Hello and welcome to Unmik on air with Sputnik Kilambi.

Yesterday’s program focused on the current controversy over the issue of transfer of powers from the international to the local administration. And as you heard, there are differing views, not just between Belgrade and Prishtina, but also amongst Kosovar Albanians, in the corridors of power and in civil society. Questions about whether enough powers have been transferred or too much handed over and whether this process facilitates or impedes moves towards independence. For UNMIK, there is no question that powers will be handed over, but officials insist that this must be in pace with other developments, but that in the meantime, certain areas like security and foreign affairs, will remain in the hands of the SRSG.

The track record of the local administration is also a crucial aspect of this whole discussion – how competent have they shown themselves to date in managing the competencies handed over? While UNMIK insists on competence before competencies, local politicians complain they are constantly being underestimated.

So what do the people on the street think? It appears that public opinion is as divided on this issue as the political establishment is.

These people, for example, feel the transfer has come to late:

CUT 1

-Conditions have ripened long ago. This should have happened earlier, this is delaying the process of independence. We cannot wait much longer. We have people that know more than internationals.

CUT 2 : the competencies should be transferred as soon as possible, including the reserved ones for Steiner. Our government is capable of leading the country.

But not all share this confidence in Kosovar institutions, saying that they are asking for more than they can handle:

Cut 3: The government will ask for more competencies than they will actually get; there have even been requests for the Foreign and the Defense Ministry to be transferred. It seems absurd to me.

Hysni: Asking for a Foreign and a defense ministry is something absurd?

-it is absurd because they are reserved exclusively for UNMIK, and for as long as UNMIK is here they cannot be transferred to the government.

Other ministries with full competencies are enough, if they know how to exercise their power.

Hysni: Do you think they know how to exercise their competencies?

- I personally think they are incapable, I cannot say completely, but a big part of the staff working there are not qualified for certain areas. It has been proved in several ministries, like the one of finances, that they even could not exercise the competencies they had.

And of course, there are those who are unhappy with both Kosovar and international institutions:

CUT 4: Each of them (that is SRSGs) finishes his mandate here and leaves things in mishmash; Steiner, like any other; they just come and go, they make huge amounts of money and do not finish the work, just promises; Mitrovica will unite, competencies will be transferred today or tomorrow, nothing.

Hysni: What about our government, are they ready for more competencies?

-Our government is not endeavoring enough either. Meetings after meetings, nothing is decided. Nothing.

Hysni: Who do you think is to blame?

-All of us. We, who voted for them, and the ones in power who are incapable of doing their job.

The debate is clearly not over – but the people of Kosovo are impatient for results, not endless wrangling over issues that do little to change the day-to- day lives of the population.

Time now to sign off for this edition of UNMIK ON AIR – thanks for listening.