The Weakest Link of Kosovo's Democracy - KFOS

This is not the only assessment that should take place when participation of Kosovo
is decided. At least three other components, that considerably increase our participation,
should be added to the introduction of the PP Kosova B in tender package: (1)
ensuring of the Sibofc lignite where Kosovo Government has until now invested over
120 million euro, (2) guaranteeing of the Kosovan market, according to which future
owner will be given exclusivity in selling energy for next 20 years in the Kosovan
market, and (3) existing infrastructure around power plants and excavation site that
would reduce expenditures of building of the new PP. It is not difficult to conclude that
all these are more worth than 25%, suggested to the Government to announce the
tender that will come out soon. Having in mind that new investor would not invest
for less than 51%, we can say that the Kosovan side should by all means achieve an
agreement for a 49%, participation in this joint enterprise.
4
Highway Morine – Merdare, is the biggest investment project of Kosovo. The Government
has decided to spend more than 1 billion euro for it, money of Kosovo taxpayers.
Arguments in favour of this investment offered to citizens were mainly “patriotic”’
and ideological. Pathetic slogans such as: “... today we are giving our sweat to offer
our children safe future through this corridor!” replaced completely explanations that
should have been given to legitimate owners of this road, Kosovan taxpayers. We
waited in vain to be told something more about the justification behind the construction
of this road as the first priority, its cost benefit, analysis of turning back of this investment,
and finally strategic impact in environment. Given that usually arguments,
which are not closely linked to concrete law that is violated, are not important, we
will provide such an argument: the Government failed to observe the Environment
Strategic Assessment of the project for building the road, stemming from the Law no.
03/L-015 promulgated in the Official Gazette on 24 March 2009. More concretely, it
has violated almost all articles and paragraphs of this law – Articles 7, 13, 16, 20, 21,
22, 24. Every paper ensured by the Ministry of Environment, which grants environmental
consent in principle, is invalid, and far from obligations of the Government to
fulfil this important law.
In order not to dwell into details of these violations, let us refer to the same situation
in Rumania – construction of the Transilvanic highway, with the company Bechtel,
which due to failure to carry out Strategic Assessment in the Environment, was subject
to strict reprimand by the EU that stopped all investment it has promised to the
Rumanian Government.
5
Given that governments, in order to justify their actions, present most frequently the
opinion of credible international institutions or the one of our friends, we were not
spared from this kind of argument in the case of the highway either. It was said that:
“With this draft law we express institutional and legal commitment to membership in
the IMF and the WB. Due to this reason and quick and efficient finalization for membership
in these two organizations, I request the passing of this draft law, which is
precondition for integration!”, and senior government officials also said that:
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The Weakest Link of Kosovo’s Democracy
forum 2015