26 October 2021

KOMF sent a letter to the Ambassador of the Austrian Embassy in Skopje, Georg Woutsas, where we expressed our concern over the case of mother Merita Hoxha Maksuti, who due to the visa refusal by the same Embassy, is not able to reunite with her daughter who is receiving medical treatment in Austria.

KOMF has required the Austrian Embassy in Skopje to review and prioritize the visa application of Mrs. Hoxha Maksuti, in order to enable the reunion of the mother as soon as possible with her daughter at this critical time.

KOMF considers that every child should be with their parents, especially under these circumstances, where the child is being treated from severe diseases.

The state of Austria has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which defines that in all actions and decisions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration. States Parties shall ensure that a child shall not be separated from his or her parents. Based on CRC, applications by a child or his or her parents to enter or leave a State Party for the purpose of family reunification shall be dealt with by States Parties in a positive, humane and expeditious manner.

These and more, KOMF addressed to the Embassy of Austria in Skopje, where it copied in the email the Embassy of Austria in Pristina, the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs. Vjosa Osmani and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs. Donika Gërvalla.