A number of online media do not respect Code of Ethics
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Fake news, ownership, address and online media self-regulation were some of the remarks that were made by media representatives and EU officials in an organised roundtable on Tuesday.
Dane Koruga of the OSCE said that some of the challenges of online media are language of hatred and misinformation.
On the other hand, Koha Ditore newspaper editor-in-chief Agron Bajrami said that the problem with online media does not lay only with the fake news, but the fake mediums, too.
Former Chairperson of the Assembly Media Committee, Xhevahire Izmaku, said that Code of Ethics is not being implemented by some online media. According to her, there are portals the address or the owners of which are not known.
“We know that we have hundreds of portals in our country the addresses or owners of which sometimes are not known, who maintains or funds them,” Izmaku said.
In the meantime, Imer Mushkolaj of Kosovo Press Council said: “The Council has considered it is better for them to be part of us than not to be part of any organisation, respectively the body that would regulate the ethical way of their functioning.”
Journalist Ismet Hajdari said that truth is the biggest victim of online reporting. According to him, some online media have decided to serve the politics.
‘Fragile’ situation in north involves OSCE in 11 June elections
(KTV)
The Central Election Commission (CEC) is not ready to take over organisation of elections in the entire territory of Kosovo alone.
Government officials have trumpeted so far that the north has been integrated and the authority of official Prishtinë/Pristina has been extended in this area resided by Serb majority. But under the justification that the situation in the north continues to be fragile, CEC chair Valdete Daka requested from the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jan Braathu, to provide them with technical support for this process.
Compared to 2014 elections, the role of the OSCE will pertain to two aspects only.
EU deploys Election Observation Mission to Kosovo
(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)
The European Union decided to deploy its Election Observation Mission to Kosovo for the 11 June early elections.
Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative, stated that observation mission will provide an important contribution to the further strengthening of Kosovo’s democratic institutions. She considered the decision to deploy the mission, as confirmation of the EU’s support for Kosovo’s democratic governance.
“We expect all political parties, leaders and institutions of Kosovo to ensure that these important elections, including the election campaign, are conducted in line with European democratic standards,” Mogherini was quoted in a press statement issued on Tuesday.
Mogherini has appointed Alojz Peterle, Member of the European Parliament, as the Chief Observer. Peterle expressed his confidence that all stakeholders involved in the process will contribute to fully ensure that the upcoming 11 June elections “will be peaceful, transparent and inclusive”.
In the meantime, EU election analysts have already been deployed to Kosovo. 48 additional election observers will be deployed to Kosovo until the Election Day, while on the E-Day, this mission will be reinforced by delegations of the European Parliament and diplomats from EU Member States accredited to Kosovo.
Mogherini’s press statement can be found in the following link:
In the meantime, at the Central Election Commission consider the observation of elections as a useful tool to improve them.
“So far, the Central Election Commission has accredited the first group, composed of 23 observers, representing the EU. However this is not the total number of observers from the EU since we expect to have other groups during the coming days,” said CEC spokesperson Valmir Elezi.
PDK-AAK-Nisma coalition conditions participation in media debates
(KTV)
In the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) still keep the photo of Hashim Thaçi at the building’s entrance, but coalition of the party led by Kadri Veseli is still not managing to unify their positions, KTV reported.
Now they have decided to set conditions to media to take part in debates.
In an official announcement, the coalition said they will not take part in debate as a single list, but only if it is represented by an official of each party – PDK, AAK and Nisma.
KTV contacted PDK officials who have stated that this is their final stance which will not be changed.
For the other two parties, one of them a coalition, LDK, and the other one that runs alone in elections, Vetëvendosje, this is an additional demonstration that coalition does not have a program to present to citizens and it does not have the courage to show up in debates.
In the Independent Media Commission, which regulates obligations that media have toward the political parties, say that according regulations and laws in force, the certified entity to run in elections is one, regardless if it is a coalition or a single party.
Tahiri refutes Vucic regarding Police in Kosovo north
(KTV)
The Acting Kosovo Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, reacted against the statement of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who said that no Albanian police officer will put a step in Kosovo north.
“The Association of Serb majority municipalities is an important part of Brussels Agreement. It was the smartest move in difficult times,” Vucic said.
He added that with this Agreement it is envisaged that there will only be Serb police officers in Kosovo north.
However, Edita Tahiri says that Vucic is sad because Serbian parallel police structure in Kosovo north has been dissolved.
“Police is present throughout the territory of Kosovo, while in the north, not only the Deputy Police Director is an Albanian, but the entire structure has multi-ethnic composition because Kosovo is a democratic country in action, and not as Serbia which has democracy in words and nationalism in deeds,” reads the reaction of Minister Tahiri.
CEC and MEST sign Memorandum of Cooperation on elections
(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)
Central Elections Commission (CEC) and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation regarding the use of school premises for the electoral process.
The Acting Minister of Education, Arsim Bajrami, said that he makes all the school premises available, but he called on political entities not to hinder the teaching process.
He also called on political parties not to involve young people under the age of 18 in their electoral activities and spare them from the election campaign.
Lunacek: EP gives green light to Kosovo for participation in EU programs
(KTV)
Rapporteur for Kosovo at the European Parliament, Ulrike Lunacek, who is also the Vice President of European Parliament, has reported that this body has given the green light to framework agreement between the European Union and Kosovo for participation in EU programs.
“The European Union’s Foreign Affairs Committee gave green light for EU – Kosovo framework agreement for participation in EU programs. A great step for Kosovo citizens,” Lunacek wrote on her Twitter profile, KTV portal reported.
