High-level corruption hostage to visa liberalisation

High-level corruption continues to remain one of the major challenges for Kosovo's development. So told the conference for launching the second project for empowering the capacity of Kosovo institutions in combating high corruption.

It was said that fighting high-level corruption is a remaining criterion that must be resolved to allow visa liberalisation for Kosovars to occur. While it was determined that fighting high corruption is difficult to deal with.

Germany's ambassador to Kosovo, Angelika Viets, said one of the major challenges for Kosovo's development remains high-level corruption. He said fighting high-level corruption requires firm political will.

High-level corruption unfortunately remains one of the major challenges for Kosovo development. Establishing a positive history of dealing with high-level corruption cases remains one of the two main conditions for visa liberalisation, but not only that. I know fighting corruption is a difficult battle and implies radical differences of mind and in particular requires strong, firm political will, and often even this year often we see this being missing”, she said.

According to her, fighting high - level corruption is not an easy task, especially when high - level corruption can involve very powerful people. However, she said investigators and prosecutors should remain impartial and follow all cases with strong evidence regardless of who is charged.

While, O Mission Chief The SEU in Kosovo, Jan Braathu, said fighting high-level corruption is a remaining criterion to allow visa liberalisation as well.

Brathu said they are aware that fighting high-level corruption is difficult to deal with, but that he said they are committed to helping Kosovo develop capacities to be efficient and effective in fighting high-level corruption.

High-level corruption is identified both by Kosovo authorities and by international partners as an issue of concern and key priorities that must be addressed. We've heard that mention that a few years ago it's a top priority, and we know it's a complicated and difficult issue to deal with. Therefore, we are committed to helping you develop capacities to be effective and effective in fighting high-level corruption. It's important that laws be implemented, the laws exist, their implementation is actually not at the right level. There are positive developments I will not say that everything is black, but we know and are aware that much more can be done in order to have a literal application of the constitutional framework”, he said.

According to O chief The SEU in Kosovo, a key element for fighting corruption and organised crime, is the seizure and sequencing of illegally seized assets during illegal activities.

Kosovo Police Deputy General Director Naim Rexha said he pledges in the name of all his colleagues that they will continue co-operation with all agencies which directly have legal obligations in fighting high-level corruption.

He said that Kosovo Police will have primary focus on clearing themselves of all corrupt elements.

Kosovo Police will have a primary focus on clearing themselves of all corrupt elements. It is natural that we will do this work under the law stands and by respecting, protecting and promoting all human rights, but in close co-operation and in full response to institutions that carry the primary job of investigating police officials for what they claim to be”, he said.