SPEECH OF MR. PRETENI ON THE ROUND TABLE ON

Honoured guests,
PRISHTINA 1 DECEMBER 2008 - The fight against organized crime and corruption, is an immediate need and reasonably should be the focus of attention and commitment of Kosovo state institutions.

I think that now is the right time to draft and have a national strategy against organized crime, a sound and detailed strategy that can be strongly implemented;

We are in a period where organized crime has taken worrying extent, so it is very important to prevent and combat this phenomenon.

It is very important that such documents are not overlooked but have the right support from all relevant stakeholders such as local factors as well as those international - not only in drafting the strategies but also for their proper implementation.

To successfully perform every duty and responsibility arising from the objectives of the mission of all mechanisms I think there must be serious commitment of all of us in these directions.

• Completion of legal nomenclature in the fields;
• Institutions that have as their mission the fight against organized crime and corruption should be strengthened by providing: - clear mission and sufficient financing.

I welcome the initiative to issue a policy document that governs a very significant segment.
In issuing this document, the legal basis for the actions of institutions that have as their mission the fight against organized crime will be strengthened significantly.

However, I would like that the issue of this document does not have the fate of another document – as it was with the Kosovo Anti-Corruption Strategy. Although the document in question was prepared with a lot of commitment and effort by working groups led by ACA, and submitted in early September 2008, the Government of the Republic has not yet proceeded this document to the Assembly.

I want to say that the fight against corruption goes hand in hand with the fight against organized crime; therefore it is essential that we seek to support the speeding of procedures for review and approval of the new law against corruption and anti-corruption strategy for 2009-2011.

Honoured guests,
Allow me to use this meeting to a general call on the authorities to accelerate the procedure of adopting two draft laws substantial and much needed for successful work of ACA, these Laws are:

• Declaration and Control of Property, and
• Amendment of the Anti-Corruption Law

Issue of these laws is provided with two other Government documents which are:

• Government program on prevention of informal economy, and
• Action plan for European partnership.

Despite this we still do not know if such a thing has begun to be proceeded.
Finally I want to express our full readiness for active participation of the Agency in developing this very important document.
Thank you for your attention.