Tag: Kosovo

BIRN’s televised programmes consist of over an hour of debate, tackling some of the most crucial issues that each municipality faces while also analysing the political parties’ approach to these issues. Candidates running for the positions of mayor in these municipalities are invited to present their political agendas and arguments on how they will carry out their promises and meet other requirements after the elections.

This weekend, the Life in Kosovo team will be visiting the municipalities of Gllogovc, Malisheva, Rahovec, Dragash, Suhareka, Prizren, Gjakova, Decan, Peja, Istog, Klina and Skenderaj.

The timetable and the location of the debates are below:

October 26, 2007

Gllogovc: 10:00h
Malisheva: 14:00h
Rahovec: 18:00h

October 27, 2007

Dragash: 9:00h
Suhareka: 14:00h
Prizren: 18:00

October 28, 2007

Gjakova: 10:00h
Decan: 14:00h
Peja: 18:00h

October 29, 2007

Istog: 10:00h
Klina: 14:00h
Skenderaj: 18:00h

The “Life in Kosovo” shows on municipal elections are a co-production of Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN Kosovo’s public TV station RTK, Advocacy Training and Recourse Centre, ATRC and Institute for Advanced Studies, GAP. These debates were supported by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the OSCE and the UNDP.Local organizations will contribute to the production of these debates as well.

The aim of this visit is to give television viewers in these municipalities the opportunity to put their questions, to discuss the problems that their towns and villages are facing, and to explain how they see their municipalities evolve after the forthcoming local elections.

Through these visits, the team will collect information from citizens in order to raise and put the most appropriate questions, during the planned TV debates on municipal elections, to the candidates who are running for the positions of mayor in 30 municipalities in Kosovo.

The visits are intended to build and strengthen cooperation between the “Life in Kosovo” show and local TV stations.

The following TV stations are going to be visited during the week:

TV Opinioni, Prizren
TV Syri, Gjakova/ Dzakovica
TV Vali, Gjilan/ Gnjilane
TV Mitrovica, Mitrovica

The “Life in Kosovo” show is a co-production of Kosovo’s public service television, RTK, and the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN. It is broadcast every Thursday, beginning at 20:15

What is expected to happen during the latest face-to-face negotiations between the two sides? What is going to be the outcome if the diplomatic process should fail? Will there be a new Dayton-style conference for Kosovo? Should the activities of paramilitary groups on either side, such as the public appearance of the ANA and the threats of the Tsar Lazar guard, be taken seriously? What will happen if Kosovo declares its independence unilaterally? Who would recognize it?

To discuss these issues, we will have the following panelists in the studio:

Tim Judah, journalist with “The Economist” and author of the book “Kosovo: War and
Revenge”;
Andrej Nosov, President of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, YIHR;
Petrit Selimi, editor of the diplomatic bulletin “Kosovo Perspectives”;
Vlora Citaku, spokeswoman of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK and MP candidate;
Andrija Igic, journalist of TANJUG

The “Life in Kosovo” show is a co-production of Kosovo’s public service television, RTK, and the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN. It is broadcast every Friday, beginning at 20:15

If human rights are violated – to whom can citizens address their problems and complaints about them? Why did Kosovars lose their high sense of humanity and solidarity after the war? What do we do as a society in order to help the victims of heavy human rights violations?

To discuss these issues we will have the following panel in the studio:
Hilmi Jashari – Ombudsman of Kosovo;
Hina Jilani- Special Representative of the United Nations for Human Rights defenders
Sarah Maliqi – Director of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR);
Behxhet Shala – from the Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms;
Habit Hajredini – Official for good governance and human rights within the Kosovo government
Afrim Caka – former prisoner of Dubrava prison

The “Life in Kosovo” show is a co-production of the public service radio television of Kosovo, RTK, and the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network. It is broadcast every Friday, beginning at 20:15.

The Life in Kosovo show travelled to New York in order to reveal the different stories and reflections of the city’s inhabitants about the day of the devastating attacks and their aftermath.

How did Americans feel on the day of the attack on the Twin Towers? What consequences did these attacks have for US society? What do they think of the ongoing wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and how do New Yorkers perceive Muslims after the 9/11 attacks?

The Life in Kosovo show is a co-production of BIRN and Kosovo’s public television, RTK. It is broadcast on RTK every Friday, starting at 20:15.

Key points to be elaborated during the debates are: What is offered by university education in Kosovo? Is the quality of studies better in the University of Pristina or in recently established private universities? What are the values, advantages and disadvantages of university education in Kosovo? Is Kosovo producing enough educated people able to compete with graduates in the region and across Europe? To whom are the private universities accountable for the quality of studies?

Studio panelist discussing these issues and more are:

Luan Ahma – vice rector for academic issues in the University of Pristina; Lindita Tahiri – professor at the University of Pristina; Leon Malazogu – from the Kosova Institute for Policy Research and Development, KIPRED; Ismet Gashi – owner of the private Dardania University Basri Muja – former professor at Dardania University; Edmond Hajrizi – owner of UBT, University for Business and Technology; Salal Ahmetxhekaj – owner of FAMA University Mexhait Reci – owner of Iliria University

“Life in Kosovo” is a co-production of RTK and Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN Kosovo, and is broadcast every Friday beginning at 20:15.

Jeta Xharra’s guests for this show are:

Sueda Hoxha – Gynaecologist and chief of the maternity room in the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo;
Ramush Lekaj – Official from the Ministry of Education, who is in charge of primary and secondary school curriculum;
Linda Gucia – Sociologist,
Besfort Krasniqi – Activist in the NGO “Fisniket” from Prizren;
Lura Limani – Activist and student, who just finished the “Sami Frasheri” high school in Pristina.

The “Life in Kosovo” TV debate, is a cooperation between the public television of Kosovo RTK and Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN and is broadcasted every Friday at 20:15.

The following panel will discuss these and other issues concerning Kosovo’s justice system:

Kujtim Kërveshi – First Advisor of the Minister of Justice;
Julie Chadborune – International Federation of Helsinki for Human Rights;
Gjylbehare Murati – lawyer from the institution of the Ombudsperson
Ismet Kabashi – prosecutor in the supreme court and also a representative and member of the Judicial Council
Valon Murati – Human Rights Center

And Albin Kurti – leader of the “Vetevendosje!” movement, who is under house arrest, will participate in the debate live via internet connection.

Live in Kosovo is a BIRN organised TV debate, which is broadcast on Kosovo public television, RTK, every Friday beginning at 20:15.

The following questions will be raised in the programme: Should Kosovo independence be declared unilaterally? What advice did Kosovo leaders get from the Bush administration? What did US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice tell Kosovars and what have Kosovars told her? When will Kosovo declare its independence? What’s the date of Kosovo’s independence? Is there still unity amongst Kosovar leaders? Will Kosovo hold elections this November?

Life in Kosovo is a BIRN-organised TV debate, which is broadcast on Kosovo public television, RTK, every Friday beginning at 20:15.