Conference on cyber-security held

(RTK1, RTK2)

Over three-thirds of the whole Kosovo population uses internet. Aiming to increase security of users a two-day conference on cyber-security was launched on Monday in Prishtinë/Pristina, where it was highlighted that co-operation and involvement of all institutions in solving this global issue is needed.

Billions of people around the world use internet. Aside from many advantages, wide-scale digitalization also brings risks in all spheres of social life: Everyone is target of cyber criminals, from individual internet users to the public institutions. Secure use of internet is of great importance for the economy, national security, but also for protection of privacy and ownership.

Nehat Mustafa, coordinator for cyber-security, stresses that government institutions should have a leading role in defining clear policies and guidelines for security of the overall cyber space.

“Use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in Kosovo has significantly increased since 2000. Internet penetration in Kosovo is 76.6 per cent, which is the average of internet use in EU countries. Violation of ICT regulations can trigger numerous problems, including the ones related to security,” Mustafa underlined.

Kosovo Police Deputy General Director, Naim Rexha, said that Police takes this type of crime very seriously.

“In the fight against this phenomenon and solution of cyber-crimes, Kosovo Police has established the unit for high technology crime under the organised crime department, same as the intervention unit against cyber-crime, which was established this year. Establishment of these units was necessary due to the fact that cyber-crime is taking new forms of action,” he added.

Use of internet increases the quality and speed of service delivery to citizens, which impacts on improvement of living standard of the population, but it also carries certain circumstances with it, and that is cyber-crime, said Jan Braathu, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

“Kosovo is no exception in this global reality and this is why the OSCE will continue to offer its support to Kosovo institutions so they can build capacities and institutional mechanisms to efficiently fight against cyber-crime and prevent potential cyber-attacks,” he added.

Representatives of Ministries of Internal Affairs of Macedonia and Albania took part in the conference, while the conclusion is that cyber-crime is a global problem which requires co-operation, as well as holistic and systematic approach.

Use of mobile phones reason behind many traffic accidents

(RTK2)

Over 17.000 traffic incidents happened in Kosovo during 2015, from which 129 people lost their lives and almost 11.000 people were injured. Experts say that use of mobile phones while driving is one of the most frequent reasons behind traffic accidents.

Use of mobile phones is prohibited by law while operating a vehicle. Despite this, it still is one of the most frequent violations of drivers, RTK2 reported.

In September this year, Kosovo Police started application of the new Law on Road Traffic. According to this Law, fines for traffic violations are more rigorous compared to the earlier one. Last year, traffic police issued 917 traffic fines for use of mobile phones while driving.

With the aim of informing road traffic participants with the new regulations, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo has started an action to raise awareness over disrespect of traffic regulations.

“As part of this campaign we have printed out brochures containing several messages which cover the main factors that lead to traffic accidents. Use of mobile phones is also among them,” stated Shpresa Mulliqi of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

Use of mobile phones draws drivers’ attention and provokes different changes in their behaviour which negatively impact on traffic safety, said at the Kosovo Association of Motorization.

Assembly Committee members clashed over Dehari Case

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

They gathered to discuss the manner how they would invite Prizren Chief Prosecutor, Sylë Hoxha and Minister of Justice, Dhurata Hoxha, to report regarding Astrit Dehari’s case, but the meeting of Assembly Committee on Legislation was held under tension and accusations that it does even manage to reach at this point of agenda.

Statements made by the Chairwoman of this Committee, Albulena Haxhiu, against the Kosovo institutions provoked the reaction of LDK MP Armend Zemaj.

He accused Vetëvendosje of pushing Dehari to commit suicide.  To LDK MP, Armend Zemaj, it is pitiful how Dehari case is being used for politics.

Chairwoman of this Committee, Albulena Haxhiu, also argued with the PDK MP, Selvije Halimi. The latter emphasised the fact that it will be a legal violation in case that Prizren Chief Prosecutor will be invited to report.

Rough debate between Zemaj and Haxhiu made all members of political parties leave this meeting.

Hoxha does not plan to respond to Assembly’s invitation to report on Dehari case (KTV)

Assembly Committee on Legislation met on Monday, among others, to request from Chief Prosecutor of Prizren Basic Prosecution, Sylë Hoxha, and Minister of Justice, Dhurata Hoxha, to report in relation to Dehari Case.

KTV reported that it has contacted Prizren Chief Prosecutor, Sylë Hoxha, who said that he does not plan to respond to the invitation of this Committee to report in relation to Dehari Case.

According to him, he will not do so because this is direct interference on the independent system of justice.

Djuric: We are expecting from Prishtinë/Pristina to establish ASMM

(KTV)

Director Office for Kosovo at the Serbian Government, Marko Djuric, said he had a meeting with the envoy of German Foreign Ministry for Southeast Europe, Ambassador Christian Hellbach, online version of KTV reported.

Djuric said that Belgrade expects from Prishtinë/Pristina to immediately adopt a decree for establishment of the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities (ASMM).

As FoNet reports, the two officials considered that reaching of an arrangement on further implementation of the Telecommunications Agreement between Belgrade and Prishtinë/Pristina marks significant improvement in the process of normalisation of relations, and it should serve as consolidation of constructivism and trust between the parties involved in dialogue.

Djuric said that Prishtinë/Pristina’s willingness to finally unblock the process of the ASSM establishment would be a kind of test of desire and the capacity to implement the agreements reached.

“In line with the agreement signed, we expect from provisional institutions of self-government in Prishtinë/Pristina to adopt the decree on establishment of the ASMM as soon as possible,” Djuric said.

Voices in favour of early elections also heard in LDK

(KTV)

Coalition partners continue not to find a common language regarding the next year’s budget content.

Continuation of dissatisfactions has pushed the Chairperson of Kosovo Assembly Committee on Budget, Naser Osmani, to request removal of this topic from Monday’s agenda, since PDK boycotted this meeting.

However, members of the opposition did not agree with these statements, which, after taking the floor, left the meeting by not agreeing with such a request. Aside from the opposition members, who called for the country to enter elections, Naser Osmani of LDK also agreed with them.

In PDK were not all that ready to speak about the reasons of their contradiction.  Trying to hide dissatisfactions between the two coalition partners, Safete Hadërgjonaj of PDK said that budget will be proceeded to voting after a short period of time.

This is the fourth time that this Committee failed to meet.

Budget, a reason for breaking the governing coalition

(Summary of Klan Kosova – Zone B show)

Klan Kosova’s Zone B show hosted two political analysts, Astrit Gashi and Dardan Gashi, to discuss adoption of Kosovo budget and if the Government will fall in case it does not pass this budget at the Assembly. They also tackled on EU integration and visa liberalization issue.

Dardan Gashi believes that Government is coming across challenges in addressing the budget to Assembly committees. He considers that trust between coalition partners has been lost. According to him, people in PDK believe that LDK is trying to buy electorate with increase of 300 million Euros in the new budget. He also mentioned the collisions between the Minister of Finance from LDK and his deputy from PDK as an example of this mistrust.

“Budget might be a reason for the break. So far, there were no cases when the budget did not get to the Committee, and this demonstrates that coalition does not have trust on each other. Trust between coalition partners has been lost,” Gashi underlined.

On the other hand, Astrit Gashi considers that the budget process is delaying and parties in power have not managed to submit it to Assembly committees. He thinks that issues between LDK and PDK are not only technical. According to him, LDK has drafted the budget for the first time and PDK fears it is an electoral budget.

“There is no harmonization between coalition partners. However, problems between them are not technical, no matter that the budget has technical problems. Elections are the problem. PDK does not even want to treat the budget, let alone vote it,” he said.

According to him, PDK is not willing to treat this budget as it is wants to bring a political situation that would provoke the international community to give green light to elections.

Astrit Gashi believes that PDK needs elections as soon as possible; therefore, according to him, ‘the budget is being seen as a good opportunity to hold to’.

He considers that opposition needs these elections, as well. Gashi believes that leaving of this coalition might also suit LDK, and the budget, according to him, is a reason that is good enough.

“LDK is fighting PDK with PDK’s games and if this Government still goes on, then it would be a cold revenge of Isa Mustafa,” Astrit Gashi stated in Zone B show.

“If LDK manages to keep this budget and hold power until the end of elections, I would not be surprised if PDK would become a completely insignificant party. They [LDK and PDK] are two governments competing with each other,” Gashi stressed.

Dardan Gashi mentioned Ministry of European Integration as an example, saying that PDK does not have coherence within itself to appoint a person in this ministry, which has been left vacant for a while. On the other hand, according to him, LDK has taken control over several ministries.

Astrit Gashi, on the other hand, believes that PDK will lose from convictions of its members that are being done by the local judiciary and the ones that will come from the Special Court. He also thinks that Kosovo is demonstrating it is not serious in its European integration.

Whereas, Dardan Gashi, considers that opposition has shielded Government from the real problems by discussing two issues for a long time, the Association and Demarcation. Opposition will gain electorate if it starts talking about real problems and not ideological issues, he believes.

Dardan Gashi said that LDK should offer something else in future election campaign, and not attack the Kosovo Intelligence Service (SHIK) again. He thinks that Government should clarify why Demarcation was imposed as a condition for visa abolishment.

On the other hand, Astrit Gashi said that reactions against demarcation in Kosovo gave EU an additional reason to impose it as one of conditions for visas. He has the feeling that there is some kind of a coalition between EU and Serbia not to allow Kosovo become functional. He also believes that EU is provoking radical reactions with its actions in Kosovo. “Willing to help Kosovo, EU is hammering it,” he said.

Dardan Gashi believes that Government should fall before New Year. He mentioned visa issue, Astrit Dehari case, and many other reasons why it should fall.

At the end, Astrit Gashi said Government might fall quite soon since no harmony exists between the governing coalition, let alone with the opposition.