Prishtina – 18 October 2018
The Board and the Director of Independent Commission for Mines and Minerals met participants from the Directorate for Investigation of Serious Crimes
The Chairman of the Board and the Director of the ICMM met participants of the Directorate for Investigation of the Serious Crimes, as a continuation of the intensive meetings during the last month.
The legal basis determines mining resources as state property, and no one has the right to touch them, said the Chairman of ICMM Board, Mr Musa Shabani. Mr Shabani noted that that meetings and presentations were held during October, on the prevention of illegal mining activities in all regions of the Republic of Kosovo organized by ICMM, MESP, DISC and Municipalities.
These meetings should be finalized with concrete measures, said Major Mr Fadil Gashi, Director of the Directorate for Investigation of Serious Crimes. The purpose of the meeting is to draft a joint action plan with an inter-institutional coordination that it will be finalized with an Operative Order. It is required additional engagement and also determination of the duties and competencies of ICMM, Police and MESP. TAK also needs to be more active in the issue of preventing and prohibiting illegal mining activities was said among other thing by Mr Gashi.
The ICMM has had cooperation previously with the Kosovo Police for the prevention of illegal mining actions was said by the Director of ICMM, Mr Ramiz Krasniqi. Until now, only MA of Drenas and MA of Vushtrri have responded to notifications sent to Municipalities to not give contracts (tenders) to illegal operators.
Captain Mr Agron Haziri said to determine the Laws and articles that enable the opening of criminal proceedings and to require the recommendations from ICMM.
Captain Mr Ariu Aruqaj said that it should be prepared a public statement on joint decisions. Mr Aruqaj said among others things that also legal operators should make official complaints about those illegal operators.
Both sides agreed in the end of the meeting to continue cooperation to prevent and to fight illegal mining activities with concrete actions.
