Braathu: Insufficient budget disables RTK’s development
(RTK2, RTK1)
OSCE Head of Mission, Ambassador Jan Braathu, received on Wednesday, RTK director general Mentor Shala and discussed the latest developments at the public broadcaster, particularly the issue of RTK financing.
Ambassador Braathu said that in a democratic country, such as Kosovo, independent functioning of the public broadcaster is essential. According to him, the OSCE has continually conveyed a message and continues to highlight the fact that public broadcaster should have sustainable finances because that is an international criteria that Kosovo has to fulfil.
“The Assembly of Kosovo has a legal obligation to find a sustainable way for financing of the public broadcaster. Budgetary instability and insufficient budget disables development and independence of RTK,” Ambassador Braathu said.
Meanwhile Shala expressed his concern about the cut of RTK’s budget by the Government for 2017, from 0.7% as it was with the current Law, to 0.5%. According to him, this budget endangers the program and disables functioning of the public broadcaster. He stressed that 0.9% of Kosovo’s overall budget is the minimum that RTK should have at this phase.
Ambassador Braathu promised that he will discuss this matter with the Prime Minister of Kosovo and the OSCE will give their contribution in the meetings of the Assembly Media Committee during the amendment of the Law on RTK.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) continuously repeated to the Assembly of Kosovo that it’s their legal obligation to find the adequate and sustainable model for financing of the public broadcaster, RTK concluded.
Assembly Media Committee reviewed draft Law on RTK
(RTK1)
Assembly Media Committee discussed the situation in RTK and the ways for financing it. However, members of this Committee did not agree about the draft Law on the public broadcaster. After a series of discussions, all members agreed to complete this issue on Monday or, otherwise RTK will face a severe financial situation.
Committee chair Xhevahire Izmaku, opening the meeting expressed her expectation that they would achieve to find a consensus on this issue during this meeting. However, her expectation was not fulfilled. She proposed to read and vote the amendments of the draft Law on RTK, but LDK MP Sadri Ferati urged not to vote it, but rather to continue with the same modality of RTK financing, respectively with 0.7 % of the budget as it was defined before.
But Assembly Committee chair Izmaku said that this would not solve anything as the situation would remain the same.
“I believe that the draft-Law should be voted today, as we have no reasons to block it,” said Izmaku.
While, PDK MP Zenun Pajaziti called upon members of this Committee to reflect and increase the budget as, according to him, RTK’s normal functioning is at stake.
“We should reflect and increase our support, including the budget, considering the growth of RTK, their additional activities and the issues with property,” said MP Zenuni.
RTK Board chair Ismet Behxheti reminded to the Committee members that in the current situation in RTK, there cannot be quality, as the financial difficulties are challenging the proper functioning of RTK.
LDK MP Agim Kika said that a forecast of the cost should be presented before voting the Law on RTK.
“We don’t have yet a general cost. We don’t have a plan of the expected expenditure,” MP Kika pointed out. But RTK Board chair, Behxheti said the contrary. He said that the plan for the next year has been submitted within the deadline.
Vetëvendosje MP, Shqipe Pantina said that now there is a solid base to do the required amendments and proceed the draft law.
The Assembly Media Committee will convene on Monday once again to finalise the Law on RTK and submit it to the Government.
Safete Hadërgjonaj criticized the delays of the Committee members about this draft Law.
“RTK will always look which Minister is being appointed in the Government. We must not leave the allocation of funds to the will of a Minister. RTK reports to the Assembly and we should find a solution to this issue and the solution should be found by the Law,” said Hadërgjonaj.
Minister Hoxha praises cooperation with the OSCE
(RTKlive)
Kosovo Minister of Justice, Dhurata Hoxha received on Monday the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jan Braathu, online edition of the public broadcaster reported. Minister Hoxha, thanked the Ambassador for his and OSCE’s contribution to the justice sector.
“As an Ambassador, you have made an important contribution to the development of our country and now, as OSCE Head of Mission, you are giving unconditional support to the rule of law, democratization and to the judiciary and legislation in the function of the rule of law, “said Minister Hoxha.
Minister Hoxha emphasized the need for further support from the OSCE, in particular during the comprehensive evaluation process of the justice system.
On the other hand, Ambassador Braathu offered his support and commitment in the implementation of OSCE projects in the field of justice, including Kosovo Judicial Institute, Ombudsman, monitoring of the judiciary, democratization of independent institutions, citizens’ participation in decision making and other areas related to the rule of law.
Thaçi: Early elections only if ruling parties agree
(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi spoke about early elections, acknowledging the ruling coalition has the numbers and that institutions are performing well. He said that there are two alternatives for early elections: in case the ruling coalition loses power in the Assembly and if the leaders of the two largest ruling parties agree about it.
President Thaçi admitted that he is currently working on setting up the date for the extraordinary elections in Gllogoc/Glogovac. He noted that the date will be confirmed on Thursday or at the latest on Friday.
Zubin Potok Municipal leadership sent a last warning to Kosovo authority
(Klan Kosova)
Zubin Potok municipal leadership gave the last warning to Kosovo authorities before the total termination of relations; Klan Kosova reported quoting Kossev news portal.
Zubin Potok is dissatisfied with the constant reduction of funds for capital investments, delays in executing the budget and the unpaid wages for 20 members of ‘Civil Protection’ who are integrated in Kosovo institutions. Zubin Potok municipal leadership considers these issues as political pressure and blackmail carried out by Kosovo Government.
Zubin Potok municipal leadership also invited other municipalities in the north to support them in order to avoid chaos, anarchy and possibly violence.
Kosovo no longer a route of heroin trafficking
(TV21, Klan Kosova)
Kosovo is no more a route of heroin trafficking, while drug smugglers have found other routes to transport it to Europe. Therefore, during the last ten months, Kosovo Police has confiscated less than 100 grams of heroin; however there is a different situation with cannabis.
Bajram Nuhiu of Kosovo Police Directorate for Investigation of Trafficking with Narcotics revealed that so far they have confiscated 699 kilogram of cannabis.
Nuhiu, on the workshop on drug offer and supply reduction organized by the OSCE Mission, said that Police has a file of 1,218 registered drug users. But Safet Blakaj from ‘Labyrinth’ Centre did not agree with this figure. He said that there over 20,000 drug users in Kosovo.
Five persons have died by overdose during the first ten months of this year.
OSCE requests timely adjudication of crimes against journalists
(GazetaExpress & Kallxo.com)
Kallxo.com and Gazetaexpress reported that on the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo requested institutional reactions for the crimes against journalists in Kosovo.
Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jan Braathu, said that despite the improved compared to last year, threats against media professionals in Kosovo continue to remain a concern.
“By the end of September 2016, the Association of Journalists of Kosovo logged eight cases of threats or attacks against journalists. While any threat or attack against media professionals in their line of duty is a concern, we note that this is an improvement compared to the 27 cases of violence against journalists that took place in 2015.”
He also called upon all relevant institutions in Kosovo to seriously deal with the security of journalists.
“Safety of journalists is a prerequisite for freedom of speech and free media. Therefore, I encourage institutions dealing with crimes against journalists to provide for a systematic response, prompt investigations, and timely adjudication in relation to such instances,” added Ambassador Braathu.
On this occasion, Association of Kosovo Journalists (AKJ), also called upon the Government, civil society, media and all other groups to support the rule of law, by joining the global efforts in this regard, KTV reported.
