Braathu: OSCE is a strong supporter of the Brussels dialogue

(TV Puls)

Commenting the dialogue in Brussels between Prishtinë/Pristina and Belgrade the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Jan Braathu, in an interview for TV Puls, emphasized the support of the OSCE to the dialogue.

“The OSCE is a strong supporter of the EU facilitated Brussels dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtinë/Pristina and we consider this dialogue to be very important,” said Braathu.

“Normalization of relations among and between communities benefits everyone,” Braathu stressed, adding that the dialogue will create normalization of interaction and relations throughout the territory of the Western Balkans.

“If relations can be normalized, if tensions can be reduced, if interaction among people and institutions can become more technical than political, then we believe that this would lead to a reduction of tensions and actually the creation of a climate for some kind of reconciliation among the people who live in this region,” concluded Braathu.

Koruga: Public broadcaster needs sustainable financing

(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK1)

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo organised a roundtable on implementation of applicable media legislation in Kosovo.

Dane Koruga, the chief of the OSCE Media Section, said that news agencies copy news from each-other without respecting the copyright. Koruga also said that Kosovo public broadcaster must have sustainable financing.

“We are here to find a sustainable solution which would keep the independence of the public broadcaster, for RTK to be transparent and for the politic to give up from influencing this broadcaster,” said Koruga RTK1 reported.

Meanwhile, Xhevahire Izmaku, the chair of the Assembly Public Services, Local Administration, and Media Committee said that media legislation is highly ranked in the Constitution of Kosovo, through which the freedom of expression and the freedom of the media are guaranteed. Regarding the financing of RTK, Izmaku said that lots of work has been done since two years. She expressed her confidence that within the next week the new Law on RTK shall be put at vote.

RTK Director General, Mentor Shala clarified that it is the obligation of politicians to ensure funds for the public broadcaster and not to deal with RTK’s editorial policies.

Shkëlqim Hysenaj, the head of Kosovo Journalists Association, requested more transparency from the institutions. He expressed satisfied that the issue of financing of RTK is coming to an end.

Naile Krasniqi, Chief Executive of the Independent Media Commission (IMC) said that IMC’s regulation assists media in meeting the criteria.

On the other hand, Imer Mushkolaj, Chairperson of the Press Council of Kosovo, spoke about the selection of RTK Board. He said that IMC should do the initial selection from the nominations for RTK board and then submit the short- to the Assembly of Kosovo.

PM Mustafa: Demarcation will be concluded

(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa said that the agreement on demarcation is not a ‘dead’ issue, despite the fact that the government did not resubmit the agreement to the Assembly since its withdrawal in September, KTV reported. He pledged that the demarcation with Montenegro will happen, stressing that this is in the interest of Kosovo.

PM Mustafa also criticized MPs who are opposing the demarcation with Montenegro, as, according to him, they are working for their personal interests and not for the interests of Kosovo. “The demarcation issue is not dead, as I read today in the press. The state of Kosovo is a country and its borders should exist because there is no country without borders, therefore we will conclude this by all means,” he said.

Ruling and opposition parties divided over the electoral reform

(RTK1)

Through the establishment of the Working Group for the Amendment of the Constitution of Kosovo and the Working Group for Laws Elections, Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi aims to revitalise the issue of the electoral reform, which was launched few years ago. Ardian Arifaj, advisor to President Thaçi said that the aim of the President is to open this issue which was unfinished.

“It is not up to the President to say which is the best option but the Assembly of Kosovo will decide which solution is the best for each issue. The President opened this issue, initiated the topic, provides a forum to debate about this topic that will create the material that will be handed to the Assembly of Kosovo,” said Arifaj.

Ruling parties welcomed Thaçi’s initiative.

Zenun Pajaziti, PDK MP, that for years the political spectrum discussed about the need to change the election system. “It is the adequate time, after all the recent developments for this issue”, said Pajaziti.

Sadri Ferati of LDK said that almost all political parties had remarks on the current electoral system. According to him, this is the best timing to open the debate on this issue.

Ramush Tahiri, a political analyst, welcomes Thaçi’s initiative but he is not confident that a substantial electoral reform can happen.

“The current electoral system demonstrated a number of deficiencies and produced stalemates in the electoral and political system,” said Tahiri.

Opposition parties, on the other hand, say that it is not the time to deal with the electoral reforms but rather for Kosovo to have early elections. They continue to boycott Thaçi’s initiatives on this issue.

Adnan Rrustemi of Vetëvendosje Movement said that Kosovo needs to have free and democratic elections. “Only a legislation that would come out of these elections might have the right and the legitimacy to launch a comprehensive electoral reform,” said Rrustemi.

Ahmet Isufi of AAK reiterated that they will continue to boycott Thaçi’s initiative and again called for early elections

While, Ramush Tahiri said that opposition will be forced to participate in the electoral reform.

“Even if they do not participate in the debate and boycott Thaçi’s initiative, they will surely participate in the Assembly Committees’ and in the voting. It would be fair to participate in the forums and express their objections now,” said Tahiri.

Stojanovic: Association will be established

(RTK2)

While Branimir Stojanovic stresses that he will persist on implementation of the Agreement on establishment of the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities, Azem Vllasi, on the other hand, considers that the boycott of the work of Kosovo Assembly by Serb representatives is not in the interest of Serb community. Whereas, Ljubomir Maric said that what has been agreed in Brussels must be implemented without any conditions.

Although, the deadlines for the establishment of the Association of Serb Majority have expired, Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister, Branimir Stojanovic considers that the Association will be established.

“No matter that certain individuals in Prishtinë/Pristina want to manipulate on this issue, want to avoid it because of different political and other reasons, this is an obligation that has been taken… Our obligation is to continue to insist on the implementation of this agreement as soon as possible, and not only to insist on its implementation but also to insist that everything what has been agreed is implemented,” said Stojanovic.

Azem Vllasi, a political analyst, considers that the issue of the Association should not be the reason for Srpska List MPs to boycott the work of Kosovo Assembly. According to him, it is in in the interest of Serb community that their representatives raise key issues in the Assembly.

Commenting the recent statements of Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa that the work on the establishment of the Association will commence after the return of Serb representatives in Kosovo institutions, Minister of Local Government Ljubomir Maric says that there are no reasons to condition the establishment.

“The implementation of principles agreed in Brussels,  signed by both Prime Ministers, specify that it should be implemented within Kosovo’s system,  therefore with a decision of Kosovo Government that part of the Agreement should be implemented,” said Maric.

KDI: Finances of political entities unaudited since 2013

(TV21) 

Since 2013, Kosovo Assembly did not achieve to select the Auditors to audit the finances of political entities thus violating the Law on Financing Political Parties, respectively Articles related to the financial control. This was concluded in a report of Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI). This Law obliges each registered political entity to submit the annual financial report to the Central Elections Commission (CEC). 

For almost four years, the sources of funding and the expenditures of political parties are not transparent to the general public and this issue has been pointed out in the recent EC Progress Report on Kosovo, RTV21 reported.

Apostolova urges de-politicization of public administration

(RTK1)

On Wednesday, Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, Minister of Public Administration (MPA) Mahir Yagcilar and the head of EU Office in Kosovo/EUSR Nataliya Apostolova laid the foundation stone for the building of Kosovo Institute of Public Administration (KIPA). On this occasion, Apostolova said that the faith in governance can be restored only by de–politicizing and professionalizing the administration.

“A professional and modern civil service bound by ethics builds public trust and confidence in governance and service delivery. The way civil servants interact with citizens directly impacts on how citizens perceive the legitimacy of governance. Public trust and confidence in governance is essential for building and sustaining the investor confidence, which is vital for growth and poverty eradication,” Apostolova said.

The foundation stone of the Institute of Public Administration of Kosovo according to PM Isa Mustafa will play a crucial role in the establishing and preparation of future modernized administration of Kosovo.

Auditor identifies mismanagement in Prime Minister’s Office

(Most monitored broadcasters, KTV)

Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa stressed, in the last meeting of the National Anti-Corruption Council, the importance of the fight against corruption and abuse of public funds and its mismanagement. But the Auditor has identified a mismanagement of EUR 2 million by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). The report of the Auditor has been discussed on Wednesday by the members of the Oversight Committee on Public Finance.

Secretary General of the Government, Fitim Krasniqi, said that OPM has a very complex structure therefore it is impossible to manage 100 % the budget of the Office. The Committee planned also to review the Report of the Auditor for the Foreign Ministry but in absence of Minister Hoxhaj, this has been postponed to another day.