Author: birnEU

The three stories were given awards for best environmental reporting at a ceremony on Tuesday by Cohu, the anti-corruption and good governance NGO.

The prizes were presented by Arton Demhasaj, the executive director of Cohu, who said that the media did not cover issues related to the environment enough this year, and that the awards ceremony was intended in part to raise awareness about this crucial issue.

First place was taken Koha Ditore journalist Besnik Krasniqi, for his article on air pollution caused by old cars. The article was an EU-funded project implemented by BIRN and the Association of Kosovo Journalists, AJK.

In his acceptance speech, Krasniqi highlighted the ongoing problem of air pollution in Kosovo. “Hundreds of deaths are caused because of pollution, including pollution that comes from cars,” he said.

Second place went to RTK journalist Edona Musa for her article on the illegal coal trade and the air pollution that results from the burning of coal, which is having deadly consequences. Musa’s investigation was also implemented by BIRN.

Receiving the award, Musa stressed that coal was still being extracted and sold illegally this winter. “Let’s hope that Kosovo institutions do their utmost to stop the burning of coal,” she said.

The third story awarded was by Drenushe Ramadani, a journalist from BIRN Kosovo’s site Kallxo.com.

Her article focused on the risks to rivers due caused by the construction of hydropower plants across Kosovo.

“I am happy about this first-ever prize on the topic that I love the most – the environment,” Ramadani said.

The report is based on nine months of direct monitoring between April and December 2019, and is the second annual report from the two organisations aimed at enhancing TAK’s integrity.

It was presented at the roundtable by Kreshnik Gashi, managing editor at Kallxo.com and anchor of the ‘Justice in Kosovo’ TV programme, and policy analyst Visar Rushiti.

Gashi said that as a result of both this project and reporting made to the Kallxo.com anti-corruption platform, citizens’ perception of TAK has improved. “During this year alone we have received over 100 reports on various tax evasion issues,” he said.

During the discussion, the director of TAK, Ilir Murtezaj, said that the organisation is preparing a working plan to increase the integrity of TAK. This will be carried out in cooperation with organisations outside TAK and with relevant institutions.

Jacob Webber, the deputy head of the British embassy in Pristina, highlighted that strengthening internal governance is a key step toward increasing taxpayers’ trust in the Tax Administration of Kosovo.

“From local and international reports it appears that the informal economy in Kosovo is very high, and this should be dealt with by the Tax Administration of Kosovo,” Webber said.

“The British embassy will be a long-term partner of TAK, for maintaining macroeconomic stability and combating the informal economy.” He added.

Hekuran Murati, representing Vetevendosje (Self-Determination), which is set to be the main party in the upcoming coalition government, said at the at the roundtable discussion that one of the main issues for TAK is personal income tax.

“Legislation needs to be changed, but not everything can be regulated by legislation, but through the will of each institution,” Murati said.

The project analyses reports published by the National Audit Office on Kosovo’s municipalities.

The results of BIRN’s monitoring and analysis were presented and discussed in an open debate with more than 30 participants from the municipality, the National Audit Office and civil society. The debate was also streamed live on BIRN’s anti-corruption platform KALLXO.com.

Visar Prebreza, BIRN Kosovo’s managing editor, gave a brief presentation on the project and its findings.

Prebreza said that over the last four years the main issue that has been highlighted is the non-recording of financial statements.

He said that in 2017 the municipality received a qualified opinion from the auditors, rather than a positive assessment, and that the recommendations received have not been implemented to a satisfactory level.

The mayor of Malisheva, Ragip Begaj, said that most of the recommendations given by the auditors were implemented, while some of them are in the process of being realised.

During the debate, a representative from the National Audit Office, Faruk Rrahmani, stated that only 33 per cent of recommendations from 2017 have been implemented, a percentage which is close to the average among the municipalities but still represents a low level of implementation.

“The implementation of the auditor’s recommendations generates a better performance from the municipalities and improves the lives of citizens,” Rrahmani said.

As well as providing an avenue to discuss the implementation of recommendations by the Audit Office, the debates give an opportunity for BIRN to record promises made both by the General Auditor and the municipality of Malisheva, to be followed-up through Kallxo.com’s fact-checking platform, Krypometer.

The debate was organised within the framework of the project ‘Support Civil Society to Increase Public Oversight and Accountability of Kosovo Public Institutions’, funded by the British Embassy in Pristina. This specific activity is organised as part of a component looking into the compliance of targeted institutions with the recommendations from the Auditor General’s reports.

Similar debates will be held in other municipalities in the country, with the aim of presenting BIRN Kosovo’s analysis of the success in implementing recommendations made by the Auditor. Every debate will be held during municipal assemblies of the municipalities in question, and will be live-streamed by BIRN Kosovo.

The quake in Albania has so far left at least 40 dead, more than 650 injured and thousands of others without shelter.

The platform ‘Kallxo për Shqipërinë’ (Kallxo for Albania), serves as an online hub for all individuals, groups and organisations that want to donate to people who suffered from the quake – and where people in need can find all current offers of shelter, food, clothes and transport.

Less than two hours after the platform was created, more than 150 people had registered to provide aid.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci declared Wednesday a day of mourning for the quake victims in neighbouring Albania. Kosovo police and military rescue teams were sent to the scene immediately to work in the ruins of destroyed buildings, seeking survivors.

In the port city of Durres, the area worst affected, rescuers have continued to search the ruins of apartment building for survivors.

While rescue work continues, the western Kosovo town of Pejë/Pec has already provided shelter for 60 people from the affected zones.

Arben Aliaj, from Durres, has been sheltering with a Peja family since Tuesday. “I will always appreciate the extraordinary help of Kosovars. I will not forget it in my lifetime,” he said on Wednesday.

The municipal authorities said those seeking help from Albania will be offered food, clothes, medical checks and care.

On the first day of training, talks were given by Visar Prebreza, Kallxo.com’s editor, and Labinot Leposhtica, BIRN Kosovo’s law office coordinator.

The day started with Leposhtica talking through some of the legal issues the students might face in the future, discussing ethics in journalism, privacy issues, copyright and the protection of sources.

Sharing his experiences at BIRN with the students, Prebreza highlighted the importance of facts during research, giving specific examples from his work.

He also elaborated on the reporting done through Kallxo’s fact-checking platform‘Krypometer’ (‘Truth-o-Meter’), which uses the platform and information from the public to investigate major cases of corruption and organised crime.

On the second day, students had the opportunity to gain insights from Kreshnik Gashi, anchor of the TV programme ‘Justice in Kosovo’.

Gashi elaborated on how to establish facts and ensure verified reporting in journalism, as well as outlining thorough research methods based on International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) standards and research based on reports from whistleblowers.

During the second part of the second day, the students had the chance to see some of the ‘doorstep’ interviews that have been conducted by Kallxo.com journalists.

After watching some examples of this kind of interview, the students practiced them with their colleagues.

Journalism students on the course were provided with certificates to demonstrate the knowledge and experience gained from the three lectures.

The training was provided by the Civil Society Program for Albania and Kosovo, funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and managed by the Kosovo Foundation for Civil Society (KCSF) in partnership with Partners Albania for Change and Development (PA).

The training session was attended by more than 20 participants, all from senior positions within the NAO.

The ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Kosovo, Gerrie Willems, who opened the session, emphasised the role of the project in improving public understanding.

“Transparency and accountability are key elements for stability in Kosovo’s institutions,” Willems said.

“The National Audit Office is the highest institution in the field of transparency and accountability regarding the management of public funds under the constitution and laws of Kosovo, so together with BIRN we will ensure that your public appearance corresponds to your work,” the ambassador added.

Jeta Xharra, executive director of BIRN Kosovo and anchor of the ‘Life in Kosovo’ TV show, highlighted the importance of the training session, and the cooperation between BIRN and the NAO.

“The work of the Auditor General together with National Audit Office is full of findings, results and recommendations given to public institutions, but it is not sufficiently promoted through social media,” Xharra said.

“At the same time, the message of National Audit Office in not being communicated to the public,” she added.

Besnik Osmani, the Auditor General, emphasised that the NAO needs to be “open and to inform the general public that our work is 100 per cent transparent”.

He went on to say that together with support from BIRN Kosovo and the embassy, the organisation “will be able to improve many things”, and added that the NAO will seek to hire permanent staff to help with communication in the future.

Information on social media use and security at the training session was provided by BIRN Kosovo’s media editor Granit Mavriqi, while insights regarding ethics and social media visibility were provided by Kreshnik Gashi, BIRN Kosovo’s managing editor.

Finally, BIRN Kosovo’s legal expert, Labinot Leposhtica, trained the NAO staff in legislation governing the use of social media and the potential consequences of its use.

The training session was organised as part of the project ‘Promoting the Auditor General and NAO’s Role in Kosovo’, founded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Prishtina.

The session was held as a part of a three-day comprehensive training course which BIRN Kosovo will provide to the Auditor General and the National Audit Office.