The Weakest Link of Kosovo's Democracy - KFOS

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the merits of country’s independence and all other historic achievements to Prime Minister
Thaçi and Democratic Party of Kosova.
Spectacular arrests and lack of cases in the courts
The second half of 2008 was marked by a number of cases when police conducted
spectacular arrests, almost resulting from Prime Minister’s accusatory statements directed
to a company or institution. In March last year, police arrested the former
managing director of the Prishtina Airport, and the board influenced by PDK people,
appointed Agron Mustafa instead, another person close to this party. In spite of spectacular
arrestment and government’s and Prime Minister’s declarations that it was an
act in their fight against corruption, no case was ever presented to the courts.
Another spectacular arrest which was never finalized with an important trial in the
courts was the arrest of six customs officers on the day when government was forced
to annul its decision to dismiss the Customs Director, Naim Huruglica. Similarly, when
public pressure was directed to government for failing to take actions against smuggling
in the north, six people were arrested for fuel smuggling. As no other action was
taken to prevent fuel smuggling, this case just added onto the list of suspicious ones.
Rhetorical fight against corruption
As soon as mandated to govern the country, Thaçi government has rhetorically declared
war to organized crime and corruption. No practical have been made, but declarations.
The Progress Report of the European Commission for Kosova in 2008 assesses
that corruption remains the most wide-spread and serious problem in Kosova and that
there is no will to fight against it. 25 The fact can best be seen when analyzing the government’s
approach to adopt basic laws that aim to prevent and fight corruption. After
government’s proposal and approval of the Parliament’s presidency, two last on fight
against corruption and organized crime have been withdrawn before the President’s
final approval. The Law on Declaring of the Origins of Public Officials’ Wealth and the
Law on Financing Political parties have been returned to initial procedures without an
objective justification for such a decision. 26 The current legal infrastructure in power
is incomplete and inadequate. 27 It is exactly these two and amendment of the other
laws that could complete the legal and institutional framework to fight corruption.
To this day, the Democratic Party of Kosova has not made public its sources of financing.
Further, PDK has continuously violated the deadlines, set by OSCE, to declare the
financing of election campaign. This proves that PDK, as the largest party in the country,
has established a precedent for total disregard of its duties and responsibilities
as a political entity and has continuously violated the principles of good governance,
transparency, and accountability.
25 Progress Report (2008), European Commission,
http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/press_corner/key-documents/reports_nov_2008/kosovo_
progress_report_en.pdf
26 According to the Action Plan on Prevention of Informal Economy, adoption of The Law
on Declaring of the Origins of Public Officials’ Wealth was expected for late 2008. See p.13.
27 http://www.cohu.org/raporte/COHU_Infrastruktura_ligjore.doc