PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OF THE KOSOVAR DIASPORA
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Kosovo. In order to do so, the paper will address the legal framework on Diaspora, the role of media in shaping their identity and the political participation of Diaspora in the Kosovo institutions. The paper consists of secondary data, where legal acts, academic articles, journals, books, and so forth, have been analyzed. The results gathered are supported and explained based on relevant theories on Diaspora and migration. 2.0 Legislative framework 2.1 Law on Kosovo Diaspora The Republic of Kosovo has to pay lot of attention to the importance of Diaspora’s political inclusion, participation in decision making, listening to their voice and demands in order to address their needs, through policies, laws and other legal acts, which will offer protection of their rights. Thus, obligations towards Diaspora are disaggregated into a series of laws and other approved documents. Among the relevant laws in this area are: the Law on Diaspora and Migrants; the Law on Citizenship; the Law on Diplomatic and Consular Services of the Republic of Kosovo; the Law on National Elections, According to Article 65 (1) of the Law on Diaspora, its purpose “is preservation of identity, linguistic, cultural and education of Diaspora and their connection with the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo” (Law on Diaspora- Ministry of Diaspora). Such a law would ensure that the Diaspora, alongside its cultural identity, is preserved a right to part-take in the process of state creation of Kosovo. If not direct, the very fact that the Diaspora is included within the legal institutions shows signs of initial institutional care towards these members of society. The creation of a legislative framework and approval of many legal documents should be considered as the first step towards understanding and identifying the Diaspora as an integral part of the Kosovar policy making process.