Besnik Osmani: the request for access to public documents should not raise fear in the institutions, but should be treated according to law because the lack of information for the interested parties offers the possibility of wrong interpretation by the requesting parties.
Besnik Osmani: the request for access to public documents should not raise fear in the institutions, but should be treated according to law because the lack of information for the interested parties offers the possibility of wrong interpretation by the requesting parties.
Ministry of Local Government Administration in cooperation with the OSCE Mission in Kosovo has organized the central workshop for the implementation of the Law on Access to Public Documents at the local level to mark the International Day of the Right to Know (Sept. 28).
Director of the Democratization Department, OSCE Mission in Kosovo Ms. Elaine Conkievich, said the Law on Access to Public Documents is of particular importance for citizens and OSCE will support the strengthening of the law at the local level of governance.
Kosovo Assembly MP, Mrs. Xhevahire Izmaku has said the re-amendment to the Law on Access to Public Documents in 2010 has clarified the obligations of the institutions with regards to the transparency.
Mrs. Xhevahire Izmaku has said ”Kosovo has no problem with laws but with the lack of strong mechanisms to fulfil this mission."
Secretary General of the Ministry of Local Government Administration, Mr. Besnik Osmani has said that based on the survey, MLGA has organized an informational campaign to inform citizens about the responsibilities that municipalities have to provide information but despite this the political parties remain the main source of information in municipalities.
Mr. Osmani has said that the Ministry of Local Government Administration remains committed to strengthening the transparency and accountability in municipalities but municipalities should also give priority to the full implementation of laws.
Mr. Osmani has said “the request for access to public documents should not raise fear in the institutions, but should be treated according to law because the lack of information for the interested parties offers the possibility of wrong interpretation by the requesting parties.”
Jeton Oruqi from the Office of the Prime Minister has said that the right of access to public documents is guaranteed by the constitution, but it is also connected in parallel with the protection of personal data and the law on classification of information. While, Spokesperson of the Ombudsman Institution in Kosovo Mrs. Majlinda Lulaj spoke about the scope of the Ombudsman institution and presented a report on the complaints of the groups of interest with regards to the LAPD.
Nensi Jasharaj from Democratization Department of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo has presented the conclusions of the OSCE with regards to implementation of the LAPD by emphasizing the lack of a unified system of record keeping, application of fee in the amount of 1 euro and non-implementation of the regulation on taxes and tariffs. One of the recommendations presented by the OSCE was also general underestimation of the importance of implementing the Law on Access to Public Documents.
The Head of Information Office in MLGA has presented the report on the number of requests for access to public documents at the municipal level. She said that since 2010 the number of requests for access to public documents is increasing despite the lack of information campaigns. During the first semester of this year municipalities have received 326 requests for access to public documents. 283 of them were treated in accordance with the law. Some have faced limitations in the access to public documents and some have received partial information.
According to the 2012 report, municipalities have received 585 requests. Out of these requests 524 were treated according to the law, 17 requests have remained unanswered, 19 requests were refused and 08 answers were offered partially.
The workshop was attended by representatives of civil society, municipal officials and media. It presented the main recommendations issued by regional workshops held this year in Kosovo municipalities regarding the Implementation of the Law on Access to Public Documents.
Workshop was organized in the framework of the joint project of Local Government Administration and the OSCE to strengthen the accountability and transparency of the municipalities in Kosovo.