The citizens of Gostivar decided to invest the funds into infrastructure, for the reconstruction and construction of facilities, construction and expansion of streets, construction sports fields, construction of water supply, etc.
  At the start of the session which lasted for more than three hours, the participants were welcomed by representatives of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Center for Institutional Development (CIRa), and the Municipality Gostivar, after which the session facilitators introduced the forum process. Furthermore, the session's facilitators introduced the Forum process.
  The Forum Coordinators introduced the participants to the recommendations and forms for choosing the basic topic, as well as informed them about the Forum's structure.
The citizens, divided into ten working tables, had the opportunity to choose one of the proposed topics. The majority of citizens' votes went to identify the infrastructure topic as the basic idea, which would be discussed in the future sessions to determine specific projects.
  After identifying the topic, the session's facilitators assisted in the deciding on the Forum's structure, for the future sessions. The first session of the Community Forums Programme was attended by 144 citizens of different ages, occupations, ethnicities, and religions.
  The participants had a positive opinion of the realization of the Community Forums Programme and the first session in this forum.
  This initiative is welcomed by the citizens, who now see themselves as decision-makers in their city.
  Shemie Elezi, lawyer, said: „This programme is very good, because thanks to it the municipality will be closer to the citizens of Gostivar and their suggestions, requests and ideas."
  "I remain hopeful that in the future we will have similar projects in order to make people's lives easier," said Shemie Elezi, lawyer.
  The participating citizens see in the implementation of this programme a good opportunity to involve citizens in decision-making processes.
  Kasam Selimi, journalist, said: "The Community Forums Programme is good and offers good opportunities for participating citizens".
  "It is an ideal opportunity for citizens to present their ideas. I wish to see similar programs in the future, too. I hope citizens' interest will be higher in the future sessions," said Kasam Selimi, journalist.
  Shasine Kasami, member of the municipal council in Gostivar and lawyer, said: "The presence of citizens in the first session is an indication of their interest for such projects."
"First, I am pleased to see such a large number of participants in this session. I hope that this Forum will help address at least some of the problems facing citizens in our municipality. Thank you for organizing this forum and I wish you success," said Shasine Kasami, lawyer.
  In addition to the proposals by the local authorities, the participants also had the opportunity to provide their own proposals and ideas. One of them, Ljuljzim Fejzulai, who is an expert in agriculture, noticed that the field of agriculture, that is rural development, was not included in the proposals made by the local authorities. The Forum's organizers explained that the proposals made by the Municipality Gostivar were based on the legal mandate of the local authorities.
  "The Forum was good and democratic, but the proposed topics were too narrow. We all know that most of the residents live in rural areas, and yet the field of agriculture is not included as a topic in the Forum," underlined Ljuljzim Fejzulai, expert in agriculture.
  The representatives of the local authorities explained the proposals made by the Municipality Gostivar.
  "Investments in the Environment, Infrastructure, and Culture were among the many requests by the citizens of Gostivar," said Veselj Memedi, representative of Municipality Gostivar.