Wessel in QKK: Fighting Corruption Increases Budget for Film, Artists

Democratic Party of Kosovo Chairman Kadri Veselini, accompanied by incumbent Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Kujtim Gashi, have visited the Kosovo Cinematography Centre today, an institution that, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, doubled the budget and supported new projects.

Header The PDK was informed by representatives of the Cinematographic Centre for major changes they have made as a result of Minister Metom Gashi's work through fighting corruption.

I was very pleased with what you posted. It means, we have improved working conditions, we have salary increases and we have almost double budget growth. And do you know where they came from? Some of this money was there, but it was abused. What the minister has done is he has used that money in a more just way. With money that may have been abused in different accounts, now the responsibility has been increased and with the same money we've managed to raise wages, you know that wages are better now, much more solid than before, to double the budget of the Cinematographic Centre and to have the perspective that now there's a better management that can be invested in more. So it turns out that fighting corruption is not only fair but it is also valid”, Vessel said.

Culture Minister Kujtim Gashi said that with the support of President Wessel, by the end of this year's cinematographic Centre budget will increase by 200 per cent.

“What has enabled us to increase the budget and increase the financing of many more films than before has been the establishment of strict control of public money spending, savings and then increased budgets for cultural institutions. What is important, for the first time now we have had financing of a large number of films through the Kosovo Cinematographic Centre”, Gashi said.

Arben Zharku, director of the Kosovo Cinematographic Centre, said that thanks to the great support of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Kujtim Gashi, the budget has been doubled in 2019, and now Kosovo is entering the stage of new co-operation with Western countries so that large film companies can come and realise philosophy in our country.

Our budget has already doubled. The minister has not accepted smaller growth. This has greatly influenced us to support more projects, but it has also increased our international presence. I believe you've noticed that the film has recently brought us a lot of good news, and through the film we've been able to tell our story, our story that's very important”, Zaku said.