Havenier: Fighting Corruption is a long-term process that requires partnership

He has said the US are proud of their role in supporting Kosovo institutions in the fight against corruption, which he says has noted progress over the years.

Within the course of the week's anti-corruption, organised by the FOL Movement, during its address to civil society and the media, Havenier has said that with civil society's support seeking accounts from institutions, progress has been noted.

The <x0-level trust that people have had in these institutions once, 15 years ago compared today, police, courts, prosecutors, correctional service, are Kosovo local bodies that are making remarkable progress, whether there is room for improvement and you know the answer yourself, but we can say the same thing. Has progress been achieved with the support of civil society to hold you accountable to institutions? Yeah, of course there was. To end this, this is a very important issue, and I think we all have to admit that citizens expect more from their governments. We, the people, expect the institutions to serve us, not take from us. For the procurement to be made transparently, we expect judges, prosecutors and defenders to do our jobs and not be affected in useless ways”, Havener has said.

He has cited changes in the field of justice since Kosovo's declaration of independence, which he has said the US is proud of given support.

Kosovo's “Independence has changed even more and from Kosovo's independence we have seen a vital institutions since then with the support of the international community, and sometimes you are skeptical of the work that these institutions are doing, you know, these institutions are new, but the US is very proud of our role in supporting these institutions and Kosovars and governments during the years that these institutions set up on their feet, to do their job, to become effective. It's a long-term process, we've invested a lot in the very support of these processes, and I have to say it's also of Kosovo's efforts for Kosovars and we're glad that we can support”, Houvenier said.

The American ambassador has said civil society has an important and unique role in fighting corruption.

“The fight against corruption is not once, but it is a process that is long-term and requires partnership among all hisdars, civil society, because you must have government, civil society, journalists, the private sector, all together. Sometimes we see that governments are apt to the role that civil society can play as a partner in the fight against corruption, and to ask for accounts to corrupt actors, as well as to reinforce society's skills for exposing corruption, we see this throughout... Kosovo is not alone in the countries of the world that have put fighting corruption as a very important list of priorities, even though much hard work is still needed to eradicate corruption here and other countries in the world”, the American ambassador has said.

Hovenier has said the US will continue to support civil society partners in the fight against corruption.