The debate on transparency of Leposavic municipality was held yesterday in Caglavica Media Centre. Despite of confirming their participation earlier, current and former representatives of this municipality, as well as from Ministry of Local Government Administration did not attend the debate, KIM Radio reported.
Director of Media Centre and journalist Budimir Nicic said that over the last twenty years, journalists in Kosovo have been facing various problems, but the situation has never been as bad as it is in the past couple of years, because the journalists cannot reach their interlocutors i.e. representatives of institutions.
“The municipality of Leposavic did not want to participate in the assessment of transparency, due to the political crisis caused by the introduction of Pristina tariffs on goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina” NGO Aktiv Project Manager Milica Jakoviljević said. This NGO implemented project “Transparency of Municipal Administration in the North of Kosovo”.
“Crno-beli svet” portal editor Sanja Sovrlic agreed with Jakovljević that the unforeseen political circumstances and constant tensions are very often an excuse for a failure to perform the duties.
“The municipality must function in the interest of citizens and as citizens’ service. So, there shouldn’t be any excuses or justifications. Political and local leaders are inaccessible to the media, we do not have the opportunity to hear them, ask questions, hold them accountable” she said.
