KOHA DITORE
Out of 100 reports published by the Office of the Auditor General in 2012 only 19 cases are in process related to mismanagement of public finances, Koha Ditore writes. According to the paper, twelve of those cases were initiated in 2012, while nine others in 2013.
EULEX-i paralajmëron ‘pastrimin” e gjyqësorit
Will the people of Kosova ever see clean energy – and breathe clean air?/ saubere Energie, saubere Luft
A group of Kosovo civic organisations has urged the US government to support investment in energy efficiency and renewable sources instead of a new lignite coal-fired power plant.
The Kosovo Civil Society Consortium for Sustainable Development and a group of other organisations including BIRN Kosovo sent a letter on Wednesday to US secretary of state John Kerry, urging Washington to reconsider its backing for the lignite plant.
The letter asked the Obama administration “to identify clean alternatives to a proposed coal-fired power plant in the country that can be supported by the World Bank Group”.
Approximately 98 per cent of the power generated within Kosovo currently comes from two lignite coal-fired thermal power plants, called Kosovo A and Kosovo B, which have a net operating capacity of between 840 and 900 MW.
The bidding process for the new 600 MW coal-fired power plant is expected to finish by the end of 2013.
“Millions of US taxpayers’ dollars have been spent on this project, which will not incorporate the best available technology to limit pollution and protect public health,” the letter argued.
It said that the plant’s cost would mean that Kosovo citizens “will pay both in our electricity bills and with our health”.
However a recent World Bank study said that exploiting lignite, also known as ‘brown coal’,was “the least expensive thermal option, even when the relatively higher environmental costs are priced in”.
But the letter insisted that more environmentally-friendly options should be explored.
“We believe there are viable alternatives to coal and ask that you use your leadership on climate change to stop this project and instead seek alternatives that support Kosovo’s energy efficiency and renewable energy sources,” it urged the US administration.
The Kosovo government has announced that work on the new power plant could begin in 2015 and finish by 2017.
Press Conference
by NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson and Lt. General Fabio Mini, COMKFOR
LORD ROBERTSON (NATO Secretary General): I’m delighted to speak to you again. Following the meeting today between the NATO Council at 26, with the seven new ambassadors whose countries will join NATO next year, we met with mister Michael Steiner, the U.N. Secretary General special representative. We met this afternoon with Prime Minister Rexhepi and President Rugova and with General Ceku, the Commander of the Kosovo Protection Corps.
We have given a very strong message to everybody. The first message is that NATO maintains its interest and the alliance’s commitment and is determined to see the job through here in Kosovo. The fact that the whole of the NATO council is here in an enlarged form is an indication that the commitment goes on: It is deep, it is strong. We feel that we’ve made a huge investment here and our commitment, therefore, to maintaining a safe and secure environment remains very much as our top priority.
We expressed to the leaders we’ve met today our concern and continuing interest in violence. We have deplored the attacks that have taken place, the human rights abuses, that have taken place here in Kosovo. We believe in zero tolerance for thugs and for thieves and we are not prepared to see Kosovo, that was saved because of NATO, turned over to organized criminals and those who use brutality of ethnic nationalism. And we call upon the people of Kosovo to stand up to the thugs and the extremists, stand up to them or be ruled by them. It’s the choice that faces people here.
Prime Minister Rexhepi and President Rugova have given a very clear statement of their position in regard to extremism, of their commitment to a multi-ethnic, democratic Kosovo and to taking the measures that will minimize the violence and will increase the attractiveness of Kosovo as a destination for returning refugees and also, for inward investment. The organized criminals who still practice their trade here steal the lives of the people of Kosovo. They have no interest in employing young people. They would simply destroy the future by stealing out of the mouths of those who would lead an honest life. I want to congratulate KFOR and the soldiers who are here and who give their time and their service in the interest of the people of Kosovo and to General Mini who had a distinguished career as Commander of KFOR and all of those who served the joint interest of the international community in this part of the world. I also congratulate the joint Kosovo-Albanian, and Kosovo-Serb delegation who went to Thessaloniki last weekend who I met at the European Council meeting. That is a week old, and I told the authorities in Belgrade now to recognize they must start talks with the representatives, the multi-ethnic representatives of people here as well. This is a good step forward. It may well be still too early to talk about the final status of Kosovo, because 1244, resolution 1244 still provides the common framework for the province, but it is good that people are beginning to talk about practical issues. That is the way to follow.
With these preliminary comments, then, if there are any questions…
Q: Lord Robertson, (inaudible)… public radio. Lord Robertson, you met Michael Steiner and maybe you had the last opportunity in his current position, because he’s leaving the position in a couple of days. How do you see Kosovo 16 months’ co-operation with Michael Steiner and UNMIK and what’s your expectations for his successor?…