Assembly fails to elect Ombudsperson
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
The Kosovo Assembly failed to elect Ombudsperson. Out of 26 applicants, Adrijana Hodzic, Hilmi Jashari, and Xhuljeta Mushkolaj had been shortlisted. However, none of them got the majority of votes.
Finally, the Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi warned caucuses that electing Ombudsperson was a requirement for the visa liberalisation process.
Assembly appoints three IMC members
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
The Kosovo Assembly appointed three members of the Independent Media Commission (IMC) from the majority community, whereas the vacancy will be re-announced for two minority community members.
Adnan Merovci, Dritan Qeriqi, and Anita Morina have been appointed as IMC members from the majority community with secrete voting.
The Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi urged MPs to vote, saying that the Assembly must fulfil its obligation to complete those processes that are required also from the Progress Report. According to Krasniqi, once the IMC Council is completed, mandate of IMC members will be determined with lottery, namely two members will have two-year mandate and three members three-year mandate.
Referring to the legislation, Krasniqi said that IMC must comprise at least two women.
IMC: RTK violated Code of Conduct with story on Koha Group
(KTV)
The Independent Media Commission (IMC) issued a warning to Radio and Television of Kosovo (RTK) following a complaint addressed by Koha Group against a TV story aired on 22 February 2014.
IMC reacted immediately, asking for an explanation from RTK about the story. IMC monitored the story and stated that it found that RTK had violated the Code of Conduct on Audio-Visual Media Services.
Serb journalists demand Ivanovic’s release
(KTV)
Seven Serb community journalists from north Kosovo requested from EULEX to immediately release the SDP leader, Oliver Ivanovic.
In a letter sent to EULEX and the EU representative in Kosovo, they expressed their shock about Ivanovic’s arrest, adding that they know him in person and believe in his innocence.
“The arrest of Ivanovic has shocked us because we know him well and we are convinced that he is innocent,” the letter reads.
Protest in Prizren with clashes and arrests
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Hundreds of citizens protested in Prizren, demanding resignation of the mayor Ramadan Muja. They are not satisfied with Muja’s decision to suspend his position. According to the police, not more than 250 people took part in the protest, while organisers said that the number of citizens in the protest was around 2,000.
Several times the protesters were confronted with Special Police Unit members, on which occasion four persons were arrested.
Courts facing backlogs
(TV21)
Kosovo courts are overloaded with cases, and it takes many years for cases to be resolved. Only last year 60,000 cases remained unresolved.
Only in the first two months in 2014, there are over 16,000 minor offence cases waiting to be resolved.
AI calls on Kosovo Assembly to guarantee rights of victims of war crimes of sexual violence
(KTV)
Amnesty International calls on the Kosovo Assembly that besides adopting the Law on KLA Veterans, to guarantee the rights of victims of war crimes of sexual violence in Kosovo. The human rights organisation urges the Kosovo Assembly on 20 March to adopt a legal amendment which would give legal recognition, respect and public acknowledgement to the victims of war crimes of sexual violence.
Rape and other crimes of sexual violence committed over the armed conflict in Kosovo amount to war crimes, Amnesty International states, adding that passing of the law on Thursday is also a step towards ensuring justice.
Amnesty International welcomes the initiative taken by President Atifete Jahjaga to establish a national council for the survivors of wartime sexual violence.
