Kosovo’s Regional Role in the Western Balkans-Five Years On
event
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Date
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Thursday, 14 February 2013
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Venue
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Wolfson Theatre, New Academic Building, LSE
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Speaker
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Mrs Mimoza Kusari-Lila, Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister for Trade and Industry
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Chair
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Dr James Ker-Lindsay, Senior Research Fellow, LSEE-Research on South Eastern Europe, LSE
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On the 14 February 2013, Mrs Kusari-Lila gave a lecture on the role of Kosovo in the Western Balkans five years after the declaration of independence.
At the start of her presentation, the Deputy Prime Minister provided a brief overview of the main developments that had taken place in Kosovo since 2008 and the considerable efforts that had been made to consolidate its position internationally.
Following on from this, she then outlined the key economic, political and social challenges facing Kosovo and the various steps that were being taken to overcome them. In particular, she detailed initiatives to combat corruption as well as the significant efforts to encourage greater foreign investment.
Looking ahead, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasised that while Kosovo would continue to face a number of difficulties in the years ahead, there was nevertheless a real sense of optimism that the next five years will see significant progress on the ground and that its efforts to pursue European Union integration would be strengthened.
H.E Mrs Kusari-Lila holds a master of business administration in the United States of America. During this time, she completed studies at the Institute of Economics, University of Colorado and Duquesne University in Pittsburg, where she finished masters in e-business. Mimoza Kusari-Lila graduated management and information systems at University of Pristina, Faculty of Economics.Mimoza Kusari-Lila became part of politics and public service in 2003 when she was offered the position of spokeswomen and Adviser to Prime Minister of Kosovo, Bajram Rexhepi. In 2009 she ran for mayor of Gjakova municipality and became the Vice-President of the New Kosovo Alliance.
The event was organised in conjunction with the LSE Albanian Students’ Society.