Kosovo Privatisation Agency gives hundreds of thousands of euros to Serbian newspaper

Without concrete management plan, the Kosovar Privatisation Agency (AKP) signed a contract worth a total of 205,000 euros with the Serbian newspaper “Danas” specifically with the firm Dan Graf leading the newspaper.

The contract signed on 5 February 2016 suggests that the AKP allocated 205 thousand euros to the Serbian newspaper Danas for promoting its activities within Serbia's territory.

In announcement of the contract being issued to the Public Procubation Regulatory Commission (KRPP) two years ago, it is said that giving this contract is a legal obligation for The AKP, in order to inform the parties involved in the privatisation processes, living in Serbia.

“Legal engagements stress the need for the privatisation/lycidation process to be promoted as best possible, to become the correct information of all interest parties, including”, the description of the contract worth 205 thousand euros is said.

However, in this contract, where the Serbian newspaper Danas seized over 200,000 euros a year from the Kosovo Privatisation Agency (AKP) allegedly financial misuses with tenders have been made.

Allegations of abuse have been filed by the National Auditor's Office in Kosovo, which in the Kosovo Privatisation Agency Research Report for 2017, notes that in two cases of AKP procurement has been noted there has been a lack of contract management plan.

The AKP's hundreds of thousands of euros deal with the Serbian newspaper Danas is alleged not implemented under the contract.

“In two procurement samples, we noticed that the contract management plan, which is required by the operating public procurement guide”, has found the audience general, as it highlighted the abuses made by the contract signed between the AKP and the Danas newspaper.

The audience general has expressed concern that preparing the contract management plan increases the risk that “The AKP will not have enough control over contract implementation and, as a result, shortcomings or obstacles to contract realisation”.

Insander has sent questions to the Kosovo Privatisation Agency asking for clarification of the alleged contract this independent public body has signed with the Serbian newspaper Danas, yet The AKP has not returned answers.

AKP says it favoured Danas newspaper due to low price

Despite sharing 205 thousand euros for Danas newspaper, the Kosovo Privatisation Agency (AKP) has said the price offered by this newspaper “has been 50% to 100% cheaper than other daily newspapers in Serbia”.

In describing the contract, signed two years ago, which had a 1-year duration, The AKP has indicated that at the request of the Department of Co-ordination and Liquidiation within the agency, continued contract with Danas is required.

“The prices offered by the Dan Graf- Danas newspaper are 50-100% cheaper than other daily newspapers in Serbia”, the contract description said.

Because of the correct co-operation on the part of these two newspapers and prices much lower than other newspapers, with the request of the Co-ordination and Liquidiation Department required further with these newspapers by signing and new long-term contracts of 12 months”.

But, despite the AKP's favourable reference to the Danas newspaper's offer, which is worth over 200,000 euros, the independent public agency pays for amounts that are many times lower, to promote its proclamations in Kosovo newspapers.

The AKP has also said it is legalisation of the agency's proclamations in the two neighbouring countries: Serbia and Montenegro.

It is a legal obligation that, in addition to top publications in local newspapers, we are obliged to publish reports to a newspaper in Serbia and a newspaper in Montenegro”, it has said AKP, on the contract description.

Insander reported about two months ago. The huge wages the heads of the Kosovo Privatisation Agency receive.

The AKP chiefs pay off both the president, prime minister and the country's chief parliament. Even with just one day's work a week, members of the Kosovo Privatisation Agency (AKP) receive more money than the governor of the Kosovo Central Bank and many other state officials.

Rich Payers for AKP Chiefs

624 euros is the amount of media, which the country's budget takes to the head of the Kosovo Privatisation Agency for a single meeting. His deputy for a meeting is paid in many of 552 euros, while the other six AKP members are paid out at 480 euros for each meeting.

They meet only 12 times within the year, without counting the incomplete and emergency meetings, and for these meetings cost the state budget at least 292 thousand euros of Kosovar taxpayers within the year, only for the six board members, not counting the chairman and deputy owner.