January 16, 2012 – “The police government violated citizens and state institutions of Kosovo”, this was the motto of 30 non-governmental organizations, which protested in a peaceful protest at the Government of Kosovo.

Pristina, February 16, 2011. “The police government violated citizens and state institutions of Kosovo”, this was the motto of 30 non-governmental organizations, which protested in a peaceful protest at the Government of Kosovo. Lorik Bajrami, of ” Çohu “, one of the organizing NGOs of the protest, said to the protesters that “the aim of this protest is to condemn the brutal behavior which was ordered by the Government and conducted by police towards protesters on last Saturday. ”
Participants in the protest were hundreds of citizens who came to express their dissatisfaction with the violence in the protest of January 14.

January 15, 2012 –The Institute for Researches and Policy Development (KIPRED), Movement FOL, Initiative for Progress (INPO), the Youth Initiative for Human Rights-Kosovo (YIHRKS), Center for Policy and Advocacy (QPA) Ec Ma Ndryshe (Walk Differently) (ECI) Organization for Democracy, Dignity and Anti-Corruption (COHU), Women’s Network (RrRK), ATRC, Developing Together (DT) Community Building Mitrovica (CBM) Syri I Vizionit (Eye Vision) (SIV) Institute for Advanced Studies (GAP), Foreign Policy Club (KPJ), Liria, Elena Gjika, local Youth Council Istog, Podguri, Youth Center Istok, YC Father Lorenc Mazdreku, Centre for Gender Studies (QKSGJ), Kosovo Center for Security Studies (QKSS), Kosovo Centre for Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (QKRMT), ATTA, Cultural Heritage Foundation, EUIRC, Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI)

We, the above organizations of civil society, condemn the violence ordered by the Government and conducted by the police at the protest held yesterday which was organized by the Movement “Vetevendosje”. We express our dissatisfaction against the international community attitudes, which through its statements has legitimized the violence of the Government againts its citizens.
Yesterday’s protest was a manifestation of the will of citizens and a democratic instrument. Such a right is guaranteed in the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo and international acts.
Such a violent intervention is a direct attack on the democratic principles, its values and practices.
To oppose the brutality of the government against citizens of Kosovo, civil society calls for a protest against violence. The protest will be held on Monday, January 16, 2012, in front of the Government at 1200h.

Prishtina, 12 January 2012 – FOL movement has followed attentively the developments in the Ministry of Health, and in particular in the procurement office. During this time FOL has found several irregularities and aggravated legal violations were committed by officials of this Ministry.

Despite the fact that FOL had a signed agreement to monitor procurement activities, they were exactly the officials who have been arrested those who had tried not to let FOL and media have access in such procurement activities. Therefore, the recent arrests for FOL are a clear signal that the Ministry of Health, particularly its top officials have been and continue to be involved in various corruption affairs.

In early October of last year, FOL has published a report on violations and irregularities that are committed by the Ministry of Health. The report mentions exactly the names of the officials who were arrested today for their involvement in corruption activities. Thus, today’s searches and arrests by EULEX clearly show that our public denunciations regarding this ministry have been accurate and it is necessary that such cases are prosecuted.

We believe that this time EULEX is not planning to only take spectacular actions, like it used to do, but would seriously prosecute those cases. We also require that the State Prosecution be more active investigating corruption, indicating its willingness and commitment in persecuting cases of crime and corruption.

At the annual party, FOL Movement for the third time awarded the Citizens Award for Courage. In the two previous years this award went to z. Rufki Suma, an independent candidate who won the election for the mayor of Hani Elezit and Mrs. Ajnishahe Shala – Halimi, this year this award went to Mr. Ejup Bajrami.
Mr. Bajrami was engaged as a citizen against illegal constructions since 2002. Because of his involvement in the movement against the revocation of Kosovo’s autonomy in late 80s was politically discriminated. After the war he has been engaged in Prishtina, where he has lived since 1965, by denouncing the illegal constructions in the capital of the Republic of Kosovo. Mr. Bajrami is one of the founders of the NGO “Prishtina Protection Initiative “. This organization has filed numerous lawsuits against the Municipality of Prishtina, other government institutions, various construction companies, and against irresponsible citizens as well.
Petrit Zogaj from FOL Movement, said that FOL Movement with the Citizens Award for Courage recognizes and supports the valuable and courageous contribution of the individuals who without hesitation defend the public interest of the Republic of Kosovo. He further added that by considering the commitment of Mr. Bajrami, in preventing and stopping illegal construction in Prishtina quarters, many citizens began to mobilize and oppose illegal construction.
Genc Salihu, the Chairman of the Advisory Board of FOL Movement, when presenting the award stated that it was an honor for him to present this award and especially when considering that Mr. Ejup Bajrami has proven to be successful in his initiative and that we should appreciate his courage. Mr. Bajrami is an example of civic engagement, by facing the abusive practices even in his age as a pensioner. The Citizens Award for Courage in 2011 with full merit bears his name, concluded Genc Salihu.
When receiving the award, Mr. Ejup Bajrami said he was very happy to accepts this award and also with responsibility. He said that this award has proven the purpose of his and Prishtina citizens initiative, and also this award means that we must not give up defending the public interest, which is also our own interest.

Prishtina, 23 December 2011 – At a party organized in occasion of the end of the year, movement FOL awarded for the third the Award for Civil Courage. In the last two years the award went Mr. Rufki Suma, an independent candidate who won the election for the mayor of Hani Elezit Municipality and Mrs. Ajnishahe Shala-Halimi, this year the award went to Mr. Ejup Bajrami.
Mr. Bajrami, was an active and committed citizen against illegal constructions since 2002. Because of his involvement in the movement against suppression of the autonomy of Kosovo in the late ’80 ‘ he was politically discriminated. However, after the war, he was active in Prishtina, where he lives since 1965, thus making the denunciation of the illegal constructions in the capital of the Republic of Kosovo. Mr. Bajrami is one of the founders of the NGO “Civil Initiative for the Protection of Prishtina”, and working in this organization he has filed numerous lawsuits against the Municipality of Prishtina, other government institutions, different construction companies, but also against irresponsible citizens.

Petrit Zogaj of Movement FOL, said that “Movement FOL by sharing the award for Civil Courage recognizes and supports the valuable and brave contribution of the individuals who without hesitation protect the public interest of the Republic of Kosovo”. He further added that “considering the commitment of Mr. Bajrami, in preventing and stopping illegal construction in different neighbourhoods in Prishtina, many citizens began to be mobilized and oppose illegal constructions.”

Genc Salihu, Chairman of the Advisory Board of Movement FOL, when presenting the award, said that “it is an honour for me to deliver this award considering that Mr. Ejup Bajrami has successfully demonstrated his initiative and we should appreciate his courage “. “Mr. Bajrami is a restless example of civil engagement, continuing to resist abusive practices even at his age of the pensioner, Civil Courage Award for 2011 worthily reads his name, “concluded his speech Genc Salihu. .
When accepting the award Mr. Ejup Bajrami said that he accepted happily this award and also with responsibility. He said that “this award has proven the goal of my initiative and some citizens of Pristina, and also this award proves that we should never stop defending the public interest which at same time is our own interest as well.”

Prishtina, December 15, 2011 – The Advisory Board of Movement FOL held the consequent meeting, discussing the general situation of the organization.
At the meeting were discussed the semi-annual report and financial report, and both were approved unanimously by the Board’s members. At this meeting was discussed also about organizing the annual ceremony for awarding the prize for civic courage, and the Board decided that this ceremony be held on December 23, 2011.

Another topic on the agenda of this meeting was the appointment of Board meetings for 2012, and according to the Statute of Movement FOL, four regular annual meetings should be held.
Advisory Board members have discussed and analyzed the work of the Movement FOL and supported activities undertaken by FOL in 2011, and they promised to support the development and advancement of the objectives and activities that according to the strategic plan are planned to be implemented the following year.

Prishtina, 11 December 2011 ” The Government of Kosovo during the two months (September-October) has approved 61 (sixty one) verdicts, 25 in September, and 36 in October. In September, among 25 approved verdicts only 1 was against corruption, while in October, the Government approved two verdicts against corruption.

Kosovo Assembly during September-October 2011 has held three plenary sessions, one was held in September and two others in October. In these three plenary sessions during these two months, only in the September”s session was discussed against corruption, respectively, during the September”s session when the director of the Anti Corruption Agency has been elected.
Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) based on the statistics of this institution we find out that during August and September, in the context of “abuse of authority” have been filed 14 cases, no cases were on going, and 9 cases have been solved . In the context of “taking bribes” 2 cases have been filed and only 1 case has been solved at the end of the reporting period. While in the context of “giving bribes” one case has been filed and another one solved at the end of the reporting period.

According to statistics of the Department of Investigation of Economic Crimes and Corruption (DIECC) we find out that during September and October, 44 cases have been sent to prosecution: 16 cases in September and 28 other cases in October. As a result of investigations of Kosovo Police, 13 officials have been arrested: 4 in September and 9 in October. Meanwhile the value of alleged damages is about 679,285.00 “: 398,170.00 ” in September and ” 281,115.00 in October.
Kosovo Customs during last two months have announced 11 disciplinary actions, 2 in September and 9 others in October. Within these cases, 9 are disciplinary written warning, 1 ban of promotion and 1 verbal warning.

Prishtina, December 9, 2011 ” On occasion of the International Day against Corruption, Movement FOL through an activity has “disinfected” the corrupted government officials. This activity was carried out at the entrance of the main building of the government. Through this activity movement FOL has expressed its concern about the high level of corruption and its widespread within public institutions.
According to the researcher of this movement, Armend Mazreku, “it is exactly the government corruption that the bad governance has become a governing system that our country is the poorest and with the highest unemployment rate in Europe, and that the future of our state is questioned.” Further, according to FOL the main reason why our republic continues to break records regarding corruption is precisely because of the political corruption of this government. As a result of such affairs, the governor and the corrupt have become synonymous, said the representative of the Movement FOL!.
According to Movement FOL! Today is the day of those who are not corrupted and who fight corruption seriously, not the day of those who are corrupted to the core, and pretend they are fighting it.
On this occasion movement FOL! called the institutions not to be involved in corruption practices, but to fight them with all legal and institutional mechanisms. Movement FOL! requires tangible results and concrete actions to fight against corruption, not only empty words as we are used to hear from them every day.

Prishtina, December 4, 2011 ” Today movement FOL presented its analysis on “The weaknesses of the Anti-Corruption Strategy 2009-2011”.
Executive Director of the Movement FOL Petrit Zogaj, said that “the high level of corruption in the country is harming the interests of the citizens of Kosovo”. Further, he claimed that the report of Transparency International confirms that the institutions did not fight corruption, for Kosovo is ranked two places below.
Meanwhile, policy researcher in this movement, Armend Mazreku, said that “anti-corruption strategy 2009-2011” has been very little a strategy, but worse than that, it was even less in the fight against corruption “. Further, he stated that “even this strategy was drafted within the model of bad governance, which consists only in having these strategies, but not implementing them.”

Furthermore, Mr. Mazreku said that “the strategy was characterized by multiple vulnerabilities, thus, it didn”t reduce corruption in public institutions.”
According to the findings of this analysis the main weaknesses that have accompanied the anti-corruption strategy 2009-2011 are: lack of studies, research and preliminary reports on the characteristics, nature and causes of corruption, the lack of involvement of civil society in the drafting of Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan 2009-2010; a comprehensive approach: discrepancy between Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan 2009-2011; the lack of seriousness in determining time of anti-corruption measures and their financial costs, the lack of supervision of implementation of Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan 2009 -2011 by the Anti Corruption Agency and, insufficient implementation of objectives and operational measures against corruption.
However, this analysis addresses the following recommendations as well: Preliminary researches should be conducted on the characteristics, nature and causes of corruption in Kosovo: An integrated analysis of the anti-corruption legislative package should be conducted; identifying sectors that are most affected by corruption – with particular attention on public procurement; defining objectively the deadline of implementation of concrete actions provided by Action Plan: Defining the approximate financial cost to implement the measures provided by Anti-corruption Strategy and Action Plan 2012-2016; strengthen the supervision of Anti-corruption Strategy and Action Plan 2012-2016 by the Anti-corruption Agency and Civil, Promotion of the Strategy as a strategic document – so that, all institutional policies, and especially government ones, to originate from such a strategic document.

Monitoring Report on Institutional Activities in the Fight Against Corruption September-October 2011

 
Corruption Monitor for September-October 2011

Prishtina, 25 November 2011 – Today, Movement FOL held the consequent debate of the forum “Speak Openly”, discussing the responsibilities of public institutions fighting corruption.

Panellists in this debate were the Coordinator of the Fight against Corruption in the State Prosecution, Mrs. Drita Hajdari, Director of Anti-Corruption Agency, Mr. Hasan Preteni and the Head of Kosovo Judicial Council, Mr. Enver Peci.

The coordinator of the Fight against Corruption in the State Prosecution, Mrs. Drita Hajdari, said “The prosecution has established a specialized group of prosecutors regarding this issue, respectively, the fight against corruption. Also, this institution has drafted the strategy for the fight against corruption. The anticorruption prosecutors group meets once a month and in the meetings of this group is talked about serious issues of corruption. Mrs. Hajdari added that “the objective of prosecution of Kosovo is to increase transparency through prosecutors. Prosecution is doing a good job recently, from January to September 2011, 116 charges have been filed. Mrs. Drita Hajdari further stressed that criminal charges arising from the ACA are not sufficient for filing charges.”

… the objective of the prosecution of Kosovo is increasing transparency through prosecutors …

The Director of Anti-Corruption Agency, Mr. Hasan Preteni said that “Kosovo has all the institutions to fight corruption, but its citizens do not trust these institutions. According to him, “the fight against corruption is missing figures. He further added, “During 2010 we filed 200 criminal charges, but only 6 verdicts were sentenced for the fight against corruption”. He further added that “ACA is not the institution that claims to persecute, investigate cases, but it is neither the institution which only provides the prosecution with information about the corruption cases. Mr. Preteni claimed that ACA is not satisfied regarding cooperation of ACA with other institutions such as prosecution and courts. The chairman of the Judicial Council of Kosovo, Mr. Enver Peci said that “the judicial system is undergoing a reformation phase; we need judges who will specialize in the fight against corruption, because cases in this area should be given more attention, especially political cases, which affect our budget greatly. He further added that “Kosovo’s judges, who accept this assignment should have the courage to deal with corruption cases of high level and these cases should not be entrusted only to EULEX. Now the salaries of judges are relatively good, all you need is the courage of a judge to work in the fight against corruption, “he concluded.

Statement: “No one ordered me to retreat”. This statement of mine is valid till 1st of November, until the time when we wait for the working groups to define the achieved deals. “

Author: Bajram Rexhepi, Minister of Internal Affairs.
Date: 13th of November 2011
Evaluation: FALSE

Reasoning: Not only in the Northern part, but in the whole territory of Kosovo, Serbian citizens keep challenging the state of Kosovo. Not far away from Prishtina, there are cars with Kosovo cities car plates but released in Serbia, Minister of Internal Affairs Bajram Rexhepi, which warned the confiscation of those car plates after the 1st of November, made another tolerance for Serbs, giving them another deadline at least until 31st of December. Delaying a deadline because he was unable to fulfill his promises. “

“”

“Statement: “” This will put an end to decision of 20th July for banning the imports from Serbia. Recognizing the custom seals is a start of recognizing Kosovo from Serbia. On 16th of September, in the border crossings with Serbia, in the Northern part, Kosovo customs will start functioning.

Author: Hashim Thaçi, Prime minister
Date: 7th of September 2011″
Evaluation: FALSE”

Reasoning: Kosovo customs in the border with Serbia are useless and are not working, the way that the Prime Minister Thaçi promised. Even though it cannot be seen publicly, Kosovo customs officials can go there and don”t have anything to do, because 2 months after this promise, borders with Serbia remain closed. Only in other custom points there is a development of trade but it is disproportional and it is in the benefits of Serbia.

“”

“””Statement: “After 25th of July, Kosovo has taken under its control even 30% of the territory that they didn”t have before”.
”
Author: Adem Grabovci- PDK”s whip.
Date: 25th of July 2011.
Evaluation: FALSE”

Reasoning: Prishtina continues not having sufficient control on the north, and let alone of the whole territory that includes 30% of Northern part of Mitrovica, also Zubin Potok, Leposavic and Zvecan. The statement of the PDK whip, Grabovci, it is completely false because there is no presence of Republic of Kosovo”s institutions in the municipalities that are controlled from illegal parallel structures of Serbia. This is another false statement with the attempt of deceiving the citizens of Kosovo.

“”

“””Statement: “Agreements will start applying from the 1st of November 2011. From this date the law is going to be executed in the whole territory of Kosovo and the parallel structures are going to be eliminated, and the citizens will be able to move freely. The agreement for recognition of custom seals is very important in the political plan also in the economical and regional cooperation plan. With this agreement there is a mutual recognition in between Republic of Kosovo and Serbia in customs field.
”
Author: Edita Tahiri”
Date: 3rd of July, 2011″
Evaluation: FALSE

“”Reasoning: Parallel Structures in Kosovo are stronger than ever, they are playing the tough guy and are controlling the northern part. The promise in July of Deputy-Prime Minister, Edita Tahiri, seemed more like a desire than reality, as it is proved from the situation in the place. There is no freedom of movement in a considerate part of the territory and the situation hasn”t improved, but it has worsened from the time of the promise of the Deputy-Prime Minister Tahiri. From the recognition of customs seals without the logo of Republic of Kosovo the only one benefiting is Serbia.

“”

“”Statement: “If this political party takes the governing after the elections of 12th of December , Kosovo in September of the next year will be a member of the United Nations, UN”.
”
Author: Behgjet Pacolli”
Date: 25th of November 2010
“Evaluation: FALSE

“””Reasoning: This was the most scandalous pre-election promise. Pacolli promised membership of Kosovo in UN with 1 year of his party in power. AKR entered the government as a small partner of the coalition, and Pacolli once was President and more Deputy -Priminister, and still Kosovo misses more than 20 Recognitions just to try the membership in the UN. Inner competition for recognitions mostly has resulted counter-productive.

Prishtina, November 18, 2011 –  Movement FOL consequently for the second year has conducted a public policies research. Similarly with the study in 2010, this study evaluates the transparency of institutions and public enterprises operating in Kosovo. This year movement FOL was focused primarily on the progress made since last year’s study in the functioning of the internal structures of institutions and public enterprises that are responsible for issues of communication and public information, of course evaluating the same issues like in the previous report. Thus, this study focuses on the level that institutions and public enterprises have developed the capacity of their formal structures to ensure their full and effective implementation of constitutional and legal provisions guaranteeing the right of citizens to access public documents, respectively, communication and public information, in order to strengthen transparency and accountability to the public.

During today’s press conference was published the analysis “Transparency Index of Institutions and Public Enterprises in Kosovo II” in 2011. The analysis focuses on the implementation of the Law on Access to Public Documents, by the Offices of Public Communication in the respective institutions.
Director of Movement FOL Petrit Zogaj, said that “the questionnaire was sent to 32 public institutions, 16 of them responded, only 1 was ranked as an open institution, Kosovo Customs, respectively, Office of Public Communications. According to our study this office is estimated to be the most transparent and open regarding: institutions, media, civil society and citizens. This office got 93 points out of 100. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Communities and Returns, according to our assessment has taken 24 points out of 100, ranking it as the most closed institution. “

Please find in the chart below the ranking of the institutions

Transparency Index of Institutions and Public Enterprises (ranking for 2010 and 2011 ” comparative review):
NO. INSTITUTION/PUBLIC ENTERPRISE INDEX TREND
2010 2011
1. Kosovo Customs (KC) 90 93
2. Ministry of Local Administration (MAL) 47 55
3. Kosovo Privatization Agency (KPA) N/A 55 N/A
4. Ministry of Health (MH) N/A 55 N/A
5. Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo (ARK) 53 50.5
6. Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) 69 48
7. Ministry of European Integrations (MEI) N/A 48 N/A
8. Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) N/A 45.5 N/A
9. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) 62 45
10. Prime Minister”s Office (PMO) 41.5 42.5
11. Post and Telecommunication of Kosovo (PTK) 43 42.5
12. Ombudsman Institution (OI) N/A 39 N/A
13. Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MESP) N/A 39 N/A
14. Ministry of Justice (MJ) N/A 29.5 N/A
15. Ministry of Economical Development (MED) N/A 24.5 N/A
16. Ministry of Communities and Return (MCR) N/A 24 N/A

Prishtina, November 12, 2012 – Today, the citizens of Kosovo will be taken over by the news of the inauguration of the first segment of highway Vermicë-Merdare. Certainly, the main protagonist of the ceremony will be Prime Minister, who will give long speeches on the major project that this government has invested and how this project has employed thousands of unemployed and have boosted the country’s economic development.

This will be in the continuance of successive statements of the rhetoric of government Thaci 1, which has continues with the government Thaci 2, how this is national project, that the critics of this project are against the road of the nation, who do not like the development of Kosovo, who do not want the creation of new jobs and such accusations, trying to overcome entirely the transparency of this project.
However, since the beginning, this project has been completely closed to the taxpayers of the country, civil society and media. Although investment in this project will continue to take more than half the capital investment for the next two years, its construction contract has never been made public, including funding sources, the final costs, timing and process of supervision of the works, setting track and the process of expropriation.
Movement FOL support capital investments in infrastructure, but it is against investment which are kept closed, non-transparent and non-accountable to citizens and institutions.

Prishtina, 11 November 2011– Movement FOL, has organized a press conference presenting the report “Procurement Monitor” for the period July ” September 2011. This publication is made in the context of many activities that FOL movement has organized regarding public procurement since March of this year. The findings of this report are based on the monitoring of procurement system of Kosovo institutions, respectively, the data obtained by directly monitoring of contracting authorities, researches, decisions of the PRB and the media.

Program Manager at Movement FOL, Fidan Kalaja, during the conference stated that “during this reporting period there were several developments in the area of procurement. In August of this year, Kosovo’s government has approved a new law on public procurement, which was approved by Parliament and become applicable with the enactment of the Presidency of the Republic of Kosovo “. According to him, it is disappointing that “this law does not contain any positive change in terms of increasing transparency and accountability of procurement procedures.” He stressed that “the findings of this analysis show that the new law on public procurement has not reduced bureaucracy, by not responding to article 120 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, by not providing transparency, accountability and efficiency in spending public money.”

During this period the Ministry of Internal Affairs was searched and there were arrests connected with investigations into corruption and misconduct in the procurement of this ministry. But, Fidan Kalaja said that “investigations of misconduct in public procurement should be intensified and produce concrete results considering the high level of corruption in this sector”. In this context, “the situation of procurement in the Ministry of Health is alarming, where the concerns raised by Movement FOL regarding misuses in this ministry are ignored by the institutions while allowing continuation of misuses and corruption just like before with the tenders of the Ministry,” he concluded.

Project Coordinator, Armend Pajaziti presented the findings of this report. He said that during this reporting period July-September “The Government has violated the law in 12 different tenders.” Also, the Procurement Review Body – PRB has fined the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, and has threatened to fine the Ministry of Health for failing to respect the decisions of the PRB. According to him, “the trend of legal malpractice and violations continued in public enterprises PTK and KEC, which indicates that these enterprises have not shown willingness to prevent abuses and violations that are occurring in the procurement of these enterprises.” “It is concerning that during this period, the municipalities have committed violations in 14 different tenders, which constitutes the largest number of violations compared to the violations that municipalities have committed in the previous period,” said Armend Pajaziti.
During this conference, Movement FOL offered recommendations that would increase the level of transparency of these procedures and will prevent abuse and corruption that is taking place in public procurement in Kosovo.

This policies research is the second, the first one was done last year. This research, likewise the research of 2010 evaluates the transparency of institutions and public enterprises operating in Koso…

 
Institutonal transparency Index 2011

Prishtina, October 30, 2011-Two days ago, Movement FOL has published its comparative report on declaration of the property of senior public officials for 2010-2011. However, after the publication of this report, the (Anti-) Corruption Agency, through an announcement for media has reacted, mentioning some “logical and mathematical errors that this report contains”.

In this sense, movement FOL public wishes to clarify that the two matters that the Agency has addressed are false and unstable:
1. Regarding the declaration of the property of the Agency’s head, Mr. Hasan Preteni. Based on the Law on Declaration, Origin and Control of Property of Senior Public Officials, respectively article 3, section 1.1.9, agency leaders should declare their property to the (Anti-) Corruption Agency. Thus, this article and this section include Mr. Preteni to declare his property to this institution. In the meantime, the Agency’s response was that Mr. Preteni declared his property to the Supervisory Parliamentary Commission of this institution. If so, how come Mr. Preteni declared his property in 2011 according to the law which became applicable in February 2010″ Therefore, it is illegal, for when the law on DOCPSPO became applicable, has abolished the legal provision of the previous law regarding the declaration of the officials of this institution. In this case, Mr. Preteni violated the provisions of this law, and therefore he should be publicly responsible.

2. The second issue that the Agency is suspicious about the report of Movement FOL is also declaration of the property of the President of Kosovo Assembly, Mr. Jakup Krasniqi. According to the forms that the Agency has published in its official website show clearly that Mr. Krasniqi has published the same property, but with different values for the years 2010 and 2011. (see attached the forms which are downloaded from its web site). Therefore, such a reaction, not only is in disfavour of the function of this mission, but rather contributes to further growth of corruption and its widespread in public institutions.
We appeal to the (Anti-) Corruption Agency, that instead of protecting officials who are involved in various corruption affairs, it is better to verify the origin of the property of these officials, who are harming the general interest of the citizens of our republic.

Prishtina, October 27, 2011-Movement FOL within the project “Fighting the Conflict of Interest”, is focused in the declaration of the property of senior public officials, this very sensitive area for these officials, who in most cases are reluctant to be transparent declaring their property. Movement FOL today published the report “Declaration of the property of the leaders of major public institutions in 2010 and 2011”.

In the property declaration in 2011, it is clearly noticed the tendency of senior public officials to represent the year as “barren” regarding the property they own, stating decline in their wealth. In this context, the director of the Movement FOL Petrit Zogaj, mentioned the case of Minister of Economic Development, Besim Beqaj, who in the declaration of the property for the year 2011 comes to about 1.4 million poorer than in the previous year, and according to the analysis of Movement FOL this “poverty” is a result of undeclared values of the same property declared for these two years. “Also, the property of the President of the Assembly of Kosovo, Jakup Krasniqi in 2011 appears to have decreased to around 533 thousand euros, and this decrease is the result of non compliance of the values for the same properties declared. The property of Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, in 2010 and 2011 was also compared who declared this year about 100 thousand fewer than in 2010. For this fall, Prime Minister did not give any explanations for its 100 thousand euros that are not listed in the category of savings.

Unlike these officials, this year has been more fortunate for the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Nenad Rasic, whose wealth has increased for 200 thousand euros more compared with 2010. Similar case, but with a drastic increase of wealth, has presented the General Commander of KSF, Sulejman Selimi, the difference of whose property is set to about 100 thousand euros only last year.

A special case is the case of the first deputy Prime Minister, Behgjet Pacolli, who in 2010, illegally asked not to declare his property.
During today’s press conference, where the report “The declaration of property of the leaders of major public institutions in 2010 and 2011”, was published, the director of the Movement FOL Petrit Zogaj, said, “it is required by the Anti – Corruption Agency, that the declaration of the property of public senior officials are verified for accuracy and the results of that verification be public for the citizens of Kosovo “. He further added that movement FOL will send a request to the Prosecution of Kosovo, in order to start investigations regarding the property of senior officials.

Mitrovica, 8-9 October 2011 – Movement FOL along with organization CBM from Mitrovica and in cooperation with organizations: Initiative for Progress (INPO)-Ferizaj, Malisheva Youth Center and Suhareka Youth Center organized the National Debate Tournament ‘Karl Popper’ – “Mitrovica Open 2011” on 8-9 October 2011 on the topic “debate on the minors”. ‘Karl Popper’ Debate aims to handle the essential elements of a controversial issue. It stresses above all the development of critical thinking, tolerance and appreciation of different views. This debate was developed in high schools.

Movement FOL with the support of SOROS/KFOS Foundation since January 2010 have worked together with partner organizations INPO, SIV and YIHR to establish debate clubs in town and to train club members in Karl Popper debate format. Meanwhile, since January this year the program was extended to three new cities in Mitrovica, Malisheva and Suhareka.

Currently in Kosovo there are 6 clubs in 6 municipalities, while the number of debaters from city high schools is constantly growing. Meanwhile, the debate club in Ferizaj city already formed teams with debaters of the community RAE.

On Saturday, October 08, during three rounds of debate were matched 16 teams from four municipalities in Kosovo: Ferizaj, Mitrovica, Malisheva and Suhreka. Meanwhile, quarterfinals, semi-finals and finals were held on Sunday. The semi-finals teams were four teams that have collected the most points based on the number of victories and points that have collected team”s speakers. On semi-finals debated these teams: Amazons from Ferizaj, Epigons from Malisheva, The MM Group and Wei8 from Mitrovica. On finals debated Epigons from Malisheva and Amazons from Ferizaj.
udges in this tournament were former debaters who have previously taken part in the “Karl Popper” debate. The judges who observed the finals of this tournament, announced the winner of this tournament Epigons from Malisheva.

The four resolutions as debate topics in this tournament were on minors, two of these resolutions were with limited preparation time while the two other resolutions, the debaters had the opportunity to prepare in advance.
The first resolution was: “In some cases, juveniles should be tried as adults”;
The second resolution was: “Females under 18 must have parental permission to abort”;
The third resolution was “religious education should be a school subject”;
The fourth resolution was “If a juvenile should be tried, there should be another juvenile in the jury.”
The tournament was held for two days at Gymnasium “Frank Bradhi”, while the finals was held at the Cultural Centre in Mitrovica.
This is the third tournament held in one of the respective municipalities while there were organized two other tournaments in the municipalities of Peja and Ferizaj also two national tournaments.

The debate program is supported by Kosovo Foundation for Open Society.

Prishtina, October 2, 2011 – Movement FOL, held a press conference on the occasion of the withdrawal from the Memorandum of Well-Understanding for monitoring the procurement procedures in the Ministry of Health, signed between Movement FOL and Ministry of Health on June 10, 2011 and the publication of a report on abuses in the procurement of this ministry. The reason for the withdrawal of Movement FOL from this memorandum was that this ministry, respectively the procurement office did not respect the agreement.

Program manager, Fidan Kalaja said, “Although movement FOL has tried consistently through constant communication, meeting twice with Minister Mr. Agani and informing him about the situation, it was impossible to succeed. Worse than that the minister did not answer about the concerns, doubts and facts that Movement FOL has addressed on its report about abuses that happened and are happening with this ministry tenders.”

According to Mr. Kalaja, “‘Occupation’ and ‘ownership’ of the Ministry of Health by the Secretary General Mr. Ilir Tolaj, through the chief of procurement Mr. Zenel Kuci, made this memorandum impossible to work by closing and isolating, non-transparency of procurement procedures in order to allow the continuation of chronic misuse of public money of the citizens of Kosovo, even risking their health through the bad qualitative and expired products.”
Mr. Kalaja concluded that “the attempt to use this memorandum to public opinion pretending that the Ministry of Health develops transparent and accountable procurement procedures deceiving citizens, media and civil society, today FOL Movement ends this agreement by providing and ensuring that FOL has continuously monitored this institution by preparing investigative researches regarding irregularities and misuses conducted by this ministry during the award of tenders and implementation of public contracts.

Project Manager, Armend Pajaziti, briefly presented the string of abuses that occurred in this ministry in 2011. He said that “management of drugs storage is made by company” Rimed “, which also participates in other tenders, which clearly presents conflict of interest. According to the information it is said that drugs are not managed well by this company and it is suspected that along with officials from the MH and other institutions, they false documents relating to the receipt / delivery of drugs, either when entering the store, or even when going from the store. “He further added that, “MH has awarded tenders even to high officials of this ministry, as it is the case with Mr. Hajrullah Fejza, who allegedly is involved in most of the frauds in the tenders of the MH and now he is known as “the merchant of tenders “. Although the Auditor General has noted that certain companies have supplied the MH with expired medicines, according to Armend Pajaziti the latter “has continued to reward the same company this year by further harming the state budget.”

Movement FOL will continue monitoring the procurement procedures of this ministry by undertaking and implementing such researches, will publish any misuse to be found and will be taken other steps to minimize these abuses.