KTA meeting canceled

Prishtina, 20 April 2004 – Kosova Sot claims that ambiguities continue throughout the blocked process of privatization in Kosovo. The paper notes that the meeting of the Board of the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA), which was scheduled for today, has been cancelled for unknown reasons.

Ali Jakupi, Minister of Trade and Industry in the Kosovo Government and deputy head of the KTA Board, confirmed to the paper that the meeting was not going to be held today. Jakupi didn’t wish to comment on the reasons why the meeting was cancelled and refused to say that the board meeting was cancelled because UNMIK Pillar IV head Nikolaus Lambsdorff still hasn’t returned to Pristina.

‘Maybe this was only a game played by UNMIK to test the willingness of local representatives to attend the board meeting and at the same time the announcement of the meeting for April 19 could have served as an excuse for the KTA that they have allegedly intensified the work surrounding privatization,’ added Jakupi.

Citing unnamed sources at UNMIK, Kosova Sot reports that former KTA Executive Manager Marie Fucci hasn’t been dismissed and was only replaced, which means that she could still remain in Kosovo. ‘Fucci could be upgraded to a higher position, because her contract continues and thus she can get a higher post in UNMIK’s hierarchy,’ added the source.

ECIKS