Post by Fender on Apr 19, 2008 9:39:09 GMT -5
Kosovo MPs Slam Government's Performance
18 April 2008 Pristina _ Kosovo leaders have been criticised in the Assembly over the performance of the government in its first 100 days; issues raised have included corruption and the final status of Kosovo.
Defending their record, President Fatmir Sejdiu and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci stressed in their remarks to the Assembly what they described as the “success over independence.”
Sejdiu, making his annual address to the Assembly, reminded MPs of Plato's maxim that "first, there is the idea," adding that "we have the idea of independent Kosovo that was born.”
He went on to talk about the problems Kosovo is now facing, including problems related to economic development and energy, noting that “these areas need priority in our commitment.”
Prime Minister Thaci presented the government’s programme and the development challenges foreseen by the cabinet.
Deputies from the opposition parties in particular severely criticised the programme, describing it as unrealistic. They also complained that the government's efforts to secure international recognition for Kosovo had been insufficient.
“Only 37 countries have recognised us so far,” Ardian Gjini of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK, said. He warned the Prime Minister not to give false numbers regarding recognition and not to exaggerate the level of recognition that has been secured.
“He [Thaci] speaks on Macedonia’s government's behalf that they will recognise us,” Gjini said, “but he is in fact just harming the process.”
Melihate Termkolli of the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, criticised the government's programme.
“You are declaring that you have fought corruption, Mr. Prime Minister, but nothing has been done,” she said.
Thaci responded that “this was a government programme and not the programme of a political party.” He insisted that "the war on corruption is going on and I think it is very successful.”
The debate was to continue until late on Friday afternoon. Topics such as rule of law, the economy, education and status proposal implementation were to be discussed.
Kosovo’s Assembly declared independence on February 17.
18 April 2008 Pristina _ Kosovo leaders have been criticised in the Assembly over the performance of the government in its first 100 days; issues raised have included corruption and the final status of Kosovo.
Defending their record, President Fatmir Sejdiu and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci stressed in their remarks to the Assembly what they described as the “success over independence.”
Sejdiu, making his annual address to the Assembly, reminded MPs of Plato's maxim that "first, there is the idea," adding that "we have the idea of independent Kosovo that was born.”
He went on to talk about the problems Kosovo is now facing, including problems related to economic development and energy, noting that “these areas need priority in our commitment.”
Prime Minister Thaci presented the government’s programme and the development challenges foreseen by the cabinet.
Deputies from the opposition parties in particular severely criticised the programme, describing it as unrealistic. They also complained that the government's efforts to secure international recognition for Kosovo had been insufficient.
“Only 37 countries have recognised us so far,” Ardian Gjini of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK, said. He warned the Prime Minister not to give false numbers regarding recognition and not to exaggerate the level of recognition that has been secured.
“He [Thaci] speaks on Macedonia’s government's behalf that they will recognise us,” Gjini said, “but he is in fact just harming the process.”
Melihate Termkolli of the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, criticised the government's programme.
“You are declaring that you have fought corruption, Mr. Prime Minister, but nothing has been done,” she said.
Thaci responded that “this was a government programme and not the programme of a political party.” He insisted that "the war on corruption is going on and I think it is very successful.”
The debate was to continue until late on Friday afternoon. Topics such as rule of law, the economy, education and status proposal implementation were to be discussed.
Kosovo’s Assembly declared independence on February 17.