Author: birnEU

BIRN Macedonia Promotes Fellowship Programme

The promotion of this year’s collection of articles, Taboo: Secrecy and Shame in the Balkans, which wraps up the 2010 edition of the Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence, gathered leading Macedonian journalists and editors on December 21 at the Journalists’ club in Skopje.

This year’s articles present the original research of eight journalists selected from Southeast Europe to participate in the 2010 programme.

Editors and journalists from the most influential media, such as A1 TV, Dnevnik daily, Alsat M TV, Alfa TV, Nova Makedonija daily, Netpress news agency, Vest daily, BBC Macedonian language edition, Fokus weekly, Utrinski Vesnik daily, Radio Free Europe and AFP attended the promotion.

Representatives from the Macedonian Broadcasting Council, the OSCE, the British Embassy and the NGO Centre for Civic Communications also came.

BIRN Macedonia director Ana Petruseva introduced the Fellowship programme and praised the quality of the stories.

This year’s Macedonian fellow, Ruzica Fotinovska, a Skopje-based reporter, said it had been “a wonderful experience, a good chance to see how my colleagues journalists from other countries work on investigative stories”.

“The programme offers enough time and resources for real in-depth research, which it is impossible to get in daily media reporting,” Fotinovska added.

Fotinovska won the second prize this year for her article, “Freed Prisoners Remain Caught Behind Bars”, which investigated the life of former prisoners and the country’s failure to develop effective rehabilitation programmes.
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The first prize this year was awarded to Majlinda Aliu, based in Pristina, for her article “Trapped in Black: Balkan War Widows”.

Another Kosovar journalist, Jeton Musliu, who is also based in Pristina, took third place for his article, “Kosovars Turn Blind Eye to Fake Foreign Marriages”.

Petruseva announced the Fellowship programe for 2011 and invited journalists to apply.   

Initiated by the Robert Bosch Stiftung and Erste Foundation in cooperation with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, the Fellowship is aimed at supporting high-quality reporting, regional networking among journalists and advancing balanced coverage on complex reform issues that are central to the region as well as to the European Union.

Drafting Novi Pazar budget

An initiative aimed at increasing the amount set aside for social welfare and education in next year’s budget was adopted yesterday during a public meeting of the City Council of Novi Pazar. This initiative arises from a project of participatory budgeting, promoted by BIRN Serbia and Pro Concept.

This final element of the Local Budget Forum gave new emphasis to the creation of a budget at a local level. The  programme gives the people of  Novi Pazar the chance to directly participate in the drafting of the city budget.

The results of a survey conducted in Novi Pazar in November, showed the public’s desire that the city invest more in urban development projects, culture, social welfare and education and the budget presented by the delegates and representatives of the City Administration of Novi Pazar in the session of the City Council took into account the citizen’s budget priorities. The City Council adopted the proposed budget for the year 2011.

The report submitted to the City Council underlined the importance of the integration of citizen participation into the establishment of budget priorities for the forthcoming year.

Novi Pazar’s Mayor, Meho Mahmoudi expressed satisfaction that the budget proposal for 2011 were in line with the wishes of the public, as identified by the “Skockajte budžet” campaign.

After the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the City Administration and the organizers of the project, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN Serbia) and Pro-concept.

“Leskovac and Novi Pazar were the first two cities where the project has been implemented. It is all about the willingness of local governments to be open to the ideas and priorities of their voters”, explained Slobodan Gerogijev, from BIRN Serbia, one of the organisations that implemented the project.

He stressed that the results show the willingness of the people and the public administration to work together in order to define budget priorities and to contribute to the transparency of the budgetary process.

“We hope that the local governement will adopt some of the mechanisms we have tried to introduce them to, in order to include the real needs and priorities of the people”, explained Nermin Hasanovic, from the European Partnership with Municipalities, PROGRESS.

At yesterday’s session The Novi Pazar City Council adopted a proposed budget for 2011, in the amount of 1,856,457,000 dinars.

The project of participatory budgeting, carried out by BIRN Serbia and Pro Concept, is funded by the European Union, the Swiss Government and the Serbian Government and is implemented under the European Partnership with Municipalities, Progress.

Documentary about life Sandzak

BIRN Serbia, in cooperation with Radio Television Serbia`s TV magazine programme “Oko”, has produced a thirty minute documentary on life in the south Serbian city of Novi Pazar.

The film, which is a sequel to the first feature on the life of Albanian people in Presevo, was broadcast on December 7 on Radio Television Serbia.

The documentary looks into the daily lives of local Bosniaks and the social problems facing this population, including interethnic tension and years of economic struggles.

Local representatives of the NGO sector, youth, and the economy, as well as the mayor of Novi Pazar, Meho Mahmutovic, were interviewed during the three days of filming in search of stories about everyday life in this part of Serbia, and the cultural and religious heritage of the region.

The third and final part of the series is scheduled to be completed within the next several months.
The three-part documentary is part of BIRN Serbia’s project “Building public awareness and political dialogue in multiethnic areas as a conflict prevention tool”.

BIRN In Southwest Serbia

BIRN Serbia and RTS’s (Serbia’s state broadcasting company) ‘Oko
magazine’ programme have joined forces once again, this time in
pursuit of an answer to questions about why the Sandzak region has
failed to adjust to the changing business environment, and if its
deteriorating economic situation is linked to the rising ethnic
tensions in Serbia’s majority Bosniak southwest.

Local businesspeople, experts and citizens have offered their view on
this issue, revealing how  the “Novi Pazar economic miracle”  has
failed to materialise, and how today’s tough social climate influences
growing nationalistic voices in the region.
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During the1990’s, when Milosevic’s Yugoslavia was under international
sanctions, the Sandzak region flourished thanks to businesspeople who
seized opportunities in the ‘grey market’, importing scarce goods and
avoiding administrative barriers.

Counterfeit international jeans brands made Novi Pazar famous in
Serbia and  all around Europe, where “Pazar jeans” found their way
through to the local market.

But following the overthrow of Milosevic in 2000, and the state’s
shift towards a more  regulated market the clouds gathered in the once
sunny Sandzak sky. Some 300 companies have closed since then and
official statistics record an unemployment rate of 54 per cent.

 ‘Oko magazine’ will be broadcast on Tuesday, December 7th at 18.25 pm.

Second National Budget Forum in Serbia

BIRN Serbia and its partner organisation Pro Concept are organising the second National Budget Forum which takes place in the building of the country’s parliament on November 26 at 11am local time.
The aim of the forum is to gather stakeholders from the field of public finances in Serbia and to create a platform for wider public debate in the field.
The main topics are: tax reform, good governance of public finance and spending priorities for the 2011 budget.
Slavica Djukic Dejanovic, the country’s parliamentary speaker, will open the event after which Finance Minister Diana Dragutinovic will have her say. Renowned journalist Dimitrije Boarov will moderate the forum. 
The first National Budget Forum was held in October 2009 in presence of more than fifty governmental, NGO, business sector representatives, experts and journalists.

Promises made Before the Election Campaign

This Thursday in Life in Kosovo, representatives of political parties will discuss the promises made before the election campaign.

Is there sufficient budget to fulfill the promises made before the start of election campaign? Are these empty promises? How legitimate is the government’s decision to increase salaries of teachers? How feasible is this promise if the budget for 2011 is not approved yet? Why are official cars being used for the election campaigns?

To discuss these and other issues related to promises and decisions before the election campaign, host Muhamet Hajrullahu has invited the following guests:

Nait Hasani, from PDK
Avni Arifi, from AAK
Linda Shala, from FER
Arben Gashi, from LDK

After the debate, Jeta Xharra interviews Ismet Kryeziu, leader of the Coalition of NGOs Democracy in Action about the irregularities of elections in Rahovec and local elections of 2009. Will these mistakes be repeated on December 12?

After that, journalist Edona Musa looks at why the UCCK (University Clinical Centre of Kosovo) isn’t providing a form of heart care widely available in private clinics.

At the end of the show, journalist Alban Selimi looks at how deputies of the Assembly of Kosovo have responded to the call for blood donation.

Preparations for Early Elections

Tonight, in Life in Kosovo show, representatives of political parties in the Central Election Commission on one side and representatives of non-governmental organizations on the other will discuss the preparations for the early parliamentary elections of 12 December.

Before the debate, BIRN broadcasts Edona Musa’s interview with Doctor Gjina Zeqiri, who was asked about the reasons that led to the closure of her private hospital.

After the interview, journalist Muhamet Hajrullahu will be joined in the studio by representatives of political parties in the Central Elections Commission and representatives of non-governmental organizations to discuss about the preparations for early parliamentarian elections to be held on 12 December and the challenges that will need to be overcome.

Is the CEC prepared to organize early elections in a professional end democratic manner? Have the electoral lists been updated or we will still have dead people on the voter’s lists? What are the problems and challenges identified during the previous elections? What do the representatives of non-governmental organizations say about the abuse of citizens’ votes and other irregularities identified in the previous elections?

To discuss these and other issues related to early elections, Muhamet Hajrullahu’s guests in the studio will be:

Betim Gjoshi – representative of PDK in the CEC,
Florian Dushi – representative of LDK in the CEC,
Ilir Fetahu – representative of LDD in the CEC,
Albulena Sadiku – NGO INPO and
Avni Zogiani – NGO ÇOHU.

After the debate, BIRN will broadcast a report prepared by journalist Alban Selimi about the destruction of cultural heritage in Novoberdo.

At the end of the show, BIRN looks at allegations involving the construction of flats in Suhareke prepared by researcher Petrit Kryeziu.

 

Life in Kosovo Progress Report

Tonight, in the Life in Kosovo show, political representatives will discuss the European Commission’s Progress Report of 2010 on Kosovo.

Before the debate, BIRN broadcasts Jeta Xharra’s interview with the head of the European Commission, Liaison Office in Kosovo, Renzo Daviddi, who was asked about the main problems that the Progress Report addresses.

After the interview, journalist Muhamet Hajrullahu holds a debate with representatives of political parties to discuss the issues raised by the Progress

 

Report, including corruption, organised crime and freedom of expression in Kosovo.

What are the main criticisms of the latest Progress Report of the European Commission on Kosovo? How do the political parties representatives assess these criticisms? Why do the criticisms and concerns remain the same as the previous year? Why is there no political willingness to fight corruption?

To discuss these and other issues regarding the Progress Report, the guests of Muhamet Hajrullahu in the studio will be:

Besim Beqaj, Minister of European Integration from PDK
Zylfije Hundozi, from Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK
Besnik Bislimi, from Vetvendosje Movement
Qëndrim Gashi, from Fryma e Re – FER

During the debate, BIRN will also broadcast a TV report from journalist Edona Musa, who interviewed representatives from civil society organisations about their assessments of the Progress Report.

After the debate, journalist Alban Selimi looks at doctors who get paid by pharmaceutical companies to prescribe medicine to their patients.

Most Money from City Budget for Child Protection

The people of Belgrade had the opportunity  today to, for the first time, within the “Make your own city budget“ street event, allocate 58 billion dinars of imaginary money  representing the budget of Belgrade in 24 boxes of city secretariats and agencies within the city government.

Street event “Make your own city budget” was held in celebration of the European Week of Local Democracy in front of Usce Shopping Center, and was organized by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network and Pro concept, in cooperation with the city agency for European integration and cooperation with associations.

People who  were involved in action believe that the most money from the city budget should be placed for  the Secretary for Child Protection some 11.91 per cent of the total city budget, followed by the Health Secretary 9.8 per cent, Secretary for Education 9.6 per cent, the Youth Office  7.76 per cent and the Culture Secretary 7.63 per cent.

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At the bottom of their priority list were the Department of Informatics and Statistics, 1.74 per cent,  Government  Secretary 1.34per cent, Commercial Space Agency 0.75per cent, Secretary of Finance 0.75per cent, and the Public Procurement Agency 0.53per cent of the total city budget.

The Director of the Agency for European integration and cooperation with associations Danko Runic pointed that today we have the opportunity to show to the people how they can participate in decision making at the local level.
 
“This is an example of how people should influence the decision makers and how they would allocate the funds from the budgetary resources of the city. The main principle of the European Charter of Local Self-Government is the financial independence of local governments and this action shows that there is a need for financial decentralization and active participation of citizens in it.

The City of Belgrade for the first time this year is participating in celebrations of the European Week of Local Democracy, which is an event that marked the Member States of the Council of Europe in 47 countries “- said Runić.

According to him, the Council of Europe this year awarded Belgrade the “City with 12 stars” title, based on a program that is nominated to mark the European Week of Local Democracy.  

“People  now have the opportunity to send a clear message to the authorities what are their priorities in spending the budget. This action is only part of the project, which includes participatory budgeting of local municipalities and prominence of trasnparentnosti budget process. “- said Danko Cosic, director of Pro Concept.

Cosic said that the results of todays action will be presented to competent institutions dealing with the formation of the budget.

Life in Kosovo debates the latest political developments in the country

Tonight, Life in Kosovo broadcasts a debate with representatives from Kosovo’s political parties who will talk about the latest political developments in Kosovo.

When will the General Elections be held? What is the attitude of PDK, LDK and other parties regarding the elections?  How is the institutional crisis in Kosovo being managed and how are the preparations for the new elections going? Is the Central Elections Commission ready to organise General Elections this year? When will we have political clarity in the country?
 

To discuss this, Jeta Xharra will be joined in the studio by:
 

Lutfi Haziri, LDK
Bajram Rexhepi, PDK
Ilir Deda, FER
Glauk Konjufca, Vetevendosje
 

Analysis by journalist Muhamet Hajrullahu will be broadcast during the debate about how the PDK-LDK coalition functioned over the past three years and what journalists think about the coalition.
 

Journalist Edona Musa looks at the scandal of why 33,000 euro of medicine has been left outside the Central University Clinical Hospital,  Kosovo’s main hospital.