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Kosovo: UN Chief Criticised For 'tolerating Corruption'
 The head of the United Nations administration in Serbias southern Kosovo province (UNMIK), Soren Jessen Petersen, has been accused of tolerating corruption, some Kosovo media reported on Monday. Albanian language daily Zeri reported that a UN internal audit commission (UNOIOS) European Union investigators, has concluded after a two-year probe that there have been gross examples of mismanagement, fraud and systematic corruption at the Pristina airport and Petersen took no steps to halt it.
| Bet this gets less press than the mis-management by the CPA in Iraq. What, no takers? |
| I'm not even sure what Kosovo has to despoil. Was it a Baklava for Food Program? |
"Although it has become clear that the corruption is wide spread in Kosovo
the mission leadership doesnt want to react," the UNOIOS report said.
| Kinda hints where the corruption's seated, doesn't it? |
It stated that UNMIK was expected to leave Kosovo after its final status was decided, possibly later this year, adding that such behavior would have "disastrous effect on the image of the United Nations in Kosovo and elsewhere, leaving an impression that the UN run away from the problems, instead of solving them."
| there is a certain amount of evidence along those lines |
Kosovo has been under UN control since an ethnic Albanian rebellion against Serbian rule widespread ethnic cleansing and a NATO bombing campaign in 1999, which forced Serbian police and army from the province. Ethnic Albanians, a 1.7 million majority, against some 100.000 Serbs, demand independence which Belgrade opposes. The talks between Belgrade and Pristina on the final status are expected to accelerate later this year, but the two sides are so far apart that analysts believe that the UN might have to impose a solution, most likely opting for independence.
| UN-imposed solutions are always the best solutions... |
UNMIK spokesman Aleksandar Ivanko said he was shocked by UNOIOS report and the fact that it was made public,
| Probably more by the fact that it was made public than by the content, I'd guess... |
adding that it was "unfair and groundless."
He said the accusations "were not based on facts and I dont want, and dont have to comment it anymore."
| "I have no facts to counter the facts laid out, so I'm shutting my trap and standing on my dignity..." |
| "... such as it is, and don't you say a word ..." |
Another daily, Koha ditore, said that Petersen, who is often accused by Serbs of siding with ethnic Albanians, has been left without many friends following the report. Two leading political parties in Kosovo and civic organizations have turned their back on Petersen and havent offered him even moral support, the paper said.
Posted by: lotp 2006-04-11 |
