Shkëlqim Hysenaj elected as new Chairperson of AKJ Board
(KTV)
Association of Kosovo Journalists (AKJ) has elected its new Chairperson and Board. Shkëlqim Hysenaj of Zëri daily was elected as the successor of Zekirja Shabani at the head of AKJ for a three-year mandate, while in this race he left Shkumbin Ahmetxhekaj and Enis Veliu behind.
In the addressing speech after his election, the former KTV journalist Hysenaj promised to engage for improvement of working conditions for journalists, online version of this broadcaster reported on Saturday.
Taulant Qenaj, Besiana Krasniqi, Fidan Rama, Dardan Hoti, Valdrin Krasniqi, Majlinda Aliu, Arsim Halili and Beadin Syla were elected as Board Members.
Preliminarily, in the AKJ Assembly, leaders of this organization presented the achievements and projects implemented in their two-year mandate. They also presented the report on financial situation of this organization.
Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Jean Claude Schlumberger, also held a speech prior to the AKJ Assembly meeting.
“Freedom of expression, as well as a free and independent media, play a crucial role in overseeing the work of public institutions and consolidating a democratic and free society. Professional journalists serve to inform the public in an unbiased, objective, and timely manner and thus enable them to more effectively participate in public discourse. The media in Kosovo has routinely been assessed as only partly free. Multiple international reports have recently noted a deterioration of media freedom in Kosovo, singling out several cases of threats and violence against journalists while conducting their work,” Ambassador Schlumberger stated.
Stojanovic: Stance regarding Kosovo Armed Force remains negative
(RTK2 & KTV)
Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo from Srpska List, Branimir Stojanovic, said that the stance of Serbs regarding the establishment of Kosovo Armed Force (KAF) continues to remain negative and nothing has changed in this aspect. With this, Stojanovic responded to the invitation of Kosovo Assembly Speaker Kadri Veseli, who called on them to reflect and back establishment of KAF.
“We are at disposal to discuss, not through media as it is being done right now, but in very constructive manner, in the offices, as these things are done,” Stojanovic said.
According to DPM Stojanovic, the governing coalition is not fulfilling the promises it made to Serbs while reaching the coalition agreement, such as the issue of asset protection, representation of Serbs in public sector, establishment of new municipalities, and other themes.
Kosovo Montenegrins urge opposition to ratify demarcation with Montenegro
(Klan Kosova)
Montenegrins living in Kosovo urged Kosovo opposition to accept the Agreement on border demarcation with Montenegro.
In a statement for Indeksonline portal, their representative Slobodan Vujicic said this community strongly supports the Agreement on border demarcation signed between the two countries.
According to Vujicic, the Assembly of Kosovo must ratify this Agreement as soon as possible, and opposition parties should agree about this.
He also said that ratification of the Agreement is the best solution for continuation of neighbourly relations between Kosovo and Montenegro.
Deçan/Decane historians declare President of Constitutional Court a traitor
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Deçan/Decane branch of the League of Kosovo Historians “Ali Hadri” has declared President of Kosovo Constitutional Court Arta Rama-Hajrizi a traitor.
Deçan/Decane historians consider that the Constitutional Court’s decision to transfer the property of social enterprise Apiko and Iliria to Visoki Decani Monastery was based on decisions from the time of Slobodan Milosevic.
In a press release issued, this League demands from Arta Rama-Hajrizi to resign from her post as the Constitutional Court’s President.
Tahiri: No Association prior to dissolution of parallel structures of Serbia
(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)
Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, stated that implementation of the agreement on telephone code and the independence of Kosovo Transmission System Operator and Electricity Market Operator (KOSTT) are preconditions, without the implementation of which, implementation of the Agreement on Association of Serb Majority Municipalities (ASMM) will not commence.
Tahiri said that the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities cannot be established prior to dissolution of all remaining parallel structures of Serbia.
According to her, statute of this Association will be drafted in full compliance with the verdict of Kosovo Constitutional Court.
CHDRF concerned with the poor hygiene in Kosovo prisons
(KTV & Klan Kosova)
Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms (CHDRF) warned that the hygiene in Dubravë /Dubrava correctional centre is not at the required level.
Bathrooms in Dubravë /Dubrava correctional centre are placed together with toilets and their conditions are below any standard, a CHDRF report reads.
The report notes the lack of regular hot water in this centre which forces inmates to improvise dangerous methods to heat the water.
According to CHDRF, also the cells/rooms in Gërdoc high security prison are equipped with toilets which are not separated from the remaining space of the room.
