OSCE to launch media literacy pilot project for young people

(RTK2)

Due to the high exposure of young people to social networks and the Internet, and often a low level of awareness about the proper use of information and its potential risks, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo is preparing a media literacy pilot project for young people.

As announced, the project will be implemented in 7 primary schools that work within Kosovo’s system.

According to a research carried out by the OSCE with data from 2015, teenagers in Kosovo spend 7 hours a day next to a screen. About 70% of youngsters have a television in their room, vast majority of youth uses internet to listen to music and over 81 % of teens in Kosovo use social networks.

All of this leads to concerns about the less controlled attitude of teenagers and the media, RTK2 reported.

Dane Koruga, the chief of the OSCE Media Section said that in the coming year a pilot project will be launched in seven schools across Kosovo  to identify teachers who will be trained in the field of media literacy and pupils.

Tahiri: Association will not be discussed until Kosovo gets its dial code

(KTV)

Dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels will continue next week.  Director of the Office for Kosovo at the Serbian Government, Marko Djuric, said that they will discuss about implementation of agreements on Association of Serb Majority Municipalities, judiciary, telecommunication and freedom of movement.

But Prishtinë/Pristina denied that they will discuss the issue of the Association Association.

“This issue is not expected to be discussed until Kosovo gets the dial code from ITU,” said Kosovo Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri.

Tahiri, who leads Kosovo’s delegation in Brussels, said that during the next week they will discuss with the Serbian side the implementation of agreements that have been reached so far.

Maric blames EU for the non-establishment of Association

(RTK2&Klan Kosova)

Kosovo Minister of Local Government Administration, Ljubomir Maric blames the European Union for the non-establishment of the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities.  He said that the responsibility for the establishment of the Association lies with the international community, as they are the facilitators and the guarantors of the discussions between Prishtinë/Pristina and Belgrade.

Maric said that Serbia expects from the EU to urge Prishtinë/Pristina to unblock and approve the Governmental decree for the establishment of the Association.

Selmanaj: Electoral reform without opposition parties lacks legitimacy

(TV21)

The electoral reform initiative launched by Kosovo President Hashim might fail, as no political consensus has been reached beforehand.

Driton Selmanaj of ‘Democracy Plus’ said that the electoral reform without the participation of opposition parties lacks legitimacy.

“The initiative without the opposition parties does not have political nor democratic legitimacy.  Electoral reform cannot happen without the opposition parties,” said Selmanaj.

Selmanaj blames also the opposition parties for a potential failure of the electoral reform.

“They say that because it comes from President Thaçi and in this momen,t we will abstain. I consider this a wrong approach. They (opposition parties) should have an active role in this process and if eventually there are some bad intentions behind this initiative, then this process should be taken off from whoever leads it. I consider the abstention and silence to this process, as escaping the responsibility,” said Selmanaj.

While Albert Krasniqi from Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI), said that electoral reform is necessary before Kosovo enters elections.

“We constantly pointed out that the electoral system needs to be reformed, in particular to several issues related to the administration of elections. These changes are essential before the early elections or regular elections are organized,” said Krasniqi.

On the other hand, TV21 learned that President Thaçi will soon invite political parties to the third meeting to discuss the electoral reform, but the opposition insists that the electoral reform should be done only after the early elections take place.

No census in north during this year

(KTV)

Despite the fact that it was planned and announced to start in September of this year, census in the four municipalities with Serb majority in the north will not happen as planned because the draft-law for census has not been passed by the Assembly.

Kosovo Deputy Minister of Local Government Administration, Bajram Gecaj said that Government has proceeded the Law to the Assembly and, according to him, now everything depends on the Assembly.

While, Xhevahire Izmaku, member of the Assembly Committee for Public Administration, says that Government have not expressed any interest on this issue and did not follow up.  According to her, this process was not planned politically well and as such was destined to fail.

AAK municipal councillor in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north, Gëzim Alushi expressed against this process. He said that census cannot be carried out long as Kosovo’s sovereignty is not properly expanded in north.

Budget allocated for this municipality is planned for 12,000 residents. Nevertheless, Kosovo Agency of Statistics confirmed that they are preparing for the next census, scheduled to be held in 2020.

Municipalities in north adopt budget for 2017

(TV21)

For the first time, the four municipalities in Kosovo north adopted the municipal budget for 2017, in compliance with Kosovo’s budgetary framework. The total budget of the northern municipalities for 2017 is over EUR 14 million, which includes investments in infrastructure, education, health and other sectors.

Bashkim Cimili, PDK caucus chef in the Municipal Assembly of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north, said that the Albanian councillors have not voted the municipal budget.  According to him, Albanian community is not included in the budget and investments usually are directed to the Serb community.

“Albanian councillors, as in the previous years, did not vote the budget. Reasons are clear; we are not involved at all in planning it… Investments are always done in mono-ethnic bases and are directed to the Serb community,” said Cimili.

On other hand, Adriana Hodzic, the chief of administration in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north, said that Mitrovica/Mitrovicë north but also other municipalities in the north have adopted the budget, for the first time, according to Administrative Circular issued by Prishtinë/Pristina.

Hodzic denied that Albanians in north are not included in the budget and are not part of municipal investments.  She announced investments in Bosniak Neighbourhood and in other parts resided by mixed communities in north.

AKJ urges Court to reopen Mekaj’s trial for the media

(TV21)

Association of Kosovo Journalists (AKJ) requested from the Judge of the Basic Court in Prishtinë/Pristina, Shasivar Hoti to reassess his decision to close the trial proceedings for media and the general audience on the case against the former head of the Court of Appeal, Sali Mekaj.

AKJ’s request is also based on the public statements of the President of Basic Court, Hamdi Ibrahimi who stated that a potential revision of this decision would respect the requests of the audience.