NGOs ask Kurti Government to open Security Fund

NGOs say that through the No.12/2022 decision, former Kosovo Treasury Director Ahmet Ishmael had classified them as “K O All information about “

They say the rating of this document was made, given the already abolished Law for Information Classification and Security Verification No. 08/L-175.

The underlinement that the unauthorized operation of these data, particularly the total amount collected and the number of contributors, could harm the security interests of the Republic of Kosovo, on the regional plain and on the wider”, these NGOs say that “is abstract reasoning, which does not rely on facts”.

This broad interpretation of regional security and wider information about the amount collected by a volunteer fund is clearly unbased. Furthermore, such a statement is also paradoxical, since all the Laws for the Budgeting of the Republic of Kosovo's Budget offer detailed data on the overall budget for the Kosovo Security Force. Thus, it is paradoxical that the basic budget of the Kosovo Security Force is published in detail until much of a voluntary fund is confidential”, NGOs further say.

As for <x0 national security”, I KD, INPO, FOL and Y The IHR-KS say the European Court for Human Rights [Applyed to Kosovo under Article 53 of the Constitution] has determined that despite the fact that the notion of national security cannot be defined in a comprehensive way and has a broad dimension of appreciation, the boundaries of this meaning cannot extend beyond its natural sense.

They say good international standards determine that in the case of information ratings, the narrow information category should be shown and described the damage that could result from discovery, including the level of seriousness and probability.

According to them, the <x0vedment in question -- neither in the nearest -- meets these standards” -- and they say it is not in the text and spirit of Kosovo's judicial order that with decisions containing abstract reasonings, fundamental principles are violated.

So NGOs estimate that the information classification regarding “Security Fund” by former Treasury Director, now BQK Governor Ahmet Ismajli, is contrary to international law and good standards.

The EPI, these NGOs stress, has accepted a request for the initiative to declassify information on June 8th 2022, but say it remains unclear why this agency has so far failed to issue a final decision on this requirement, “in order for the public to realise their right to be informed of”.

“The airtight closing of data for the Security Fund is strong evidence of the government's lack of transparency led by the Vetevendosje Movement. We invite the Agency for Information and Privateness within its mandate to protect the legality and right of citizens to access information concerning the Security Fund, thereby testifying to institutional and political independence”.

If the Agency for Information and Privateness does not issue a merit decision in this case, NGOs say they will consider the possibility of initiated judicial procedures to protect citizens' right to be informed.