UNMIK/PR/752
PRISTINA – Members of the Kosovo Government today took the oath of office thus marking the completion of the government.
In a brief ceremony, conducted in the presence of SRSG Michael Steiner, the Prime Minister, the Ministers of the Government and the Inter-ministerial Coordinator for Returns, took the oath, pledging themselves to uphold the law, the institutions of Kosovo and the functions of office “in the best interests of all the inhabitants of Kosovo without discrimination on any ground.”
In his remarks, SRSG Michael Steiner said that it was “deeply satisfying that on exactly the third anniversary of the arrival of the international community in Kosovo, we are here to mark the completion of the multiethnic government of Kosovo. We are in the process of transferring powers to the government: Substantial responsibilities from UNMIK are already in your hands and there are more to come.”
SRSG Michael Steiner said that he trusted “the Prime Minister when he says that the government will work together to build a society based on democracy, multi-ethnicity and the rule of law. You can also trust me in my pledge that we will fully support you in this endeavor… Now that the government is fully completed, let’s get down to work.”
Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi said that he was “pleased that the government is constituted with all its ministers. We will be working on behalf of all citizens of Kosovo.
Those who took the oath of office were: Prime Minister Dr. Bajram Rexhepi, Minister of Finance and Economy Ali Sadriu, Minister of Trade and Industry Ali Jakupi, Minister of Education, Science and Technology Rexhep Osmani, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Behxhet Brajshori, Minister of Health Numan Balic, Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Ethem Ceku, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Ahmet Isufi, Minister of Transport and Communications Zef Morina, Minister of Public Services Jakup Krasniqi, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development Goran Bogdanovic and Inter-ministerial Coordinator for Returns Milorad Todorovic.
The oath of office reads as follows:
‘I, ………, solemnly declare that I shall faithfully carry out the functions of office entrusted to me pursuant to the Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self-government in accordance with the law applicable in Kosovo, in the best interests of all the inhabitants of Kosovo without discrimination on any ground. I further solemnly declare that I shall uphold the principles and institutional authority of the Provisional Institutions of Self-government and shall not act contrary to or engage in any activity incompatible with my official status ion the Government of Kosovo.’
