OSCE and German Embassy support Kosovo combat high profile corruption

 (All monitored broadcasters, TV21)

High profile corruption remains one of the key challenges to Kosovo institutions. In order to support the institutions, OSCE and German Government launched second project on strengthening capacities in combating high profile corruption.

Believing that combating high profile corruption remains one of the key conditions for visa liberalisation, OSCE and German Government joined in a project to support strengthening capacities of Kosovo institutions in combating corruption.

The German Ambassador to Kosovo Angelika Viets said that combating corruption was a hard battle, which requires a strong and unshakable political will.

“Fight against corruption and organised crime remains one of the conditions for visa liberalisation. Combating corruption requires unshakable determination. This is not an easy task, as those cases may involve persons with high political influence. We need to prosecute cases based on strong evidence, regardless who is involved. This takes good cross-institutional cooperation, political will, and courage. Institutions must be vigilant and persistent in showing that nobody stands above the law,” Ambassador Viets said.

On the other hand, the OSCE Head of Mission in Kosovo Jan Braathu highlighted that the key element in combating corruption in Kosovo was sequestrating illegal assets.

“It is important that laws are implemented, but here their implementation is not at the appropriate level. A key element in combating corruption is sequestrating assets arrogated through criminal activities. Implementation of this Law is not happening, and it must be. There are positive developments, I am not going to paint everything black, but more needs to be done in this direction,” Braathu said.

Representatives of the key Kosovo institutions that deal with fighting corruption pointed out that such projects clear the way for combating those phenomena.

Naim Rexha, Kosovo Police vice Director, said: “The primary focus of Kosovo Police will be to clean itself from all corruptive elements. Of course, we will do this within legal frameworks, by respecting, protecting, and promoting all human rights.”

Sylë Hoxha, special prosecutor, said: “We as Special Prosecutor Office have raised charges against Esat Tahiri, a case which involves Naser Osmani, a Kosovo Assembly member; then the contracts case involving Xhavit Dakaj; the case of prosecutor Vahide Badivuku; Ilir Tolaj case, former secretary permanent in the Ministry of Health.”

On the occasion of launching the project developing capacities of Kosovo agencies and Special Prosecutor’s Office in combating high profile corruption, the Anticorruption Agency officials said they have been revising legal framework, so that together with other institutions they can draft a law which will allow Agency a greater role in this issue.

VV and LDK reject Haradinaj’s invitation

 (All monitored broadcasters, RTK1)

VV and LDK reacted to Ramush Haradinaj’s invitation to join a government proposed by the PDK-AAK-Nisma (PAN) coalition.

On a Facebook post, the VV leader Visar Ymeri stated that VV agrees to meet Haradinaj, only once he has quit PAN. According to Ymeri, VV agrees to meet Haradinaj at his capacity as the AAK chairman.

However, asked if he would agree to quit PAN in order to get VV’s and LDK’s support, Haradinaj said he wants to move forward rather than backward, and that he does not want to discuss what has already been concluded.

On the other hand, the LDK leader Isa Mustafa said he refused to respond positively to Haradinaj’s invitation. Following the LDK Presidency meeting, Mustafa stated that they had decided not to enter any agreement with PDK.

LAA MPs will not be smuggled

 (Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)

Meetings and consultations amongst members of the LDK-AKR-Alternativa (LAA) coalition continued on Monday. Regardless statements of the PAN coalition that they have got sufficient votes to constitute government, LAA officials said that none of their MPs would be smuggled.

According to Abdullah Hoti of LDK, PAN coalition is insulting Kosovo citizens by serving them a smuggled government, which, according to him, is an intolerable and shameful way. He believes that none of the 29 LAA MPs will accept to be smuggled to the PAN government.

Behgjet Pacolli of AKR also refuted any possibility of AKR MPs to join PAN.

Ilir Deda of Alternativa says that LAA members believe they do not need to meet with PAN representatives, as long as PAN as a coalition exists. “Specifically, there is no reason for us to see Mr Haradinaj, as long as he is a member of PAN coalition,” Mr Deda said.

Simic: Srpska List willing to discuss with all political parties

(KTV)

The Srpska List leader Slavko Simic said that his party was willing to discuss constituting institutions with all political parties in Kosovo.

“We are willing to discuss when there is a sincere desire for supporting Serbs in the future Assembly and Government. If we see that there is something constructive and flexible, we are willing to take part in government,” Simic said, according to Tanjug reporting.

VV doesn’t support Veseli’s candidacy for Assembly Speaker

 (Klan Kosova, RTK1)

Although PDK officials stated that Kadri Veseli was the only candidate for the Assembly Speaker and that it will not be difficult for Veseli to get 61 votes, he is unacceptable for VV MPs, who said they would vote against him. Donika Kadaj-Bujupi of VV listed a number of reasons that, according to her, make Veseli not suitable to have another mandate as Assembly Speaker.

Differently from VV, the LDK leader Isa Mustafa said that LAA has not yet come up with a strict decision on the issue. According to Mustafa, the decision depends on their caucus.

Apostolova: EU expects adherence to EU reform agenda

 (TV21)

Head of the EU Office in Kosovo Nataliya Apostolova said that regardless of who forms the new government in Kosovo, the EU expects a speeding up and adherence to the EU reform agenda. According to her, Kosovo has a clear European perspective, and the people of Kosovo expect responsible leadership that will make important advances along the European path.

Other international representatives in Kosovo also called for forming a strong government, since it will face many challenges ahead.