Haxhiu: Resigned from self-preservation this month, proceedings changes to the KKP legal package

Minister Haxhiu said the initial changes to the KKP legal package would soon adapt, and the working group is working in this direction.

She says all the dilemmas they have had for these changes have already been removed after the Venice Commission's opinion.

This opinion addresses three issues that are important to me, the first stresses that the number from 13 to 7 is in line with European standards and therefore achieves balance between members of prosecutors and members of not prosecutors to be resolved by the Assembly of Kosovo. Venice also considers that if the goal is to depoliticize it KKP, to make it more efficient, is justified for all to end the mandate if it is not, and one cannot justify the goal you have then at least some to be left to complete the [...] mandate. The third, where we have had completely different positions, is the question of the chief prosecutor in the KKP because the strategy for rule of law recommends that the chief prosecutor, due to the influence he has on KKP members, leave the KKP, then clarify the competencies of the chief prosecutor and KP. Venice recommends that it remain, although it does not stress that its removal is incompatible with the standard. [...] We will soon adopt these Venice comments and proceed to the Assembly in January”, she stressed.

State Chief Prosecutor Aleksandar Lumezi is towards the end of his mandate, and Minister Haxhiu wants a person who enjoys moral and professional integrity and is not affected from abroad to take this position.

I consider that 7 years of term to the chief prosecutor is too much to have a chief prosecutor who is not professional and influenced by the outside, therefore, I think there should be a person who enjoys moral integrity but also professional integrity, is completely independent in relation to his responsibilities and just knows how to manage the prosecutorial system in that sense so that we don't have failures for cases we all had attention. So, the greatest cases of corrupt relatives are on the verge of failures, many of them have been introduced to various works, so not to have amnesty against those who have misused official office and are responsible for the damages we have in Kosovo today. Of course, that follows this process because I cannot stay neutral to such a process even encourage those who are really good within the system to compete in this process, but it will extend the invitation even to those who know they are not for this position not to be concerned because it is not my decision of concern that is a big problem for the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo to have a person at the helm of the State Prosecutor who has neither moral integrity nor professional integrity, she stressed.

The biggest promise of Vetevendosje Movement, which is currently in power, was vetoing, the process for which the Kosovo government currently does not enjoy the blessing of the European Union. Even in the Progress Report on Kosovo in 2021, this initiative, The EU has considered it disturbing, while advising that existing mechanisms be empowered for assessing the integrity of judges and prosecutors.

In spite of that, Haxhiu believes that the vetting process is the deepest reform in the justice system for what the first draft of constitutional amendments already exists, adding that it is the last time to advance with the property process.

“It is urgent, it is imperative that we work in this direction and we engage every day despite concerns they have, of course I am concerned that concerns address, whether with the EU office or other representatives in the EU for which we have met the highest levels, whether the Commissioner for Justice or other EU representatives generally have an agreement to sit down and talk about the steps we need to follow, so there is no resistance and a rejection of this process, but it seems there is a need for us to meet again more and plan to follow the details which we should follow, but we do not take the matter ourselves, the prime minister, Haxhiu.

Since receiving the mandate as justice minister, Albulen Haxhiu has also indicated the actions he has taken in fighting organised crime and corruption. It stated that in addition to the need for increased inter-institutional co-operation, they are also working in terms of awareness of citizens and officials to address legal violations that are made especially within institutions.

To address this phenomenon that is keeping our country undeveloped because organized crime and corruption that have considerable connections with the lack of economic development, we consider, in addition, important inter-institutional co-operation with police, prosecutors and courts, and on the other hand, awareness of citizens and officials within the institutions to address violations especially within institutions. And in this direction at the beginning of our mandate, we passed signaling regulations, although the challenge is still implementation, the Law for Signal Protection and signaling does not apply to the extent we want. Also, the decisions we have considered to be contrary to the law we have abolished and addressed them to responsible bodies”, Minister Haxhiu stressed.

One of the Kurti Government's pledges is the establishment of the indictment against Serbia for genocide against the Albanian population in Kosovo.

Although the indictment is the competence of the Prime Minister's Office, Haxhiu for Kosovo Press shows that during the past year they have held several meetings and are selecting experts who will assist Kosovo in this regard.

“We have already had several meetings within the prime minister's office where we have discussed this issue, is one of the most sensitive processes that is also part of our governing programme, but due to the nature of the issue we cannot talk about other issues that we talk about corruption and organised crime or about vetoing the justice system. Therefore, we are working in this direction and we are looking at expert profiles that will help us in this direction, as well as the legal basis we need to address to file a genocide suit, and this is in the hands of the Office of the Prime Minister, but I assure you that we are working in this direction”, she stressed.

Justice Minister Albulen Haxhiu over the fulfillment of the previous 2021 legislative agenda says they have failed to realise 100% due to the many challenges that their government's first year brought.