Author: birnEU

With the exception of institutional representatives, the majority of those consulted believed the decision to be unconstitutional, particularly Article 9 of this decision, which is controversial, as it requires Kosovo’s judicial institutions to pass draft legislation through this body first. Since this is considered to be as a direct interference of the government to the judicial system, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the Kosovo Assembly reopened debate on the decision to establish the Consultative Council of Justice.

 Due to the refusal of key institutions—such as the Supreme Court and the Court Council—to send representatives in the Consultative Council of Justice, it will not achieve the necessary quorum to function as an authority.

Is there still the need for a special law to regulate cultural heritage in these places? Can cultural heritage be preserved and respected without laws? What are the seven other places mentioned in the context of these draft laws? Who will be part of the Monitoring and Implementation Council that is foreseen to be formed?

To discuss these and other arguments for and against the law, Jeta Xharra has invited:

Pieter Feith, head of the International Civilian Office;
Engjëllushe Morina, from the Kosovar Stability Initiative;
Njazi Kryeziu, from the municipal assembly of Prizren;
Smajl Latifi, mayor of the Rahovec municipality.

 

BIRN will also broadcast a report by the journalist Muhamet Hajrullahu, showing the opinion and thoughts of the civil society, citizens of Rahovec and the local Serbs of the village Hoce e Madhe in Rahovec.

Questions discussed will include: Is religion being politicised? How can this be prevented, so that it can be freely discussed at the institutional level? What are the arguments for and against introducing religious education as a subject in public schools? Should headscarves be allowed in public institutions? Does the refusal of such requests lead to religious radicalism?

 

To discuss these questions and attitudes in Kosovo’s society about relevant recent public cases, journalist Muhamet Hajrullahu has invited the following to the studio:

 

Sabri Bajgora, the head imam from the Islamic Community of Kosovo;
Gëzim Kelmendi, a Kosovo Assembly deputy from the Justice Party;
Ismajl Hasani, a sociologist of religion;
Teuta Sahatqija, a Kosovo Assembly deputy from the Democratic League of Kosovo;
Halil Matoshi, a political analyst; and
Blerim Latifi, a lecturer of political philosophy at the University of Prishtina and an adviser to the prime minister.

 

At the end of the show, BIRN will broadcast the ‘Youth in Kosovo’ section.

The ‘Kingdom of Coal’ is a documentary produced by BIRN and Crossing bridges, which in the most recent International Documentary and Short Film Festival, DOKUFEST, was awarded the best film prize in the category for the environment, GreenDoc.

Competing with other international films dealing with environmental issues, ‘Kingdom of Coal’ was considered by the festival’s international jury to be a significant film for the region. The documentary investigates the economic, health and environmental costs of coal, while exploring the potential for alternative energy in Kosovo.

After the documentary, a report by journalist Alban Selimi will be broadcast, highlighting the work of emergency staff at the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo and the treatment of patients from regional hospitals that are sent to them.

Afterwards, journalist Edona Musa will present a report about the problems faced by firefighters in Kosovo.  

The show will close with the ‘Youth in Kosovo’ section.

Why are so many gambling operators in Kosovo? How is their operation regulated by law? How disturbing is the operation of sports betting places near schools? What rule of law enforcement is in place to ensure stricter control of age groups visiting these shops?

 

To discuss these and related issues to sports betting in Kosovo, journalist Muhamet Hajrullahu has invited the following guests to the studio:

 

Safet Krasniqi, gambling manager from the Tax Administration of Kosovo, TAK;
Edmond Jahjaga, vice president of the Association of Gambling in Kosovo;
Jeta Rexha, psychologist from Gjakova;
Feliks Nikolla, from Youth in Kosovo.

 

As part of the show, BIRN will also be broadcasting the Youth in Kosovo section, where youth will discuss about the sports betting habit of youngsters under the age of 18.

 

Meanwhile, Jeta Xharra has invited youth from Kosovo and Serbia to discuss on the cooperation between youth of these countries and the problems that they face. The invited guests are the following:

 

Krenar Shala, from GAP Institute;

Dusan Kanazir, student in the Law Faculty in Belgrade, who also works for the International War Crimes Tribunal;

Furtuna Sheremeti, student in the Law Faculty in Prishtina and activist from My Initiative (Nisma Ime) NGO;

Maja Micic, director of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights inBelgrade;

Enes Toska, architect and leader of the \”Cultural Heritage without Borders” project;

Dragan Momcilovic, student of Political Sciences in Belgrade and coordinator of the debate club.

 

Jeta Xharra speaks to the head of operations at the European Commission Liaison Office to Kosovo, Kjartan Bjornsson, regarding the management of EU funds by Kosovars.

 

What EU project in Kosovo is Bjornsson most proud of? Has the EU opposed at any point the sale of the power plant Kosovo A?

 

BIRN journalist Alban Selimi interviews the main inspector at the pharmaceutical department of the Kosovo Medicines Agency, Haki Ejupi, on smuggled medicine in the Kosovo market.

 

The show ends with the “Youth in Kosovo” section.

 

The newspaper’s proprietor, Rexhep Hoti, and four members of staff at the paper, together with the mayor of Skenderaj, Sami Lushtaku, have been accused of violating the equal status of residents in Kosovo. If proven, Kosovo’s criminal code stipulates they could face imprisonment from six months to five years.

 

They are also charged with making threats and defamatory comments towards BIRN Kosovo director Jeta Xharra. If proven, these charges carry fines or prison terms of up to six and three months respectively.

For 12 days in late May and early June 2009, “Infopress” is accused of running a hate campaign against BIRN’s Kosovo director Jeta Xharra and BIRN’s “Life in Kosovo” television show.

 

The newspaper alleged without substantiation that Ms Xharra had committed treason and the paper appeared to encourage vigilante action against Ms Xharra. It issued an implicit death threat in a newspaper articlestating: “Jeta has herself chosen not to live a long life”.

 

The campaign followed the broadcast of a two-hour episode of “Life in Kosovo” on 28 May 2009, which reported on problems of freedom of speech in Kosovo. The program also included a feature on how its own camera team had been chased away from the Lushtaku’s Skenderaj municipality at gunpoint while trying to film a report on local governance.

 

In late June 2009, Kosovo’s press council ruled that unsubstantiated allegations made by Lushtaku in the newspaper which claimed that Xharra was a “servant of the Serbian secret police” could pose a “direct physical threat to her and members of her team”.

 

It urged prosecutors and police to investigate Infopress for “possible violations of the criminal code, such as threat, incitement to violence (or even to murder)”.

 

“Infopress” is associated with Kosovo’s ruling PDK party (of which Lushtaku is a member) and has received government advertising revenue during the party’s tenure in government.The only sanction imposed for its behaviour to date has failed: Infopress refused to pay the €1,000 press council fine.

 

In Kosovo, bodies such as the Association of Professional Journalists of Kosovo (AGPK), the Independent Media Commission and an umbrella group of NGOs reacted in defence of the assailed BIRN journalists.

 

Internationally, organisations such as the Committee for Protection of Journalists, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International also publicised their concerns and asked Kosovo authorities to take measures to bring the alleged perpetrators to justice.

Commenting on the indictment today, Xharra said: “It has taken prosecutors two years to act – two years during which Infopress newspaper believed it could act disgracefully and dangerously with impunity and two years during which our judiciary officials privately confessed that they were reluctant to move against it for fear of being targeted themselves.

 

It has also been two years during which our young state’s fabric – specifically its capacity to uphold freedom of speech – was allowed to corrode. EULEX’s action is belated though welcome. Let us hope that it can set a new standard”.

 

Kosovo declared independence in February 2008 and articles 40 – 42 of its constitution guarantee freedom of speech and freedom of the media.

 

 

Jeta Xharra interviewed Besim Beqaj, Minister of Economic Development, and asked him about the problems of the energy sector.

 

Why did the Kosovo government decide to close the Ministry of Energy and Mining?

 

Who is responsible at the Ministry of Economic Development for deciding on the use of coal: local or international advisors?

 

This interview will be followed by the airing of journalist Alban Selimi’s interview with Kosovo Health Minister Ferid Agani.

 

What ongoing problems are being faced by the healthcare system? What has happened to the process of appointing a new director of the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo, UCCK?

After the interviews, Life in Kosovo airs a report covering the problems of the Muslim community in Gjakova municipality, who are unable to conduct their religious services because of loud noise coming from a nearby disco club.

 

To conclude the show, the Youth in Kosovo section will be broadcast.