NGOs with public letter to ambassadors: No swimmer is named by the list of current candidates

Eleven nongovernmental organisations, through a public letter to the international community in Kosovo, seek to contribute that no swimmer is named by the list of current candidates selected through a suspicious procedure.

These organisations in the public letter, these days have been informed that incumbent Justice Minister Abelard Tahiri is trying to appoint about 30 swimmers from the same list of candidates selected in suspicious procedure.

We ask you to continue to support us in the strong opposition to appointing new swimmers. We invite you that Mr. Tahiri that he will appoint qualified people to ignore it. We base our request on the fact that we have rejected the selection procedure of swimmers and not certain candidates. Therefore, no swimmer should be named from the list of current candidates selected through an extremely suspicious procedure”, said in response.

Organization's full response:

Dear Ambassador Mrs. Natalia Apostolova, Mr. Christian Heldt, Mr. Philip S. Mr. Costett, Nicholas Abbott, Mrs. Marie-Christine Bhutel and Mr. Piero Cristoforo Sardi, we are addressing the final phase of appointing young swimmers on the part of the outgoing Minister of Justice. Abelard Tahiri.

As you are informed, the Justice Ministry has led an extremely suspicious process in selecting new swimmers. The process has been developed by disregarding the miniminal standards of transparency. The list of short-listed candidates consists largely of family members and people associated with the Democratic Party of Kosovo and with some of the members of the Commission for Providing the Test for Noteria, as well as people who have not met even formal conditions. The selection procedure of new swimmers has developed even during the time when the ministry had no legitimacy to develop such a process because of the government's collapse.

Thanks to your public support, especially the reactions of the European Union Office, German Ambassador Mr. Christian Heldt and the International House of Notters and the German House of Notters, young swimmers have not yet been appointed by Mr. Tahiri. We, you are extremely grateful that you have chosen to support our cause to oppose the appointment of swimmers in this way.

These days, we've been informed that Mr. Tahiri is trying to appoint about 30 swimmers from the same list of candidates selected in suspicious procedures. We demand of you honoured ambsadavers to continue supporting us in the strong opposition to the appointment of new swimmers. We invite you that Mr. Tahiri that he will appoint qualified people to ignore it. We base our request on the fact that we have rejected the selection procedure of swimmers and not certain candidates. Therefore, no swimmer should be named from the list of current candidates selected through an extremely suspicious procedure.

We hope that you will continue to support our opposition and expect to play a pro-active role in selecting swimmers from the new government. Only in this way will we have independent, impartial swimmers who will enjoy the public trust that is necessary for such a profession.

With respect,

EPIC Institute

FOL Movement

Move up!

Democracy Plus

Democracy for Development

Group for Jury and Political Studies

Kosovo Democratic Institute

Kosovo Institute for Justice

Progress Initiative

Kosovar Civil Society Foundation

Columbus Institute