Draft Law for Prevention of Corruption Debated

Establishing transparent procedure in the selection of members of the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption (DKSK) and putting in place criteria that will separate the DKSK from politics are part of the novelties anticipated with the draft law on prevention of corruption and conflict of interests. “One of the criteria for selection of members or president of the anti-corruption commission is for the person not to have executed political office and not to have been donors for political parties in the last 10 years,” Justice Minister Renata Deskoska said ahead of the start of debate on the draft law. She added that journalist associations and NGOs working in the sphere of corruption can nominate representatives that will partake in the interviewing of candidates. Ilina Mangova of the International Republican Institute said at the opening of the debate that in order to have success in the battle against corruption there must be political will. Commenting the Sopot trial, Minister Deskoska said the damaged parties should exercise their rights through the court. “In line with the procedure, those that seek compensation must have a court decision of having been unlawfully detained,” she said. The Sopot case dates back to 2003 when two Polish officers and one Macedonian citizen were killed after a NATO field vehicle landed on a mine at the Sushevo – Sopot road. As regards the extradition process of Afrim Ismailovic and Alil Demiri from Kosovo, who are suspects in the Monster case, Deskoska said the Kosovo authorities have still not replied to the request. Finally she answered a question about the work of judges who were pinpointed by the SPO as manipulating the court case system, noting the Justice Minister had no jurisdiction in selection or dismissing of judges.