Tag: Kosovo

Questions covered during the debate included: What happens with the dozens of people who land at Prishtina International Airport every day from foreign countries as part of the repatriation programme? Do they have somewhere to go and/or live? Does anyone take repatriated children to school? Does society support repatriated people, or is it something that is done simply because of visa liberalisation?

 

In order to discuss this issue, Jeta Xharra was joined in the studio by the following:

Verena Knaus, a UNICEF researcher;
Vera Pula, from the Foundation for Open Society;
Daut Qylangjiu, an RTK journalist from the Roma editorial desk;
Sylvian Astier, from the Swiss Embassy, Migration Attaché at the Swiss Embassy; and
Islam Caka, the Director of the Department for Citizenship, Exile and Migration in the Ministry of
Internal Affairs.

Before the debate, BIRN broadcast a documentary discussing the situation on the ground, focusing on repatriated children who, in most cases, do not know any of the languages spoken in Kosovo.

“Several reports of international organisations, such as UNHCR, Human Rights Watch and others have concluded that RAE [Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian] communities are the poorest in Kosovo. It is more difficult for them to be repatriated in Kosovo, due to the fact that they have lived abroad for many years, and they come back without knowing any of the spoken languages in Kosovo. Even worse, they have no homes or shelter. Therefore, they will either have to sell their properties or go back to where they were, or to third countries,” said Mr. Qylangjiu at the beginning of the debate.

Asked if Kosovo has the capacity to respond to all the people being repatriated, Mr. Caka said that “we still have a bad situation, but there is an increasing awareness in our institutions that we have to ‘re-socialise’ these people, and treat them as citizens.”

However, he could not give a straightforward response about the places to which RAE communities are repatriated, and his explanations did not coincide with the reality as presented by Mr. Qylangjiu, a representative of that community.

“Legally, there are 12,000 Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians in Germany that can be sent back [to Kosovo] any time. But the practice is that it is very difficult to send them back. In the last year, Germany sent back about 133 Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian children, and this was much less than we hoped for, since lots of people tried to disappear and did not want to come back,” said Ms. Knaus.

 

Regarding these children, their education and language learning, Ms. Pula said that “most of them do not speak the language. Some language courses were held, but only by NGOs. The courses were not held by the responsible institutions, such as the Ministry of Education, the municipal education directorates or schools.”

Mr. Astier said that “there are more RAE citizens than Albanians in Switzerland, and we know that they need more protection because of their conditions; therefore, they are temporarily admitted. However, I have personally observed that they have places to stay and work in Kosovo. Because of these reasons, I do not see any reason why they need to stay in Switzerland as asylum seekers.”

Click here to watch debate

In the most recent International Documentary and Short Film Festival, DOKUFEST, “Kingdom of Coal” was awarded the best film prize in the category for the environment, GreenDoc. Being the most prominent regional documentary film festival, exclusively dedicated to documentary films, DOKUFEST is organized in August in the picturesque and historical town of Prizren, which has already gained an international and regional reputation for its programme and high attendance.

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 “Kingdom of Coal” was broadcast in Life in Kosovo show on September 01, 2011.

 

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.