Pristina, 19 August 2008
Prime Minister Thaçi wished Mr Mujota success and said that he deserved the trust placed in him by the Government of Kosovo.
Prime Minister Thaçi described the six-month period of Kosovo's independence as a period of success in beginning the establishment of a state and democratic normality in Kosovo.
In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister likewise emphasised the continuation of co-ordination of government work, preparations for a successful start to the school year, the solving of social issues and commitment to active foreign policy for the recognition of Kosovo and the establishment of neighbourly relations.
The Government Programme for Preventing the Informal Economy in Kosovo was reviewed and approved in the meeting. It was agreed that the prevention of the informal economy and of corruption, along with other forms of the black economy, are policy priorities for the Government of Kosovo. This programme includes an assessment of the breadth and influence of the informal economy in Kosovo as well as short-term, medium-term and long-term objectives. The programme specifies the role of Ministries and other responsible authorities in implementing different activities along with an implementation timetable of activites and a method of measuring the concrete results of the programme.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry proposed, and the Government approved, the list of candidates for membership of the Kosovo Competition Commission. An interview panel established by the Ministry of Trade and Industry had selected and offered for Government approval 10 (ten) potential candidates for membership on the Kosovo Competition Commission. The list of candidates will be sent to the Parliament where the candidates will once again undergo interview by the corresponding Parliamentary committee and the 5 (five) best qualified will be presented to the Kosovo Parliament for approval.
The Government reviewed the Ministry of Internal Affairs proposal for changing the status of security officers. These officers are engaged in protecting government buildings and other sites of special importance, the securing of which will remain a necessity and a Kosovo police obligation in the future. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has proposed that these officers should in the future, after effective training, be transformed into police officials.
The Mitrovica Municipality request for financial support from the Kosovo Government for the water supply project for the villages of Vinarc i Ulët, Vinarc i Epërm and Gushavc in that Municipality was reviewed and approved.
The Kosovo Government took the decision to establish a work group to draw up the 'white paper' which will address and harmonise social policy in the Republic of Kosovo. The approval of this document emerged from the Donors' Conference for Kosovo. The work group will comprise: 3 members and the Chairmanship of the group from the Ministry of Work and Social Welfare, 2 members from the Ministry of Health, 2 members from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, 2 members from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and 2 members from the Kosovo Statistical Institute. According to need, the Chairman will be able to invite other members to join the group in an expert capacity, including important international donors.
The Ministry for Work and Social Welfare, aiming to deal with the problem of unemployment in Kosovo, proposed that all institutions at central and local level and contract-winning companies be required to try to employ job-seekers who have registered in Employment Offices. The Government approved this and suggested that institutions should sign a Memorandum of Understanding which would oblige contracted companies to engage job-seekers registered in Employment Offices. This would demonstrate institutional concern and commitment to tackling the unemployment situation in the country.
Working on the basis of a Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning proposal, the Government took the decision for a declaration of general interest for property within the 'Adem Jashari' memorial complex in Prekaz. The definition of property in cadastral areas within the bounds of the memorial complex for general interest, property which needs to be expropriated in order to build ancillary infrastructure for the complex, is important for the establishment of the 'Adem Jashari' Memorial Complex.
The Government approved the Ministry of Public Services request for reallocation of resources from the 'New Government buildings complex' project to the 'Rilindja Complex Renovation' project. The reallocated resources top 2,463,000 euros.
In today's meeting, the Government approved the Administrative Instruction for Payment of Municipal Political Staff which brings the payment of Municipal political staff into line with the organisational structure and system of political staff according to the Law on Local Self-Government.
Following a Ministry of Trade and Industry request, the Government decided to include the drawing up of a Draft law on State Commodities Reserves in the 2008 legislative strategy.
The Government was informed by the Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Enver Hoxhaj, about preparations for the start of the new school year and approved the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Economy and Finance regarding the income created by professional education. It was re-emphasised during the meeting that the Kosovo Government decision on the licensing of Private Higher Education Institutions is clear-cut, at the right time and in accordance with the professional recommendations of the British Accreditation Council.
The Government has decided to set aside 1 million euros for making functional the Ministry for the Kosovo Security Force.