Explanation for citizens and Municipality of Prishtina

Prishtina, 5th May 2013 – It’s been two years since FOL Movement is engaged in monitoring of public procurement. This commitment is as a result of our previous research, where we found out that corruption allegations and misuse of public funds are an issue at different stages in public procurement, including both levels, central and local.
We monitor public procurement procedures in institutions directly, by participating in the process, and indirectly, through institutions research and public procurement institutions research. During this two year period, FOL has published reports, analyses and different reactions regarding public procurement policies.

On 4th May 2013, FOL Movement has published its regular quarterly report, “Procurement Monitor January-March 2013”, which includes and interprets the decisions of Public Procurement Review Body, in order of public sensitization about the situation of the following procedures and legal provisions during the public procurement activities. As we know, Public Procurement Review Body is an independent review body which according to the Law on Public Procurement 04-L-042, is authorized to review the compliance of legal provisions during the procedure in question.
The report that has been published had the same purpose. In this report about the Municipality of Prishtina we have presented the data provided by PRB decisions taken during public procurement procedures. Law violations that Prishtina Municipality has committed in three different activities of public procurement are found in the PRB decision No. 377/12 dated 01.23.2013 for the tender “Supply and installation of cameras at traffic lights and in schools” then the decision No. 15/13 dated 20.02.2013 for the tender “Supply of industrial salt for winter season” and also in the decision No. 53/13 dated 03.28.2013 for the tender “Supply and installation of cameras at traffic lights and in schools”- re-evaluation.

To prove this, please click on the links regarding the decisions in question: (http://oshp.rks-gov.net/repository/docs/vendimet/2013/Instalimi-i-kamerave-ne-semafor-dhe-ne-shkolla.pdf http://oshp.rks-gov.net/repository/docs/vendimet/2013/Furnizim_me_kripe_industriale.pdf http://oshp.rks-gov.net/repository/docs/vendimet/2013/Montimi-i-kamerave-ne-semafor.pdf)
Prishtina Municipality through a public reaction, on Sunday has unjustly accused FOL Movement.
In our report, we did not defend any businesses, but we only referred to the PRB decisions. Therefore Municipal charges are absurd and show their unwillingness to be monitored and to be confronted with the facts provided by civil society for their actions with taxpayer money.
FOL Movement regularly monitors several ministries, and which are included in yesterday’s report, public companies (KEC and PTK) and municipalities. Thus, our monitoring does not involve only the Municipality of Prishtina, but also seven other institutions of different levels.

We consider that it is not the responsibility of the municipality to tell us when we should react. As a matter of fact, we have also reacted to the issue that they have raised in their response.
Through a reaction on 1st February 2013, FOL has requested formation of an Ad Hoc Committee for biometric passports scandal. For more information check the link: https://ëëë.facebook.com/notes/l%C3%ABvizja-fol/kuvendi-i-kosov%C3%ABs-t%C3%AB-krijoj%C3%AB-komision-ad-hoc-p%C3%ABr-hetim-parlamentar-n%C3%AB-mpb-dhe-in/10151421106389413).
Therefore, we consider that municipality’s response does not deal with the content, but with the interpretation of the reaction as they please.
We make it clear to Prishtina Municipality that our engagement is public, therefore we defend public interest. FOL’s staff consisted of 15 people is engaged to make responsible and conscientious the public officials who are not at all levels of government.
Our mission is and remains the support of Good Governance and Active Citizenry