3,000 families requested social housing since 1999

(RTK2)

Since 1999, Kosovo institutions have received social housing requests from over 3,000 families.

“Measuring rule of law in public administration in Kosovo municipalities” report which was presented on Monday, revealed how the issue of social housing is solved in the four municipalities: Gjakovë/Djakovica, Istog/Istok, Kamenicë/Kamenica and Lipjan/Lipljane.

Although it is a pilot project that included only the four abovementioned municipalities, the results presented in this report highlighted several challenges that citizens and officials face, and which might be applied to all municipalities. The project was implemented by the nongovernmental organisation FOL and supported by Folke Bernadotte Academy, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and UNDP.

“We see this as a very innovative initiative. We strongly encourage municipalities and ministries to undertake actions in compliance with the recommendations indicated in this report,” stated the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Jean-Claude Schlumberger, online version of RTK2 reported.

The report reveals how officials respect deadlines and the rights to appeal cases of social housing. According to the report, the main obstacles in this area are lack of funding, facilities, databases, property disputes and the issue of a fair allocation of flats.

Mayor of Gjakovë/Djakovica municipality, Mimoza Kusari-Lila said that the big difference between the perceptions of the citizens and municipal officials sends a strong message to the mayors that they need to work more with their employees.

Although, the responsibility on social housing lies with the municipality, assistance from Government, central and international institutions is necessary, RTK2 reported.

Representative of Kosovo Ministry of Environmental and Spatial Planning (MESP), Rame Hamzaj, said that municipalities are obliged to ensure locations for construction of housings and infrastructure, but, as he said, the lack of funds in central and local level presents a big problem.

“Number of requests for social housing is decreasing every year. 3,000 families across Kosovo have filed requests for social housing since 1999,” stated Hamzaj.

The most common categories are socially vulnerable, returnees and repatriated persons, mainly members of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities. MESP announced establishment of a social housing registry in 2017.

Shala: PAK is threatening and blackmailing RTK

(All monitored broadcasters, TV21)

The ultimatum of Privatisation Agency of Kosovo (PAK) for the Radio and Television of Kosovo (RTK) to leave the building within five days has been qualified as a threat and blackmail against the public broadcaster.

RTK Director General Mentor Shala said that PAK is putting political pressure on the public broadcaster. He said that these developments resemble the time of Milosevic in the 90s, when journalists were forced out of these buildings.

This issue was also discussed at the Kosovo Assembly media committee. Chairperson of this committee, Zenun Pajaziti, said that no one can allow that the national frequency broadcaster, RTK, to remain without property.

PDK MP Xhevahire Izmaku considered PAK decision hasty.

In the meantime, RTK Board chairperson Ismet Bexheti said that the decision of Privatisation Agency makes the financial situation of the public broadcaster even more difficult. RTK managers said that it is impossible to implement PAK’s decision because the national frequency broadcaster does not have a budget line for rent payment.

RTK Board also considered that PAK brought a hasty decision, RTK1 reported. The RTK Trade Union (SPRTK) also reacted severely against PAK’s decision.

“The SPRTK demands from the Assembly and Government to allocate a property to RTK and sufficient funds in order that RTK has its own building, same as the Assembly, Government, and other public institutions,” the reaction of SPRTK reads.

RTK Board appoints Nikola Krstic as the new RTK2 director

(RTK2 & KTV)

Political nepotism and claims for violations of the Law on Radio and Television of Kosovo made many Serbs to protest in front of Radio Kosova building on Tuesday. By holding the slogans reading “RTK2 belongs to citizens, not the Board,” and “Respect the law”, they required explanations about the latest vacancy for director of RTK2 channel in Serbian. They also announced that they will not allow further violations of the law.

Representatives of Serb journalists in Kosovo consider acceptance of applications of persons with political background and composition of the working group as the other violations.

None of the leaders of Radio and Television of Kosovo was willing to make a statement about this. While contact with the RTK Board chairperson Ismet Bexheti was not possible, the RTK Director General Mentor Shala was not willing to talk about this matter. He said that this is at the competence of the Board.

Meanwhile, RTK2 reported that late on Tuesday, the RTK Board appointed Nikola Krstic as the new director of RTK2 channel in Serbian.

Simic and O’Connell: Association is not a threat

(RTK2 & Klan Kosova)

Srpska List chairperson Slavko Simic and the United Kingdom Ambassador to Kosovo Ruairi O’Connell discussed establishment of the Association of Serb majority municipalities in Kosovo. They agreed that the establishment of this Association is not a threat, but its establishment is at the interest of all.

According to a press release issued by Srpska List, Simic and Ambassador O’Connell discussed current developments and problems in Kosovo. Simic voiced the need for a better communication of all political entities represented in the Assembly of Kosovo in order to solve the key issues of citizens.

In this meeting, Simic also raised the need for increase of budgets of Serb majority municipalities, Klan Kosova reported.

Tahiri: Kosovo is willing to continue dialogue

(TV21)

Minister for Dialogue Edita Tahiri said that Kosovo is willing to continue dialogue with Serbia as a process that is aiding Kosovo toward its integration in the European Union.

Tahiri added that Serbia is continuing with its obstructions to fully implement the agreements, the Agreement on telephone code and Kosovo Transmission and System and Market Operator independence in particular.

Draft law on demarcation to be submitted with fast track procedure

(TV21)

Spokesperson of Kosovo Government, Arban Abrashi, stated that Government will submit the draft law on ratification of the agreement border demarcation with Montenegro to the Assembly with fast track procedure, consequently fulfilling one of the most important conditions on visa liberalisation for Kosovo people.

Kosovo MPs get 1500 Euros a month and miss Assembly sessions

(KTV)

Members of the Kosovo Assembly receive about one-thousand five-hundred monthly salary. This is more than the quadruple of average pay in Kosovo, which is 360 Euros.

Last week was the third time in the row when sessions were interrupted due to lack of quorum, because MPs of parties in power went there mainly to sign for per diems. 19 MPs signed for the sake of taking the extra per diem per session, but they did not stay until the end, thus making continuation of work impossible. Out of them, 11 were LDK MPs, 10 PDK, four Srpska List MPs and two of 6+.

LDK caucus leader Ismet Beqiri told KTV that this is irresponsibility and unjustifiable. He proposed revision of regulations so in the future there can be sanctions for those missing in the sessions.

According to Assembly monitors, the Assembly Presidency is authorized and can decide on certain occasions to make financial sanctions for MPs.

KTV learned from its sources within PDK that its chairperson, Kadri Veseli, has requested from MPs of this party to meet the obligations they have against the voters, or resign.  For this matter, Veseli is expected to meet his party MPs prior to the session.

PDK proposes names of new ministers

(TV21)

Kosovo Government already has three names proposed by the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) for new ministers.

The names proposed are – Hajredin Kuçi for Deputy Prime Minister, Enver Hoxhaj for Foreign Minister, and Gani Koci for Minister of European Integration.

Kosovo has missed the chances to condition Serbia

(KTV)

Serbia is soon expected to take one of the most difficult steps for it. Serbian Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vucic, has announced changes in their highest legal act – the Constitution.

In its journey toward integration in EU, one of the points of the Constitution that is expected to change is also the one that calls Kosovo a part of Serbia, a formulation which is found in the first lines of the Constitution.

To the Government of Kosovo, such an act is expectable.

“The Constitution should not be the only thing that Serbia would have to change. When it comes to Kosovo, Serbia has to take out any reference to it in its Constitution. At a certain moment, Serbia would also have to accept the state of Kosovo, namely Kosovo’s independence. Without recognising the independence of Kosovo, Serbia will not be able to become a member of the European Union,” said Kosovo Deputy Minister of European Integration, Ramadan Ilazi.

Ilazi also mentions the obligation that derives from the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, which envisaged achievement of a legal agreement with Serbia, which aims that both countries exercise their rights openly in the integration process.

However, Albana Merja of the Group for Legal and Political Studies says that a good chance for conditioning has been missed by the Government of Kosovo.

Chapter 35, or known as the Chapter on Kosovo, with the lobbying of Kosovo Government would also include the obligation for Serbia to remove Kosovo from its Constitution.

Merja also mentions another scenario; the one of integration of the Association of Serb majority municipalities in the Constitution of Serbia.

Jevtic and Haliti call on the displaced persons to return

(RTK2)

Life of the non-majority community, security and projects in municipality of Viti/Vitina were the main topics discussed by Kosovo Minister for Communities and Return Dalibor Jevtic and Sokol Haliti, Mayor of this municipality.

Minister Jevtic and Mayor Haliti called on displaced persons to return.

“Podgorc village of Viti/Viti municipality is an example that the return does not depend from one, or the other side. It depends from the displaced persons, and they have to say why they are not in Podgorc village, where we have built 34 houses for returnees.  They have to tell if it is the poor economy or safety, so we can solve that issue,” Minister Jevtic asked.

On the other hand, Mayor Haliti said that the municipality fulfils all the conditions for return.

“Harmony prevails in the municipality and we encounter minimal security problems. We respect the right to return to the property,” said Haliti.