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Prishtina, 14 April 2004 – UNMIK chief Harri Holkeri has decided to dismiss Marie Fucci, the Managing Director of the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA), Kosovar media reported. “Koha Ditore” notes that Fucci’s dismissal was made public through a press release issued by UNMIK, while Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi and the ministers of the Kosovo Government were promised on Friday that the dismissal would take place. “Koha Ditore” also claims that Fucci, who was blamed by Albanians for blocking the process of privatization and for implementing Serb policies in privatization, is the first victim of the initiative to improve relations between Albanians and UNMIK, after the violent events on 17-18 March.
“SRSG Harri Holkeri has decided, in accordance with the powers vested in him under Section 24 of UNMIK Regulation No. 2002/12 on the Establishment of the Kosovo Trust Agency, to replace Marie Fucci, the current Managing Director of KTA. The decision has been taken in order to continue the privatization process more decisively. A new Managing Director will be appointed soon in accordance with the established procedure. The SRSG would like to express his appreciation for Marie Fucci’s dedication and commitment to Kosovo’s privatization process in very difficult circumstances,” it was said in UNMIK’s press release which was picked up by all Kosovar papers.
Asked to comment on the issue, Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi told the paper: “First, I want to thank SRSG Holkeri for keeping his promise for dismissing KTA Director Marie Fucci. I think that the chief administrator has proved to be quite pragmatic in unblocking privatization. Fucci was a serious problem for privatization, with her autocratic way of interpreting the privatization policies. There isn’t only one person in the KTA that has blocked privatization, but Fucci was a key official. The resumption of privatization was supported by the entire international factor and consequently all individuals inside the KTA who are trying to block privatization will be removed. We have international support on the issue of privatization.”
ECIKS