeting, he will be present.

“To have an emergency meeting with the Prime Minister and the Minister so that we can resolve this issue immediately because we can, so that we do not leave these people on the streets and do not leave the capital’s citizens without service… Whenever they give us a time or say ‘come now,’ I am here. We are waiting, but they are not telling us when or at what time. I am with you; whenever we receive the invitation, call me and we will go together,” Rama said.

On Sunday, the Mayor of Pristina, Përparim Rama, announced that due to the blocking of the municipal budget and own-source revenues by the acting Ministry of Finance, the municipality has been unable to pay the workers of the Municipal Public Enterprise “Urban Traffic,” and because of this, the enterprise has been forced to halt public transport operations.

In a statement, the enterprise said that the service will resume once the funds are allocated by the acting Ministry of Finance.

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