UNMIK/PR/1250
PRISTINA – The SRSG has signed an Executive Decision cancelling the tender process for the second mobile phone operator that has been carried out by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. The SRSG made this decision as the culmination of a lengthy process of dialogue with relevant members of the Government and the Chairman of the TRA.
Through this process of dialogue, and according to the findings of an independent panel of experts established by the Auditor General, it became evident that the tender process for the second mobile operator had been seriously flawed. As indicated in the Executive Decision, action to cancel the process was necessary in the best interests of Kosovo and its economic development, in particular its ability to attract investment.
UNMIK regrets that the Chairman of the TRA went ahead with the signing of a contract for the second mobile telephone operator in Kosovo on the morning of October 21 without prior notice to UNMIK or to the Government. The action of the Chairman was in disregard of an instruction to take no further action on this tender given to him by the Acting SRSG in June, and was inexplicable in view of the Chairman’s longstanding knowledge of UNMIK’s serious concerns about this tender process. By virtue of the SRSG’s Executive Decision of October 20, the contract signed by the Chairman is null and void.
UNMIK looks forward to working with the Government and the TRA to support the relaunched tender process, so that Kosovo can in the shortest period enjoy the services of a second mobile operator selected through a transparent tender process that is in full compliance with the law.