conversation – Dielli

CONVERSATION SERIES WITH AKRI ÇIPA

June 29, 2021 by dgreca

by Rafaela Prifti/

The Pan-Albanian Federation of America Vatra denounced the statement of US Ambassador Philip Kosnett that “Kosovo has an obligation to set up the Association of Serb Municipalities” earlier this month. Kosovo’s Prime Minister Kurti has rejected this suggestion by stating that there is neither a legal nor constitutional basis for an ethnic based association in Kosovo. Vatra’s statement points to the risk of ASM leading into “a mini-Serbia in Kosovo”. What are your concerns?

Unfortunately, Serbia has managed to use the so-called Association of Serb Municipalities issue to block the dialogue process and, at the same time, to put the blame on Kosova. The country’s Constitutional Court has made it clear that the association as pushed for by Belgrade is unconstitutional. At the same time, all Balkan observers and those invested in the region know that there is a real danger that such an entity could be leveraged by Belgrade to destabilize the State of Kosova.

Importantly, the association as called for by Serbia’s representatives does nothing to advance the rights of the Serbian minority in Kosova. On the opposite, it merely offers Belgrade more incentives to continue to meddle in its neighbor’s internal affairs and to hold the Serbian minority in the country hostage in its quest for regional hegemony.

The US Department of Energy feasibility study with regard to sharing the UjmaniLake came just a few days prior to Ambassador Kosnett’s issuing the statement on ASM. The study is tied to one of the points of the Economic Agreement under the auspices of the Trump administration. It was signed by Kosovo’s and Serbia’s PM at the White House last September. In two months, it will be one year from its signing. Can you help us understand the timing of the study by putting it in context?

The representatives of the Biden administration, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have said that they supported in principle the agreements signed in the White House during the Trump presidency. The publication of the study, which was prepared by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory on behalf of the Department of Energy, shows that the U.S. is committed to keeping its end of the bargain. That is an important signal towards both Kosova and Serbia.

What is quite interesting is the fact that the reception of the study in Belgrade was frosty. Serbian analysts actually complained that the focus of the study was diverted. While the expectation was for the paper to assess how to share the water resources between the two countries, the study and its recommendations mainly focused on ways for Kosova to increase efficiency in water resource management. Some of the commentators in Serbia went so far as to argue that the study was not relevant per se to the Washington agreement. This is quite indicative.

There is controversy surrounding the legal nature of the Washington Agreement. One perspective sees it as a trilateral agreement between the U.S., Serbia, and Kosovo. This view has been rejected by Serbia’s President Vučić, who sees the Washington Agreement as consisting of bilateral agreements between Serbia and the U.S. and between Kosovo and the U.S. A third point of view is that the Washington Agreement is not a legally binding treaty at all but only a political commitment that does not create any legal obligations. Can you talk about this?

In Washington, both Serbia and Kosova undertook certain commitments with the United States, but there was no direct agreement between the two Balkan countries. Both parties pledged to support a series of policies and positions that affected the dialogue and that were advocated by the United States, whose role was central in the entire process. At the time, the event did not seek mutual recognition, which is unfortunate, however it aimed to incentivize both parties as they continued in Brussels the dialogue under the auspices of the European Union.

While the event was political in its purest sense, by agreeing in principle and officially signing the documents, Kosova and Serbia would normally be obliged to respect the content of the documents and their spirit. However, it is worth noting, less than a year after the signing event in the White House, Serbia has already failed to stand by its commitments on many accounts. The Kurti government should actually demonstrate and raise its voice on how Serbia is breaching its own commitments and is actually continuing with its destructive behavior towards Kosova.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has expressed his view that the agreement is not legally binding. Does that mean Kosovo can walk away from it?

While Mr. Kurti was critical of the agreement at first, he has taken a much more careful approach now that he is leading the government. This can be attested also by his position on the feasibility study, on which he said that he would comment on it only after a thorough analysis by his team. This kind of approach should be welcomed by the citizens of Kosova.

While there are specific commitments that were undertaken in Washington by the then-Prime Minister Hoti that were deemed problematic, it is important for Kosova that its government attests maturity as a state. If Prime Minister Kurti and his government continue to be skeptical about one or more elements of the Washington agreement, he should raise those concerns with the United States and coordinate with the American government on how to move forward.

Lastly while the previous administration sidestepped the issue of mutual recognition, President Biden has placed it on the table. Reportedly, in view of President Biden’s stated goal of improving relations between the U.S. and the EU, it is expected that the Biden administration will work more closely with the EU in facilitating a legally mutually binding agreement and a push for a form of recognition of Kosovo by Serbia. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has confirmed that the Washington Agreement will remain valid until changes are made to it in the future.” What is the message here in practical terms?

Differently from the European Union, President Biden and his administration have been unequivocal about the end goal of the dialogue between Kosova and Serbia. President Biden has called for mutual recognition between the two sovereign countries and the firmness of the U.S. position on the matter should be fully leveraged by the Kurti government in its efforts towards centering the current dialogue on mutual recognition. The disbalanced format of the EU-facilitated process so far has not only put pressure on Kosova, but has also harmed the very principles upon which the dialogue is based.

Considering that Kosova has been on the receiving end of the process for way too long, the UnitedStates could help to challenge the dynamics and the asymmetry of the dialogue by strengthening Kosova’s negotiating position. President Biden and his administration, in coordination with the European allies, should lead a renewed push for Kosova’s recognition by the five EU member states that still refuse to acknowledge its sovereignty.

We all saw how worried Serbian President Vucic was after some media reported of efforts from Washington to convince Greece to move forward with recognition and establishment of full diplomatic relations with Kosova. There is a need to build this kind of momentum. This is what would pressure Serbia to seriously commit to the dialogue and move towards its finalization.

Thank you!

Akri Çipa is a political analyst, Balkan expert and consultant. He holds a Master of Science from Columbia University, New York.

CONVERSATION WITH VATRA PRESIDENT ELMI BERISHA

October 19, 2020 by dgreca

by Rafaela Prifti-

In these difficult times it is encouraging to uphold the founders’ goals for Vatra as “a national organization” in America that has stepped up to champion national interests and to preserve our cultural heritage,” said Vatra President Elmi Berisha, who recently returned from a short visit to Kosova and Albania. He stated that the best assest for the advancement of our nation are our human resources. To the critics of his meetings with the Chairman of Albania’s Legislatures, Mr. Berisha responded by saying that the Executive Council and Board members of Vatra have been on board with the program he presented at Vatra’s Convention last January. “I continue to follow through the initiatives of the same agenda supported by Vatra leadership. Despite the lockdown restrictions and challenges due to the pandemic, Vatra’s performance during these months has been unparalleled in its activism,” said Mr. Elmi Berisha.

The takeaways:

In line with the US and Western diplomacy, Vatra respects the institutions of Kosova and Albania that have been elected by the Albanian people.

Over a century ago, the Pan-Albanian Federation of America Vatra was founded and organized with a focus on the national program to promote the spirit of helping one another and to strengthen the bond of friendship between Americans and Albanians. Vatra is a 108 year-old respected institution in the community that is now well poised to advocate for pan-Albanian interests in the 21th century.

Here is the summary of the conversation:

The round of meetings in Tirana and Prishtina were successful in advancing Vatra’s activism and in promoting Albanian interests in the region and beyond. Representatives across the political spectrum in Kosova and Albania have displayed willingness for future cooperation while being respectful of the program of Pan-Albanian Federation of America Vatra. While the global pandemic has hindered all aspects of life, Vatra has continued its efforts to meet its mission and further the national agenda outlined by the leadership of the Federation aligned with the Albanian-American community. Vatra has answered the call to commit to the national interest. VATRA HAS MET THE MOMENT while being aware of the long road ahead. Vatra’s message is to stand united on the Albanian national issues, to encourage inter-state cooperation and bolster the support from all political sides, institutions and personalities to carry out the reforms that bring Albania and Kosova a step closer to the integration processes.
Our unified stand on national issues is the path to the development of the countries. An across the board cooperation backed by all political factors and institutions is the right national approach. Building a strong economy and standing firmly against corruption and anything that slows down the integration process go hand in hand with a national diplomatic stance on talks with Serbia and the advancement of our European integration. So far the steps to join the Euro-Atlantic structures have been slow paced. It is an area where advocacy in Washington and the Western countries can play a bigger role. One of Vatra’s resources is the expertise and experience of Vatra members, with some well-respected personalities and many who have received their education in the US. It is evident that the authorities in our homelands have their work cut out for them. Vatra is aware of the task at hand and recognizes how important her role is at this time.
When considering Vatra ‘s contribution in diplomacy, I am proud of Vatra’s involvement in advocacy and negotiations in Washington DC in early September. It is advantageous to our nation to be able to assist and contribute to the efforts that present a consolidated Albanian factor to the United States capital and the whole world. Vatra is not just present in Washington DC, it is actively advocating on behalf of Albania and Kosova. Leading up to the signing of the September 4th agreement at the White House, Vatra’s position to the Kosova delegation was to stand as ONE. Vatra stands firmly on the issue of Kosova’s borders and its territorial integrity as non-negotiable items. It is important to understand the round of visits in Prishtina and Tirana in the context of Vatra’s mission for the new century. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Kosova’s Ministry of Foregin Affairs and Diaspora and Vatra entails a coordinated platform of a pan-Albanian cooperation strategy. As Minister Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla said: “The Memorandum is an expression of our shared willingness to promote the values and legitimate interests of Albanians.”
These are difficult times but it is encouraging to uphold the founders goals for Vatra as “a national organization” in America that has stepped up to champion national interests and preserve our cultural heritage. Our human resources are our greatest asset in the advancement of our nation. The Executive Council and Board of Vatra have been on board with the program I presented at the Convention in January. I continue to follow through the initiatives of the agenda supported by Vatra leadership. Despite the lockdown restrictions and challenges due to the pandemic, Vatra’s performance has been unparalleled. Given the unusual circumstances, I traveled by myself rather than with respectable representatives of Vatra as I would not jeopardize anyone’s health. The message of my visits in Prishtina and Tirana has been in compliance with Vatra’s guidelines and in accordance with its leadership goals.
Over a century ago, the Pan-Albanian Federation of America Vatra was founded and organized with the national program to promote the spirit of helping one another and to strengthen the bond of friendship between Americans and Albanians, through the spread of education. The intention and purpose of my recent round of visits in Kosova and Albania was in line with the national agenda and advocacy that has been laid out in the by-laws of the Federation. I am thankful for the enthusiastic support and pledges of cooperation by the Albanian officials for what promises to be a great national platform that would advance our countries into the future.
From the start of my presidency at Vatra, I have invited, received and visited with officials and elected representatives of the Albanian people. In the course of my recent visit in Prishtina and Tirana, I did respect the institutions of the Albanian people in my official meetings with political party heads, members of the parliament, government representatives, legislatures and dignitaries. The frustration voiced by some Vatra members is directed at the fact that the people of Albania must have more say in the election of their office holders and representatives. Moreover, these are authorities that are acknowledged by the United States government and the Western countries. I have 30 years of experience in diplomacy and communications. I firmly believe that Vatra is a 108 year old respected institution in the community that is now well poised to advocate for Albania’s interests in the 21th century. I am aware of the painful past of our people: communism in Albania and the repression resulting in war in Kosova. Having said that, I am convinced that we need to move forward with our national approach. In line with the US and Western diplomacy, Vatra is respected and respects the institutions of Kosova and Albania that have been elected by the Albanian people. I am particularly proud to have signed on a commissioned five volume publication on the history and contribution of Vatra to the national Albanian movement to be put together by a team of members of Academia led by Professor Doctor Beqir Meta. I am thankful to the donors and friends who raised $20,000 for this unique project many years in the making. The purpose of the recent round of visits is in line with the national agenda and in compliance with the advocacy role that the Vatra Federation has championed in the past and can proudly take on for the future.

CONVERSATION SERIES WITH MARTIN VULAJ, FORMER DIRECTOR OF NAAC

July 9, 2020 by dgreca

By Rafaela Prifti

“Albanians must come together and devise a national strategy,” says Martin Vulaj on Kosova-Serbia negotiations. “They need to consider all of the consequences of each action before making decisions and, above all, they must never threaten their relationship with the United States.” At the end of our conversation, he suggests four items for the upcoming summit led by Europeans.

Dielli: Recently you wrote The Dangerous Road Ahead, which you open with these words: “Kosova is facing a perfect political storm on the immediate horizon.” Can you describe the political storm as you see it? Have we ever been “in a perfect storm” before? Is there a historical precedence to be considered?

Mr. Vulaj -The storm that could line up perfectly consists of the U.S. walking away from the talks out of frustration and leaving Kosova back in the hands of a traditionally pro Serbian Europe combined with the KLA indictments providing a thin moral cover to Europe. Europe has demonstrated their pro Serb bias not only historically but also recently and, with the US out and KLA indictments as cover, my concern is that they could use this cover as an excuse to enable Serbia to move forward towards Europe while justifying why they are keeping the Albanians back. They could leave Kosova in a political ghetto and use the Albanians as a buffer against Turkey’s influence in Europe. I am not saying that this is the likely outcome but this is now a clear possibility with which the Albanians must be aware and actively working to prevent.

In terms of historical precedents, the only one I could think of that is somewhat similar is the time of the Berlin conference when Serbia, Montenegro and Greece made claims on Albanian lands and, without meaningful Albanian participation, half of those lands were ceded to those claims. The KLA indictments and the political infighting amongst Albanians make participation in the current processes less meaningful then it otherwise could be and increases the likelihood that Kosova’s fate will be decided by the great powers without full participation by the Albanians.

Dielli: By making a statement about a perfect political storm, do you wish to impress a sense of urgency that you feel is not being recognized by politicians, or by the diaspora? All of the above?

Mr. Vulaj -Yes! We are at a critical juncture. We must ensure the continued participation of the United States and the Albanians must come up with a united national strategy or risk letting the Kosova issue endlessly drift without resolution at best or an unfavorable outcome at worst.

Dielli: Prior to organizing the Zoom meeting of Ambassador Grenell with community representative at the end of June, you reposted an article on the role of the diaspora from 2013 along with the comment about being or taking part in the process to influence the process. I asked you if diaspora should sit at the talks and you said that it has not been constructive so far. What are your thoughts today?

Mr. Vulaj – The diaspora has consistently been helpful throughout history but, traditionally, they always take a more conservative or extreme position. That has been the case recently as well with the heavy criticism of the process and the Administration. Many have taken these positions without any interaction with the Administration and without actually knowing much about the process. I don’t think this has been helpful.

However, I would like to see the diaspora as part of the process if only so we could better understand the realities of the process and so this reality can then be communicated to the greater diaspora. In this manner, the diaspora could be better informed and form positions based on information rather than fears and manipulations

Dielli: Any feedback on your Opinion piece? Have you heard from politicians, community activists?

Mr. Vulaj: The feedback has been quite positive and my perspective has been valued. I have had several conversations with politicians overseas to reinforce my message. The concept has been supported but I am concerned that party interests will continue to dominate national ones.

Dielli: Last month, Kosova Government has put in place a Council of Experts. Some critics see it as an additional bureaucratic body. Would it be part of the process? With regards to negotiations of Kosova and Serbia, you suggested A Unity Team? How do you see it?

Mr. Vulaj – The Council of Experts is an advisory body that the PM has created to enable him to draw on the experience and know-how of experts from various fields. They have no decision making capacity.

What I proposed is the creation of a negotiating team that represents all of the major Albanian parliamentary parties whereby each representative would fully take part in the decision making process. By creating this organ, you create political stability without the need for the expansion of the government. The government currently has a scant majority (61 out of 120 votes), is fragile and vulnerable to pressure. With the full participation of the political parties in the Negotiating team you effectively expand the government without the need to go through the political machinations of bringing the current one down, decreeing VV (as winner of last elections) to create new government, waiting for their constitutionally allotted time to expire, and then moving on to the next party to create the government. It is a lot of wasted time when we have little to spare. The inclusion of the opposition in a decision making capacity, into the negotiating team creates the political stability required to go forward and brings more faith and credibility to the process from the people’s perspective.

Dielli: Ambassador Frank Wisner, former US envoy ofKosova peace talks, has characterized the present situation as a political and a constitutional crises? What is your comment?

Mr. Vulaj – I do think it is a political crisis but not a constitutional one. The shocking announcement of the Special Prosecutor has effectively sidelined the President and, at the very least, disrupted the talks. Although there is no formal indictment, it is unlikely that the international community will interact with the President until the matter is cleared up and the government has a very thin majority. All of this creates political instability which must be overcome for Kosova to move forward. However, there is no constitutional crisis.

Dielli: Ambassador Wisner and Ambassador Burns have stated their opposition with respect to holding the summit in the US. Their argument is that it would deepen the divide between Europe and US. What do you say to that?

Mr. Vulaj – Mr. Wisner and Mr. Burns are very experienced diplomats and, I believe, they are looking at this issue from a very traditional diplomatic viewpoint. The fact is however that there already is great division between the US and Europe on the Kosova peace process. In fact, the announcement of the Special Prosecutor (which by his admission was aimed at impacting these talks) may very well be a manifestation of that division. The truth is that Europe has had this matter in their hands since the end of the War in 1999. After 8 years of futility, it was the US who stepped forward and declared Kosova independent. Europe again has had the “dialogue” process since 2011 with no signs of significant progress. Even after Kosova fulfilled all of the necessary conditions for the liberation of visas, the EU could not even keep their promise to do even that. Europe has consistently failed when it comes to resolving Kosova’s issues and enabling her to move forward into her European future. Therefore, unless we have US leadership this simply will not happen.

Dielli: Mr. Harry Bajraktari has called for disbanding Kosova Special Court, on the grounds of it being “a waste of time, resources and interfering with the political process”. What are your thoughts?

Mr, Vulaj -Harry Bajraktari has long been an activist, protagonist and investor in Kosova. He is amongst the most important members of our community when it comes to the Kosova issue and more. His call is a manifestation of frustration with how the international community has handled Kosova and a reflection of a fundamental unfairness with which Kosova is being viewed and treated. Just think for a second that when these indictments come down by the Special Court, there will have been far more Kosovars indicted for war crimes than Serbs! That is unthinkable and unjustifiable.

Albanians must come together and devise a national strategy for dealing with and emerging from this situation. Europe has always viewed Serbia favorably and Albanians with great skepticism. We could find ourselves where Europe has the excuse they need to enable Serbia to move forward and keep the Albanians in a political ghetto as a buffer against the influence of Turkey in Europe. Therefore, I believe that the Albanians must look at all options that they have but they also must not be rash. They need to consider all of the consequences of each action before making decisions and, this above all, they must never threaten their relationship with the United States. If we have a way out, it is through Washington.

Dielli: Tomorrow the representatives of Prishtina and Belgrade will attend a summit led by France President Emmanuel Macron and Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel. Ambassador Grenell has issued the following statement: “We are pleased to see the Europeans will convene a meeting on July 10^thfor further discussions with Kosovo and Serbia. We offer our total support and are grateful for their leadership”. What are your expectations if any Mr. Vulaj?

Mr. Vulaj – The fact that the process is being hosted at the level of Macron and Merkel is a positive sign but Europe’s history with the Kosova issue still leaves me skeptical. I believe that in order to restore faith to the process and have a successful outcome, four things should be done:

1. Approve the liberalization of visas. The visa issue is not tied to the process but it would be a small clear sign that Europe is increasingly serious and increasingly coordinated.

2. Change the goal of the dialogue from “normalization of relations”to“mutual recognition”. This would harmonize the EU position with that of the United States as reflected in the two letters from President Trump to the presidents of Kosovo and Serbia. It would also ensure that Kosova would be able to complete her statehood and be enabled to be integrated into NATO and the UN and eventually the EU. Under the current format that isn’t necessarily the case. In fact, it is possible that the current format would enable Serbia to fulfill her chapter 35 requirements of the EU and enable Serbia to move forward while potentially leaving Kosovo where it currently is.

3. Europe most work with the 5EU members that do not recognize Kosovo to secure that recognition or, at the very least, abstain from the process so that they are not an impediment as they have been even with the visa issue

4. The EU should provide a roadmap for the talks. This would set expectations from the start and prevent the aimless drift that have defined past European processes.

I think that all four points above are very doable and would ensure both faith in the process and its success. In the absence of such action, I am concerned that once again we will enter into the aimless drift with no certain outcomes and no timeline

President Jahjaga held a phone conversation with the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. Hoyt Yee

August 4, 2015 by dgreca

*Kosova po tregon përgjegjshmëri shtetërore/
President of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs. Atifete Jahjaga, had today a phone conversation with the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. Hoyt Yee, as continuation of Kosovo’s endeavours in fulfilment of its international obligations.
President Jahjaga and Mr. Yee emphasized the importance of establishment of Special Court by the Parliament of Kosovo, which will address the allegations of the Council of Europe report, and which at the same time reconfirms the dedication of the people and institutions of Kosovo for justice. Both interlocutors pointed out that with the voting in favour of establishment of the Special Court by the Parliament of Kosovo, Kosovo is demonstrating its determination to fulfilment of obligations undertaken as well as responsibility of the state.
President Jahjaga and Deputy Assistant Secretary Yee also spoke about the progress in European integration processes, especially the fulfilment of criteria towards visa liberalisation and signing of the SAA, continuation of international consolidation of the state and membership in international organisations, strengthening of the rule of law and order in Kosovo through expansion of the fight against corruption and organised crime, as well as extremism.
President Jahjaga reiterated the importance which USA has for Kosovo and for the region and stated that continuation of American support for our country will help the stability and security not only in Kosovo. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. Yee, said that USA welcomes the decision of the Parliament of Kosovo on Special Court. He said that USA will be side by side with Kosovo during the important processes of its democratic development and will support its integrative journey. He encouraged the institutions of Kosovo to work more in the field of rule of law and order, through continuous internal reforms which help the promotion of economic development and foreign investments.
***
Kosova po tregon përgjegjshmëri shtetërore
– SHBA-ja mirëpret vendimin për Gjykatën Speciale. Presidentja Jahjaga zhvilloi bisedë telefonike me zëvendës ndihmës sekretarin e shtetit të SHBA-së, Hoyt Yee-

Nga Behlul Jashari/.-PRISHTINË, 4 Gusht 2015/ Presidentja e Republikës së Kosovës, Atifete Jahjaga zhvilloi një bisedë telefonike me zëvendës ndihmës sekretarin e shtetit të SHBA-së, Hoyt Yee, në vazhdimësi të përpjekjeve të institucioneve të Kosovës për të përmbushur obligimet ndërkombëtare.
Jahjaga dhe Yee theksuan rëndësinë e votimit të Gjykatës Speciale në Kuvendin e Kosovës, që adreson akuzat nga raporti i Këshillit të Evropës, por që njëkohësisht e thekson përkushtimin e popullit dhe të institucioneve të Kosovës për drejtësi. Të dy bashkëbiseduesit theksuan se me miratimin Gjykatës Speciale ne Kuvend, Kosova po tregon përkushtimin e saj për përmbushjen e obligimeve të marra ndërkombëtare dhe përgjegjshmëri shtetërore.

Presidenca kosovare në njoftimin e dërguar bën të ditur se, presidentja Jahjaga dhe zëvendësndihmës sekretari Yee biseduan edhe për përparimin në proceset e integrimeve evropiane, në veçanti përmbushjen e kritereve për liberalizim të vizave dhe nënshkrimin e MSA-së, vazhdimin e konsolidimit ndërkombëtar të vendit dhe anëtarësimin në organizatat ndërkombëtare si dhe forcimin e sundimit të ligjit dhe të rendit në Kosovë, përmes thellimit të luftës kundër korrupsionit dhe krimit të organizuar si dhe të ekstremizmit.

Presidentja Jahjaga ritheksoi rëndësinë që SHBA-të kanë për Kosovën dhe njëkohësisht edhe për rajonin dhe vlerësoi se vazhdimi i mbështetjes amerikane për vendin do të ndihmojë edhe stabilitetin por edhe sigurinë jo vetëm në Kosovë. Zëvendës ndihmës sekretari i shtetit, Hoyt Yee tha se SHBA-ja mirëpret vendimin e Kuvendit të Kosovës për Gjykatën Speciale.

Ai tha se SHBA do të jetë përkrah Kosovës në proceset e rëndësishme të zhvillimit demokratik të saj si dhe do ta mbështes në rrugën e integrimeve. Ai i inkurajoi institucionet e Kosovës që të punojnë më shumë në fushën e sundimit të ligjit dhe të rendit, përmes vazhdimit të reformave të brendshme që ndihmojnë në promovimin e zhvillimit ekonomik dhe të investimeve të huaja.