Jahjaga requests added care for victims of sexual violence
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Sixteen years after the end of the conflict, the victims of sexual violence are expected to be entitled to their rights. Governmental commission for verification and recognition of the status of the victims of sexual violence during the war is expected to be established soon.
This was announced during the fourth meeting of the National Council for the Victims of Sexual Violence during the war, chaired by Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga.
Addressing this conference, President Jahjaga expressed her belief that the Government will take the necessary decisions that would pave the way to establishment of a governmental commission for verification and recognition of the status of the victims of sexual violence during the war, as foreseen by the law.
Meanwhile, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Arban Abrashi, said the commission will be established soon and the verification process will begin this year.
On the other hand, the United Kingdom Ambassador to Kosovo, Ruari O’Connell said that the perpetrators of sexual violence crimes during the war in Kosovo should be punished.
Engel: Kosovo an example for promotion of interfaith tolerance
(RTK1)
On Wednesday, the U.S. Congressman Eliot Engel met, during his visit to Kosovo, with the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Petrit Selimi and with the religious clerics of Kosovo.
Congressman Engel expressed his support to the work of Minister Selimi and to the team for Inter-religious Dialogue.
Engel said that Kosovo could show to the world that there is no need to fear the Muslim majority, underlining that Kosovo could give lessons on how the majority is respectful and promoter of tolerance and protection of the minority.
Congressman Engel met also with Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Branimir Stojanovic
Tahiri: Mitrovicë/Mitrovica barricade to be removed by October
(All monitored broadcasters, TV21)
Dialogue Minister Edita Tahiri stated that the barricade over the Ibër River in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica will be removed on 01 October. According to her, the plan presented by the EU envisages the bridge to be preliminarily used only by pedestrians, and later for movement of vehicles as well.
Moreover, Tahiri stated that they have reached an agreement in principle on Telecomm, which is expected to be approved in the next meeting of the two Prime Ministers. According to her, the agreement foresees to temporarily allow a Serbian mobile operator in Kosovo that would cease existing as soon as the international call for the third national operator is launched.
Internationals pressuring for the establishment of Special Court
(TV21& KTV)
Opposition political parties say that international community is pressuring and threatening MPs to vote the establishment of the Special Court after the Assembly failed to approve it last Friday.
However, despite the pressure, MPs that voted against the Amendment 24 have no intention to change their stance, KTV reports.
Contacted by KTV, some of PDK MPs said that their stance remains firmly the same, as it was during Friday’s Assembly session.
On the other hand, Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa told TV21 Kosovo must establish the Special Court and that there is no other alternative. According to him, Kosovo institutions should establish the Special Court before summer vacations due to obligations of international stakeholders.
Kosovo’s budget decreases for EUR 52 million
(Most monitored broadcasters, TV21)
Assembly’s Committee on Budget and Finance approved on Wednesday the draft law on revised budget 2015 and proceed it to the Assembly for approval.
The revised budget needs to be approved by the Assembly of Kosovo before 17th of July or otherwise the Government cannot sign the new IMF program.
Deputy Minister of finance, Agim Krasniqi, said that the revised budget is EUR 1 billion and 535 million, namely EUR 52 million less than the initial budget.
Roundtable debate about financing of RTK held
(RTK2&RTK1)
No final solution has been identified yet for financing of Kosovo Public Broadcaster (RTK); nonetheless, debates are being held for finding the best alternatives.
The issue of financing Kosovo Public Broadcaster (RTK) was discussed in roundtable debate organized by Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) in cooperation with the Assembly Committee for Public Services, Local Administration and Media.
Media Committee chairperson, Zenun Pajaziti, said that a legal solution should be found quickly, in order to have the law before the budget revision for 2016.
Dukagjin Gorani, professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences, presented a report on the ways of financing public media in the region and in Kosovo. Report notes that the regional broadcasters face financing problems, too.
RTK Board chairperson Ismet Bexheti said that they continuously asked for solutions and offered alternatives for financing of RTK but their calls have been refused.
On the other hand, Committee member from Vetëvendosje Shqipe Pantina, said that she is not pleased with RTK’s editorial policy.
Meanwhile, RTK Director General, Mentor Shala, said that RTK’s intention is not to please the politicians with its editorial policies.
However, all these dilemmas will be defined in due course because the Assembly Media Committee and Kosovo Assembly will discuss alternatives for financing of RTK.
RTK2 reported that no Serbian translation had been provided for the Serb journalists by the organizers of this roundtable discussion.
