Haradinaj's last decision as Prime Minister - illegally continued the mandate of the Director of Customs

A few days before leaving the Government, Ramush Haradinaj took care to extend the mandate for another 3 years to some directors of state agencies and institutions.

Among them was the name of the director of Customs, Bahri Berisha, reports KTV.

Even though his first mandate would end on February 8 of this year, on January 24 he received the second, three-year mandate from former Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj.

In fact, the decision to extend Berisha's three-year mandate is dated January 24, but there is no such decision on the Government's website. However, the appointment for a second term by Haradinaj, among other things, was done illegally.

This, because the Customs Code of Kosovo was not respected.

also Arberi December 12, 2020 The decision for the second mandate of the director of the Customs of Kosovo is annulled

According to Article 5, paragraph 4, of Code No. 03/L-109 Customs and Excise of Kosovo, the Minister of Finance should announce a public competition for the election of the Director General of the Customs of the Republic of Kosovo.

And, after the interview, the commission would have to propose the name of the candidate of the Ministry of Finance and the latter should proceed further to the Government. But, in this particular case, there was no competition, nor was any commission formed.

Prime Minister Haradinaj has made the decision and announced it only on social networks.

"Within my constitutional and legal powers, today, I have extended the mandate of the General Director of Kosovo Customs, Bahri Berisha, for another three years. Mr. Berisha, throughout his service in this position, has demonstrated professionalism and correctness and has seriously carried out his work and responsibilities in this very important institution of the country. I wish Mr. Berisha good work for the next years as well", wrote Haradinaj.

"Kohavisioni" has asked the Government and the Ministry of Finance, how it is possible to bypass the Law for such an appointment, but they have not returned an answer.

There were objections to Berisha at the head of Customs even at the time when Isa Mustafa had appointed him director, following the recommendation of the Ministry of Finance.

At that time, it was opposed by the President Thaçi's Office, which had sent a letter to the then Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo, Kadri Veseli, where he raised concerns that the choice of the Director of Customs, based on the memorandum they signed with the British Embassy, ​​was illegal.

also Arberi December 12, 2020 A competition for the director of Customs is announced, even though Haradinaj had extended his mandate

However, this was opposed by the Ministry of Finance, which had announced that his election has respected all the parameters foreseen for this position.

"Therefore, during the process of recruitment and appointment of the Director General of Customs, no provision of the Customs and Excise Code was violated and the implementation of the Memorandum of Cooperation was done without interfering with the legislation in force", the letter of the Ministry of Finance stated.