Seven cases of pressure and threats against journalists marked in 2017

(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)

Threats, insults and abuse by individuals and different groups were made to Zëri newspaper editor-in-chief, Arbana Xharra, during her work at different time periods. She expressed her discontent regarding inefficiency of justice bodies.

“I will not address any threat that I will receive to the Police, because they will carry their duty, but Prosecution was not able to solve any of the dozens of cases out hundreds of threats I received, but dozens of which I addressed to the Police,” Xharra said.

Different threats were also made to KohaVision producer, Fatmir Lama.

“I will not be scared. I will continue my work further because it is a moral and professional obligation of mine to tell the truth about Kosovo. If we do not tell the truth about Kosovo, we will never be free. Freedom is gained with courage,” Lama said.

Darko Dimitrijevic of Radio Gorazdevac also presented several cases of attacks by Serbs of Kosovo north.

“Media freedom is not satisfactory. We had direct threats. During a visit of [Hashim] Thaçi in the north we recorded a Serb community resident talking and drinking with Thaçi. For this, we received verbal threats by residents of Gorazdevac/Gorazhdevc. Another case is related to recent elections in Serbia, where many government officials requested from us to remove cameras, which almost caused physical violence,” Darko Dimitrijevic stated.

According to the data of the OSCE and the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, since January this year seven cases of different forms of pressure and threats against journalists have been marked.

“The cases that are constantly occurring are not a good indicator as far as journalists’ freedom and safety is concerned,” said Arben Hajredinaj of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

“From January until today there are seven cases that we have registered. It seems that the trend will be more or less similar to the previous years,” said Petrit Çollaku of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo.

At the conference “Safety of Journalists in Kosovo” was requested greater engagement of justice institutions in investigating these cases since, as it was said, journalists feel endangered during their work.

On the other hand, Kosovo Police Spokesperson Baki Kelani said that Police was has always been ready to cooperate with journalists on the cases of threats and assaults against them.

Threats against journalists in Kosovo, still a concern

(All monitored broadcasters, RTK1)

Journalists in Kosovo continue to work under difficult conditions, while the threats and attacks against them for their work remain the greatest problems for this community.

In the protest organised by the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK) on the World Press Freedom Day under the motto “Speak up, don’t be afraid” was said that despite institutional efforts to fight attacks against media, the situation continues to be problematic.

Shkëlqim Hysenaj, Head of AJK, said it is a concerning fact that six cases seeking investigation have been reported only during the first quarter of this year.

Imer Mushkolaj of Kosovo Press Council said that through the protest it is called for increase of responsibility toward completion of the work in the most professional manner possible.

Budimir Nicic, Head of the Association of Journalists of Serbia in Kosovo, said ‘we raise voice on today against those that threaten our freedom of speech and who exercise censorship.’

AAB research: Kosovo media partly free

(TV21)

A research of the Faculty of Mass Communication of AAB College and the Kosovo Media Institute and Communication with journalists and editors of the four TV stations with most influence in Kosovo, RTV21, RTK, KTV, and Klan Kosova, brings out that 71.4 per cent of the respondents think that media in Kosovo are partly free.

The respondents, at a greater number, say that journalists of Kosovo mediums face different intrusions, political above all, and that threats against journalists do not miss, but they are not very frequent.

Director of Information of RTV21, Eugen Saraqini, said that the greatest political influence, and not only, is on the public broadcaster but this situation changes on the other TV broadcasters.

Commenting the research results on independence of media, Klan Kosova Director of Information Gazmend Syla considers the overall media environment in the country as free.

Other media representatives highlighted the reasons of media independence or not, and potential intrusions be them from the politics or businesses.

This research was published on World Press Freedom Day.

O’Connell: Freedom of expression and free press – basis of democracy

(KTV)

On the World Press Freedom Day, British Ambassador to Kosovo Ruairi O’Connell wrote on Facebook that freedom of expression and a free press are fundamental to human rights and the basis of democracy.

“Journalists play a vital role in keeping the public informed and holding governments to account,” O’Connell wrote, KTV portal reported.

“On World Press Freedom Day, I remember everyone who is fighting for the truth and against censorship and intimidation, often in the face of threats and violence,” British Ambassador concluded in Facebook.

Judiciary urged to be more efficient in treating cases of attacks against journalists

(RTK1)

Threats and blackmails by politics and certain groups in Kosovo have deteriorated the safety of journalists during the recent years. This was stated at the conference ‘Safety of Journalists in Kosovo’, organized by the Kosovo Media Institute (KMI) and UBT College.

RTK Director General, Mentor Shala, talked about politics-funded pressure that might be put on media. He emphasized that serious threats are being made against journalists recently, as he said including terrorist acts. He blamed State Prosecution for not solving these cases out.

“I think that there were some terrorist acts against journalists in Kosovo. Throwing of a bomb is a terrorist act. Regardless of the fact if there were fatalities or not the act as such is a terrorist act. Drawing of symbols with blood at the house-door of our colleague Arbana Xharra, are serious acts and the state, respectively the justice system should deal seriously with these acts,” said Shala.

RTK premises and the house of RTK Director General were attacked with bombs, while Prosecution has not yet solved these cases.

Xhevahire Izmaku, chairperson of Assembly Media Committee, said that judiciary should be more efficient in solving the cases of attacks against journalists.

On the other hand, Erhard Busek, urged media to be cautious when reporting, but he also emphasized that journalists should be courageous in their work.

Threats against journalists in Kosovo have increased, but different from the past years, these threats are mainly done by certain groups of interests, and less by the Government, RTK1 reported.

Kosovo President, Hashim Thaçi, at the official opening of the international conference “Prishtina Media Days”, commended the public broadcaster for maintaining its editorial independence. He also condemned every threat against journalists.

Stojanovic promises to return over 19.000 Serbs in Kosovo

(Klan Kosova)

Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Branimir Stojanovic, visited Kraljevo, Serbia, during the weekend and discussed with the displaced Kosovo Serbs their return to Kosovo.

Stojanovic aims to return in Kosovo over 19.000 Serbs, who currently live in Kraljevo, promising them houses, jobs and, as he said, return of their usurped property.

However, Deputy PM Stojanovic admitted that the return of Serbs ‘in certain areas is impossible’, pointing out Mushtisht village of Suharekë/Suva Reka, where local citizens have not allowed return of Serbs in this village, which, according to them, have committed war crimes.

There are doubts that citizens of other Kosovo parts are paying electricity bills of north (KTV)

Within a short time, the Ombudsperson is expected to come out with conclusions taken out of the research done regarding payment of electric power spent in the northern part of the country by consumers of other parts of Kosovo, KTV reports.

This step was taken after 18 years.

Ombudsperson Hilmi Jashari said that in case institutions will not respect conclusions that will come out this research, this Institution will address the courts itself.

On the other hand, civil society representatives accuse negotiators in talks with the Serbian side of not taking any action to solve this issue.

For 18 years not all citizens of other parts of Kosovo continue to pay the unpaid bills of electric power spent by residents of four municipalities in northern part of the country. It is estimated that northern part has spent over 100 million euros of electric power, a good part of which has already been paid by the Kosovars.

Kurti: Police is intentionally not arresting me

(KTV)

Albin Kurti considers the latest arrest warrant against him as persecution of Vetëvendosje.

In an exclusive interview with KTV, Kurti said he is not hiding and that he is normally carrying out his activity, but he said that Police has not intentionally arrested him until now.

Kurti said that at a time when the issue of the Demarcation with Montenegro has been revived, including announcement of a potential plenary session about it, Government, according to him, is looking who are their opponents and who can be an obstacle to them.

Kosovo Police has not clarified if it is searching for him and why it has not executed this arrest warrant the moment that Kurti entered Kosovo at Hani i Elezit border point.

At a time when the Court has ordered Kurti’s arrest through an arrest warrant issued on 21 April, Police has kept silent about its inaction. According to the arrest warrant that KTV got hold of, Police Station Centre is obliged to send the announcement in all the border points, as well as at Prishtina Airport.

In case he is arrested, according to the decision of Judge Beqir Kalludra, Kurti will be directly sent to detention for a month; however, Kurti says that this is not relevant to him.

Hoxhaj: Demarcation with Montenegro is a matter of days

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Kosovo Foreign Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, spoke before the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, where he said that Demarcation with Montenegro is a matter of days.

On the other hand, MEP and Rapporteur for Kosovo on visa liberalisation process, Tanja Fajon, called on Kosovo politicians not to manipulate with people and to not use rhetoric as, according to her, visa liberalisation is much more complex than fulfilment of the Demarcation criterion.

“I want to stress that this criterion has been set by the European Commission and the Thaçi Government had agreed with it. If there is anything that cannot be accepted now, that cannot be implemented now, then the Assembly and politicians of Kosovo should propose alternatives and I encourage them to do that. But, I am afraid that Kosovo politicians are using rhetoric for internal political situation and visa liberalisation is a hostage of this situation,” Fajon said.

Minister of European Integration does not allow journalists’ questions

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

On the World Press Freedom Day, cabinet of Kosovo Minister of European Integration, Mimoza Ahmetaj, did not allow journalists to make questions on the press conference staged.

After the meeting she had with the Montenegrin Minister of European Integration, Aleksandar Andrija Pejovic, Minister Mimoza Ahmetaj said that Montenegro should be taken as an example in the European integration processes.

On the other hand, her Montenegrin counterpart expressed Montenegro’s willingness to help Kosovo in the Euro-integration processes.

Minister Ahmetaj and her counterpart from Montenegro left the press conference after having said only what they wanted to say.

Judiciary, prosecution and public procurement key areas of corruption

(KTV)

Judicial system, prosecution and public procurement are some of the key areas where corruption in Kosovo happens. This was stated during publication of corruption risk assessment in the field of judiciary, prosecution and public procurement, a joint project of the European Union and Council of Europe against economic crime.

Regardless of the mission it has to combat corruption, this negative phenomenon continues to be most present in Kosovo’s judiciary system was said on this occasion.

Deputy Minister of Justice, Munir Basha, said that situation is not very bad but, according to him, regaining of citizens’ trust in country’s judiciary remains a problem.

Basha also said that concrete measures will be taken regarding the findings of this assessment.

Isabelle Servoz-Galluci, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Prishtinë/Pristina, said that the findings are relevant and they also serve to the Anti-Corruption Agency.

Deputy Head of Cooperation Section in the EU Office in Kosovo, Libor Chlad, hopes that addressing of deficiencies identified will impact on improvement of judicial system in Kosovo.

Albanian school in north attempted to be set on fire

(Klan Kosova)

After the recent attempts to set the health centre and a house in “Kodra e Minatorëve” in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north on fire, this time the unidentified perpetrators attempted to set fire to the firewood shed attached to the Albanian school in this neighbourhood.

Representatives of this school and of the neighbourhood consider these attempts as a campaign against Albanians, who are minority in this area, Klan Kosova reported.

Firewood shed was set ablaze, but luckily the fire was spotted by the local Serbs who called the fire-fighters. Because of this, the Albanian school ‘Aziz Sylejmani’ located in the Serb majority resided area, was saved from being burned down.

Flamur Gacaferri, Director of this school, considers that the attack aimed to intimidate Albanian residents. According to him, if the firewood shed would have burned, the flames would have also caught the school attached to it.

UN Mission in Kosovo officials visited the scene on Wednesday morning.

This is the third incident within three weeks in this neighbourhood resided by few Albanians.

Few days ago, the local health centre in “Kodra e Minatorëve’ in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north, which is managed by Albanians, was set on fire.  There were also attempts to set on fire the house of an Albanian, who does not live in this neighbourhood any longer.

According to the Albanian representative of this neighbourhood, Gani Hysenaj, these are ethnically motivated incidents. He requested additional security measures to be imposed to this neighbourhood, including more frequent police patrols.