Kosovo Archives - Page 53 of 85

“Life in the Municipality” run-off debates: Viti

The candidates from Viti revisited their previous debates and explained their strategic plans for the local governance of the municipality on a “Life in the Municipality” run-off debate in November 2013.

Sokol Haliti from LDK and Nexhmedin Arifi from PDK faced each other during the municipal debate and received more votes during the first round of elections.

Haliti said that he was expecting better results from the first set of elections; he also declared that LDK will have the highest number of seats in the assembly, a total of 10 seats.

According to Arifi, Viti showed the highest level of participation in the elections. He also said that PDK made a coalition with AAK and AKR.

“I think that the people of Viti are trusting the local leadership, but there were some difficulties that hampered me. That is the reason we had this result. I strongly believe that in the second round we will improve the results for PDK and the coalition,” he said.

Discussing the promises made during the TV debate, Arifi mentioned the reconstruction of two schools in Pozhoran and Begunce. Haliti said that he will divert 6.7 percent from the total budget in order to repair education conditions.
Arifi also mentioned that he will keep his promise of investing 200,000 euro for the environmental efforts, while his opponent planned to invest 1.5 million euro.

Arifi also promised to build the Family Health Centre, which according to him will be built in the beginning of 2014 and the construction will take three to four months. However, Haliti said that if he wins, he will create 13 family health centres. He also promised to increase the number of employees in these centers.

Haliti declared that he will invest 1 million euro on culture in the next four years.

Haliti mentioned that his priorities are to repair the sewage network, road infrastructure, economic development, offer better education conditions, improve sport and culture sectors, and increase public access to information.

According to him, the total budget to implement these changes is 14.8 million euro.

Arifi’s said his first project would be the cleaning of the cleaning of Morava river – a project supported by the European Commission, which would begin in March 2014. Regarding the problems of the water supply plant and sewers – he said those would be addressed within two years.

“Life in the Municipality” run-off debates: Gracanica

Bojan Stojanovic, the SKS candidate for Gracanica, said the first round of the elections was a broken process, where democratic principles were not followed and human rights were violated. .

“I think that those who doesn’t speak about this in public are becoming collaborators,” he said during a “Life in the Municipality” run-off debate in November 2013Stojanovic said that during the pre-election process there were threats against would-be voters. He also complained that ones of his opponents broke the prescribed elections silence by discussing his victory on TV.
CIS candidate Branimir Stojanovic said that the electoral process was largely proper, with just minor problems.
“On the election day there were some problematic moments, [but] I think the entities responsible for security acted properly,” he added.
He added there was an attempt to trade votes, but police intervened in time to stop this.
Regarding street dogs, Bojan Stojanovic said this is a problem throughout Kosovo and there should be places establishes where dogs would be sterilized. Branimir Stojanovic said the problem is the result of neglect, and promised to establish proper place to take care of the dogs.
The candidates also addressed the lack of a school in Kishnica village, and agreed one should be built.

“Life in the Municipality” run-off debates: Kllokot

Sasa Mirkovic, the SLS candidate for Kllokot municipality, said during a “Life in the Municipality” run-off debate in November 2013 that he was satisfied with 99 percent voter turnout in elections despite pressure placed on voters.

He said officials working for Serbian institutions were threatened with being fired if they did not vote. Mirkovic also talked also about the development of spa tourism, and said there were problems with property issues.

“When it comes to the development of spa tourism and expanding the mineral water factory, the main problem we have is property, which in the past used to be property of the Kllokot spa and nowadays is property of the Kosovo Privatization Agency.”

“Life in the Municipality” run-off debates: Novoberda

The LDK candidate Bajrush Ymeri, the mayor of the municipality of Novoberda, said during a “Life in the Municipality” run-off debate in November 2013 that he was surprised with the high level of voter turnout compared to the previous elections.

What was disturbing, according to him, was that people came from Serbia to vote. “Mainly, the highest level of participation was from the Serbian community,” he said. He said that the municipality has been working for the past six years to build a water plant. The municipality has continuously asked the Hidro Morava company to implement this, he said.

“Life in the Municipality” run-off debates: Ranillug

Milan Aritonovic, the SNPK candidate for the mayor of Ranilug, encouraged citizens to stay united during a “Life in the Municipality” run-off debate in November 2013.

“We are minority. Very few Serbs are left in this area. That’s why people should be united,” he said. “I guarantee that not even a single person will be left without income from the republic of Serbia,” he said.

He characterized the electoral process as tense.

“Life in the Municipality” run-off debates: Shterpce

The CIS candidate for mayor of Strpce, Ivan Redzic, declared during a “Life in the Municipality” run-off debate in November 2013 that the election was full of pressure.

In this municipality the sewage is discharged directly into the Lepenc River. Redzic blamed the municipal government for permitting the pollution of the river. He said that he has already a strategic plan to clean this river.

BIRN Kosovo director discusses fellowship programme on Klan Kosova

Jeta Xharra, country director of BIRN Kosovo, was invited to the morning programme of Klan Kosova on Feb. 25 to discuss the 2014 programme for the Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence.

Xharra described the programme and encouraged journalists to apply for it. This year the programme’s theme is “Generations”.

“The journalists that apply for this fellowship are privileged because their articles will be published in different international media, and they will be guided and mentored by a group of experienced local and international journalists and editors”, Xharra said.

“The ones who win the fellowship will investigate and write about this particular topic for the whole year. Journalists will not only write and investigate the topic within Balkans; they will have the possibility to go to EU countries and investigate the topic there”, Xharra continued.

Journalists will be provided with 2,000 euro for trips to EU countries and 2,000 euro for the story. The individual who wins first place will receive a prize of 4000 Euro.

Find more at: http://klankosova.tv

Managing Editor of BIRN Kosovo Discusses Fellowship Programme on RTK

Muhamet Hajrullahu, managing editor of BIRN Kosovo, was invited to the morning programme of the national broadcaster, RTK, on February 27 to talk about the 2014 Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence.

This is the eighth time that BIRN in cooperation with the ERSTE Foundation and the Open Society Foundation is providing 10 journalism fellowships in Balkans. The annual theme for this year’s programme is “Generations”.

Hajrullahu said this is a great opportunity for journalists to apply for this fellowship and to create new contacts in the region and beyond. Hajrullahu also explained this year’s fellowship has expanded to include journalists from Greece – in addition to those from other Balkan countries.

“Every journalist from different Balkan countries has the possibility to present their work/proposals and in the end they will be selected by professionals on a board of experienced journalist and editors”, Hajrullahu said.

Investment Insecurities

Bab Club is one of the most frequented clubs in Prishtina, but it is built in an occupied property.

This object which was privatized by Xhevat Sadriaj, who operates in the business of real estate and insurance in Swizerland, now is occupied from Rrustem Rukolli, owner of Bab Club.

This property is located infront of New Born Obelisque and beaneth Grand Hotel. Sadriaj’s property is now a business area owned by the company “R and Rukolli” that won more than 5 million euro bid from the municipality of Skenderaj and around 15 million euro from other public authorities.

Rukolli is also coordinator of the security team of the mayor of Skenderaj, Sami Lushtaku, which is detention for war crimes, from EULEX.

Sadriaj who is partial owner of the company COEB which bought the place in 2011 from Property Privatization Agency, has no access to his property.

Property Privatization Agency and Mr. Rukolli had a deal which gave right Mr.Rukolli to use this property till the moment that it is privatized. From the moment this property was privatized AKP informed the holder that the property was sold, said Mr. Ylli Kaloshi, spokesperson of AKP. From that moment we have no obligation toward investors to liberate the properties, he added.

If the investors have problems with the properties they can present the case to the court, says Kaloshi.

Sadriaj paid 147 thousand euro to buy this place. The whole history began at the platform of Grand that used to be public property.

The documents of AKP showed that the 3 places where Bab Club was build used to be property of the public enterprise Rilindja.

Sadriaj bought this property in 2011 through a bid with the cost of 147 thousand euro. After getting the papers that show him as the owner, he went to visit the place. There he realized that the place was being used from Rrustem Rukolli owner of “R and Rukolli.

According to Sadriaj, Rukolli offered him to buy the place with the same price but he refused. After this Rukolli told Sadriaj that he will have to deal with God. He also said that Rukolli refused to pay the rent for using the property for 2 years.

“I told him that my Swiss partners doesn’t want to sell the property, thats why you have to pay the rent, but after this he didn’t answer the phone anymore”, said Sadriaj.

The lawyer of Rukolli Arianit Koci does not deny the possibility that Rukolli offered to buy the place from Sadrijaj.

“It’s possible; there is nothing bad in offering to buy the place. In fact with this offer he recognizes that the property belongs to Sadriaj” said Koci, juridical representative of Rrustem Rukolli.

Justice in Kosovo talked with Mr.Rukolli, but he recommended that for this case they should talk with his lawyer Mr.Arianit Koci.

Koci said that his client does not know which part of the place is owned by Sadriaj, that’s why he is waiting for a court decision.

According to the officials of AKP, Rukolli knew precisely where the borders of Rilindja were.

The biggest problem is that Sadriaj’s Swiss Partners started to feel insecure for their investments in Kosovo.

Justice in Kosovo also prepared a short report on legislative changes in Kosovo Chamber of Advocates. From December, 2013, every citizen that chooses a lawyer to protect him/her will know if the lawyer has a criminal background. The Kosovo Chamber of Advocates decided to publish all the disciplinary decisions for advocates/lawyers.

From the moment that a citizen needs a lawyers, they can look in the Kosovo Chamber of Advocates if they want to find out if there is any open disciplinary file for that particular lawyer/advocate.

The court ordered raids

On January 20 and 26, 2013, Justice in Kosovo broadcast, in the segment “Police”, the court ordered raids.

Kosovo Police, ordered by court, organized and action called the court ordered raids. During this operation many cafeterias and bars were controlled. This operation was initiated because the number of penal acts in near these bars increased. The police also was searching for illegal drugs and weapons. Around 80 police officers were engaged in this operation.

In the first part of the programme were raided 7 bars, whereas in the second part 2 bars were raided. During this operation police found many small bags of marihuana and some cold weapons such as knives and iron sticks.

The Kosovo Police operation went well and there was no complication during the operation.