5 or 35 millions?

Customs officials are leaving the job Banks, wealthier than the state

Misuse
Misuses
have b
been
presen
present
19 November 2007 www.kosovaek
konomissti.n
net
e
N05/I - Price: 1.80 euro (Kosovë), 200 den (Macedonia), 300 lekë (Albania), 4.90 euro (Europe)

A CRITICIZED
BUDGET

CMYK
CMYK
 MARKETING

19 november | 3

CMYK
 Contents
Main topic
12-13 5 or 35 millions?
14-15 Where are the reserves?
18-19 The social assistance
gets reduced
26 Banks, wealthier
than the state
Interview
20–23 The minister of
Economy and Finances,
Haki Shatri,
speaks openly
-Misuses have been present
16–17 Thierry Bernard - Guele
Work, you are in Europe
Business
24 Kitchens for
everyone’s pocket
Market
28-29 Customs officials are
leaving the job
SWITZERLAND
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$255.5 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$386.1 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.7% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$34,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.5%
industry: 34%
services: 64.5% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
3.8 million (2006 est.)
4 | 19 november
08
A criticized budget
The budget of the fiscal year 2008, which is already approved by the
Government of Kosova, is harshly objected by the party in opposite and
the Kosova Independent Syndicate Union (KISU), while, on some points,
neither the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agrees. The party in
opposite says that essential changes should be done, The KISU pre-warns
social disorders if the means for the implementation of the
Collective Contract agreement do not get allocated. On the other hand,
the IMF does not agree about the increase on pensions and capital
expenditures that reach a value of 375 million Euro
Analysis Privatization
34-35 By: Edesio Fernandes 36 The privatization process
Land subdivision: with little flaws and
a neglected aspect of many successes
land development in
Kosovo International
39 Rupert Murdoch
40 Where do the millions go?
www.cia.gov
Unemployment rate: Industries: Imports:
3.3% (2006 est.) machinery, chemicals, watches, $162.3 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
textiles, precision instruments,
Inflation rate tourism, banking, and insurance Import - mallra:
(consumer prices): machinery, chemicals, vehicles,
Industrial production metals; agricultural products
1.1% (2006 est.) growth rate: Imports - partners:
Budget: 6.5% (2006 est.) Germany 27%, Italy 10%,
revenues: $143 billion Exports: US 9%, France 8.1%, Russia 7.5%,
expenditures: $142.1 billion; UK 4.8%, Austria 4% (2006)
including capital $167 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Debt - external:
expenditures Exports - commodities:
$1.077 trillion (30 June 2006)
of $NA (2006 est.) machinery, chemicals, metals,
watches, agricultural products Currency (code): Swiss franc (CHF)
Telephones - main
Agriculture - products: Exports - partners:
grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs Germany 20.7%, US 9.1%, France 8.3%, lines in use: 5.04 milion (2006)
Italy 8.1%, UK 5.1% (2006) Telephones - mobile cellular:
7.418 milion (2006)
CMYK

Businessman like me
“Hello, yes, send it to him, let him take it, that’s
how we dealt, I have done this with him”.
The other: “Yes, very good, download it the-
re, because they will come and get it”.
The third: “No, don’t send it there, I have to
give it to someone, because I have taken some-
thing from him”.
The fourth: “Good, take this immediately,
and put it there, because he comes and then
they should be sent there, and they should be
loaded there and then should take them”.
These are some of the talks of many traders
in Kosova, made through the telephone with
their employees.
Only a few can understand these conversa-
tions. Maybe their employees know, because
‘he’, ‘they’, ‘someone’, ‘there’, have become fa-
miliar to them and they do not have trouble in
understanding that who they might be or what
they are supposed to do. It is quite strange, but
this is simply how many Kosovar bosses lead
their companies. Very easy, only through the
telephone.
Almost each of these traders, who prefer to
call themselves businessmen and not traders,
even though it is the same thing, keeps two or
three cell phones. And, the majority of time
they spent speaking through them and leading
the enterprise’s works from distance. It is noti-
ceable that often they do not know what they
are exactly doing. Simply, they exchange some
talks by phone and consider that they have do-
ne some work. This shows that they little, or not
at all, consult people they might engage in the
work, such as financiers, or any professional
consultant. While at the end, even the engaged
accountants themselves have to make reports
according to the chief’ s preferences, even thou-
gh it is said that Kosova meets the international
standard of accountancy best in region.
Publisher. Media Company “EKONOMISTI” Executive Director: Ejup Gojnovci - ejup.gojnovci@ekonomisti.net Editor in chief: Shkëlzen Dakaj - shkelzen.dakaj@ekonomisti.net
Editor for the English version: Faton Pacolli - faton.pacolli@ekonomisti.net Editor: Avdyl Pajaziti - avdyl.pajaziti@ekonomisti.net Financier: Besim Hoxha Photos: Flaka
Kuqi Translator: Nafie Zogaj Marketing: Arta Istrefi Administration: Marigonë Bytyçi - marigone.bytyci@ekonomisti.net Correspondent from Tirana Genc Kondi, Ulqin Haxhi
Shabani. Design / layout: “Trembelat” Editorial office: Address, “Shaban Polluzha” street, no. 22 Prishtina Kosova Tel: 038/224-360 (+377) 044/258-576, 044/302-490
E-mail: info@ekonomisti.net, marketing@ekonomisti.net, shkruaj@ekonomisti.net Agency: www.kosovaekonomisti.net Printed in “Grafika Rezniqi” printhouse.
CMYK
Editorial
Ejup Gojnovci
ejup.gojnovci@ekonomisti.net
The conversation like above, in most of the ca-
ses have to do with goods exchange, and not with
their sale. A trader gives to another one a certain
commodity and gets another commodity, or he
gives a commodity so that the other will com-
plete a work for him, always an important one.
The money knows to be out of the use even to
the known enterprises.
This method associates with the time of be-
fore the money invention, when an ax was ex-
change with a bow, or a lamb exchanged with a
bearskin. However, between them and the Ko-
sovar traders is an essential distinction. The tra-
ders then did not have the possibility of having
money, while the today’s traders have this, they
even pretend that they are rich, even though now
and then, someone else should pay a coffee for
them.
In the developed countries, particularly in the
global capital enterprises, such things never can
happen. Not only this bad working method, but
many other things differ Kosovar traders with
their western colleagues. Certainly, not all Ko-
sovar traders are incapable in their work. Those
that are more careful in work have more chan-
ces to avoid the worst and have real possibilities
to increase their own capacities.
The damage of a bad management is multiple,
and one day it can be fatal for the enterprise’s lea-
ders themselves. It is very certain that with such
a working system, the end of a company becomes
each day closer, and except for their employees,
even the traders themselves will be unemployed
persons. Such a work has direct indications in
the Kosova’s budget too. Whereas Kosova, as a
country that signed the Free Trade agreement,
will not be at all competitive in the very harsh
market that CEFTA determines. Finally, the Ko-
sovar traders should essentially change their ap-
proach, or soon to put up with the jobless fate.
19 november | 5

News in Brief
The second mobile
operator Party
The second mo-
bile operator in
Kosovo, “Slove-
nian Telecom, Mo-
bitel and Ipko Net”
is expecting to
launch in the mar-
ket the first mobile phone numbers by the
mid December.
Experts of Slovenian Telecom, Mobitel and
Ipko Net”, have already made the tes-
ting call inside the Kosovo’s GSM mobile
network. The new network call, with unu-
sual 049 numbers, was successful. It was in
Prishtina, the central node and also the first
station base nearby. The montage of other
station bases, planed during the first pha-
se of network building, is nearly finished,
have declared the managers of this com-
pany. As it is known, the Slovenian Tele-
com Consortium, Mobitel and Ipko Net, this
year has won the concession for second GSM
mobile operator in Kosovo. The Consor-
tium has already started to keep the promi-
se of making the first GSM network function
by the end of the year. The first internatio-
nal connections will be tested by next week
through the new network. According to the
managers of this company, the launch of
new numbers will be announced by a hu-
ge party. They already made the necessary
prearrangements for a big “boom”, in order
to announce their launch in the new mobile
telephony market. These two huge activities
will make clear “the birth” of this opera-
tor in Kosovo. So far, it is confirmed that in
Prishtina’s big stadium, where as a special
guest will arrive the worldwide famous rap-
per 50 cent. Meanwhile, the second solemn
ceremony with participation of 300 celebri-
ties will announce the first getaway of new
numbers. The Stockholders of company have
declared that by now all necessary prearran-
gements are made in order to surprise the
citizens with technology that will be offered
by this mobile operator.
KEC in action for elimination of
the current stealing
KEC has star-
ted the systema-
tic control of the
all consumers of
KEC, without ta-
king into conside-
ration their state
of the payments in order to eliminate cur-
rent stealing. The purpose of this control
is to identify all the previous problems
6 | 19 november
EU
with the KEC consumers, starting from pro-
blems with electric meter, identification
of the classic stealing, and other similar
problems.
After each control, KEC will hand the cer-
tificate about the condition of the electric
meter. Those who haven’t repaid the de-
bt to the KEC, immediately will be swit-
ched individually, while as those who are
caught misusing the electricity in any way
will have to pay a fine and deal with a pe-
nal accusation.
Through this control, besides the identifi-
cation of the problems, there also will be a
quality improvement of the services of the
KEC, which will be the manifest of the re-
duction of the electricity stealing.
National Trade Bank
(NTB) opens a new
branch in Prishtina
The Office of
Albanian NTB
has opened a new
the European
branch in also in
Prishtina.
Ahmet Çelik, the
Commission
vice president of
“Çelik Hollding”,
owner of the major part of the shares in
took the EAR’s
this bank, said that NTB has achieved in
making many investments in cooperation
with its consumers.
competences
This bank also owns 60 percent of the sha-
res of the same bank in Albania, where The Intercommunication Office of the
NTB is considered to be the second bank in European Commission (EC) in Kosova
the country confirmed that from now on the European
Mitchel Cwetchine, management direc- Union’s projects, in the framework Instru-
tor of the Central Banking Authority of Ko- ment Program of Approximation (IPA) for
sova ,said that the investments in the the Balkan countries, will not be managed
financial sector has started since the ope- from the European Agency for Reconstruc-
ning of the NTB and they keep coming tion (EAR), but from its own representati-
even though the status of Kosova is still in ve. Until now, the aids for Kosova have been
question. “We are also operating in some managed by the EAR, while in April of the
other banks such as Ljubljana Bank, Serbia last year, it has been decided that this Agen-
Bank, and now we have a bank from Al-
bania and very soon another from Turkey’
said Mr Cwetchine
moting the Winter Tourism in Kosova. This
conference was organized by the Economic
Brezovica gets Initiative of Kosova (EIK) which represents
promoted in Vienna the Promoting Investments Kosova’s Agen-
Even though cy in german speaking region.
the privatization Hamëz Morina from the EIK, has informed
of the skiing cen- the Austrian companies about the com-
ter ‘Brezovica’ is mon climate of the investments and the
facing many pro- business in Kosova and about the services
blems because of that EIK and PIKA office offers in Vienna.
the influence of On the other hand Ahmet Shala and Kirk
the Serbia messing in political issues, the Adamsfrom KTA, has represented the pro-
officials of the KTA have decided to repre- cess of the privatization in Kosova and ha-
sent this center in the Conference for Pro- ve talked in details about the privatization
CMYK

cy should be closed an the new aid program
will be named ‘Approximation, which will e
managed by European Commission. Renzo
Daviddi, chief of the Intercommunication Of-
fice of the EC, has said that in this office will
be working all of the workers of the operati-
ve sevtors and other fields.
According to him, this is just a continua-
tion of the aid that EC has done since the be-
ginning, but within EAR. Now it ias doing it
directly by EC.
of the Brezovica complex. The Austrian
media and companies’ interest is very im-
portant, taking into consideration that the
Austrian experience in wintry tourism in
incomparable.
PTK removes the last
analogue central
The Central Network, which as a busi-
ness unit of the PTK manages with the te-
lecommunication infrastructure of Kosova,
has finished successfully the full migration of
consumers from the old analogue network to
Meanwhile, Mr. Kjartan Bjornsson, chief
of the operations section in EC, said that this
event has to do with a fisical change from
EAR to EC, where EC has taken the aid ma-
nagement responsibility within the frame
of ‘Approximation Instrument’.According
to him, the law sector will be the most sup-
ported sector of all within the 2008 program.
The other sectors that will also be supported
are economic development, development of
different enterprises etc.
the new digital one, of the newest generation
(NGN). In Brod, a village of Rahovec, the ana-
logue telephone-exchange was in function,
which, in fact, was
the last of this kind
in the system of the
Central Network.
The process of re-
placement of the
analogue centrals
with new approach
knots (based on digital technology), starting
as a testing phase in April of this year, en-
ded successfully, opening new opportunities
CMYK
news in brief
Dear readers, for any remark or
suggetion concerning the Ekonomisti
contents, please write at this address:
shkruaj@ekonomisti.net
for voice and internet services. Only during
this period, around 60.000 prepaid services
of the fix telephony have migrated from the
analogue centrals to the digital ones.
The new technology, enables in fact the of-
fer of new services. This also enabled the
launch of the ADSL project, and it will ena-
ble the realization of new projects also,
which until now have been unable to be
realized by the PTK.
The number of denunciators
for misuse is in increase
The Kosovar Agency against Corruption
made it known that the number of de-
nunciations by citizens is in increase re-
garding the misuse and abuse of the
public money, in large amounts by offi-
cials of central and local institutions.
According to this Agency, at the year’s
end, the misuse of the public money is
increased and so is the abuse of official
tasks.
The Agen-
cy against
Corruption
informs
that the
Kosova’s
budget is
spent on-
ly 30 per-
cent over
the first six
months of
2007, whe-
reas now,
informa-
tion is
alarming
for a large number of misuse by the side
of institutions of both levels
The Kosovar Agency against Corruption
appeals to all Kosovar institutions to de-
monstrate politeness and responsibili-
ty toward the budgetary expenditures of
Kosova, to cultivate good management
and to give up misuses, abuses, and cor-
ruption, which are ruining phenomena
for the society and the future of Kosova.
The Agency at the same time warns that
it will not stay idle in front of the misu-
se and abuse of the money, which with
law belongs to the people of Kosova,
and it strongly signals each official of lo-
cal and central institutions that they can-
not escape the sanctions for misuse, even
if, after a period, they are not at the cur-
rent post.
19 november | 7
 Main Topic

Shkëlzen Dakaj
shkelzen.dakaj@ekonomisti.net

A criticized budget
The budget of the fiscal year 2008, which is already approved by
the Government of Kosova, is harshly objected by the party in
opposite and the Kosova Independent Syndicate Union (KISU), while, on
some points, neither the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agrees. The
party in opposite says that essential changes should be done, The KISU
pre-warns social disorders if the means for the implementation of the
Collective Contract agreement do not get allocated. On the other hand,
the IMF does not agree about the increase on pensions and capital
expenditures that reach a value of 375 million Euro

While the minister of Economy and Finan-
ces, Haki Shatri, has estimated that an ex-
cellent job is done on the preparation of the
budget for the year 2008, which is also appro-
ved by the government and the Fiscal Econo-
mic Council, the party in opposite has harshly
objected it. Experts on economic issues of the
Kosova Democratic Party (Alb. PDK) and the
Reformist Party ORA have said that essenti-
al changes should be done before this get ap-
proved by the Assembly and get signed by the
Head of UNMIK. The KISU has threatened
that there will be social disorders if there is
no budget allocation for the implementation
of the Collective Contract agreement. On the
other hand, the IMF did not agree on the al-
located budget of 357 million euros for capi-
tal investments.
Bedri Hamza, the chief of the department
for Economy and Finances of the Cabinet for
Good Governance at the KDP, thinks that the-
re should be intervened in the 2008’s budget in
many aspects. According to him, that which is
unacceptable and has caused budgetary loss
until now is the part of the budgetary income
anticipations.
“The budgetary income could be much hi-
gher than those anticipated in the budgetary
framework for the year 2008. Because of the
non-anticipation of real incomes until now, the
budget has faced great loss. Therefore, chan-
ges should be done, and the income anticipa-
tions should be higher than those presented
by the budget”, said Hamza.
For this matter, the minister of Economy
and Finances, Haki Shatri, blamed the IMF,
which, according to him, made pressures not
to have higher budgetary anticipations than
the given ones.
Shatri, in an interview for Ekonomisti, ad-
mitted that the budgetary income level in this
year is not satisfactory, but this, according to
him, cannot be called a government failure, be-
cause all anticipations have been exceeded.
Whereas Hamza considers that the last
year’s anticipations have been unreal, which rial position of those that get paid by the bud-
means that they have been much less than get. I am speaking about a salary increase in
could be really realized. education, policy, customs, etc.”, he said.
“This is a consequence of mismanagement The International Monetary Fund reaso-
and it is a failure of the government. They are ned the conception against the pensions’ in-
now proud with the excess of false anticipa- crease from 40 to 75 euros, since January 2008,
tions, counting here also the part of 71 mil- saying that they did not discuss this prelimi-
lion euros of the second mobile operator”, narily with the government of Kosova.
said Hamza. A necessary change, according to Ham-
He further said that changes should be done za, and that does not have budgetary impli-
also in the part of budgetary expenditure allo- cations, is also needed in the system of fiscal
cation, particularly on social schemes. Despi- policies. According to him, the reduction of
te the IMF’s remarks, Hamza said that to the the fiscal evasion, the elimination of the infor-
allocated part for pensions, changes should mal economy, the right estimation of customs
happen, in order to realize an increase of pen- base, and the insertion in the system the fiscal
sions, and that of 100 percent. boxes on real circulation, would influence the
“There should be an improvement in mate- budget increase.

8 | 19 november

CMYK

The surplus is a deception
Nazim Jashari, from the Reformist Party
ORA, considers as a logical mistake the bud-
getary framework preparation by the ministry
of Economy and Finances, since, according to
him, the new government should do these pre-
parations after the elections.
“The minister in leave has composed a bud-
get, which will be approved in March. With
this he did the financial budget for institutions
and spending agencies, and has done the work
of someone else’s, who will be in that position”,
said Jashari. While speaking about the surplus
part, he said that what the government calls a
surplus in technical terms it is a surplus, but
in economic terms, it does not have to do with
surplus.“A surplus is the financial part, which
is collected over budgetary anticipations, and it
is not the budgetary means’ expenditures that
are in a lower level than the budget allocated”,
he said. Meantime, Hamza says that the sur-
plus shows two negative sides of this govern-
ment. The first is that this money is out of the
function. And the second, this is a bad signal
for possible donators. He said that there can
not be asked for donations, while they did not
know to invest the existing means.
According to him, the line that needs cuts
is the budget part of goods and services, whi-
le the capital investments should have even a
higher value.
About the capital investments, where 357
million euros were anticipated, the IMF ex-
pressed its concern. They forecasted that such
CMYK
main topic
357
million euros
for capital
investments.
60
millions of euros
surplus from capital
investments alloca-
ted for this year
a big increase of capital investments in 2008
would have an impact in the macroeconomic
aspect, where more pressure is created in the
aggregate demand, which could have an im-
pact in inflation. They pointed out that the re-
port between capital investment increase and
the macroeconomic side has not been inves-
tigated and has not been taken into account
by the government. According to them, on the
Middle-term Framework of Expenditures’ do-
cument, which was presented to donators by
the government last month, such a large sum
of capital investments has not been anticipa-
ted, but a part of these investments is anticipa-
ted to happen during 2009-2010.
The KISU pre-warns social disorders
The most irritated ones by the 2008 Budget,
composed by the MEF, seems to be the syn-
dicalists, because not even a cent was alloca-
ted for the implementation of the Collective
Contract agreement. Haxhi Arifi, the Head of
the KISU, gave pre-warning signals to the go-
vernment of Kosova, that social disorders can
happen in case the 2008’s budget does not fa-
ce changes, and if the part for the implementa-
tion of the Collective Contract is not included.
He pointed out that it will be unacceptable, if
even in the next year the implementation of
this agreement is not anticipated.
“We are at the knife-edge. We will not ta-
ke the responsibility, if social disorders hap-
pen. Until now, we have done enough to keep
the country’s social order, but if we get further
ignored by the government, then they, who are
ignoring this society class, will face the conse-
quences”, said the syndicalist Arifi.
19 november | 9
tema qendrore

CMYK
 investime

vijon nga faqja 9

CMYK
 main topic
5 or 35 millions?
There are 15 diplomatic
mechanisms of Kosova that
have to start working outsi-
de the country after the status
settlement. The prime ministry
has forecasted everything and
has calculated that it needs
around 5 million euros in the
first year to build the diploma-
cy. On the other side, the
Ministry of Economy and
Finances has pre-calculated
with full generosity that this
will cost 35 million euros,
and neither will be any pro-
blem to provide these means,
only that the Kosova’s
embassies to start working
Ejup Gojnovci
ejup.gojnovci@ekonomisti.net
Kosova has planned to start the building of
institutions in other countries too, immedia-
tely after the independence. The represen-
tation of Kosova in the world will happen in
phases, even though it is pre-calculated that
the country has to be physically present with
15 diplomatic missions, right at the first days
of its independence. The Ministry of Economy
and Finances while composing the Kosova’s
budget for 2008 has also inserted in the sche-
me the expenses for this matter. Furthermore,
the Office of the Prime minister of Kosova al-
so, which is the composer of the Law-Proposal
for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, put on pa-
12 | 19 november
per the financial needs for the country repre-
sentation immediately after the status. Both
these institutions did the same job, but with
noticeable financial differences. The Ministry
of Economy and Finances forecasted not less
than 35 million euros for the first diplomatic
year of Kosova, while the Office of the Prime
minister has forecasted only 5 million euros
for these expenses.
Fitim Krasniqi, the permanent secretary in
Prime minister’s office, says that the start of the
creation of 15 embassies means a staff of nearly
90 people with a cost of 5 million euros.
“That is how it has been calculated by our si-
de”, says Krasniqi, calling this even a big bur-
den for the Kosova’s budget.
On the other side, the minister of Economy
and Finances, Haki Shatri, is quite generous
for the building of the diplomatic structures
outside the country.
“We, for 2008, have planned 35 million euros.
We have this money, and I have promised to
both the former president, Rugova, and to the
president Sejdiu, that the budget is guaran-
teed, only let be worked for the independen-
ce”, says Shatri.
Despite of the price, those who will repre-
sent Kosova outside have a multidimensio-
nal task, and in fact, there is a big desire in
authorities themselves to do this as soon as
possible. Krasniqi says that the people who
will work in Kosova’s embassies have a big job,
starting from the representation of the coor-
dinated messages for the country’s image, the
requirement of Kosova’s entrance into inter-
national key organizations, finding of econo-
mic possibilities, etc.
The Office of the Prime Minister Agim Çeku
has even composed the Law-Proposal for the
leader institution of diplomacy, that of the Mi-
nistry of the Foreign Affairs. But this law-pro-
posal, even though it is supported by Kosovar
organisms, it has not been through the Koso-
va’s Assembly yet for approval. Its way toward
approval is stopped by the Special Represen-
CMYK
USA, THE MOST IMPORTANT COUNTRY
The United States of America should
take a very important place in the foreign
politics of Kosova. The USA, as the most
committed country supporting Kosova’s
freedom and independence, are an ir-
replaceable ally.
tative of the Secretary General in Kosova, Joa-
chim Rucker.
In the copy of this law-proposal, which is
possessed by Ekonomisti, it is said that the Mi-
nistry of Foreign Affairs of Kosova will have
only three departments at the beginning wi-
thin the country. 62 employees are expected to
be engaged in these departments. Whereas, the
15 diplomatic missions will recruit around 90
persons. The financial cost for the employees
inside Kosova, according to the estimations
of the Ministry of Economy and Finances, is
based on the expenses and the structures of
other ministries of the Government. It is dif-
ferent for diplomatic missions, where the ex-
penses taking into consideration those of other
missions, with a similar structure that corres-
pond to those that Kosova will create.
The president of Kosova does the selection
of a country where an embassy can be ope-
ned, according to the law-proposal section 5,
after a written proposal by the prime minis-
ter. Krasniqi says that an essential priority of
Kosova’s foreign politics will be the develop-
ment and the regional cooperation with the
neighbor countries, and the incorporation in
Brussels’ orientation for a stabilized, peace-
ful, and secure region, aiming the realization
of regional targets – integration into European
and Euro Atlantic structures. Less problema-
tic than the money for the purpose of building
and functioning of Kosovar representative po-
litics, it seems to be the cadre. Krasniqi admits
that this is one of the biggest challenges.

Which are the
priority countries
The countries where Kosova aims to be
represented immediately after the status
settlement are in the first place the coun-
tries of the Contact Group, even thou-
gh Russia, for known reasons, may not
show interest for this. Then, the countries
with key international organizations (New
York and Switzerland for UNO, Vienna for
UNO and OSCE, etc.), and also the neighbor
countries, says Krasniqi.
Who can be selected
as ambassador?
Ambassadors and general consuls, as
well as other missions’ chiefs have to ha-
ve high professional preparation, wi-
de reputation, international relationship
knowledge, English Language knowled-
ge, and, in cases of European countries, to
have the knowledge of an official Langua-
ge of the corresponding country. The mi-
nister of the MFA, after consulting with the
president and the prime minister, sends
in confidence a short list of at least three
candidates for each vacant post to the
Commission for International of the Koso-
va’s Assembly. The Commission holds close
auditory séances for these candidates to
prove whether they fulfill the required cri-
teria. Later, the Commission reports to the
president, the prime minister, and to the
minister, in confidence.
The president, after the consults with the
prime minister and the minister, deci-
des whether one of the candidates is to
be nominated for a certain country. Af-
ter the corresponding country approves
this, the president accredits the success-
ful candidate.
Demands for
night flights
Many airline companies’ demands
to fly in the destination Prishti-
na International Airport and back
came out at the International Air-
line Transport Association (IA-
TA) conference on flight planning
for 2008, which is held in Toron-
to of Canada. This is pointed out by
the two representatives of the Pris-
htina International Airport (PIA),
who participated in this conference,
the slots’ coordinator, Driton Hyse-
ni, and the manager of Department
for Public Relations, Skënder Bu-
colli. They said that in this confe-
rence they have realized meetings
with over 20 airline companies. The
work and the service qualities of-
fered by the PIA, according to the
participants, is highly estimated by
the airline companies. The manager
of the Department for Public Rela-
tions, Skënder Bucolli, pointed out
that at this conference, new com-
panies expressed their interest to
operate in Prishtina, and also, the
companies that currently operate
here are interested to increase the
flight number.
“I want to emphasize two de-
CMYK
telecommunication
mands here: that of the Turkish
Airlines, which from 5 flights a
week it has been operating up to
now, for the following year it asks
for daily flights, thus for each day,
whereas Air One, with origin and
destination Roma-Prishtina-Roma,
has also asked for daily flights, 7 ti-
mes a week”, said Bucolli, telling
that currently the PIA does not have
direct flights to these destinations.
In this conference, he said that the-
re were also demands to operate du-
ring late night hours. All interested
ones, said Bucolli, were told that the
management director of the PIA,
Afrim Aziri, has already engaged
the management that after the pro-
ject for runaway repave, lighting
and following infrastructure is com-
pleted, to make this demand realiza-
ble. Bucolli said also that the airline
companies have also expressed
their worry regarding the high price
of kerosene offered by the PIA BP.
“The airline companies were explai-
ned that the PIA is working to have
also other kerosene suppliers in the
PIA. As for the BP price, the PIA
and the airline companies agreed
that after the tender ends, which is
in process, this dissatisfactory will
be solved”, said Bucolli, not hiding
the dissatisfactions of companies on
this matter. He also mentioned that
beside the above-mentioned mee-
tings, they also met the airport re-
presentatives of Verona, Budapest,
Geneva, and also with the vice pre-
sident for Marketing and Busi-
ness Development of the New York
airport (JFK.), Mrs. Janice Holden,
who expressed promptitude to sup-
port again the Prishtina-New York-
Prishtina line.
19 november | 13
 main topic
Even though the means on the
name of reserves are alloca-
ted for each fiscal year, these
means are spent, as the other
part of the budget is. Koso-
va does not have reserves,
even though millions are de-
dicated on that name. These
means are meant to be used
in case of eventual emergen-
cies. They have not been used
either when a high price in-
crease happened recently to
the bread and to the other
elementary products. The mil-
lions of reserves are spent
based only on priorities deci-
ded by the Ministry of Econo-
my and Finances
14 | 19 november
Where are the reserves?
Avdyl Pajaziti
avdyl.pajaziti@ekonomisti.net
Except for the expenditures, the budget of Ko-
sova forecasts financial reserves for emergen-
cy cases also. However, each fiscal year these
means are dedicated to any other budgeta-
ry line.
Each year, tens of millions are allocated for
reserves, and those means do not remain re-
serves, but they are oriented toward the ex-
penditures that are seen as reasonable and
necessary by the Ministry of Economy and
Finances.
The reserve means allocated by the bud-
get planning are foreseen to be spent in ca-
ses of crises, as for natural disasters and other
emergency cases, like the threat of Serbia to
close the border with Kosova and to block the
circulation of elementary commodities.
Nevertheless, these means are shared
neither for the high importance matter as
they are supposed to, nor have remained as
reserves. They are spent as the other part of
the budget is, based on priorities decided by
the heads of the Kosovar economy.
The minister of Economy and Finances,
Haki Shatri, declared that Kosova is ready to
face any kind of situation that may appear due
to the savings on the name of reserves.
“I am very sure that Kosova is ready to fa-
ce any kind of eventual crisis. These are not
only words, but this is evidenced on budge-
tary documents composed by us. Besides the
others, the budget has also foreseen 50 mil-
lion euros reserves, in case of any natural di-
sasters, or of any other extraordinary case, if
someone thinks to close the border with us”,
said minister Shatri, alluding the declarations
of the Serbian government’s high officials that
in case Kosova announces the partial inde-
pendence, it would close the circulation of
the basic commodities toward the territory
of Kosova.
On papers, the budgetary planning fore-
casts two kinds of reserves.
CMYK
The minimal reserves planned for emer-
gency expenses, but also another reserve
line, are exlusively allocated by the minister
of Economy and Finances, and by the Special
Representative of the Secretary General.
The value of the first line reaches a high va-
lue of means.
Last years, tens of millions Euro have been
allocated for reserves.
For 2007, 50 million Euro are planned for
reserves, and this sum is also planned for
the year 2008. Even in the middle-term fra-
mework of budgetary expenditures are fo-
reseen 50 million euros for each fiscal year
until 2010.
Also, for each budgetary planning, the
minister of Economy and Finances and the
SRSG have the exclusive right that on their
names to allocate a sum of means, even thou-
gh this does not reach high values. Further,
only the minister and the SRSG have the right
to dedicate those means for expenditure.
This line, for 2008, plans means of 6 million
euros, where 3 million of them are allocated
the minister of the Economy and Finances,
and the other 3 by the SRSG. For 2007, 5 mil-
lion euros were allocated on the name of this
reserve
The parties in opposite have declared that
reserve funds do not go in the proper destina-
tion, because of their destination into budge-
tary agencies where the Ministry of Economy
and Finances wants.
Bedri Hamza, the chief of the Finance De-
partment at the Democratic Party of Kosova,
expressed doubts regarding their right way
of spending.
“The main purpose of this reserve is their
destination to be where the ministry wants.
They declare that their destination is done
based on priorities, but this does not hap-
pen, because these means go where they want
to, and they ask nobody about that”, decla-
red Hamza.
According to him, the distribution of the-
se means should always be done conform

50
The budget has also foreseen
50 million euros reserves, in
case of any natural disasters, or
of any other extraordinary case,
if someone thinks to close the
border with us
The allocated means on the name of reserves
Year 2007
Minimal reserves 50
Reserves 5 6
needs, and not to be spent as the other part
of the budget.
“The distribution of those means should
not be done by the desire of someone. For this,
the Kosova Assembly should actually be as-
ked. However, they should always be either
saved or spent for real emergency cases and
special cases”, declared the chief of finances
at the KDP (Alb. PDK).
Concerning the Serbia’s threat for embargo
in case Kosova announces its independence,
the minister of Economy and Finances, Ha-
main topic
tain the price stability, using those millions of
euros allocated for reserves as subsidies for
flour processors.
2008 2009 2010 Musa Limani, an expert of economic is-
sues, declared that the government of Kosova
50 50 50 should necessary create reserves, particularly
6 6 for basic products, so that it cannot be threa-
tened by any country.
In addition, he mentioned that the disenga-
ki Shatri, declared that it is not soldierly, and gement, or even the lack of means, resulted in
that he could oblige nobody to keep good tra- not having the possibility to support Kosovar
de relations. producers during the price increase.
“I am not military. My job is only to ma- “I ask the government where are these
ke budgetary planning in case of such situa- means and when should they be used if not
tions”, said Shatri. now”, said Limani.
But, does Kosova have such means? The Kosovar executive, year after year, has
There are some weeks that Kosovars are gulped millions of euros meant for emergency
facing a high price increase of elementary cases. Until now, it did not find it reasonable
products. to spend this money for other cases, but on-
The Kosovar institutions have not found ly for their expenses, as it did with the other
it reasonable to intervene, in order to main- part of the public money.
19 november | 15
CMYK

Interview
Ejup Gojnvoci
ejup.gojnovci@ekonomisti.net
Work, you are in Europe
Ekonomisti: You came here in 1999.
Comparing to then, how do you see Ko-
sova Now?
Thierry Bernard – Guele: I first came
here in June 29, 1999. The July of that year
was very exiting. It was the month of libe-
ration of Kosova. There was a lot of hope in
the population. I remember that there was
no electricity, working conditions were very
difficult, and the mobile phones didn’t func-
tion. At that time I was working in an inter-
national French government company. My
job was to make an evaluation of the dama-
ges in kosova and to prepare the first dona-
tors conference in 27 July. I remember that
in first July I had to interview the first per-
sons that would form the team. We achieved
to join 20 kosovars and with them we made
the first assessments about the damages all
over Kosova. The first part of that assessing
was to see how many houses were damaged
during the war. The staff used to work with
only one computer and they put their cars
in disposal. And in the end of the day, if we
could provide some gas for the cars it was
wonderful. I was very impressed from the
commitment and the work that those people
did and for three weeks only we covered Ko-
sova and we prepared a document about it.
It was a period of big hopes. Now the situa-
tion is improved drastically, still there is a
lot to be done. I think that together with the
work with ministries and the government,
we have put the elements upon which Ko-
sova can develop.
Ekonomisti: What was the state of the
economy at the time?
Thierry Bernard – Guele: When I firstly
arrived in 1999, there wasn’t any bank ope-
rating. Now we have few. We have made a
progress also in Small-Medium Enterprices
even though the rate of unemployment is hi-
gh. I think that this problem could soften by
investing in education. Speaking of the hope
16 | 19 november
Emotionally touched, Thierry Bernard – Guele, director of Operational
Center of the European Agency for Reconstruction in Kosova, gives ma-
ny messages to the Kosovars. Most of all, work and serious commitment
are those that could lead Kosova to European Union. Bernard Gue-
le leaves the town after 8 and half years of work in Kosova and just after
executing more than 1 billion euros
that people here used to he in the very begin-
ning, I think that they now seem a bi tired
because of the prolonged process of the sta-
tus. Anyway, there are some issues that the
status doesn’t resolve, such as daily life and
night life. The prosperity can be achieved by
hard work. Kosova has big chances becau-
se it has a new population, underground re-
sources and agricultural land. But the best
chance that you have is that you are a part of
Europe and you do have the support of Eu-
ropean Union.
Ekonomisti: After all these time spent
in EAR and all the work that you have
done here, how do you feel now?
Thierry Bernard – Guele: I still can’t
believe that I am leaving within a month. I
have more 26 million euros that I have to
contract before leaving in december 15. I
think that I am not leaving Kosova, but the
EAR. I will go to Selanik, which is not ve-
ry far, and I will be back here to visit my
friends. If EAR has done a good job in Ko-
sova, it because of the good staff that works
here, who I will miss very much. I will al-
so miss the people of the government of Ko-
sova and other groups of interest. We have
achieved to gain the faith of the local autho-
rities, and if we have influenced in that way
to make them improve services for the koso-
vars, then I think that my time here wasn’t
wasted.
Ekonomisti: You will be back for your
friends here or for the place?
Thierry Bernard – Guele: Yes, it is the
geographic space, but most important are
people here. When I first have arrived here,
I was at my 40s, and now I am at my 50s. I
think that this is a considerable part of my
life.
Ekonomisti: Which is your impression
about the people here in general?
CMYK
Thierry Bernard – Guele: It is hard to
answer. I think that people in this place, es-
pecially when you go out of the Prishtina,
they are very warm. I think that there are
two Kosovas. When you go out of Prishti-
na people are very friendly and they spent
most of the time working hard works and
they live in a hard condition. Still they are
satisfied and always have something to tell
from their lives. Prishtina is more of a chao-
tic city, more lively, and this mainly because
of the presence of the internationals, becau-
se the kosovars is hard to feel. Anyway, all
the kosovars are like a one entrepreneur spi-
rit. I could also say something not very good
about them. It is interesting that all of them
run after a thing. Very often they lack ima-
gination. For instance, when everybody is
running after the selling point of the fuel,
football fields, hotels etc. and who knows
which will be the next idea. Yet, this is not
true about all the activities.
Ekonomisti: It’s been a long time here.
Which would be that detail that remains
in your memory after you’re gone?
Thierry Bernard – Guele: I will cer-
tainly remember when I entered from Skopje
to Kosova, and I saw Prishtina from the top
of Veterrnik. That is a picture which I will
always keep with myself. I have been wor-
king for a long time here, but July of 1999 was
a fantastic month. We used to work from 5 in
the morning till the midnight. There were no
Saturdays or Sundays and and we could sen-
se hope in the air. The pictures of the trips
that I have made in Mirushe’s Waterfalls, in
Ruogva’s mountains, evenings with friends
and life in general was full of good things.
Ekonomisti: In general, Kosova’s economy
seems to be bad. How do you think the ap-
proaches of the country’s institutions should
be, in order to change this situation?
Thierry Bernard – Guele: What I am going
to say about this is my opinion, and not of

EAR’s. I am an architect and engineer, and
my history in economy is not that strong, it
is all what I have gained here. If we want to
develop an economy, one of the essential is-
sues is to develop the power of law. People
should be allowed to have a strong and loyal
competition. Kosova is in Europe and it is
not far of the big market. There should be
found ways to promote Kosova, as a country
where it can be invested, where the people
work with zeal, where there is a right com-
petition, and I think that Kosova has good
values. It is clear that the infrastructure will
get improved. Investment is needed from the
government, from the international finan-
cial institutions, streets should be impro-
ved, electrical energy should be available
24 hours, etc.
Ekonomisti: The EAR has invested a
lot in KEK, but we still have troubles?
Thierry Bernard – Guele: There are
two ways how the electricity issue should be
seen. The supply is not good. I can complain
even a s a client. It is far from being perfect.
But, if it would not have such a big invest-
ment from EAR, we would be in a much wor-
se situation, and probably a 100 percent in
dark. If we compare this period with the year
1999, that time the consumption has been 500
megawatt, and now it is more than 1000 me-
gawatt and within 8 years Kosova has dou-
bled the consumption of energy. Nowhere in
the world can an increase of 15 percent per
year be kept. If we want to have electricity,
we have to save it. The only way to improve
the situation is to spend less and that which
is spent, to be paid.
Ekonomisti: Since we are near to the
status settlement, I would like to have
your opinion. Do you think that Kosova
is ready to function as a state?
Thierry Bernard – Guele: Any country
can be ready to function as a state. But,
whether a country is ready to lead the sta-
CMYK
interview
Thierry Bernard – Guele’s
message
I wish the best for all Kosovars, and I
would like to say that their life is in their
hands, and nobody will make it better
for them. We can help you, advice, but
you are the ones to take decisions, and
whatever we are doing, we are tempo-
rary here, and you will be staying here
permanently. You have to think that you
are the main actors, and that you ha-
ve to work for your and your children life.
However, I will not be far away from here,
and I will probably come back.
te, is another matter. I say that a very good
job has been done since 1999, and I am sure
that the local authorities will be able to lead
Kosova as a state, but they will still need the
internationals for a while. The local autho-
rities have done a lot, but they will have still
to learn, and they should find ways to get the
best from the international union. It is ob-
vious that moving from a socialist economy
to the one of free trade, through the war, is
not an easy process and it takes time.
Ekonomisti: Many countries want to
be independent, but they should also ha-
ve the functional sectors. How much ca-
pability do these sectors have to make
Kosova a state?
Thierry Bernard – Guele: The largest
part of sectors are at the same level. I think
that as a government, it can do it. Kosova
has priorities, but weaknesses also, which
should be improved. I would say that you
are very lucky that you are in Europe, and
that you attempt to get the maximum from
the geographical priority.
Ekonomisti: We are in Europe, but
when will Kosova in reality be a part of
the EU?
Thierry Bernard – Guele: The Stabiliza-
tion-Association Conductor mechanism has
already been set. About when you will join
it, and how that way will go is a 100 percent
in the hands of Kosovars. It means that the
EU is here, and we will help Kosova to move
forward step by step and the time is in your
hands. Recently, Bulgaria and Rumania be-
came members of the EU, and Kosova also
will join it. I have no doubts that you will be
in the EU, but when, it depends on you and
the EU as a political decision.
Ekonomisti: Would you accept to work
again in Kosova?
Thierry Bernard – Guele: Of course yes!
However, there are two things that I am as-
hamed of. Firstly, I have been here for 8 years
and I have not learnt the Albanian Langua-
ge, and secondly, here I have started to learn
playing the piano and I left it, since I could
not have a lot of work done.
19 november | 17
 Social

Predictions for 2008

235
euro/month
Category of
martyr families

180
euro/month
Martyrs

130
Civil
invalids

euro/month

Social Assistance

Reduces the social assistance 35 Family with

1-3 members

According to the statistics of
the Social Welfare Depart-
ment the number of the
euro/
tance for 2007, this department needed 30
million euros. They need the same budget
month
75
for 2008. ‘We have required to the Kosova’s Family with
Parliament, that with the proposal of some
changes in law, that in each family to raise
7 members

persons that are in need for
the social assistance is de-
creasing. While in 2000 the-
re were 50 400 families
signed for social assistance,
in October of 2007 this figure
has declined in 40 579
Albulena Kastrati
albulena.kastrati@ekonomisti.net
While the living cost is increasing and the
extreme poverty tells huge figures, from the
Work and Social Welfare Department comes
information that not only they get to cover
the obligations toward the social categories
but they also get to save.
According to the statistics of the Social
Welfare Department there has been a reduc-
tion of the families with social assistance
that has lead to a saving of the money. Whi-
le in 2000 there were 50 400 families signed
for social assistance, in October of 2007 this
figure has declined in 40 579.
According to Mr Muhamet Gjocaj, direc-
tor of the Social Welfare Department, this
decrease of number of the families didn’t be-
come as a result of the decrease of the pover-
ty in general, but some of the families, by the
time, in a way or another get to pass the sta-
te of the social assistance. In order to cover
the scheme of the families with social assis-
the social aid for more 5 euros. We have al-
so proposed to give chance also for families
with 8 members to get the social welfare,
not as it was until now (only those that ha-
ve till 7 members get the assistance) and as
a result we get to save about 5 million euros.
Anyway, from the saved money, 2,5 millions
go for the expenses for the raise of 5 euros for
each family, and 2,5 millions stay as savings
in Kosova’s budget’ said Mr Gjocaj.
As an argumentation of this raise of the
money that is foreseen to become real in the
next year, is precisely the raise of the prices
and the cost of the life in general.
16 million savings from the retirees
that didn’t contribute
The Kosova;s Retirees take most of the
fund of the Work Social Welfare Ministry.
The total sum of pensions for 2007 has rea-
ched 64 201 804 million euros.
For 2008 is foreseen that the fund should
be raised, because according to a govern-
ment decision there should be distinction
between the retirees that have contributed
and those who didn’t. In these bases they
have allocated 16 million euros.
On the other hand, speaking of persons
with limited abilities, according to the direc-
tor of the Pension Administration, Mr Naim
Hoda, the budget has been a diminished be-
cause they are in the phase of the consolida-
tion of this scheme. According to him, they
need around 850 thousand euros in month-
ly basis to fulfil the obligation for the per-
euro/
month
sons belonging to this scheme
These two categories take 40 euros per
month. The category of the early retirees
‘Trepça’ seem a be more privileged since
they take 50 euros.
Increases the budget for the war
and civil victims
As for the category of the war and civil
victims this year has been allocated 8 mil-
lion euros.
“ Most of the persons that apply at us are
the invalids of KLA and civil invalids. The
criteria for applying are: if the person rea-
ches the 20 percent of the invalidity (body
damage) they get in the scheme and take the
pension for of the war invalid. While as ci-
vil invalids should confirm 40 percent of
the body damage in order to win the pen-
sion’ said Mr Bajram Pajaziti, director of
the Department of war families, war inva-
lids and civil invalids. According to the law,
one martyr family gets 235 euros per month
and in linear way this sum increases as fol-
lows: when the family has two martyrs, it
takes 20 percent more ( calculated from the
base sum of 235), if the family has 3 mar-
tyrs it takes plus 30 percent besides the 235
euros, and so on

18 | 19 november

CMYK
 social

The Department of So-

cial Welfare has pro-
posed to the Kosova’s
Assembly two im-
portant changes that
should be done in
2008. the first one is
about cutting of the
scheme the families
that own a car. The
second proposal is to
reduce the pension
of the persons that
Bajram Pajaziti are in those families
Director of the Depart- that also take a social
ment of war families assistance.

BUDGET PLANNING FOR 2008

Pensions 117 303 602

Basic pensions 66 499 058

Basic pensions for
the contributors 14 700 000
Early pensions 1 422 900
Pensions for the persons
with limited abilities 10 918 631
Pensions for war
invalids 21 009 253
Trepça pensions 2 753 760

Muhamet Gjocaj Social Welfare 34 429 082

Director of the Social
Welfare Department Social assistance scheme 29 096 001
Social services 1 757 000
Institutions 1 080 900
Social Work Centre 2 322 421
Naim Hoda Social Politics Centre 172 760
Director of the Pension
Administration
Work and working issues 4 115 193

Work division 1 705 619

Work Inspection
Authority 353 610
Professional training l 998 667
Law/Work Relations 57 297
Confinement leave 1 000 000
Central Administrative
Services 1 342 344

Central Administration 1 218 653

Minister’s Office 123 691

TOTAL 157 190 221

19 november | 19

CMYK
 Interview
Shkëlzen Dakaj
shkelzen.dakaj@ekonomisti.net
Misuse has been present
The minister of Economy and Fi-
nance, Haki Shatri, has unfolded
his dissatisfactions with budge-
tary organizations. He, for the
first time, makes the real reason
of his friend’s discharge from
the director’s post of KTA public,
and speaks about the European
Commission complaints. Budget
abuses, stagnations in budge-
tary income, budget allocation,
the not good situation becau-
se of the customs officials lea-
ve, the weak KEK management,
etc...minister Shatri makes all
these public in this interview
The part of surplus from the budget of capital
investments is expected to be over 60 million
Euro, resulting from the non-realization of ca-
pital projects. There are significant problems
with budgetary organizations. Problems are
created in customs too, in view of the fact that
customs officials have not received financial
stimulations. The realization level of budgeta-
ry income from KTA is not satisfactory. These
are some of the problems, which the minister
of Economy and Finance, Haki Shatri, has un-
folded in this interview. He told the real reason
of the KTA director’s discharge, and he ma-
de public the European Commission com-
plaints. Being honest, Shatri, said that he can
not guarantee that the taxpayers’ money has
not been abused.
Ekonomisti: Minister, we are at the
doorstep of closing the fiscal year, and
the preparations for the following year.
How is the budget situation?
Shatri: We have a good situation this year. I
say this considering the income that are created,
as well as the good budget allocation that is do-
ne for the following year. We achieved to realize
20 | 19 november
the anticipated income only for nine months,
which means that for the last three months, we
will exceed the anticipations. We consider this
a positive achievement for this year. Whereas
the preparations for the following year bud-
get allocation went in accordance with the an-
ticipated dynamic. All planning and budget
allocation is done, which is approved by the
government and has passed through the Fis-
cal Economic Council, and now it is expected
to go through assembly and to hand it to the
SRSG for approval.
Ekonomisti: How much is the surplus
for this year?
Shatri: We do not know yet how much will
exactly be the surplus for this year. We will
know this at the end of the year. However, the-
re are two reasons to consider that a large sur-
plus is created.
This first is that we have accumulated bud-
getary income more than we have predicted.
Only the KCS, for instance, is considered to ha-
ve realized over 70 million Euro income over
the anticipations of this year, while the KTA
over 20 million Euro. This is the main cause
of the surplus, while the second reason is that
expenditures are done less than the sum allo-
cated by the budget.
Ekonomisti: Where is this surplus crea-
ted, in capital costs as it happens every
year, or in other expenses?
Shatri: We have a surplus in capital invest-
ments, but we do not know yet how much is
this surplus exactly. But, we think that of 190
millions approved by the budget for capital in-
vestments, around 60 million are spent. The-
se are to be reviewed.
There are many reasons for such a large sur-
plus. However, that which is more important
is that the controls this year have been much
more rigorous in allocating means. Thus,
means for capital projects have not been allo-
cated without going through a rigorous pro-
cedure, which means that those projects that
have not been well prepared and reasonable
according to the regulations in effect could not
pass to procedures of means allocation.
CMYK
550 million
The budget of 2008 with all
expenses in salaries and daily-
pays, commodities and services,
social transfers, and some other
expenses does not exceed the
sum of 550 million Euro
Ekonomisti: Are the costs of oil deriva-
tives, telephones, daily-pays, etc., redu-
ced for 2008?
Shatri: The report of the nine months of this
year has resulted with much less costs in all ca-
tegories. From all these, only the capital invest-
ment surplus is unsatisfactory in this case. For
this, we have wanted that the budgetary orga-
nizations to spend much faster and to complete
the capital projects. While to other categories
where expenses were reduced, this is very fa-
vorable for the budget, thus to those savings
that were done in commodities and services,
and in pays and daily-pays. From savings in
salaries, we have compensated the salary in-
crease for the fourth months of the school year.
These are 2 million Euro allocated by the bud-
getary organizations’ savings. Also, we have
the category of commodities and services, whe-
re we have savings over 10 %. Based on this
and recommendations of the IMF, the budget
of 2008 with all expenses in salaries and daily-
pays, commodities and services, social trans-
fers, and some other expenses does not exceed
the sum of 550 million Euro.
E ko n o m i st i : A re yo u s at i sfi e d
with budget managing by budgetary
organizations?

Shatri: There is a remarkable progress re-
garding services that have to do with expenses
of public money. However, budgetary orga-
nizations still do not have a good preparation
with cadre, a cadre that would be sufficient
to use the allocated budget for organizations.
This is for practicable reasons, we have a new
state, we do not have big experience, etc.,
consequently we are having surplus.
Ekonomisti: Minister, if they did not
know to use the allocated budget, do you
think that they knew to misuse it?
Shatri: I cannot say that misuses did not hap-
pen. If I say that misuses did not take place, I
would appear very unserious to citizens. I can-
not guarantee that let’s say 10 Euro have not been
misused somewhere.
I want to be very honest to the readers, but
I can say that anywhere there is a possibility
to control and anywhere there is a suspicion
for misuse, we do not let that misuse happen.
We have the control rules and we control eve-
ry expenditure in a rigorous way. But again, I
cannot guarantee that from all organizations no-
body has brought any invalid document. Howe-
ver, this can be clarified later with the control
of the auditor general. I can say that several ti-
mes organizations attempt to withdraw the mo-
ney with some insufficient documentations, but
this does not happen since there is a control that
stops them.
Ekonomisti: How much income is rea-
lized in total this year?
Shatri: In total, the income of this year to 30
September reached the sum of around 720 mil-
lion Euro. However, until the end of the year,
this sum is expected to be 837 million, which
means 155 million higher than the approved
budget for this year. Around 61 % of income
are harvested from the border.
Ekonomisti: How much income is crea-
ted by the KTA?
Shatri: From the KTA we have around 132
million Euro income for this period.
Ekonomisti: Are you satisfied with the
income realized by the KTA?
Shatri: Yes, I am measurably satisfied, but
not very much. In a period, stagnation is crea-
ted compared to the same period of the last
year. For this, I am relatively satisfied, because
when we decided the income harvest possibi-
lities for 2007, we are served with some indi-
cators of the IMF.
The latter always pressures us to anticipa-
CMYK
interview
te less income than the real possibilities we
have. We do not have our own statistics, they
estimate the gross product, based on this the
economic move and other economic flows.
From this we have to plan the income reali-
zation possibility, where the possibility is ac-
tually greater than these anticipations that are
calculated based on these indicators. My dis-
satisfactory in this case is that the income rea-
lization possibility has been much greater than
it is achieved.
Ekonomisti: Did you discharge the
KTA’s director for these?
Shatri: Even though I have not said it pu-
blicly up to now, I am going to say the reasons
in this case. One of the reasons is that I am not
satisfied in general with the KTA flows. I am
saying I am not satisfied in principle. This dis-
satisfactory is reflected in the European Com-
mission report on Stabilization-Association
engagement pace. There are many emphasi-
zed remarks there for the KTA.
It is estimated a progress that is done by our
institutions in all spheres of life, while there
are remarks for the KTA. It is specifically said
that in the KTA there is no progress. To be
more accurate, I want to say decidedly what
is said in this report.
“Less progress is achieved in the taxation
field. The KTA is not effective. The adminis-
tration capacity to apply the tax legislation is
still very weak”. Besides, in the periodic mee-
tings we have had with European structures,
the KTA has been criticized constantly.
In the administration, some good works are
done, it has a good cadre and it has inspectors
who have given excellent results, but in so-
me segments, it has always had remarks. It
has continually been repeated a lack of effi-
ciency in tax reimbursement (return tax), in
taxpayers’ education also, etc... I have always
attempted to help and to pressure them to sol-
ve these problems. This has not been done,
and as it is seen from the annual report, this
has damaged the budget.
Ekonomisti: Do you have the right to
discharge the director of the KTA?
Shatri: Yes.
Ekonomisti: Why then a commission to
contest whether your decision was right
or wrong was created?
Shatri: Because it is a procedure of nomi-
nation and of discharge as well. The nomi-
nation of director is done with the minister’s
proposal, government’s approval and with the
SRSG’s approval. In this case, I have found a
reason to ask the discharge. I have presented
this to the government, I have offered facts for
this and have got the approval for starting the
discharge procedures.
continues to page 23
19 november | 21
 nderkombetare

32 | 17 shtator

CMYK

continues from page 21
The government has analyzed the case and
has supported this decision, and it has recom-
mended the SRSG to complete this issue ac-
cording to the law. Now we are in expectancy.
Now it is their inner issue how they treat this.
I am told that a panel is created to verify the
fact I have offered. There will be a represen-
tative from the MEF, the Pillar IV of UNMIK,
and the office of the prime minister. I believe
that this will end soon.
Ekonomisti: Do you feel sorry that you
have asked to discharge/fire a friend of
yours?
Shatri: Nothing personal happened between
us. My relationship with Jonuz Krasniqi will
not change. This is a professional and a res-
ponsible work. Our relationship has nothing
to do with the professional work. I have done
my job and I am sure I have been right.
Ekonomisti: Minister, the biggest KTA
debtor is the KEK, with over 60 million
Euro debts. Why didn’t you ever penali-
ze KEK?
Shatri: I have never allowed KEK to be re-
leased from its obligations, from debts, even
though it is a public enterprise with many pro-
blems. We constantly through the KTA as a
budgetary organization help KEK with finan-
cial means. Since we continually need to subsi-
dy KEK from the budget, it would be absurd to
force it to pay back the debts. This is like giving
with the right hand and taking with the left
hand. But this does not mean its debts will be
liquidated. Otherwise, if the same procedures
would be followed with KEK, as it should be,
then we should close it for the debts it has.
Ekonomisti: You continually allocate
money for KEK. Why don’t you invest in
the IAP too, so not to follow the conces-
sion way?
Shatri: It is not that money should be allo-
cated for the airport, but it, with work, should
have realized much greater income.
The airport has not had a good management.
Only this year, it seems that they have had suc-
cess and will have a little benefit. But this is
not enough. The whole Kosova should benefit
from an airport with such a size as this.
Ekonomisti: Will the concessiona-
ry or the budget benefit more with
concession?
Shatri: Kosova has so many needs for in-
frastructure and other emergency things that
even the triplication of the current budget
would be little. In these conditions, we can-
not abandon schools, streets, energy, and ma-
ny other needs. We do not consider that there
are reasons to allocate means for the Airport
and to give up the mentioned ones. In this ca-
se, a more perspective future is the concession,
but always calculating the best form of conces-
sion. That which is clear is that the government
will be the Airport owner.
Ekonomisti: How is the situation with
CUSTOMS?
Shatri: The Customs Service is one of the
healthiest institutions. They are prepared pro-
fessionally and there is a work discipline that
is evaluated by internationals and locals. In the
report of the EC also, the CS work is evalua-
ted very much.
Ekonomisti: So, you evaluate this as a
good work?
Shatri: Not as a good, but as an excellent
work.
Ekonomisti: Why then don’t you alloca-
te more money for them?
Shatri: It is true that we did not have possi-
bilities to create all the needed conditions for
the customs service, with staff number, with
budget, with salaries, etc.
Ekonomisti: The total number of cus-
toms officials is around 600, and only
Ekonomisti: Minister, if they did not
know to use the allocated budget, do
you think that they knew to misuse it?
Shatri: I cannot say that misuses did not
happen. If I say that misuses did not ta-
ke place, I would appear very unserious
to citizens. I cannot guarantee that let’s
say 10 Euro have not been misused so-
mewhere. I want to be very honest to the
readers, but I can say that anywhere the-
re is a possibility to control and anywhe-
re there is a suspicion for misuse, we do
not let that misuse happen. We have the
control rules and we control every ex-
penditure in a rigorous way. But again,
I cannot guarantee that from all organi-
zations nobody has brought any invalid
document. However, this can be clarified
later with the control of
the auditor general. I
can say that several
times organizations
attempt to wi-
thdraw the money
with some insuffi-
cient documenta-
tions, but this does
not happen since
there is a control
that stops
them.
CMYK
interview
50 of them control the green zone, which
is around 643 kilometers long. Do you
think that as a consequence of the small
customs officials number, the contraband
scale is high?
Shatri: Not only because of this. A large part
of contraband has happened resulting from the
non-control of the border with Serbia. Sin-
ce the time we took control there, the goods
import evidence is increased. This seems as
an increase in import, but it is mostly a result
of border control.
Ekonomisti: Are you informed that as a
consequence of financial non-stimulation
around 35 customs officials have already
quit the job in Customs?
Shatri: Yes. It is a great worry when educa-
ted people, experienced and professional leave
us. But, the private sector revenue are higher
than those that the budget offers. From the in-
formation I have, those who abandoned cus-
toms went where they are paid better. This is a
right of anyone, and we cannot stop them.
Ekonomisti: Why don’t you find way to
stimulate them financially?
Shatri: We are in discussions with the di-
rector of the CS to find a proper way to stimu-
late customs officials. It is a form that needs
to be regulated through a trust memorandum
and that has juridical base, where we can find
stimulations for customs officials who are ef-
ficient in work. Thus, we will find forms to
reward those who deserve.
Ekonomisti: Why did the donators’
conference fail?
Shatri: No, it did not. I do not agree with
this.
“Ekonomisti”: The conference was not
held?
Shatri: It was held the technical level in 2
October. We are continually in contact with
sponsors, the World Bank, and with the EC.
We are given a condition that the documents
have to be evaluated positively by the IMF. We
have prepared the Middle-term Expenditure
Framework, because donators have asked this
document, by which we, as government, deter-
mine our priorities. The document is harmo-
nized to the end.
Ekonomisti : But why it was not held
then?
Shatri: Because it is a condition, and it will
not be held till after the status settlement. But
this will happen in the first weeks after the sta-
tus settlement. Everything is prepared, and I
can say that for the three following years we
will be able to benefit around 1 billion and
300 thousand Euro. This is our request, and
I can also say that donators are of the same
opinion.
19 november | 23
Business
Kitchens for everyone’s pocket
After bringing the last tech-
nology of 2007 from the well
known German firm “HOLC
HERE”, the “Lesna” company
has started producing kitchens
of the highest European stan-
dards. Not only can the fami-
lies of high standard buy these
kitchens, but also those that
live with a medium standard
24 | 19 november
Ekonomisti
Not only those who have full pockets can buy
the most modern kitchens and furniture, but
also the families with a medium living stan-
dard can have such kitchens in their houses.
After bringing the last technology of 2007
from the well known German firm “HOLC
HERE”, the “Lesna” company has started
producing kitchens of the highest European
standards.
Reclamations are accepted
Bashkim Deshishku, manager of the “Les-
na” company in Prishtina, said for “Ekono-
misti” that bringing the last technology from
Germany, which none of other factories in
Kosova possesses, enabled that consumers’
interest to buy kitchens produced by “Les-
na” to hit increase constantly. Except for kit-
CMYK
chens, this company with a specialized team
also makes the furnishing of offices and dif-
ferent environments. “Lesna” also accepts
reclamations by consumers for its products.
“The special characteristic of our company,
as a difference from the others, is that we ac-
cept reclamations from consumers, if they
have complaints about our products. Consu-
mers have always rights to complain, and
we always consider their remarks”, explai-
ned Deshishku. To issue in market the most
modern and highest quality products, “Les-
na” cooperates with a large numbers of most
known Kosovar architects. Consumers just
have to choose the kitchen model to their de-
sires. Besides production, this company of-
fers services of raw material purchase to all
Kosovar artisans, who, seeing the good of-
fer, have expressed willingness to coopera-
te with “Lesna”.
The biggest factory in Kosova is going
to be opened
Deshishku says that the “Lesna” company
has a perfect approach with the client from
the order moment to product finalization.
“We have a professional approach with the
client since the order moment and up the pro-
duct finalization, which is done as fast as pos-
sible. The inside organization and the work
level makes us better compared with other
companies, since we have a long experien-
ce/tradition in the work we do”, explained
Deshishku. This company is currently inte-
rested to supply the local market with its pro-
ductions in a satisfactory manner, but soon
it aims to “conquer” the international mar-
ket too. “Soon the “Lesna” company will open
the biggest factory in the country, and we will
also start to export the products out of the
country. However, until that time comes, we
are concentrated to fulfill the local needs with
our production”, pointed out Deshishku. He
added that many companies from Slovenia
and other countries of Europe are interested
to start cooperation, after they were informed
about the opening of this factory.
 anketë

8 tetor | 25

CMYK
 Within the first months
of this year, banks that
Trade operate in Kosova achie-
ved to raise their wealth,
without counting their
financial obligations,
to 1 billion and 193 mil-
lion Euro. The bank that
achieved the highest
wealth for 9 months
is the ProCredit Bank,
which in the balance
sheet reaches the sum of
508.7 million Euros, or it
is higher than the budget
income of Kosova com-
pared to the same period

Banks wealthier than the state

Asdren Osaj
asdren.osaj@ekonomisti.net
Banks that operate in Kosova, within the
first period of 2007, achieved to raise their
wealth to 1 billion and 193 million euros, wi-
thout counting their financial obligations or
almost the double budget income of Kosova
within this period.
Distinct from their wealth, banks over this
year have generally raised their deposits to
1 billion and 60 million euros. This deposit
and wealth sum, respectively the wealth of
80 percent, is managed and supervised by
foreign shareholders.
The member of the Board of the Kosova
Payment Central Banking Authority (KPC-
BA), Isa Mustafa, also pointed out the depo-
sit level increase over this year.
He declared that the total deposit sum of
6 banks, which currently operate in Koso-
va, reaches the sum of 1 billion and 60 mil-
lion euros. However, despite this increase in
deposits, he said that the credit conditions
of the banks, particularly for the small en-
trepreneurs, are still difficult.
The bank that achieved the highest wealth
within a period of nine months is the ProCre-
dit bank, which in its balance sheet reaches
the sum of 508.7 million euros, or compared
to the same period it is higher than the total
budget income of Kosova.
The total wealth of the Austrian bank
“Raiffeisen Bank”, in comparison with the
banks that have been considered as “local”
banks until late, is several times higher. Ac-
cording to the presented data in the balance
sheet of this bank for the six months period
of this year, the total wealth of this bank, wi-
thout counting the financial obligations, is
over 407.1 million euros, or a little less than
the budget annual income of Kosova. This
wealth is totally managed by international
shareholders of this bank.
Differing from the two mentioned banks,
the wealth of the “Kassabank” bank presen-
ted in the balance sheet of 31 September of
this year is much lower. It reaches the sum of
128.5 million euros. Further, the New Bank of
Ljubljana bought around 80% of the shares of
this bank at the beginning of this year.
Based on the presented data on the offi-
cial website of the Economic Bank of Kosova
(Banka Ekonomike e Kosovës), the capital of
this bank, until the end of the first six months
of this year, is around 44.6 million euros. The
wealth of the New Bank of Kosova (Banka
e Re e Kosoves) is for some millions higher.
According to its balance sheet it reaches 63
million euros, without counting the finan-
cial obligations. Most of this wealth now be-
longs to the Slovenian bank Nova Lubjanska
Banka, which bought the majority of shares
from local shareholders in the summer of
this year.
Similar to the Economic Bank, the other so
called local bank ‘Bank for Business’ (Banka
për Biznes), has a total wealth of 41.6 million
Euro, which was presented in the balance
sheet in 30 September of this year.
Despite the wealth sums that the banks
possess in Kosova, the Kosova Central Ban-
king Authority (KCBA) have several times re-
commended to the banks to be more careful
in managing the capital sufficiency and the
credit issue, since the activity of the loan le-
vel increase and the changes in investment
structures by banks has contributed in ca-
pital reserves decline.
However, the management director of the
KCBA, Michael Svetchine, said in the last
conference for media that the banking sys-
tem, despite some flaws, is one of the most
successful sectors in the after-war Kosova.

The total wealth of banks that operate in Kosova:

Procredit Raiffeisen Kassabank Economic New Bank of Bank for

Bank 508.7 Bank 407.1 128.5 million Bank of Kosova 63 Business 41.6 Total:
million Euro million Euro Euro 9 months Kosova 44.6 million Euro million Euro 1 billion and
9 months 6 months million Euro 9 months 9 months 193 million
6 months euro

26 | 19 november

CMYK
 sociale

22 tetor | 27

CMYK
 Customs

According to the completed estimation by the Customs Servi-

ce of UNMIK, contraband in Kosova goes from 15 to 20 percent of
the total level of commodities that are presently declared. The
director of customs ensures that the contraband is in decline,
but if Serbia will block the border with Kosova because of par-
tial announcement of independence after the 10th December,
it is anticipated an increase of attempts for contraband. The We are able now to
institution that contributes most in budget filling is facing the have the pictures and
job quit by its staff because of the financial stimulation lack. registration tables of
Until now, 35 customs officials quit the job any car or barge that
enter Kosova

Customs officials are administration competences, there are a few

countries in the world that can clear such an

leaving the job
Ekonomisti
Tobaccos, oil derivatives, and animals are the
three commodities that are mostly smuggled
in Kosova. But, the lack of accurate statistics
for the contraband level often brought various
figures for this illegal activity. While everyone
consider this as contraband, the Customs Ser-
vice of UNMIK calls this phenomenon more
as a fiscal evasion, for which they say that it
is present at a level of 15 to 20 percent. “The-
re are two kinds of fiscal evasions, which we
call traditional contraband, and that means il-
legal entrance or no total declaration, entrance
through legal ways, but with no total declara-
tion of the amount. The contraband of value or
origin non-declaration is the most sophistica-
ted contraband. In practice, we encounter mo-
re the fiscal evasion of false declaration than the
physical smuggle of commodities. Concerning
an accurate estimation of the contraband per-
centage, I can not give any accurate data, but ac-
cording to our estimations, the contraband goes
from 15 to 20 percent of the total level of commo-
dities that are now for now declared”, said the
general director of the CSU, Naim Huruglica,
in an interview for “Ekonomisti”. He said that
the only element that influenced the achieve-
ment of this estimation has been the tobacco
market, based on the data of powerful compa-
nies, which are worldly known producers and
that have their analyses of how much cigaret-
tes they distribute in the region.
“They estimate that in Kosova the consump-
tion may go to 3.5 million kilogram cigarettes
per year. According to the data we have, un-
til the end of the year, we can clear 3.2 million
cigarettes, a thing that shows that we have
passed 92-95% of consumed cigarettes. Here,
it is also the domestic production, specifically
the tobacco factory in Gjilan, which we control
through the system of banderoles. I think that
this is a very big satisfaction, because it tells that
we have achieved an extraordinary result”.
According to the local director who leads
an institution that is still under international
amount, since it is known that the tobacco is the
most and easiest smuggled for its carry easiness
and the high values it has. Thus, he ensures that
there is no place to worry, since the customs of-
ficials are collecting 80 % of adequate taxes.
The CEFTA agreement endorsement that is
lately signed by Serbia as well in 24 October, be-
sides enabling the free circulation of commo-
dities, the removal of duty, and the keeping of
the VAT norm, enables also the harmonization
of taxes between countries, as a key element to
fight contraband.
Even though he guarantees that the contra-
band is declining each day more, Huruglica is
worried in case Serbia blocks the border with
Kosova, if the Kosovar politics decide to an-
nounce partially/one-sided the country’s in-
dependence after the 10 December.
“That will cause us difficulties, to be real, and
it will cause us to make a new politic of people,
staff allocation. Meanwhile it opens the way
for contraband, because at the moment of re-
gular channel closure, the attempts for contra-
band get higher, since at that part of the border
the people needs are quite big, because it is ve-
ry costly for them to get commodities from other
countries. I am speaking in conditions when

28 | 19 november

CMYK

the political decisions get over economic deci-
sions, and when politicians take political deci-
sions that are opposed to the free circulation of
commodities. Otherwise, every actual move is
going toward decline, not toward the inflation
increase”, expressed his worry the number one
of Customs.
The north of Kosova, at the top of contraband
The North of Kosova remains the main part
where it is mostly smuggled. “We have had
problems with the contraband of oil derivati-
ves through the northern part of Kosova. We
have had an amount that was smuggled throu-
gh illegal ways entering in small amounts, accu-
mulated in certain points, and then distributed
throughout the territory of Kosova. For this, the
artificial lake of Ujman/Gazivoda was used. Due
to the cooperation we have with the Serbian par-
ty, which has also shown interest to stop this
contraband, this phenomenon is going toward
the decline”, said Huruglica.
In this part, it is also present the traditional
contraband with live animals, which earlier was
developed mostly in the east side of Kosova, and
now it happens more in the north, because the
market there is cheaper and has more live ani-
mal supply.
Kosova has approximately 643 kilometers
border length, included here the neutral part
of 5 kilometers known as the “Green Line” from
the Kumanova agreement.
“We have 14 teams with 50 persons availa-
ble, and with only these people it is impossible
to control all this kilometers. However, with a
politic of risk analysis, we will reallocate peo-
ple and take steps whether to put them at the
border with Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro,
or Serbia”.
Attempts for contraband happen also in the
border with Albania, which differ from the ca-
se in the north of Kosova, according to Huru-
glica, since the attempts for contraband there
are directed toward Albania. “There are cases
when they buy clear products in Kosova and
send them on the other side of the border. As
for animals, the Eastern Kosova is known for
the contraband with live animals.
Different from other leaders when they were
asked about the presence of corruption in the
institutions they lead, Huruglica admits that in
customs there is corruption.
“We have had such cases, and probably we
still have. We have had cases when customs of-
ficials allowed the passage of commodities wi-
thout control. Earlier, we had cases in the north,
when the customs officials or the police helped
the contraband, but with the measures we took,
CMYK
customs
some of them were fired, some of them were pe-
nalized, and for some of them the working pla-
ce was changed. We also took another measure,
the setting of camera system at all border points.
We are able now to have the pictures and re-
gistration tables of any car or barge that enter
Kosova”.
This, according to him, influenced the in-
crease in income. According to the customs’ da-
ta, the income this year is 20% more than the last
year, even though the Gross Domestic Produc-
tion (GDP) is not anticipated to grow more than
3 or 4 %. According to Huruglica, this is a result
of the reduction of the black economy. He said
that the 20% of the income is not little, since the-
re are 64 million euros, including also the 8% of
extra income of the total budget for 2007.
The CSU is left without some of customs officials
Since the CSU continues to be the big-
gest contributor to the Consolidated Budget
of Kosova, customs officials are leaving this
institution.
This job quit, according to the director of cus-
toms, happens because of the financial stimula-
tion lack. “Almost every week, I face the job quit
by one or two persons. It is absurd to say this to
someone, but in the last six months of this year,
35 people left the job, or they required a break
with pay, which was used as a reason to leave.
We have a trained staff, and it is invested for ei-
ght years in them, and such cadres cannot be
found in the Kosova’s market. 65% of them speak
the English Language, have computer skills, and
they are a very valuable asset”.
He forecasts that if the government does not
take steps to stimulate customs officials, the cur-
rent staff can leave the CSU up to the 50%.
“There are many cases when a large number
of officials have said in a way that if any oppor-
tunity appears, they will quit the job, and the
non-investment of the government in this as-
pect would retaliate us, because people can not
stand the economic, politic pressures, or even
the threats. If we look at any public enterprise,
we see that a cleaner gets a salary of 50 % mo-
re than a customs official does, and the biggest
frustration comes when they see that a public
enterprise gets financed by the budget, from the
money collected by customs officials, and this is
a discouragement”.
He says that they have attempted through the
technologic infrastructure increase, such as the
“tim module”, to accelerate the work and to re-
duce the need for people.
“It is a pity that because of staff deficit we can
not create easier procedures for businesses, as
an instance is the Ferronikel. If I had people, I
would open the customs office in the factory, and
in the case of export, all works to be completed
in the factory”.
A necessity, according to Huruglica, appears
to be the opening of new border cross-points,
where the government of Kosova has pointed
this out several times.
19 november | 29
 Privatization

Ejup Gojnovci
ejup.gojnovci@ekonomisti.net

When and who privatizes Brezovica?

The Kosovar tourism attraction still remains on the mercy of KTA, says that Serbia does not have any ro-
le in the privatization of Kosova’s enterprises.
time. The Kosova Trust Agency (KTA) has not found yet the On the other hand, authorities of Serbia said
proper formula for its privatization, and it twice delayed the for Ekonomisti that they have met several ti-
mes with authorities of UNMIK, to discuss
decision, even after receiving the green light from New York. particularly the privatization issue of Brezo-
Meanwhile, the Serbia Privatization Agency (SPA) woos to pri- vica. Dushan Benanoviq, official in the Ser-
bia Privatization Agency (SPA), confirming
vatize the tourism giant, it even placed it on the list of enter- this, does not prefer to give more details for
prises that it will sell those meetings.
He adds that in Serbia, the Ministry of Eco-
nomy and Regional Development is in charge
Even though unlawful, the race that who will in Kosova, even putting in sale the enterpri- of this matter. Even officials of this ministry
privatize the winter tourism complex, Brezo- ses of Kosova. But, neither the authorities of in Serbia do not give details about this, since,
vica, is going on in Kosova. While twice al- Kosova did care for this Serbia’s interferen- as they said, the privatization issue of Brezo-
ternately the KTA delayed the deadline for ce in the country’s internal affairs. vica will be treated in the meetings of Serbia’s
its privatization, Serbia, without any juridi- Yet, it is the tourism complex Brezovi- government next days.
cal right, through the Privatization Agency, ca that is not getting privatized, as a direct Mechthild Henneke, spokeswoman of the
has recently put the enterprise among those consequence of Serbia’s involvement and its Pillar IV of UNMIK, said that the KTA is still
that expects to sell. According to the regula- everlasting oppositions. Furthermore, the searching for investors and interests for the
tion 2002/12 on the Foundation of the KTA, factorization of Serbia in this matter is do- Skiing Center in Brezovica.
the competence for public and society enter- ne by Kosova’s authorities themselves, mee- “We expect to attract serious investors du-
prises is given to this mechanism. However, ting officials of Serbia to discuss about the ring the two or three following months, whe-
this is small-time for Serbia, which for years privatization, even though they deny such reas the tender date will be announced early
has been objecting the privatization process a thing. Ahmet Shala, vice director of the in the spring“, writes in the communicate of

30 | 19 november

CMYK
 privatization

the Pillar IV, after the KTA’s last meeting, Meanwhile, in order to present with more ce in Vienne, organized a conference with the
where it is taken the decision for the re-de- dignity the attractions and the opportunities purpose of promoting the winter tourism sec-
lay of the privatization of this center. that Brezovica offers, the Office for Invest- tor in Kosova, providing detailed information
According to Henneke, the delay aims to ment Promotion, ECIKS/IPAK, with residen- for potential investors from Austria.
announce the The representative of ECIKS/IPAK in Vien-
tender immedia- ne, Hamëz Morina, said for Ekonomisti that
tely in spring, so
It is the tourism the interest of different companies in the
the investors can complex Brezovica that conference of Vienne has been quite high. He
start working in is not getting said that they have informed and contacted a
the skiing cen- privatized, as a number of potential investors that showed in-
ter as soon as direct consequence of terest for the privatization of Brezovica.
the construction “Some serious well-known on the winter
season opens in
Serbia’s involvement tourism sector Austrian companies have been
2008. and its everlasting represented in the conference, but also a num-
After many di- oppositions ber of consultant companies that represented
sagreements for their clients“, said Morina.
the privatization In this conference, those present were in-
of Brezovica, mainly coming from the Serb formed about the investment and business cli-
citizens of Shtërpca, they themselves have as- mate in Kosova for the process of privatization
ked lately for this privatization. Soon after, it in general, about the juridical framework, and
followed the approval from the Law Office of particularly for the Skiing Center in Brezovi-
UNMIK in New York, where together with ca. In order to inform them more, there also
the Special Representative of the Secretary participated the KTA representatives, Ahmet
General in Kosova, have asked to be regular- Shala and Kirk Adams, and the representati-
ly informed how the progress goes. ve of the Austrian advocatory, Wolf Theiss.

19 november | 31

CMYK
 RUBRIKA
“Nëna Naile”, for Your health

This object is realized in coopera-
tion with municipality organs of
vitia and with the special support
of former urbanistic president of
this municipality Skënderbe He-
bibi. The center will start to work
within this year. Citizens, you that
need cure, but also you that need
a comfortable vacation, chose the
Center for Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation Spa in Kllokot “Në-
na Naile”, the best in the country,
with recovery, accommodation
and relax conditions of the highest
European level. The Center for Phy-
sical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Spa in Kllokot “Nëna Naile”, wel-
comes you to give utter health.
Book the place for your health.
The new Spa in Kllokot “Nëna
Naile”: 0280 385 101 and 044 666
006

A modern rehabilitati
The center for Physical Medicine and Reha-
bilitation, the Spa of Kllokot “Nëna Naile”,
is a new address for all the needy. Modern,
comprehensive, and very attractive, the new
spa “Nëna Naile” in Kllokot of Vitia started its
work in 1 May of this year, bringing many spe-
cial innovations. With wide capacities, laid on
14 thousand meters square, this center, binds
in itself several rehabilitation halls, accom-
modated environment for relax and break.
What no one else offers, “Nëna Naile” ap-
plies the most modern diagnostic techniques
in these medical branches: physiotherapy, ki-
neziotherapy, parafinotherapy, electrothe-
rapy, hydrotherapy, thermotherapy, laser
therapy, magneto therapy, mehanotherapy,
sonotherapy, and phototherapy.
The magnificent object built in Kllokot by
“Dardania Kompani”, property of Sabri No-
vosella, does not lack anything. There are also
included two conference halls, 160 bedrooms

32 | 19 november

CMYK

on center
with two beds each, a sofa, TV, fridges, baths,
terraces etc.
Expect for the comfortable rooms, in “Ne-
na Naile” center, there are also well-regula-
ted 23 apartments with one living room and a
bedroom with TV, internet, bath with jacuzzi.
There also four saunas for six persons each,
in the orange colored object.
The realization of this enormous project
has cost the “Dardania” company over 10
million euro.
This center will employ around 120 em-
ployees with professional staff like doctors,
physiotherapeuts, nurses, chefs etc.
CMYK
special marketing
Swiming pools
and restaurants
In this rehabilitation center, the biggest
and most comfortable one in Kosova, the-
re are also three swiiming pools, one of them
with 10 X 20 meters size filled with thermal
water of 38 C degrees and water CO2.
The center “Nëna Naile” possesses al-
so three modern restaurants for patients ex-
tended on 800, 400, and 200 meters square.
In all these restaurants, Sweden food will be
served with reasonable prices.
Gym
In the eight floors object, created with
Sweden architecture and realized by kosovar
architects, there is also the gym with modern
equipments.
19 november | 33
 Analysis
Edisio Fernandes
Land subdivision: a neglected aspect
of land development in Kosovo
Kosovo’s urban landscape has been increasin-
gly dominated by the colour of new bricks. The
rapid flourishing of constructions is one of the
most striking aspects of the post-conflict period.
Although precise data and numbers are always
elusive, cities such as Pristina are clearly showing
that the process of urban land development has
intensified recently. This process has taken ma-
ny shapes, ranging from the precarious occu-
pations - of their own or someone else’s private
land, or of public or socially-owned land - by poor
people and minority social groups such as the
Roma/Ashkaeli/Egyptian “mahalas”, to more
consolidated forms of land development genera-
ting middle-class neighbourhoods. Many, if not
most, of these situations have been the result of
informal development (another process of diffi-
cult definition and even more difficult estimation
in numbers), in that, to different extents and in
different ways, the prevailing legal provisions ha-
ve been disregarded, either because of legal pro-
blems of land ownership, or because of the lack
of respect for the urban planning and construc-
tion regulations in force.
However, there are several common aspects
in both the neighbourhoods resulting from in-
formal development and those neighbourhoods
in which the laws have been fully observed, na-
mely: the dense occupation of the areas; the lack
of spaces for collective infrastructure and collec-
tive equipment; the absence of green areas; and
the lack of proper integration of the neighbou-
rhoods with the overall road system. While there
is a general expectation that all informal settle-
ments should be legalised, there is also a wides-
pread assumption that it is the obligation of the
public authorities, especially at the municipal le-
vel, to provide all such areas with the necessary
infrastructure and public services, by means of
public money and, if necessary, through expro-
priation procedures. In fact, international offi-
cials have continuously called for the central and
municipal governments to fulfil their obligations
towards the materialisation of the right to ade-
quate housing, including the provision of a de-
gree of legal security of tenure for persons lacking
it. This recommendation has focused, neverthe-
less, in impoverished Roma/Ashkaeli and Egyp-
34 | 19 november
tian neighbourhoods, such as the ‘Roma Mahala’
and Du Korriku/Sitnicko Naselje in Mitrovicë/
Mitrovica Municipality.
The general situation in Kosovo is more easily
understandable in an informal neighbourhood
such as Kalabria/Emshiri, Pristina’s “muddy nei-
ghbourhood”, where, while the vast majority of
the residents (most of them Kosovo Albanians)
have paid for their plots of land, it was the origi-
nal landowner who determined the fundamen-
tally improvised and unbalanced layout of the
land development, thus maximising his profits
at the expense of the overall physical and envi-
ronmental conditions of the neighbourhood. So-
me 15,000 people live in precarious conditions
in a dense neighbourhood where, among other
problems, there are few streets, some of which
are so narrow that the normal circulation of ve-
hicles is not possible; there are few public spaces
and green areas; most of the basic infrastructu-
re – especially drainage and sanitation – is mis-
sing; and there is no clear demarcation of public
pavements.
However, the fact that also in other formally
developed, wealthier neighbourhoods of Pris-
tina the same process of dense occupation and
lack of public spaces can be easily identified clear-
ly shows that there is a fundamental gap in Ko-
sovo’s emerging legal framework governing the
processes of land development – namely, the
lack of proper regulation of the process of land
subdivision.
There is a growing concern among policyma-
kers and urban managers with the need both to
regularise consolidated informal settlements
(and existing, still illegal constructions) and to re-
gulate future constructions according to sounder
urban planning and environmental criteria, and
not only by means of formally legalising them.
Indeed, many of the changes that have been pro-
posed to the Law on Spatial Planning in force
clearly express this concern for new construc-
tions to be better located vis-à-vis the existing
roads and neighbours, so that better circulation
and ventilation conditions can be ensured. Ne-
vertheless, this is not enough: both in the cur-
rent law and in the proposed changes there are
no adequate legal provisions establishing criteria
CMYK
for the approval of this most important process
of land development, land subdivision, throu-
gh which an undivided tract of land is subdivi-
ded into plots for construction with the opening
of a road or of road system. Together with the
growing process of vertical occupation of exis-
ting plots (through the construction of blocks of
apartments), it is basically through the horizon-
tal annexation of previously undivided areas that
cities grow.
In order to establish basic conditions for a sus-
tainable land governance policy, it is fundamen-
tal to ensure that adequate principles are defined
and legally entrenched to govern this structural
process. The urban legislation should consider
the following issues, among others:
1. rules to be observed by land developers, in-
cluding size of plots, urban and environmental
conditions, integration with existing road system
and infrastructure, etc.;
2. requirements of reserve of public spaces
in each proposed land subdivision for opening
roads, infrastructure, facilities, equipments,
green areas and public spaces, etc., so that a bet-
ter balance between public and private spaces
can be achieved;
3. definition of obligations of land developers
to open roads, implement basic infrastructure
(especially regarding drainage and sanitation),
demarcate roads and pavements, etc.;
4. technical and administrative procedures for
licensing requests of land subdivision;
5. norms on contracts for the sale of resulting
plots of land;
6. norms on the registration of the new land
subdivision and resulting plots; and
7. mechanisms for the future regularisation in
case of irregular development, including the res-
ponsibilities of developers for the costs incurred
by the public authorities.
The materialisation of all such provisions
should ultimately be promoted by municipal
urban planning laws according to the local rea-
lities, but this can only happen if there are gene-
ral legal provisions at the central level; for this
reason, the matter of land subdivision should be
considered within the scope of the ongoing revi-
sion of the Law on Spatial Planning.
 So far, the process of land subdivision in Ko-
sovo has been considered merely as a matter of
private law, involving the contractual relations
between landowners/developers and buyers
of plots; it is necessary to understand that land
Houses subdivision is above all a matter of public law,
make a condition for the implementation of a proper, and
financially sound, spatial organisation policy by
town, but the public authorities – which is their obligation,
as well as a right of Kosovan society. Land sub-
citizens divisions generate more than individual plots of
make land and isolated constructions, they generate
whole neighbourhoods – and neighbourhoods
a city form a city.
Cities are produced collectively, and both
Jean-Jacques
Rousseau the benefits and onus of urban development
should be distributed according to both in-
dividual and collective needs and interests.
The current system, in which the gains resul-
ting from urban development are largely pri-
vatised and the growing costs are socialised,
should not be left unquestioned. There must
exist in the legal system a proper distribution
of responsibilities for, and costs of, urban de-
velopment, especially regarding the financing
urban infrastructure. In the current transition
towards a free market society, Kosovans need
to understand that legal notion of private pro-
perty rights entails not only individual rights,
but also social responsibilities and obligations.
Paying property taxes and utility bills are obli-
gations of all citizens; providing the legally re-
quested urban infrastructure is the obligation
of land developers. Apart from exceptional cir-
cumstances, there should be no need for the pu-
blic authorities to expropriate private land in
future land development processes to imple-
ment urban infrastructure, especially conside-
ring that privately owned urban land tends to
become more expensive as a result of public in-
vestment through public works, services, and
changes in the urban legislation.
If the growing process of informal develop-
ment is to be successfully prevented in Kosovo
in the near future, it is fundamental to widen
the conditions of access to serviced urban land,
in which process the regulation of future land
subdivisions is of utmost importance. Most
Kosovans have already shown that they can
build, and well, through their own socioeco-
nomic mechanisms; however, better construc-
tions require not only better specific technical
requirements, but a better regulation of the
land development process underlying them,
that of land subdivision.

5 nëntor | 37

CMYK
 Privatization
545
until
1 November
of this year,
companies are tendered
The privatization process with little
flaws, and many successes
The Kosova Trust Agency
unfolded its work, giving
positive critics to itself,
meantime praising Kosova’s
people that did and are
supporting this process
Neither the applause was absent after the praise
the leaders of the Kosova Trust Agency (KTA)
did themselves, presenting the completed work
since from the beginning.
Ahmet Shala, vice director of the KTA, said that
until 1 November of this year, 545 companies
are tendered, 355 contracts are signed, and 105
more are expected to be signed. Shala ‘unvei-
led’ that there are 380 million euros already in
the KTA fund, promising that the 20 percent of
the employees will soon be distributed.
In the conference held in the Grand Hotel
in Prishtina, the privatization process’ achie-
vements were presented, as well as the esti-
mations for these achievements. They mainly
consisted in evaluating the privatization’s ef-
fects, in the achieved performance by these en-
terprises, environment legislature and working
36 | 19 november
355
are
signed
contracts
groups for regulations, these enterprises’ edu-
cation, the supply of recommendations to sup-
port them further, etc.
“The process at the beginning was difficult
because of the work methodology, but the si-
tuation is stabilized with time, and it has really bution of the 20 percent. Odran Hayes, Direc-
started a process, which has run successfully”,
said the minister of Trade and Industry, Bu-
jar Dugolli, who is also vice director
of the KTA.
Paul Acda, Director of the KTA, es-
timated the privatization in Kosova Shala
as the most successful one in region, ‘unveiled’
and he dedicated its merit to Koso-
va’s people, since as he said, were
that already in average,
prompt to support and always rea- the KTA fund
dy to understand the importance of there are
380
the process.
Shala admitted that the up-to-pre-
sent work has not passed without
critics.
“I know that we are criticized, and million euros
that there have been misunderstan-
dings by Kosova’s citizens for this process, but
in principle, the process run properly, and its
results are now being seen”, said Shala.
Different from the others, Shala did not
consider it as the best process in region, but
CMYK
105
are expected
to be signed
other
he was optimistic that this process in the fu-
ture would go faster. As the main tasks for the
future, he specified the renewal of Trepça, the
rivatization of Brezovica, and the liquidation of
the remained 380 million euros and the distri-
tor of Opertaions at the European Agency for
Reconstruction, treated the importance of the
continuance of their support in this
process, as well as the liquidation of
the collected millions.
Hayes said that the total revenue
(cumulative) from 2006 to 2007, on
has been around 92 million
euros, while in this year, it has been
an increase of 26 percent of them.
According to him, it has been re-
gistered an employment scale of
around 784 working places. Of 4176
employed people, 274 are minorities,
or 6 percent, and 849, or 20 percent
are females.
It is natural that during this pro-
cess barriers appeared, resulting from the lack
of institutional support, finances, but these are
mostly seen as internal barriers, then problems
with taxes, and the qualification of cadres, it is
said in the conference.
Special Marketing sigurimet

Galanteria, tradition, success and development First

Galanteria is a private company founded in 1987. As
a small company, which made wood stairs, it wor-
ked till beginning of the war, March 1999. During the
war Galanterias factory was burnt and all its machi-
nery was robbed.
After the war, in September 1999, with even more
decisiveness, Galanteria recommenced its work. In a
very short time improves production capacities and
achieves to install modern technologies in workshops products
and persist developing them.
Today we employ 40 workers, our buildings have Even Galante-
an area of 2000 sq meters and day by day we are be- ria started with
coming more dignified for the competition in Kosova wood stairs pro-
and the region. Main method for sale is responding to duct, its seriousness
bidding, special orders for clients and selling in sto- at work created big
res in Prishtina, Peja, Prizren etc reputation.

Today wood stairs

are not the main
Galenteria - Podujeva product of Galante-
Skënderbeu Str. No.150, Podujeva 11000, Kosova, Tel./Fax +381 38 570 870 ria, but high quality
and workmanship is
Galenteria - Prishtina inherited from them
Agim Ramadani n.n., Prishtina 10000, Kosova, Tel./Fax +381 38 243 790 to new products.

Galenteria - Prizren
Prizren 20000, Kosova, Mob. +377 44 116 360,

19 november | 37

CMYK
 International
The banks refuse the borrowers
The main economic news in media nowa-
days speaks mainly about the economic
state of the banks. ‘The Times’ newspa-
per brings the article of how the users
of credit cards have been hit by the eco-
nomic restraint. The half of the people
that request for a credit card are being re-
fused, since the crises that have enrol the
banks have started to touch also the com-
mon borrowers, writes ‘The Times’. This
year,, refusals for credit cards have risen
y that we are near the Christmas holiday,
for 17 percent more than they were predic-
Fear of Inflation
In her main article, ‘Financial Times’ has
shown
show her grief for the rise of oil prices that
may lead
l to global inflation.
The decrease of the share prices, the deva-
luation of the dollar and the loss that ameri-
luatio
banks have suffered are a combination
can ba
of the the latest developments that have lead
worrying investors.
to wo
The fear of inflation has been raised al-
so by the warnings from two international
38 | 19 november
CMYK
ted for this year.According to this newspa-
per, youth from 25-35 year old are the most
appropriate people to refuse, while as tho-
se who have already taken the credit cards
end up paying higher interest rate, plus the
following expenses.
Esther James, credit card analyst in Mo-
neyfacts.co.uk, a financial website, says
that the percentage of the interest rate ha-
ve hit most of the people, especially now
knowing that people use them the most.
organisms. The International Agency for
Energy has warn for a fast increase of the oil
price , meanwhile the United Nations Or-
ganisation says that, by all possibilities, the
global prices of the foods will remain hi-
gh eve in the next year. Brit newspapers has
focused thei attention in the franch presi-
dent visit in U.S.A., of which The Times wri-
tes that they aim to become the main aleat of
America.
 international

News Corp
starts strong
News Corp Chairman Rupert Murdoch said
on Tuesday the company had made a strong
start to the second quarter with the global
credit market squeeze so far not having much
affect on forward advertising.
The media mogul also said he was also
planning to boost the numbers of subscri-
bers to the Wall Street Journal’s Web site mo-
re than tenfold by making access free.
«We are studying it and we expect to ma-
ke that free, and instead of having 1 million
(subscribers) having at least 10-15 million in
every corner of the earth,» the 76-year-old
told a shareholder meeting in the Austra-
lian city where the global media group was
founded.
Murdoch said News Corp’s film division,
its expanding online businesses and its acqui-
sition of the Wall Street Journal would drive the meeting. Murdoch, who owns about 30 launched Fox Business Network hoped to
future growth. percent of News Corp, said there had been no attract 45 million subscribers next year, up
«So far this quarter, and we are only hal- impact on forward advertising so far from the from 40 million forecast previously.
fway through, we are going very well and ve- subprime mortgage crisis, but warned there Aiming to repeat the success of the Fox
ry strongly,» he said. could be more shocks to come. News Channel, which unseated CNN as the
News Corp, which owns the 20th Century «I personally think you are going to see qui- top cable news network four years after its
Fox movie studio and MySpace Internet so- te a few more shocks, particularly in Euro- launch, Fox Business is part of Murdoch’s
cial network, expects to close a deal to buy pe, and they are going to spread around the ambitions to build a global financial media
Wall Street Journal publisher Dow Jones & world,» he said. powerhouse in print, the Internet and TV.
Co Inc for $5.6 billion next month. «We have been through a tremendous «We budgeted to do a little less this year.
«Digital is the great revolution we are fa- amount of loose money and lending and we We have already caught that
cing,» Murdoch declared in announcing he are going to see that come to roost.» deficit up. It is very ris-
expected to make subscriber-based Web si- Murdoch said the firm had just com- ky to predetermine
te free. pleted selling free-to-air television the outcome of films
Murdoch, who said in September he would advertising for the U.S. Super Bowl we release but it is
like to end the WSJ.com subscription fee, has at «quite phenomenal» rates. looking extremely
rejected criticism from analysts who have He said News Corp’s recently good.»
said a free site could be risky because WSJ. Asked when he
com is one of the few news Web sites that at- We are studying it and expected to retire,
tracts paying customers. Murdoch replied
we expect to make that
Making it free would follow the decision of with his traditio-
several other news Web sites to stop charging free, and instead of nal: «Whenever
for some content. The Financial Times Web having 1 million they carry me out.»
site now allows readers to get up to 30 articles (subscribers) having (Reuters)
a month for free, while The New York Times at least 10-15 million
also stopped charging for access to regular in every corner of the
columnists’ contributions as well as other
articles.
earth
Murdoch reiterated News Corp’s Internet
division was expected to reap $1 billion in re-
venues this year.
News Corp last week reaffirmed forecasts
for low-teens percentage growth in fiscal
2008 operating profit growth despite a solid
first quarter, saying it could face a tough eco-
nomic climate next year.
«We are running ahead of that but it is too
early to change the guidance,» Murdoch told

19 november | 39

CMYK
 international
Where do the millions go?
It is rarely a bad time to be rich, but now is
better than most, especially in London. Over
the past few years the city has become a ma-
gnet for the global plutocracy, attracted by
lavish nightlife, luxuries of all sorts, easy ac-
cess to the rest of the world and, most of all, a
comparatively benevolent taxman. Russian
oligarchs mix with American tycoons and
Middle Eastern oil magnates in what Forbes
magazine, bible of the global super-rich, des-
cribed last year as “a magnet for the world’s
billionaires”.
But a study published on November 5th
suggests that not all the news is good. Ac-
cording to Stonehage, a firm of financial ad-
visers to London’s multi-millionaires, it is
costing the capital’s many plutocrats much
more to maintain their standard of living
than it used to. They reckon that prices of
luxury goods and services increased by 6%
in the 12 months to July, more than twice the
2.3% rise registered on the official consumer-
price index (CPI).
Existing government inflation measures do
not quite capture the upper-crust experience,
Stonehage says. The CPI, for example, igno-
res many housing costs that rich and poor
40 | 19 november
alike must pay, and the more comprehensive Exceptions there are: cars may be getting pri-
retail-price index excludes the richest 4% of cier but chauffeurs are no dearer than they we-
consumers. Stonehage’s new Affluent Lon- re. Nor are fancy haircuts or membership of
don Living Index is designed to fill the gap. gentlemen’s clubs. Entry-level private jets are
The details are enough to make an invest- actually 7% cheaper, although high oil prices
ment banker splutter into his increasingly ex- could make the fuel bills painful. Breast im-
pensive caviar (the price of which rose 28% plants for the high-earning woman are down
over the year). Rents in central London have 10%.
increased by 25% since
2002. A top-line Range They reckon that prices of luxury goods and services
Rover today costs 20% increased by 6% in the 12 months to July, more than
more than last year’s
twice the 2.3% rise registered on the official
model. Fees for day
pupils at Westminster consumer-price index (CPI)
(a fancy independent
school) are up by 7%, and the Yet rising consumption costs tell only
price of a case of Lafite Roths- hhalf the tale. Most of the ultra-rich ha-
child by an eye-watering 117%. vve the bulk of their wealth invested, so
Leisure has grown pricier ass tthey have benefited handsomely from the
well: two days of grouse shoo- ssustained boom in asset prices. The sa-
ting costs 8% more this season me central London house that costs 25%
than last and an executive box x more to rent is worth 150% more on the
at Chelsea Football Club, Lon-- market. And sympathy for the pluto-
don’s most fashionable, has risenen crats’
cr plight may be hard to find among
by 25%. Robby Hilkowitz, a director the great hordes of the salaried unwashed
of Stonehage, blames a rapid increase in the (many of whom also live in London), whose
ranks of the mega-rich for pushing up prices. real disposable incomes are being squeezed.
CMYK
 Letrat e lexuesve
Vazhdoni kështu
Me shumë kurreshtje po e lexoj revistën
tuaj për çdo numër. Më lejoni të jap vlerë-
simin tim dhe të shprehë befasinë e kënds-
hme. Jeni në nivelin e mediave me renome
ndërkombëtare dhe nuk e them këtë për
t’ua bërë qejfin, por kjo është evidente, shi-
het në të gjitha edicionet që keni botuar de-
ri tash. Sinqerisht dua t’ju përgëzoj për
punën që bëni. Vazhdoni, mbajeni kështu.
Ajo çka po më pëlqen shumë, është trajri-
mi thelbësor që po u bëni fushave të ndrys-
hme. Do të kisha dëshiruar që të ecni me
këtë ritëm dhe të na plotësoni zbrazëtinë
informuese që e kemi pasur, sidomos në
këtë fushë, ekonominë.
Ju keni gjetur sektorin, i cila duhet të jetë
fokus institucional e shoqëror. Ekonomia
dhe vetëm ajo, mund të na formësojë si sh-
tet, e si rrjedhojë të na bëjë të respektues-
hëm në rajon e më gjerë.
Juve punë të mbarë e jetë të gjatë bashkë
me Ekonomistin.
Me respekt
Fahredin Berisha
Besoj t’ia dilni
Të nderuar drejtues të revistës Ekono-
misti. Nuk do të ma zini për të madhe në-
se shprehë një dozë dyshimi me këtë e-mail
timin. Kjo nuk ka të bëjë asgjë me punën
profesionale që nxirrni në letër. Për këtë,
çdo lëvdatë e komplimente.
Por, ajo çka dua të them ka të bëjë me
mundësitë që keni që të jeni afatgjatë në
treg. Një kualitet të informacinit, por edhe
letrës çfarë ju po ofroni, me siguri, ndonë-
se jam laik në këtë punë, ka kosto të lartë
të prodhimit. Në Kosovë, përditshmëria na
tregon se pas mediave qëndrojnë njerëz të
fuqishëm financiarisht. Dhe kjo vërehet ed-
he nga vetë përmbajtja e gazetave apo edhe
revistave. Si një i papunë që jam, kam ko-
hë të bollshme të lexoj shumëçka nga shty-
pi. Te ju, nuk kam parë ndonjë anim, që do
më jepte të drejtën t’ju etiketoja, se përn-
dryshe do t’ju kasha thënë, e ndoshta nuk
do të hidhëroheshit. Ama kjo, ‘mangësi’ ma
merr mendja se ju rrezikon në anën finan-
ciare. Do të kisha dashur që ju të keni suk-
sese nga vetë puna juaj dhe nga realizimet
që bëni. Me një shpresë dhe dyshim njëko-
hësisht, dua të besoj se mundimi juaj do të
shpërblehet, ndonëse kohët duken mjaft të
vështira për mediume. Mos ma merrni për
të keq dyshimin tim.
Respekt për punën tuaj
Nysret Gashi
Drejtues të nderuar të Ekonomisti
Ma merr mendja se merrni shumë shkre-
sa nga lexuesit tuaj. Nga nga ata jam edhe unë
dhe po dua t’ju shkruaj, me shpresë se do ta
botoni. Nga aq sa kam parë nga letrat, ju keni
më shumë kritika pozitive. Edhe te unë keni
krijuar një imazh të tillë. Për aq sa kemi mun-
dësi si Kosovë, ma merr mendja se po bëni
maksimumin, pasi revista nga numri në nu-
mër, po duket më mirë. Keni shkrime të mi-
ra gjerësisht, komente e analzia. Kjo ofertë në
kaq rrafshe, nuk na është dhënë deri më tash.
Po aq shumë po më pëlqen edhe fakti se ju po
zbrisni edhe nëpër ndërmarrjet e ndryshme
të Kosovës dhe po pasqyroni punën e tyre.
Ma merr mendja se më shumë dinë të thonë
ata, pasi ballafaqohen direkt me vështirësi
të ndryshme gjatë punës së tyre, se sa ndon-
jë ekspert që mund të flasë vetëm mbi bazë
të teorisë. Megjithatë, pasqyrime të tilla do të
kisha dashur të keni më shumë dhe jo vetëm
të tregoni për punën e tyre, por si rrjedhojë
edhe të inkurajohet qytetari për të marrë ha-
pa që të merret direkt me ndërmarrësi. Men-
doj se kjo do të kishte efektin e vet edhe në
ngritjen e ekonomisë së Kosovës.
Do të kisha dashur Punë të mbarë
Naim Xhemshiti
që ju të keni Të nderuar drejtues të
revistës Ekonomisti
suksese nga vetë Para së gjithash, ju uroj për punën e
madhe që bëni. Nga ajo që kam lexuar në
puna juaj dhe nga të gjitha edicionet e deritashme, kam fituar
përshtypjen se puna juaj nuk përkufizohet
me interesa të ngushta personale, apo ed-
realizimet që bëni he të ndonjë grupi të caktuar. Them kështu
për disa arsye. E para përmbajtja e revistës
është e larmishme dhe tipike e një mediu-
mi me karakter periodik, siç është trajtimi
i segmenteve të ndryshme rrënjësisht eko-
nomike; paanshmëia e vërejtshme, si dhe
modeli i ri medial që keni servuar në ven-
din tonë duke u profilizuar në një fushë siç
është ekonomia me kualitete të reja profe-
sionale dhe kualitet të lartë të disejnimit
dhe të shtypit. Uroj që ju të ecni sigurtë dhe
kisha dashur fort që puna juaj të ketë rrjed-
hë sa më të mbarë. Me këtë letër, po qe se
e botoni, dua ta falënderoj edhe Agjencio-
nin Evropian për Rindërtim që e ka mbës-
htetur punën tuaj dhe që ka bërë aq shumë
për Kosovën.
Me respekt
Lutfije Jashanica
Të nderuar lexues, ju lutemi që për çdo vërejtje apo sugjerim rreth
përmbajtjës së Ekonomistit, na shkruani në adresën shkruaj@ekonomisti.net
5 nëntor | 41
CMYK
CMYK