58m euros' pardon extensions by prime minister

They had even established a working group that would speak to the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, as well as to draft an agreement between them to solve this problem.

The Word newspaper has secured the transcript from this meeting where parties have finally agreed to start returning debts, but only four months later Prime Minister Haradinaj made a decision to forgive them.

“The third step after the agreement is signed, water executives make voluntary assessment of financial obligations (according to the working group recommendations) to the MMPH, emerging from the Administrastration Guide for the Water Payer Structuring No.06/2006<18x1>, is said in one of the recommendations emerging from this meeting, where water and alcoholic and non-alcolic liquor producers and representatives of the Kosovo Producer Club.

Water producers from this meeting have also agreed that the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, on the basis of statements by Water Ambalagers (designed in agreement), prepare financial decisions on payment of obligations in accordance with law and agreement.

“second step- The signing of the high-profile agreement between MMPH and water ambalagers” is said in the transcripts of this meeting.

But this agreement would never be reached. Just four months later, Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj made a decision to forgive all million debts, which water producers have established over the years against the state.

The Word newspaper has contacted the chairman of the Association of Alcoholic and Joalcholic Drink Producers, the Osman Union, but it has not been willing to tell why this debt return agreement was never reached. He has not commented on Prime Minister Haradinaj's decision either.

According to a report handed over to the prime minister's office, a copy provided by the newspaper Word is estimated that the total of debts water producers owe to the state for 2008-2015 is 58m and 936 thousand and 715 euros. Total has been collected from the tax for water exploitation, water disposal and inert materials.

This decision by Prime Minister Haradinaj for pardoning water producers' debts comes despite the fact that these debts were being handled in the courts. The Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning has been facing these companies in courts for years to return debt.

Investigation Required for Debt Forgiveness

Hardinaj's decision has sparked numerous reactions from the opposition and economy connoisseurs, calling it an arbitrary decision by the prime minister and also requested investigations by the prosecution.

After publishing the text from the Word newspaper, over the forgiveness of over 58m euros from the Government of Kosovo, reactions have also started.

Civil society and opposition deputies have sought responsibility for Haradinaj's move. According to them, this decision shows government disregard for public money.

Opposition deputies in media statements have also warned they will seek clarification from Prime Minister Haradinaj about the decision.

And publicist Veton Surroi said that if 59m euros are due to state commitment, it is a bright red light for corruption.

“. . are money that can be used in any public area that needs urgent money (from education to health), it is money that when it is not collected from business, it must be collected out of the citizens' pockets, it shows disregard for public money, and public interest, it is a guide that the citizen who pays the grant in order is condemned by the state; favored is the one who doesn't pay and forgives”, Surroi wrote.

Who Are Their Debts?

Based on the documents contained by the newspaper Word, the biggest debtor comes out to be the .p.k. company. The Arberium that produces the Alps' water, which owes over 9m euros. The second place is the company Fluidi at nearly 4.5m euros, followed by Compact Group producing DEA water or Miros water, which has over 3m euros in debt each.

The debtors' list also found Water Rugovs, owned by Wisar Klemend and Beer Peje, which is owned by Devolli Company.

The newspaper Word has provided a copy of this decision that has abolished an Administratative Guide under which water producers were forced to carry out their debts retroactively.

“Approvals pardoning debts for water administrators, set forth in Article 12 of Administrative Guide (QRK) No. 02/2016 for water payment Struycture”, said in Haradinaj's decision, which has entered into force since the signing day.

Meanwhile, Article 12 of the Administrator Guide for the Water Exchange Structura, which was abolished by Prime Minister Haradinaj's decision, has meant that all accumulated debts since the post-war, producers must pay retroactively.

The “all the enforcers who, until the introduction of this Administrative Guide has not carried out their obligations, are obliged to perform prior obligations under the No.06/2006” deadline. THE UA number 02/2016 went into effect in March 2016”, says this article.

The Word newspaper has been reporting on this problem for years and has overall documentation and names of water companies that owe the state and the value of debts. /The Word/