OSCE Mission congratulates Assembly of Kosovo on its tenth anniversary
PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 10 December 2011 – The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Werner Almhofer, congratulated today the public and their elected representatives on the tenth anniversary of the Assembly of Kosovo.
In an OSCE-supported ceremony to mark the occasion, Ambassador Almhofer said: “I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate the Assembly of Kosovo on its work and achievements over the past ten years. The Assembly provided a key contribution to democratization in Kosovo through its three principal functions of representation, lawmaking and oversight of the government.”
“The first ten years might have been the most challenging, but the Assembly showed its ability to adapt to changes, and has laid the foundations of parliamentary tradition in Kosovo. It has approved legal acts that guarantee the essential rights of each person to express themselves freely, associate with others and vote for their representatives in elections.”
Almhofer further noted that challenges remain despite the progress.
“The Assembly should more actively monitor the implementation of laws it has passed, appropriate necessary budget means for their implementation. ensure that proceedings are open to public and that its documents are available in both the Albanian and Serbian languages,” said Almhofer.
“To enhance its oversight role, the Assembly needs to improve its interaction with the independent institutions, including the Ombudsperson Institution, the Independent Oversight Board for Civil Service and the Independent Media Commission. I urge the Assembly to ensure that the independent institutions it has established function properly and that the board members of those institutions are appointed in time and without political interference. They also need to be provided with the necessary human and financial resources.”
The OSCE Mission has supported the Assembly of Kosovo since its establishment in 2001. It has helped the Assembly develop its Rules of Procedure, as well as introduce regular government question periods and public hearings, and to develop the first strategic plan providing a roadmap for the Assembly’s further development. The Mission has also supported selected Assembly committees in drafting their annual work plans and in reviewing draft legislation.
The OSCE Mission is mandated with democracy building. It will continue to monitor the work of the Assembly to help ensure its procedures are respected and that its Presidency and committees are operational and transparent in line with good governance principles.