“TO WHOM IT BELONGS AND SERVES THE YOUTH & SPORT PALACE AND WHAT’s ITS STATUS”

Prishtina, 14 December – ATRC in cooperation with Kosovo Youth Network organized the debate “To whom it belongs and serves the Youth & Sport Palace and what’s its status”. The purpose of this debate was to enlighten the issue of Youth Palace, which for some time now has been altered into a trade/shopping center and by doing so, has left little or no space for the youth organizations and other sport clubs to operate and carry out their activities there. Alban Krasniqi, President of Kosovo Youth Network explained the difficulties that his organization along with the Youth Center of Prishtina is going through lately. “The management of Youth Palace relocated us without any consultation; the space that was given to us its even worse then the refugee camp and it’s impossible for us to function properly and carry out our activities,” said the president of KYN thus blaming the management of Youth Palace along with KTA who is responsible for managing these premises. In addition, Mr. Krasniqi said that the Assembly of Prishtina Municipality should take more responsibility and initiative in regaining back the Youth Palace.

Alban Krasniqi President of Kosovo Youth Network explained
the difficulties that his organization along with the Youth
Center of Prishtina is going through lately and
Rreze Duli Executive Director of ATRC

On the other hand, Bajram Bujupi from the Youth & Sport Department at the Prishtina Municipality during the debate emphasized that they do not have access to the management of Youth Palace in view of the fact that these premises are administered by KTA. “We have done our best in preventing the Youth Palace from being privatized and until now we have helped these youth groups in whatever way we could,” said Bajram Bujupi
All the participants present at this debate, agreed that the Youth Palace has diverged from its original function to serve to the youth and for other cultural and sport purposes. Therefore, there should be future steps to recuperate the Youth Palace under the auspices of Prishtina Municipality, but not under its management – the Youth Palace ought to be managed by a special board that besides different institutions also includes youth representatives.