State President, Single Constitutional Authority for Giving Up Medals, Gratitudes, and State Prices

Neither the Constitution of Kosovo nor the Law on Decorpion of Decorporates envisions any other personality, except the president of the state, as the authority for sharing decorations.

The chairman of the Dekorte Commission for the President's Office of Cateazi, concerning the awarding of decorations to Kosovo Press, has said that there are often misinterpretations and non-recognitions of this process, but also when, despite the fact that institutions know they have no legal basis to share decorations, their leaders act against law.

“The president of the Republic of Kosovo is the only constitutional authority, which has the right to give medals, recognitions and awards. That right is defined in Article 84 (28) of the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. But Law No. 04/ L-070 for awarding decorations by the president of the Republic of Kosovo regulates the procedures and criteria for providing and revotes by the president of the Republic of Kosovo and the rights and duties of the decorated. Giving decorations is the exclusive right of the president of the Republic of Kosovo, whether with self-intensives, whether with proposals for decorations provided by the Index Commission or by personalities who have the right to propose to the president the delivery of the decorations”, Cajtazi said.

He has said neither the Constitution nor the Law on Decorporation defines any authorities or other personality that has the right to give decorations.

When referring to the decoration, we mean orders, medals, awards, honors and state honours”, he said.

Giving the decoration is done in view of people's contributions and merits, says Cajtazi, but they can also be given to foreign citizens, world-renowned personalities and international organisations.

It explains that decorations can be given to citizens even after death, but in these cases, giving the decoration after the death of the decorated family is made to his spouse/te, children, adoptions, grandchildren, parents, fosterers, brothers and sisters who are decorated.

“If the decorated one has no family member, the award is published on the Official Journal and on the official website of the president of Kosovo. At the president's decision, the award is given at the museum to be preserved as the country's cultural asset”, he has said.

Cateazi says the same decoration cannot be given twice as a person. In his view, though, there are times when the same person has been decorated but with different decorations.

It is rarely happening that different personalities are required to be decorated with the same decorations, especially with the Kosovo Star Order, they simply want President Thaci to decorate certain personalities. But the law stipulates that the same decoration cannot be given twice the same person, regardless of demands and despite personalities”, he has said.

The chairman of the Authority Commission for the Office of the President has shown that the law clearly defines even the personalities that can represent the president of the Republic of Kosovo, the proposals for decorations.

They are the chairman of the Parliament, the prime minister, the president of the Constitutional Court, the Kosovo Parliament's MP, the Supreme Court Chairman, the Chief Prosecutor of the Republic of Kosovo, the Minister of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, the commander of the Security Force of the Republic of Kosovo, the General Director of Police, the Chairman of the Commission, the Chairman of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo, the Kosovo Public University Rectors and people of public reputation or other organisations.

It has shown that the law also sanctions the imitation of decorations.

The law is also very clear in this direction. No one has the right to work, sell or carry items that imitate the decorations of the Republic of Kosovo. This is prohibited and sanctioned by law”, he said.

As chairman of the Court's Accounting Commission in the President's Office, Cateazi has appealed to relevant institutions to make official, comprehensive and rational proposals.

He has also invited various personalities that have been decorated in other states or international organisations to announce the Kosovo Presidency to include those in evidence for citizens of the Republic of Kosovo who have received decorations from other states or international organisations.