Kosovo's Prime Minister Isa Mustafa has accepted the resignation of his environment minister, who offered to step down last week after his name appeared on a list of officials being investigated on suspicions of abusing public money.

Ferid Agani was among 64 people, 44 of them doctors, who allegedly used their positions to channel patients to private hospitals in exchange for money. The public officials involved allegedly got kickbacks from the hospitals.

Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, Ferid Agani, indicted by the prosecution of Kosovo for abuse of position, responded to allegations against him by claiming he is innocent. “The only statements on this issue until it comes to an end will be provided by the justice authorities. The issue is being dealt with by the judiciary now, it is known what I stand accused of and the only thing I care right now is a swift verdict confirming my complete innocence”, said Agani.

The Minister for Environment and Spatial Planning, Ferid Agani, yesterday met with the Mayor of Zvečan/Zveçan, Vučina Janković, and the Minister for Local Government Administration, Ljubomir Marić, with whom he discussed the project of construction of a returnee settlement for displaced returnees ‘Sunny Valley’ in Zvečan/Zveçan.

Kosovo’s Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Ferid Agani met in Pristina the Minister of Local Government and Administration Ljubomir Marić, Mayor of Zveçan/Zvečan Vučina Janković, and Deputy Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Slađan Nikolčević to discuss the construction of 300 houses in the municipality of Zveçan/Zvečan known as the “Sunny Valley”. Minister Marić stressed the importance the settlement is to the resolution of problems related to sustainable returns and added that the line ministries should assist in implementation of the project.