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29 May 2002
CONTENTS
1. Corruption
in Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
2. Conference on ethnic
conciliation held in Peja (all dailies)
3. Ibrahim Rexhepi: No
compromises, Mr. Steiner (Koha Ditore)
4. Haxhimusa: "We
have lot of reasons not to believe Serbian Justice" (Zëri)
5. Amnesty International:
Many Hague suspects are roaming free (Koha Ditore)
1. Corruption in Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
Under the main headline "Corruption in Kosovo", Koha Ditore
carries several articles on corruption cases in Kosovo.
Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi's statement on smuggling and corruption
For a long period of time now in Kosovo, there have been negative phenomena such as smuggling, corruption and prostitution, all these under the umbrella of organized crime which is the worst aspect of our society. All these phenomena have consequences in the everyday lives of our citizens.
Postwar organized crime in Kosovo, inherited from a totalitarian state (former Yugoslavia), wasn't stopped by the competent bodies and unfortunately this phenomenon is so powerful that it tends to create (if it hasn't already done so) organized structures which are strongly linked with each other and also have ties with "white collars", or high-ranking persons in various local and international political/economic structures.
Before accepting the responsibility to lead the Kosovo Government, I asked for support in fighting these evil phenomena. This was also the stance of my party and especially its chairman, Mr. Thaçi.
We have also asked for the support of UNMIK and we hope we will get it.
Organized crime in Kosovo, expressed through the smuggling of drugs, oil products, cigarettes, alcohol, coffee, etc. was evident and half-legal for a long time in our customs and the responsibility for this activity doesn't rest only with a certain individual, but with a network created by him. This phenomenon must be prevented not only with the arrest of certain individuals but by eliminating the factors that can enable this phenomenon to continue.
Unfortunately, the harsh postwar period is being used for personal profits in other segments of Kosovo's economy, especially in companies whose status isn't defined. There are elements of founded suspicion in those companies, because there is corruption and smuggling starting from tenders and suspected money laundering. This ugly phenomenon has expressed itself in the two giant companies: the Kosovo Power Corporation and the Post and Telecommunications of Kosovo.
Having in mind that all this damages Kosovo and its citizens, violate the security and the stability of the country, damage our cooperation with UNMIK. We as a government will ask for a closer cooperation with UNMIK bodies in fighting these damaging and criminal activities in our society. We will also raise a joint commission that will verify these facts.
In this respect, we expect the support of the people.
Misuses and corruption in the Kosovo Power Corporation
According to Koha Ditore, misuses and corruption in the Kosovo Power Corporation (KEK) date from autumn 1999, but the first scandal would emerge in April 2002.
The majority of the funds that were used for buying cables, computers and oil products without any tender, were donations. KEK officials claim they knew nothing about those donations.
When it was discovered that 4.5 million euros were stolen from power import during 2000-01, Andy Bearpark, head of the EU Pillar in Kosovo, was quoted as saying, "this time we have facts".
The first facts and accusations date from way back when Bearpark was a chief for the return of refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Those facts and accusations were kept secret behind the doors of KEK, the Department of Public Services and the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR).
Koha Ditore claims that many things in the power corporation were done without tenders, but instead with internal agreements. In 2001, a commission for financial control in KEK would run into numerous deficiencies during the control of three units of the corporation.
Accusations for irregularities also implied personal interests, by buying
equipment without public tenders from people involved in KEK leadership.
A large number of computers were bought from Comtel company, which is
believed to be owned by Vegim Gashi, a member of KEK Supervisory Board.
This company would later on also win the tender of several million deutsche
marks to install the computer network for KEK.
Ylber Rraci, the only arrested of a collective scandal
Koha Ditore suggests that the lack of willingness of senior officials
of the Kosovo Customs Service (SHDK) to fight corruption can leave the
impression that they are involved in corruption or are incapable of preventing
it. For both reasons, they must resign from their posts and claim responsibility
for the losses in Kosovo's budget.
Commenting on the recent arrest of SHDK Director Ylber Rraci for hiding
smuggling and misuse of duty, Koha Ditore also quotes Rraci's lawyers
as saying that the responsibility for this act falls upon the international
directors of SHDK, because according to them Rraci had orally informed
them on the negative phenomenon.
The easiness of fraud at the Post and Telecommunications of Kosovo
Koha Ditore carries an article regarding the contract signed between PTK senior officials, Leme Xhema, Bedri Rama, Rainer Lesar and international official Gerard Fischer, and the Austrian company Infonova.
Quoting its sources, the daily paper reports that no one knows the number of working days of Infonova staff, and they weren't signed by PTK staff. The payment for the Infonova staff is only of five annexes of the contract signed with the Austrian company, whose total amount is 9 million euros. "All these are paid with the funds of Kosovars. And they have the right to know the destination of their money. The management of PTK owes them an explanation," added Koha Ditore.
Corruption in Prishtina municipality
Under a headline "A large amount of funds has gone somewhere", Koha Ditore carries an article on corruption in Prishtina municipality.
The daily paper reports that Prishtina international administrator Ivo
Santz mentioned several cases of classical corruption within municipal
structures with funds; misuse of information, which are used for personal
business; the conflict of interests, and the misuse of authority.
Corruption in education
Koha Ditore reports that corruption in Prishtina University is an invisible phenomenon for the professors and officials of the university. The senior officials of the Dean's Office don't deny the presence of corruption in the university. They also added, "There are many accusations, but no one wants to testify about them."
2. Conference on ethnic conciliation held in Peja (all dailies)
Head of International administration in Dukagjin Marguerite Roy took the initiative for reconciling ethnic communities in Kosovo, for them to have freedom of movement especially for local Serbs and the ones that want to return. A conference was held yesterday in Pejë "The Way Forward" report all dailies.
Mrs. Roy welcomed members of this panel, however many of the invited did not appear. First was Serb representative for return at SRSG's office, Nenad Radosavlevic. Instead of LDK vice-president came member of the presidency Nimon Alimusaj. Gjylnaze Syla replaced AAK President Ramush Haradinaj, while Fatmir Limaj read PDK President Hashim Thaçi's statement.
PD SRSG Charles Brayshaw has highly evaluated Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi's work and readiness. He evaluated very highly his professional conduct and his policy dealing with missing person. "He understand very clearly how important this is for calm in Kosovo and also how important this is for the international community," said Brayshaw. "I can assure everyone at this room and the ones that are displaced, that UNMIK will work on the basis of this plan and will also have the support of Kosovo Government. For us to have success we have to raise reconciliation".
"I am very pleased that Kosovo Prime Minister is fully backing this project," said Brayshaw commenting the work that Rexhepi's government has done in reconciling the communities in Kosovo.
Main speak at this briefing was Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi expressed his satisfaction that the government is creating conditions for integration of minorities. "When I received the post of the Prime Minister I declared that I will a Prishtina for all Kosovo citizens," reminded Rexhepi the present and added that the government has clearly set the objectives de-enclavization and integration of minorities.
Rexhepi emphasized that the corer of the political agenda of Kosovo Government for return and integration of communities is based upon individual right and not for creating new enclaves, but to integrate returnees, giving a great emphasis to the economic aspect that is very important fro this process.
"International community should not forget that Albanian hearts were broken in most brutal manner by the Serb regime," said LDK representative Nimon Alimusaj. "Return should not be a campaign but it should be done in individuals," and added that the whole complexity of the problem should be seen from the economic aspect.
"Kosovo Government has an obligation to fulfill its authority in the whole Kosovo territory, in cooperation with municipal governments. Yes, the government must protect all Kosovo citizens, however the citizens have to respect the laws that derive from Kosovo institutions," said PDK representative Fatmir Limaj. "There is need for contribution from both sides for the issue that we are discussing today. Serb have to help us to create an environment to open new processes fro return," said Limaj.
"AAK is fully engaged to help and aid return fro all Kosovo citizens that were displaced in different periods of time from Kosovo," said AAK representative Gjylnaze Syla. "We see return, as return of citizens to their places of dwelling, with their families and as such they cannot and should not receive negative political character that would derive to forming enclaves or develop negative aspects in the normal life of all Kosovars," evaluated Syla. "AAK is calling Kosovo and international institutions to support economic projects that would open new jobs".
"This is an artificial conference," said Pejë municipality President Ali Lajçi. He insisted that the panel is stopped several times, because of Serb political statement "Kosovo and Metohija".
"We support return of all Kosovo citizens, but we are against projects that are especially formed for return of Serbs only," said Pejë Municipal Assembly President Ali Lajçi.
Milivoje Ribac representing Djindjic's Democratic Party remarked that Serb return is going very slowly. "If it continues as this we will not see Serbs returning very soon to kop, said Ribac.
3. Ibrahim Rexhepi: No compromises, Mr. Steiner (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore carries a commentary by Ibrahim Rexhepi, entitled "No compromises, Mr. Steiner". Rexhepi wrote:
Corruption in KEK, Customs Service, PTK, in municipal structures in Prishtina are only some of the recent focuses of the media these days. However, facts are not so sufficient. There are still no details on the fate of the "lost" 4,5 million euros; the customs director is still the only person held in detention though the chain of fraudsters is much longer; there are rumors for suspicious and higher salaries in PTK; while Prishtina municipal administrator Ivo Santz still hasn't concretized the names of corrupted officials, even though his first statement was very harsh. The institutions which must fight this phenomenon: the prosecutor's office, the police, UNMIK and local institutions are silent.
Only the media write stories and in some cases they even mention concrete names if individuals.
The war against corruption is the competency of institutions; first of all it is in the competency of the international administrator Mr. Michael Steiner. He has all the powers and institutions. If one of them is absent, then he must create it. In fact, Steiner's job in this respect is very difficult because this phenomenon was kept silent for two years. No preventing measures were undertaken during that period of time. Now it seems that corruption has entered deep in the roots of the society and the war against it has become more difficult. It will become even more difficult if the corrupted officials are allowed to be incorporated within the institutions that will fight this phenomenon.
Administrator Steiner should have no compromises in the war against corruption. He should make no differences between internationals and locals. Corruption and crime cannot be identified based on a specific background. They are all the same throughout the world, and they can only have different dimensions and ways of functioning.
Mr. Steiner's success in this war would have numerous effects. First of all, he would rescue the Kosovar society and its power structures. In this way, when everyone talks and writes about various deviations and the responsible people are silent, we could face the danger of Kosovo and Kosovars being identified with crime and corruption. Therefore, delays in this respect make this fight even more difficult.
By identifying and fighting corruption there will be a much more stimulating ambient for work. Things can be crystallized only after detailed inquiries and the arrest of corrupted officials. No compromises. Whoever is responsible should be placed behind bars so that Kosovo and its institutions can be saved. Otherwise, everything will fail. In fact, even the international mission in Kosovo would face a question mark.
It will not be so easy to prevent crime and smuggling, because they are linked to many other processes in Kosovo. The incompetence of Kosovar institutions and often-parallel actions with UNMIK can complicate the efforts of this war. We should also not forget that Kosovo's neighboring countries have almost lost the war against organized crime. Therefore, Kosovo should protect itself through all possible means and not accept criticism that it is the source of all evil phenomenons in the region.
Fortunately, the new government in Kosovo gave full support to the war against corruption and smuggling. We hope that this will not remain only in statements, and that there will be a full consensus between locals and internationals. Rugova, Daci and Rexhepi must understand that they're the elected of the people, and not the elected of a party. If they are silent in this war they will not only endanger their careers but also all processes that have been launched here. They will endanger the people's lives. Often, people who stand up to crime could become victims.
When the situation reaches that level, then there will be sayings on the war against the mafia. And if it's not fought in time, mafia will involve power structures, both local and international.
4. Haxhimusa: "We have lot of reasons not to believe Serbian Justice" (Zëri)
Starting from Kosovo's Supreme Court to other Judicial Institutional, no one does not believe that Serbian Judicial Bodies will act correctly for transferring the Serb prisoners from Kosovo in Serbia, Zëri reported.
"Maybe, we would believe such organs, if Serbian power would respect Kosovo's Judicial Bodies, says Rexhep Haxhimusa, head of Kosovo's Supreme Court.
According to Haxhimusa, Serbia could have been proved by its correctness, with Serb prisoner's case, who have escaped, and they are still free in Serbia.
"If those prisoners would return in Kosovo by Serbian Judicial bodies, than we would probably believe on their correctness when it would be time for transferring Serb prisoners from Kosovo to Serbia., says Mr. Haxhimusa.
He also denies that local staff that works in the Judicial Organs was informed about an agreement for prisoner's transfer. Mr. Haxhimusa feels himself offended, because one of the Serbs, who have been transferred, is accused for war crimes.
"At least, we should have been informed for this kind of agreement and its principles, but all I can say it is about an political agreement in which one, all the Judicial Organs have been avoided. I have been notified that Mr. Covic declared that all Serb prisoner cases in Kosovo, will be discussed. If this will be done, the European Convent for transferring Sentenced Persons would be broken, said Mr. Haxhimusa.
According to UNMIK, Serbia is not responsible for submitting this Convent. For Serb power this Convent can be relative until August 10, because its ratification has been done on April of this year, which means it has been done after Steiner - Covic's agreement.
According to Mr. Haxhimusa, one of the transferred prisoner's have been judged only by a National Judge, and this case could be reviewed, because this can be done after the agreement that Steiner and Covic made.
"The best thing would be that transferred Serbs would be serving
their sentence in Serbia, but we still have doubts…." Said in
the end Mr. Haxhimusa.
The Agreement text for the prisoners, which Mr. Steiner and Covic made,
has been not translated in Albanian Language. It is written only in English
and Serbian. In the end of this agreement is also Mr. Steiner's signature.
5. Amnesty International: Many Hague suspects are roaming free (Koha Ditore)
Referring to a report published by Amnesty International, the international organization for the defense of human rights, Koha Ditore reports that Croatia's cooperation with The Hague tribunal is improving, while the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia hasn't adopted the law for cooperation with the tribunal.
"In June last year, Serb authorities extradited former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. However, many suspects roam freely and still hold on to leading government posts," reads the report.
According to Amnesty International, the respecting of human rights in Macedonia had decreased in 2001 due to escalating conflicts between Macedonian security forces and armed Albanian groups. "We have reports that security forces have murdered civilians, whereas the ethnic Albanian armed group (the National Liberation Army) is accused of kidnapping and mistreating civilians. More than 140,000 persons fled from villages which were under NLA control," added the report.