Insander: Faithful Bism's grandson appointed overseer of the Agency for Accreditation

The Kosovo government has overwhelmingly approved the proposal for the names of new members of the State Council of Quality, among which is a family member of Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi.

At the 12th meeting held last week, the executive attended the country's proposal for the appointment of Gzim Tosun and three other local members in the decision-making body of the Accreditation Agency (AKA). Similarly, Tosun and others were recommended to the government by a special government commission.

For a vote in favor of Tosun's proposal, former Dean of the University of Gnjilane Economics also raised his uncle Besnik Bislimi, the government's second man. Insander, from her sources, has been informed that Tosun is the grandson of Bislem.

Called by the newspaper Insander on Friday, Gezim Tosun has said he has family ties with Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi, through an explanation that “meets with each other”.

We have family ties, in the sense that we in Kosovo are almost always together. Find the family connection [v.j], report information from where you were informed; not shame, I don't need to hide”, Tosun said.

Economics professor, has denied the possible impact of Bislim on his proposal for a member of the State Council of Quality.

It didn't absolutely affect you, because when you get a little more informed, you see how the procedure went and you know there was no way to influence. I can say that there was no influence at all”, has stated Tosun, in a telephone conversation for the Institute.

In addition to Tosun, the government approved three more names to cover the positions of local members in the KSC, which had remained vacant since the resignation of five former local members in February.

Hasniye Ilazi, Crenare Pireva-Nouci and Seb Bytyci, along with Tosuni, have been proposed to replace the resignations in KSEC, following a process that began on April 2nd this year with the opening of the competition from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology ( MAST).

They were selected by the Commission for the review of nominated documentation and self-confirmed members of the KSC, established by MAST last month. Meanwhile, the three international members were selected in consultation with the help of the United States Embassy, the British Embassy and the Austrian Embassy.

The four members proposed for local positions and three other foreign names, proposed for international special positions in the Council, have been prosecuted by the Government in the Assembly on Friday (May 21st). Ratification of the government's decision on their appointment is expected to take place at one of the next Assembly sessions.

Gezim Tosun currently acts as professor at the Public University “Haxhi Zeka” in Gjilan. Based on public records, he figures as former Dean of the Economic Faculty in Gjilan.

In 2016 it had been found in conflict with interest by the Anti - Corruption Agency. This institution had estimated that Tosun, apart from maintaining the position of Dean of the Economics Faculty in Gjilan, figured as a person authorized in two private businesses.

According to the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest, this situation poses conflict of interest and incompatible with the exercise of public office. After the AKK had opened the case against him, Tosun had been forced to resign from the position of Dean of the Economic Faculty to avoid conflict of interest.

The KSC board since February became dysfunctional after five of its members resigned, including the three international members.

Meanwhile, a few weeks ago Education Minister Arberie Nagavci dismissed Binak Beqaj, one of the members appointed by former minister Rame Likaj.

The State Council of Quality is a policymaker body and decisionmaker of the Accreditation Agency, which consists of nine members, three of whom are international.

The KSC makes a decision on accrediting institutions and their majority programme of votes to the total number of its members, but no KSC decision on accreditation/recreditment can be taken without the participation of at least one international member.