OSCE supports free helpline to report threats against journalists
(Klan Kosova)

As of today, journalists can report cases of intimidation, threats or blackmail to a new helpline set up by the Association of Journalists of Kosovo and supported by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Jean-Claude Schlumberger, said that recent years have been quite difficult for journalists in Kosovo. Schlumberger emphasized that the trend remains the same for 2015, noting that so far 22 cases of intimidation and threats against journalists have already been registered.

On the other hand, the head of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK), Zekirja Shabani, said that that the free helpline number 0800 11 333 will be reachable 24/7.

Jordan will support Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

The President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, met in New York with King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. President Jahjaga received support from King Abdullah II  for the recognition process and also for Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO.

King Abdullah II of Jordan highly commended the relations between the two countries. He pointed out that Jordan’s support for Kosovo will continue.

President Jahjaga and King Abdullah discussed also bout the continuation of deepening cooperation between the two countries.

At the meeting, President Jahjaga also stressed the necessity of the coordination of the partner countries in the joint response to extremist threats. The President considered that the countries should share the experiences and to join efforts to address this global threat.

Jahjaga: Kosovo, integral part of international systems
(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)

The President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, said that Kosovo’s participation in the week of the General Assembly of the UN, demonstrates that Kosovo is taking an important position in the international policymaking process.

“Participation in the General Assembly of the UN, is of significant importance for Kosovo, because it gives to us the opportunity to meet leaders of several states which have not recognized Kosovo”, Jahjaga said in an exclusive interview for RTK1.

She underlined that Kosovo’ consolidation and integration in international organisation, which is a priority of Kosovo’s foreign policy, is related to the continuous lobbying.

Amongst other, President Jahjaga said that the Kosovo’s presence in the main events of this week is a clear indicator that Kosovo is considered as an integral part of international systems and an equal contributor with other countries, too.

While, all broadcasters reported on  the meeting of Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa in New York, with the deputy-Assistant Secretary of the US Department for Europe and Asia, Hoyt Yee.

PM Mustafa requested the U.S support for Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO and other international organisations.  Meanwhile Yee commended the progress Kosovo has made and reiterated that the U.S will strongly continue to support Kosovo.

PM Mustafa and Yee also discussed about the transformation of Kosovo Security Force (KSF) to Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF) and about the end of the EULEX mandate.

Ferrarese:  Expression of political views should not turn into violence
(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)

Kosovo MPs, regardless if they belong to the ruling or opposition parties, should be cautious how they behave within the institutions. The Italian Ambassador to Kosovo, Andreas Ferrarese, said that disagreements are democratic, but according to him, the expression of political views should not be turned into violence or otherwise, Kosovo might become again international news for its bad actions.

“Different manifestations and expression of political views are integral part of every democratic society but there is a limit which cannot be turned into violence.  It is important to know that every development in Kosovo is reflected in world media”, said Ferrarese.

Ambassador Ferrarese called upon political parties to be accountable for their actions.

The Italian diplomat, made these statements following a joint conference with Kosovo Security Force (KSF) and Kosovo Police, in which the cooperation with Italian Carabineers was discussed.

Attack planned against the mayor of Gjakovë/Djakovica municipality
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

On Monday, during a debate at the municipal Assembly, the mayor of Gjakovë/Djakovica municipality, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, said that she received death threats. Moreover, Kusari-Lila said that someone has been paid to execute her.

“I have close protection unit because someone has been paid to execute me”, Kusari-Lila said, justifying her Kosovo Police close protection unit.

She emphasized that this information is not a rumor, but as she said, this information was conveyed to Kosovo Police by the Police in Albania.

She said that based on the information provided by Police, it results that the individual that has been paid to execute her is from Albania whereas the negotiations for her execution took place in Gjakovë/Djakovica. Hence, she indicated that the potential individuals that issued the order for killing her are from Gjakovë/Djakovica municipality, KTV reported.

Kusari-Lila is under close protection of Kosovo Police since several months.

Accessing public documents, a challenge for Kosovo journalists
(RTK1)

The International Right To Know Day is marked on 28 September. The aim of this Day is to raise awareness about people’s right to access government information but in Kosovo this right is not given to journalists and even less more to ordinary citizens.

Journalists continue to face issues in accessing information while the Government is working to change the Law on Access to Official Documents.

Parim Olluri is amongst the Kosovo journalist that has filed numerous requests for accessing public documents but he did not always received positive reactions despite the fact the Law on Access to Official Documents allows the access.

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) has filed since 2012, over 500 requests for accessing public documents. However, they received positive answers in only about 30 per cent of their requests.

Gresa Musliu of BIRN considers that the small number of positive answers to their requests demonstrates a low level of institutional transparency to the media and civil society.

Musliu underlines that Kosovo has an excellent legal structures which enables access to public documents but, according to her, public institutions ignore this law and in many cases illegally deny to citizens the access to documents.

According to BIRN, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) is the most non-transparent institution.

Musliu also criticized Kosovo Prosecutorial Council (KPC) for not being transparent and open towards the requests of BIRN for accessing public documents.

On the other hand, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) said that they responded positively to the majority of the requests for accessing public documents.

The Office of PM announced that the drafting of a concept paper for accessing public documents is in the final phase which will open the way to amending the Law on Access to Official Documents.