The Weakest Link of Kosovo's Democracy - KFOS

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Procurement review Body
As of July 1, there is no authority in Kosova to control the tenders. The government
has not yet completed the list of five members to the Procurement Review Body, which
should have been adopted by the Parliament of Kosova the latest by June 30. In fact,
this was the cause for dispute between the Minister of Transport Fatmir Limaj (PDK)
and Deputy Minister of Trade Naser Osmani (LDK) as PDK strove to have Parliament
vote only three members of the body, who came from PDK. As such PDK tried to establish
total control over the most important procurement body.
Establishment of Kosovo Privatization Agency
During establishment of the Board’s Agency, the government ignored the warnings of
the Union of Independent Trade Unions of Kosovo (BSPK) that one of the nominees,
Bahri Shabani, who had lead the Union for Several years, is suspected of corruption.
The BSPK and a number of its branches saw Shabani as a person who had for a long
time concealed abuses at the KTA with the current Minister of Economy and Finance,
Ahmet Shala. According to BSPK, prosecution and police currently investigate Shabani
for abuse and bad management as head of BSPK, abuses that have been confirmed
and reported by the auditor as well during 2002-2006.
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Keeping Media under control
Violating the independence of independent powers and obstructing establishment of
such institutions has been twinned with taking under control the media as well. Half
of daily newspapers published in Kosova presently are under direct control of Government
of Kosova. The government has imposed strong control over electronic media as
well, all aiming to create a supportive biased public opinion. The propaganda language
of media influenced by government has at times achieved resemblance with communist
rhetoric. A report in one of the dailies wrote: Twenty hours work and only four hour
rest … this is how workers work until 2:00 AM 23 .
Public Enterprises
During the second quarter the Government approved the Law on Public Enterprises,
which requires the boards of public enterprises be independent of industrial and political
influences. Despite such provision, the Government of Kosova appointed members
of parties in coalition to sit in the board of the Post and Telecommunication of Kosova
and in the board of Prishtina Airport.
23 Gazeta Express, April 28 2006