“To clear Kosovo” reacts to MP Driton Selmanaj

Organization “Clearing Kosovo” reacts to the false statements of Democratic League of Kosovo MP Driton Selmanaj at today's session of the Republic of Kosovo Assembly, where the budget for 2019 was being discussed.

At today's Assembly session, LDK deputy said the Organisation “Clearing Kosovo” has been allocated twom euros to the budget, but such a thing is not true.

We as NGOs announce Selmanaj that implementation of the <x0 field Cleaning Kosovo” of us has nothing to do with the 1.2m-euro project he spoke about in the Assembly.

That grant has been divided for the five most successful municipalities in implementing the <x0 field. Clear Kosovo”, and they are given directly to municipalities in the field of environment. So the amount is not divided for the Organization, but for the municipalities.

Also, Selmanaj said that if during discussions, some of the mayors have told him that by twom euros they would well manage the environmental problem in their municipalities. What mayor is he talking about? Because, with all of them, we have very good co-operation and none of them have addressed such concerns to us. And if that's true, then “Clearing Kosovo” hopes municipalities led by those mayors will be among the winner of the 1.2m-euro grant.

Selmanaj as deputy of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo must be cautious of such unfounded accusations against NGOs, even speaking with unofficial data. At no moment during the hearing, he used no creditable resources for his statements. As an MP, he must first know the weight of the word in the Assembly and shoulder moral or legal responsibility for it.

Selmanaj, who himself once was the leader of a nongovernmental organisation, knows quite well how difficult and financially costly the management of activities is, especially when they extend to the entire territory of Kosovo. So we regret that such accusations come from a former member of civil society who is familiar with the work of our organization, as often as volunteers have joined our activities.

We highly appreciate the fact that our organization is one of the main factors that environmental issues are being addressed with priority in the country. Thus, as an MP, you would have to enjoy the fact even if enough funds had been allocated to the environment when it is known how much the awareness of the environment needs to increase. Even “Cleaning Kosovo” has been demanding that funds be increased for the environment for years.

Organization “Clearing Kosovo” informs you that our organisation's activities, which began from 2012, will continue at the same pace and in the same worthy manner of work, as no one has until now contested our work.

Rather, it is among the only organizations that have been shown developing conservation activities with or without funds.