Author: birnEU

Life in Kosovo Debates the Implementation of the Constitution

This Thursday, Life in Kosovo will debate the implementation of the constitution since its ratification two years ago.

What characterised Kosovo’s 11th anniversary of liberty? How much has the constitution been implemented since its ratification in the assembly? How are EULEX’s investigations against corruption assessed? Will corruption be fought and are there any serious attempts to fight it?

To discuss these, Muhamet Hajrullahu will be joined by:

Ramush Tahiri, analyst
Ilir Deda, executive director of KIPRED
Petrit Selimi, columnist at the daily newspaper Express
Valon Murati, analyst

After the debate, BIRN will transmit a reportage prepared by Edona Musa about 210 teachers in Kosovo, who have not been paid for more than ten months, even though almost all of them work full time.

In another reportage, Faton Ademi will talk about accusations against the head of Municipal Court in Prishtina, Nuhi Uka, over his neglect of a court case.

 

 

Life in Kosovo is a co-production between Kosovo Public Television, RTK and theBalkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN. It is broadcast every Thursday,starting at 20:20.

BIRN Summer School of Investigative Reporting

Pack a notebook and perhaps some hiking shoes and join BIRN for a unique Summer School of Investigative Reporting from August 22nd – 28th within the Petrovaradin Fortress and in the stunning Fruska Gora National Park.

 

BIRN is gathering leading journalists and trainers, both from the Balkans and internationally to provide informative, insightful and entertaining training focused on investigative, computer-assisted and organised crime and corruption journalism, in print and broadcast media.

Confirmed speakers include renowned trainers and presenters Don Ray, Nick Thorpe,  Mark Hunter, Luuk Sengers, Maunela Mareso and the OCCRP training team with Drew Sullivan, Rosemery Armao and Paul Radu.

The summer school will offer a full programme including exercises and round-tables on the changing face of Balkan media ownership, violence against media professionals, and more.

There will also be time to tour the beautiful orchards, vineyards, monasteries and forests in the Fruska Gora National Park.

Who should attend?

 

Mid-career journalists, from South East and Western Europe

Young journalists interested in finding out more about investigative reporting techniques.

Editors, interested in encouraging investigative reporting in their media outlets.

Representatives from higher education establishments, interested in incorporating investigative journalism into the curriculum.

Balkans-based International correspondents interested in finding out about the challenges faced by their regional colleagues.

Representatives of organisations involved in the fight against organised crime and corruption.

Working language

 

English 

Fees

 

The course fee of €549, is all-inclusive, covering tuition, room, meals and extra-curricular tours. The fee also includes BIRN’s newly published textbook “Digging Deeper: A Guide for Investigative Journalists in the Balkans”. (LINK)

Scholarships

A limited number of full and part scholarships will be available to exceptional candidates. These will be awarded on a merit and need basis and may additionally cover travel costs up to €100.

The low cost of the School and the scholarship programme have been made possible thanks to our generous sponsors, The Open Society Institute London and OSCE Serbia.

Eligibility criteria for Scholarships

South East European journalists

At least three years of experience in journalism

Applicants must supply a sample of their published work, translated into English

Application Deadline

Applications for scholarships must be received by 25 July, 2010. No application for an assisted place will be considered after this deadline. Selected participants will be announced on August 2nd.

Standard applications must be received by 9 August 2010.  Applications received by 10 July 2010 will be eligible for a reduction of €100 in the course fee.

All participants will receive a BIRN Summer School certificate.

Application procedure for all applicants

Completed application form

Letter of motivation

C.V.

Sample of work ( for scholarship applicants only)

Apply Now >>

Life in Kosovo Debates Anticorruption Measures

This Thursday, Life in Kosovo will broadcast two debates, a debate regarding the activities undertaken by the Assembly of Kosovo in the fight against corruption, and another debate on the management of the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo.

What has the Assembly of Kosovo done in the fight against corruption? How powerful are the current laws to fight corruption? Where does the problem lie according to civil society? Who didn’t state their assets? Who will verify those declarations? Why have the declarations of assets for 2008 not been published?

To discuss these and other measures against corruption that have to be taken from the institutions of Kosovo, Artan Haracia will be joined by:

Ramadan Avdiu, from PDK
Ibrahim Makolli, member of parliament from AKR and a member of the committee for legislation and judicial
Naim Rustemi, independent member of parliament
Hasan Preteni, chairman of the Anti-corruption Agency of Kosovo
Ismet Kryeziu, from the NGO Kosova Democratic Institute,
Lorik Bajrami, from the NGO ÇOHU.

During the debate, BIRN will also broadcast a reportage on declaration of assets of senior members of the government.

In the second debate, Edona Musa will look at the problems of managing the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo, UCCK.

Has the decentralisation of this centre started? How will the health system be improved in the country with the allocated budget? Why have so few sackings and changes been made within UCCK? Was an appraisal made for four managers who were dismissed from the centre? Has a review on essential drugs been done?

To discuss these, the guests of Edona Musa will be:

Rrahim Krasniqi, deputy of the UCCK
Bajram Ajeti, member of the Independent Oversight Board of Kosovo
Islam Krasniqi, former manager of UCCK

During the debate, BIRN will broadcast a reportage from the researcher Faton Ademi who will present the serious conditions of the prosthetic service in the Main Family Medicine Centre in Mitrovica.

 

Life in Kosovo is a co-production between Kosovo Public Television, RTK and theBalkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN. It is broadcast every Thursday,starting at 20:20.

First Balkan Fellowship Alumni Meeting in Becici

More than 20 journalists from the Balkan region and elsewhere gathered last weekend in the coastal resort of Becici, in Montenegro, for the first Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence Alumni Meeting.

Fellows from three generations met to get to know one another and exchange professional experiences and views about the situation on the Balkan media scene.
 
In the relaxed atmosphere of the Montenegrin resort, the participants had an opportunity to present highlights of their work and special projects to their alumni-colleagues and inform them about important awards and scholarships they had obtained and career advances they had made in connection with the Fellowship.
 
Two guests from Montenegro, Daliborka Uljarevic, from the Center for Civic Education, and Mihailo Jovovic, deputy editor of the daily newspaper Vijesti, led sessions on the media scene in their country and explained how the most important issues are covered, which then initiated a broader debate about the problems of the regional media landscape as a whole.
 
Issues such as the impact of political and financial pressure on the media, the decline of local media, the challenge of low advertising revenues and circulations and the over-dominant role in the market of public broadcasters were recognized as joint problems that media encounter throughout the region.
 
The meeting will be followed up by joint work among the Fellows on regional journalistic projects with the aim of fostering not only their individual professional development but their team spirit as well, and at the same time as providing quality information about issues that are common to the region.
 
The initiative to hold an alumni meeting was taken following numerous expressions of interest by former Fellows in continuing to jointly contribute to the goal of promoting excellence in journalism in the Balkans.

Visit the photo gallery from the meeting 

BIRN Gathers in Montenegro for Regional Meeting

BIRN staff from across the region, as well as a number of BIRN partners and donors, participated in a regional meeting held last week near Budva, Montenegro.

BIRN journalists, editors, programme directors and managers met and discussed their projects and current activities as well as plans for the future. Each country office presented its current and future projects and programmes, and the gathering allowed the ever-expanding staff to meet colleagues from across the region and learn more about the activities of other members of the network.

 

In addition, the meeting served as an opportunity to gather BIRN management and directors and the network’s donors and board members, all of whom participated in two round tables which touched on questions about facilitating the sustainability of civil society organisations in the Balkans. The gathering was a chance for participants to further discuss the strategic planning and operations of BIRN, and the annual meeting of the BIRN Ltd. Assembly was also held. Journalists from across the Balkans participated in two skill-building sessions on organising editorial production and court reporting.

 

 

BIRN BiH Marks the Fifth Anniversary

The Balkans Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) in Bosnia and Herzegovina marked the fifth anniversary, and promoted a publication on complete work of the War Crimes Chamber with the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On Thursday, May 27 at 6 p.m. in “Mak” Gallery in Sarajevo, in the presence of representatives of The State Court and Prosecution, international and domestic partners, and collegues journalists, BIRN marked the fifth anniversary of its work in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

 

“We started working in 2005. as a small group of enthusiasts who believed that the truth is the only way towards reconciliation and progress in our country. The beginning of the War-crimes Chamber of the Court of BiH was an invitation for us, to join those who are fighting for truth every day”, Anisa Suceska-Vekic, the director of BIRN BiH said.

 

From March 2006 to the present date BIRN journalists have followed, from the beginning to en end, each trial conducted before the War Crimes Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They have written more than 8,000 daily trial reports, analysis and research articles.

Reports made by BIRN’s Justice Report Agency publicly raised numerous issues on war-crimes processing, judicial reform and coming to terms with the past in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region.

“I would like to thank all our readers, listeners, and those who are watching our program, for their letters of support. I would also like to thank our colleuges journalists, for enabling our work to reach as many citizens, as it can. I owe a special grateness to the victims associations for their support, cooperation and eternal patience”, Suceska-Vekic added.

<!** Image 3 align=”right” >Beside that, the director of BIRN BiH thanked the donors: the governments of Norway, Switzerland, Canada, United Kingdom, and United States, SOROS fondation, organization NED, OSCE mission in BiH, and Konrad Adenauer fondation.

BIRN also promoted its publication titled “The Age of Truth”, which contains an overview of the work performed by the War Crimes Chamber with the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period from 2005 to 2010.

For each case presented in it, the publication brings basic data on the person or the past and present proceedings against the person. It also gives a brief overview of crimes described in indictments or verdicts.

“We paid special attention to explanations of second instance verdicts, because they contain historically significant court facts determined by trial chambers in relation to certain crimes, victims and perpetrators”, Aida Alic, BIRN journalist, and the author of publication, said.

The electronic version of the publication can be downloaded from www.bim.ba web page

Fifth Anniversary of BIRN BiH

The Balkans Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN)in Bosnia and Herzegovina marks the fifth anniversary. On that occasion it promotes a publication on complete work of the War Crimes Chamber with the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On Thursday, May 27 at 6 p.m. in “Mak” Gallery (address: 7 Sime Milutinovica Sarajlije) BIRN will mark the fifth anniversary of its work in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

From March 2006 to the present date BIRN journalists have followed, from the beginning to en end, each trial conducted before the War Crimes Chamber of the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They have written more than 8,000 daily trial reports, analysis and research articles. Reports made by BIRN’s Justice Report Agency publicly raised numerous issues on war-crimes processing, judicial reform and coming to terms with the past in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region.  

Its publication titled “The Age of Truth” contains an overview of the work performed by the War Crimes Chamber with the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period from 2005 to 2010.  

For the first time ever the publication brings a complete overview of all cases conducted up to the present date, including both the ongoing ones and the ones that have been completed by pronouncement of first or second instance verdicts. It also contains information about the indictees who are on the run.

From 2005, when the first verdict was pronounced before the State Court, to March 31, 2010 60 war-crimes verdicts have been pronounced, sentencing the indictees to more than 1,000 years in prison.

For each case presented in it, the publication brings basic data on the person or the past and present proceedings against the person. It also gives a brief overview of crimes described in indictments or verdicts.

We paid special attention to explanations of second instance verdicts, because they contain historically significant court facts determined by trial chambers in relation to certain crimes, victims and perpetrators.

A copy of the publication can be obtained at the presentation, while the electronic version can be downloaded, as of tomorrow, from www.bim.ba web page

Life in Kosovo debates problems in the judicial system

The topic of the debate on Life in Kosovo this Thursday will be the problems and restructuring of the judicial system.

BIRN has monitored 1248 trials in 18 courts in the past year. The findings of the systematic monitoring of the courts have been published in the yearly report, and they will be the main issues that will be discussed on the programme.

What are the main findings of the BIRN monitors who have systematically monitored 1248 trials in 18 courts of the country? How difficult does the absence of key legal staff in trials make coming to a judgment? What are the kinds of sentences that are issued by the courts of Kosovo?

 

What are the consequences in delaying the start of the trials? How do the defence lawyers of the parties respect the official judgment? How will the system of calling parties for trial be regulated? How does the absence of a translator in the court room make the judgment difficult?

To discuss these findings and the recommendations of the BIRN report on Kosovo’s judicial system, the discussion panel is made of representatives of the judicial, prosecution, ministry of justice and Kosovo Judicial Council.

They are:

Haki Demolli, Minister of Justice
Behar Selimi, Acting Chief Police Officer of Kosovo
Bahri Hyseni, Head of the Assembly Commission for Legislation and Judiciary
Enver Peci, Head of the Kosovo Judicial Council
Valdete Daka, member of the Kosovo Judicial Council and judge in the Supreme Court of Kosovo
Ismet Kabashi, Chief Prosecutor

 

After the debate, BIRN transmits the reportage of the journalist Muhamet Hajrullahu on the expropriation of land because of the privatisation of the airport of Prishtina.

 

Journalist Edona Musa talks about the illegal telephone operators that continue to function in the municipality of Gracanica.

Lastly, journalist Petrit Collaku reveals the challenges of maintaining cultural heritage against the competing interests of home owners and the negligence of institutions charged with protection.

 

 

Life in Kosovo is a co-production between Kosovo Public Television, RTK and the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN. It is broadcast every Thursday, starting at 20:20.

BIRN organises Round Table on Problems in the Justice System

On Tuesday, 18 May, BIRN, organised two round tables where different personalities involved in the field of justice and officials from municipal and district courts met to discuss deficiencies and problems in this field.

The discussion focused on the problems that the justice system is facing in Kosovo as well as other findings from BIRN’s systematic monitoring of 18 municipal and district courts in 14 municipalities in Kosovo.  

The round tables were moderated by the executive director of BIRN Kosovo, Jeta Xharra.

In the first round table the following people participated:

Xhemil Elshani, from the municipal court in Prizren,

Besa Krajka, municipal court in Prizren,

Rafet Haxhaj, municipal court in Klina,

Nehibe Reqica, municipal court in Lipjan,

Rifat Abdullahu, municipal court in Ferizaj,

Salih Mekaj, district court in Peja,

Xhelal Radoniqi, municipal court in Peja,

Elmaze Syka, district court in Peja,

Aferdita Mulhaxha, municipal court in Peja,

Hidajete Veseli, municipal court in Peja

While for the second round table participants were:

Haki Demolli, Minister of Justice,

Fejzullah Hasani, chairman of the Supreme Court,

Encer Peci, Head of the Kosovo Judicial Council, KJC

Sami Kurteshi, Ombudsperson,

Enver Nimoni, a law attorney from Peja,

Aishe Berisha, from the Kosovo Justice Council, KJC

Vahide Limani, from the Kosovo Justice Council, KJC

Ismet Kabashi, chief state prosecutor,

Bahri Hyseni, chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in the Assembly of Kosovo,

Valdete Daka, from the Supreme Court,

Gresa Sefaj, from the European Commission.

 

BIRN monitors presented problems that had been identified throughout the one year monitoring process.

 

These included the fact that trials were not announced on the court notification boards, the unscheduled assignment of judicial hearings between judges and prosecutors, the beginning of sessions without the full panel being present, the inefficiency of the police in completing warrants, the lack of use of electronic devices in courts, the use of mobile phones during trials and trials being held in the judge’s offices.  

 

The participants of the round tables agreed that the situation in the judiciary in Kosovo is alarming, and that, in general, BIRN’s monitoring report of for 2009-2010 is a clear representation of the situation.

State Chief Prosecutor, Ismet Kabashi, said that we cannot expect credible coverage of the workload with so few prosecutors, while the situation would improve if the numbers were increased.

 

While referring to the gaps in the system identified during the one year monitoring, the chief prosecutor, Kabashi, promised that he will try to improve the management of the system overall.

 

Gresa Sefaj, from the European Commission, said that one of the largest investments in the judicial sector has been the installation of the project Information System for Managing Cases, SIML; a system that has been found as inappropriate on the monitoring report for 2008. However, the participants confirmed that the system doesn’t function in any of the courts.

The minister of justice, Haki Demolli, said that he has just started work, but added that he is committed to judicial reforms.

 

The round table ended with agreement from all participants that despite the difficult working conditions and low wages of judges and court administrators, with greater commitment and higher respect of work obligations, some of the problems and basic irregularities could be resolved, and the efficiency of the Kosovo judiciary could improve without budget increase.

 

 

Life in Kosovo debates the ruling coalition

This Thursday, Life in Kosovo will debate the latest developments in the country which have caused friction between the ruling coalition of the Democratic League of Kosovo and Democratic Party of Kosovo.

Should senior government officials be investigated? Should such investigations be announced? How are these investigations being reflected in the ruling coalition?

 

What will be the impact on the political scene? Will there be changes in the coalition? What are the chances of early elections? Is the ruling coalition sustainable?

To discuss these issues, the guests of Muhamet Hajrullahu in the studio will be:

Bajram Rexhepi, assembly member for the PDK and Minister of Internal Affairs;
Eqrem Kryeziu, assembly member for the LDK, and a member of presidency of the Parliament of Kosovo
Blerim Shala, assembly member for the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK.

After the debate, BIRN will broadcast an investigative reportage by Artan Haracia, who talks about the problems of appointing directors to Gjilan municipality.

While in the section Justice in Kosovo, Isa Gacaferi finds out if Kosovo has laboratories and experts for criminal investigations.

 

 

Life in Kosovo is a co-production between Kosovo Public Television, RTK and the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN. It is broadcast every Thursday, starting at 20:20