Implementation of the Law on Languages in Kosovo is not satisfactory, however situation is improving, says Language Commissioner Slavisa Mladenovic. He says that violation of the Law is visible in all spheres of our lives and institutions, from traffic signs to names of institutions and poor translations.
“From those reasons Office of the Language Commissioner was established as the mechanism which guarantees implementation of the Law. Most frequent problem in its implementation is lack of potentials and finances,” said Mladenovic to TV Center. He stressed that there is possibility for citizens to file complaints in relation to poor implementation of the Law on Languages and added that sanctions are prescribed for those who don’t respect the law.
“It is important for citizens to know that they can complain, that they can visit the Office and point on what they see as the priority in addressing problems. We are trying to solve problems through mediation, and if that is not successful we are initiating investigations in order to find the responsible and issue recommendations, final measure is sanction, which is quite symbolic and amounts from EUR 100 to EUR 1.000. In most cases, institutions are ready to implement the Law,” says Mladenovic.
“We cooperate with all, while media have very important role here since they have the power to exert pressure on institutions to perform better. Positive example is the one that documents issued to newborn babies are not labeled extracts anymore, instead they are labeled certificates. Thus we are trying to inform people through media and our media campaigns that they are entitled to their language rights in institutions. Civil servants in institutions are supposed to do outmost to carry out their jobs in adequate manner, in both official languages, Albanian and Serbian,” says Mladenovic.
He added that web pages of Kosovo institutions look quite poor and the Office of the Language Commissioner is doing outmost to improve the situation.
