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07 04 2011 Life in Kosovo broadcast a debate involving representatives of political parties regarding the agreement, reached on April 6, that averted another round of elections.
Among the questions discussed during the debate were: How did the PDK, LDK, and AKR manage to reach an agreement? What role did Christopher Dell, the US ambassador to Prishtina, play? Who will supervise the process of electoral reform? How will the political parties ensure that they respect the agreement? Who will be the main opponent to Atifete Jahjaga in the race for Kosovo's presidency? What has been the reaction to her candidacy?
To discuss these and related issues, host Muhamet Hajrullahu was joined in the studio by:
Bajram Rexhepi, from PDK
Ibrahim Makolli, from AKR
Liburn Aliu, from Vetevendosje
Ardian Gjini, from AAK
Arben Gashi, from LDK
Beginning the debate, Mr. Rexhepi said that “the concept has been that [Kosovo's] president should not be involved in any political agreement made by the government coalition. However, I think that this was the best possible choice in the poor recent situation in Kosovo.”
Mr. Aliu said that Vetevendosje consider that the president should have a political position, but that "we do not know if Ms. Jahjaga, the new presidential candidate, even has one" "Kosovo's problem is not the election of a president.
Kosovo's problem is the vote theft committed during the parliamentary elections. Those elections should be repeated,” he added.
Mr. Gjini said that “if the elections held on December 12 were perceived as free and fair, this situation would not have arisen in Kosovo.
We really are in an incomprehensible situation, since this agreement reached between PDK, LDK and AKR is made in order to keep Hashim Thaqi as Kosovo’s prime minister for another three years.”
During the discussion, Mr. Gashi said that “our party considers that it is in the interest of Kosovo's citizens to have new presidential elections within eight months.”
Mr. Makolli said that “this agreement has only to do with the president and not the government of Kosovo. It does not necessarily mean that, because of this agreement, we have to agree with every decision that will be made ?? until the end of 2013.”
After the debate, BIRN broadcast two reports about Kosovo's health system. Journalist Edona Musa presented a 25 minute-long investigative report, which revealed how smuggled medicine is freely sold in pharmacies throughout Kosovo.
Afterwards, journalist Alban Selimi revealed how smuggled medicine seized by customs has ended up in the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo.
At the beginning of 2010 BIRN network published Digging Deeper - A Guide for Investigative Journalists in the Balkans, written in cooperation with Sheila Coronel, Director of the Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism and professor of professional practice at Columbia University, New York.
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