Pristina, 07 April 2008 – Kosovo Govt Sued Over Corruption

An organisation called, Cohu, (Wake Up) says several figures appointed by the Government to the Kosovo Trust Agency, the United Nations’ body in charge of publicly-owned enterprises in Kosovo, hold other posts which will lead to a conflict of interest.

Some of the individuals appointed already hold posts in the public companies or are major shareholders and these are “flagrant violations” according to Cohu. There is concern they could influence the Agency’s work to benefit their own interests.

The group “accuses” Kosovo Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci of supporting corruption in the Trust Agency.

They have called for “public pressure to force the institutions to act in accordance with the laws and public interest and protect the public sector from the individuals, who try to improve their personal interest through politics.”

Cohu has also sent a letter to the Kosovo Assembly as well as senior officials from the United Nations Mission in Kosovo and the European Union but so far, it has received only one response.

“By now, we have only received an answer from Paul Acda [the Head of UN’s Pillar IV in Kosovo], who considers the conflict of interest and new circumstances detrimental to the public companies and a criminal act,” a Cohu statement reads.

The organisation recommends that all stakeholders move fast to stop the transparency of the work done by Kosovo Trust Agency being compromised.