Former official accuses Priština of "buying recognitions"

PRISTINA Skender Hyseni, who served as foreign minister in the Pristina government, has "expressed his fear" that some recognitions of Kosovo came through bribery. The Kosovo Albanian authorities reacted to the charge by rejecting it. Former official accuses Pristina of "buying recognitions" Pristina-based Albanian language daily Koha Ditore quoted Hyseni as saying that "the state of Kosovo" should not be built on "false and falsified premises, such as various promises of investments and help". Mimoza Kusari-Lila, who serves as deputy prime minister, said that the statement was "damaging to Kosovo". According to her, Pristina "has no funds to corrupt countries in exchange for recognitions". But Hyseni said he feared that "in some countries" that Pristina government officials visited in order to secure recognitions, "various transactions were made with the goal of making gains". He criticized the current government and said "the question of lobbying" should be "perfectly clean". "I am worried about some statements, of the very deputy prime minister, and ministers, that sometimes, say, in some African countries, various transactions had been attempted that included recognitions (of Kosovo), via different investments, or purchase of computers - because that, too, has been talked about," Hyseni was quoted. Serbia rejects the unilateral proclamation of independence made by ethnic Albanians more than five years ago. For this, the country has the support of two out of the UN Security Council's five permanent members, and five out of 27 member-states of the European Union. Some 90 countries have in the meantime recognized Kosovo. Some countries that the authorities in Pristina announced had recognized Kosovo later denied that this took place. Skender Hyseni (FoNet, file) Beta

Former official accuses Priština of "buying recognitions"

Priština-based Albanian language daily Koha Ditore quoted Hyseni as saying that "the state of Kosovo" should not be built on "false and falsified premises, such as various promises of investments and help".

Mimoza Kusari-Lila, who serves as deputy prime minister, said that the statement was "damaging to Kosovo". According to her, Priština "has no funds to corrupt countries in exchange for recognitions".

But Hyseni said he feared that "in some countries" that Priština government officials visited in order to secure recognitions, "various transactions were made with the goal of making gains".

He criticized the current government and said "the question of lobbying" should be "perfectly clean".

"I am worried about some statements, of the very deputy prime minister, and ministers, that sometimes, say, in some African countries, various transactions had been attempted that included recognitions (of Kosovo), via different investments, or purchase of computers - because that, too, has been talked about," Hyseni was quoted.

Serbia rejects the unilateral proclamation of independence made by ethnic Albanians more than five years ago. For this, the country has the support of two out of the UN Security Council's five permanent members, and five out of 27 member-states of the European Union.

Some 90 countries have in the meantime recognized Kosovo. Some countries that the authorities in Priština announced had recognized Kosovo later denied that this took place.