Prishtina, 27 March 2008
Corruption continues to be a reality in alarming dimensions, not only with regards to the Airport of Prishtina, but also in KEK and PTK. No one will be above the rule of law and justice. No one can get away with corruption or cover it, said Prime Minister of the Government of Kosova, Mr. Hashim Thaçi, during the thirteenth meeting of the Government of the Republic of Kosova.
The Government of the Republic of Kosova discussed in its thirteen meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mr. Hashim Thaçi about the energy situation, preparations for the Donors’ Conference and also established a commission to deal with the border demarcation with Macedonia. Bekim Çollaku, senior advisor to Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi, was appointed head of the Commission, while Asllan Pushka, Behar Selimi, Murat Meha and Xhafer Tahiri are appointed members of the commission.
Further on, Prime Minister Thaçi briefed the Government’s Cabinet on the measures taken to improve the energy situation in the country after declaring it a national crisis. The Prime Minister said that the measures taken by the Ministry of Energy and Mining have had a considerable positive impact in improving the energy supply, but still, he said, a lot remains to be done to solve the problem.
Based on a proposal by the Ministry of Public Services (MPS), the Government has decided to extend the contracts of the academic staff of the University of Prishtina, who have reached the age of 65, until the end of the academic year.
The Government has also decided to launch in all the institutions of the pre-university education of Kosova the process of grading and licensing of teachers. All the teachers of the pre-university institutions will undergo the grading and licensing process and will benefit from it in terms of payment increase and career promotion. Also, the creation of an inter-ministerial commission has been foreseen, which will be composed of representatives from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Economy and Finance and will be tasked with determining the financing effects of the process and measures to be taken to implement the decision. Also the Agency for Licensing and Accreditation will be set up to serve the purpose.
The Government has given the green light to the recommendation by the Office of Good Governance (PMO) for the appointment of the members of the inter-ministerial working group against corruption. On this point of the agenda, Prime Minister Thaçi said that the motto of the Government of Kosova is “zero tolerance for corruption, smuggling and crime, wherever and whenever it happens.”
Prime Minister Thaçi has called on the people of Kosova to cooperate with the law enforcing bodies, qualifying the fight on corruption as a patriotic contribution by the citizens.
The constitution of the inter-ministerial working group against corruption will take place in the days to come.
The Government has also reviewed the situation with the debts owed to the Kosova Tax Administration and supported the efforts to collect taxes, in accordance with the applicable legal provisions. According to MEF data, the amount of tax debts for the period 2002-2004 reaches 261 million Euros. The Government has assessed that the taxes are the basis for the functioning of our state.
At the request by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development to increase the number of employees, the Government assessed that currently that is not possible. The Government recommended that this issue is regulated through a Memorandum of Understanding between the MAFRD and MEF.
The Government’s Cabinet also discussed today the Draft Law on Empowering Youth Participation, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS). The Government proposed that the draft law is further complemented with remarks and suggestions from the discussions, and then be approved in one of the future meetings of the Government.
At the end of the meeting of the Government, Prime Minister Thaçi said while speaking about the status of the civil servants that although the civil service is untouchable, still the incapability, ignorance and blockades we are facing should be overcome as well as the politicization that has appeared.
Last modified: July 31, 2022