UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, February 7, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Stano: Kosovo risks lagging in EU path because of unilateral actions (media)
Central Bank Governor meets Minister for Communities and Returns (media)
Rasic on CBK regulation: We are in a period of transition (RFE)
Qalaj: Svecla is making a mistake by taking part in police actions (Indeksonline)
Kurti meets Director of Open Society Roma for Europe, Zeljko Jovanovic (media)
Bislimi on IMC draft law: It increases transparency of media ownership (Koha)
Prelec: It is likely Kosovo will form an empty Association or none (RFE)
Dimic to Kurti: I’m returning to Kosovo; Vucic’s dictatorship intolerable (RTK)
Serbia fears documentary novel about crimes in Kosovo (Koha)

Serbian Language Media:

Dacic: I received information that UNSC session will be open to public, President Vucic to attend (Tanjug, RTS, media)
First shipment of dinars following CBK decision banned from entering Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
Serbian Democracy calls upon EU to establish Fund in Kosovo (Radio KIM)
China Ambassador Li Ming: The issue of Kosovo should be resolved through dialogue (RTS)
Hovenier: Reactions of Kosovo authorities have direct impact on quality of our partnership (Radio KIM, KoSSev)
Pistorius: I am concerned, Germany has been sending additional forces to Kosovo since April (Blic, Kosovo Online, media)
Sentic: Serbs in Kosovo deprived of basic rights, existence, and dignity (Kosovo Online)
Gogic: Pristina closes down Serbian institutions, and does nothing to return Serbs in institutions in the north (N1, Kosovo Online)
10 years of KoSSev: Awards to Milivoje Mihajlović and posthumously to Belul Beqaj
Brnabic: Draft EP resolution contains no arguments (Tanjug)

International:

Kosovo Allows Consumers to Terminate Contracts with Cable Operators Escaping Penalties (Prishtina Insight)

Albanian Language Media

Stano: Kosovo risks lagging in EU path because of unilateral actions (media)

Spokesperson for the European Union, Peter Stano, said today that Kosovo risks lagging in its EU integration path because of what he called unilateral actions. He called on Kosovo and Serbia to focus on the implementation of obligations deriving from agreements that were reached in the EU-facilitated dialogue.

Radio Free Europe notes in its coverage that Kosovo has received criticism from the EU over the Central Bank’s decision to stop the use of the Serbian Dinar for cash payments in Kosovo, and for closing Serbian parallel municipalities in Dragash and Peja.

The EU said these decisions were unilateral and called on Kosovo to resolve these issues through the EU-facilitated dialogue with Serbia. “We are seeing things for which we have reacted, especially in Kosovo’s case, with unilateral actions that have caused concern among us. This creates fear on our side that Kosovo could be left outside and behind,” Stano said. “Dialogue is continuing and we are continuing our work to help the parties to finally start acting in constructive spirit and to move forward. We don’t fear any blockade, in fact we don’t fear anything. But we do fear that people in Kosovo and Serbia will remain outside what is important for them and that is the integration process”.

Central Bank Governor meets Minister for Communities and Returns (media)

Most news websites cover a meeting that Governor of the Central Bank of Kosovo, Ahmet Ismaili, had with the Minister for Communities and Return, Nenad Rasic. Ismaili informed Rasic about the latest changes in the Regulation on Cash Operations, clarifying the main aspects, effects, and arguments for its position. Discussions were also held about the existing opportunities, alternatives, and access to finance through various financial channels licensed for operation throughout Kosovo.

“Furthermore, it was clarified that the Regulation in question does not prohibit or restrict the acceptance of funds into euro-denominated bank accounts in licensed banks, nor does it limit the exchange activity of any currency carried out by banking or non-banking financial institutions licensed by the CBK. Therefore, all individuals have access to bank accounts and can accept funds in their accounts in Euro, through various legal channels.”

“So, all citizens who already have a euro-denominated bank account in any licensed bank in Kosovo can use it to receive funds from any country. While those who do not yet have an account, can open one in any bank according to the CBK's Regulation on Access to Payment Accounts for Basic Services, which, starting from 1 January 2024, has no fees for opening or maintaining accounts for vulnerable groups and social schemes.”

Ismaili also said that there are four bank branches, three microfinance institutions (creditors) and over 15 non-banking financial institutions for payments and exchange operating in the four northern municipalities. The number of branches and offices of financial institutions operating in that area is increasing, as financial inclusion is the goal of the CBK.

Ismaili said the CBK remains determined to advance the legal and supervisory framework in the implementation of its constitutional mandate and that it remains committed to continue with information and awareness activities for the public.

Rasic highly appreciated the role of the CBK and its commitment, expressing the willingness to cooperate within its capacity, with the aim of increasing financial inclusion and expanding opportunities for financial access for all communities.

Ismaili and Rakic expressed their willingness to expand cooperation in order to provide the most complete and adequate information to facilitate the successful implementation of the requirements of local legislation.

Rasic on CBK regulation: We are in a period of transition (RFE)

Kosovo’s Minister for Communities and Returns, Nenad Rasic, said today that during a meeting with Prime Minister Albin Kurti they agreed that the regulation of the Central Bank of Kosovo (CBK) which among other things bans the use of the Serbian Dinar for payments in Kosovo is in a period of transition. “When I met the Prime Minister, we reached a conclusion that this is a transition period so the users will have the opportunity to prepare for using the regulation. From the legal and technical aspects, this is the right way to continue,” he said.

Rasic said CBK Governor Ahmet Ismaili “mentioned that the transition phase can end in late February, but again if there is readiness from the other side, because any timeline that we would mention now would be inaccurate”.

Rasic said that Ismaili also informed him today that the CBK will contact the Serbian National Bank today to reach an agreement on the transaction of funds in Kosovo and their exchange into Euros. He mentioned this as the first option for resolving the issue. Another option is for banks with branches in Kosovo and Serbia to enable the distribution of transactions in Euros.

Rasic also said that educational and healthcare institutions in Kosovo, which work under the Serbian system, will continue to work as before and that information that they will be closed are inaccurate. “I want to tell everyone, especially the workers in those institutions, that this will not happen, because I have seen the firm position of the Prime Minister that they can continue their work,” he added.

Qalaj: Svecla is making a mistake by taking part in police actions (Indeksonline)

MP from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and former Kosovo Police General Director, Rashit Qalaj, said that Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla taking part in police operations is wrong. “The government certainly has its merits, but the actions are not directly theirs. The government is trying to capitalize on the success of Kosovo Police. In the law on police too, the operational part is separate from the work of the ministry. But ever since his appointment, Minister Svecla said he will take part in operational matters too. He claims that he is allowed to do this. But I think this is wrong,” Qalaj said.

Kurti meets Director of Open Society Roma for Europe, Zeljko Jovanovic (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti met on Tuesday with the Director of the organization Open Society Roma for Europe, within the Open Society Foundations, Zeljko Jovanovic. Speaking about the advancement of the rights of all communities in Kosovo, Kurti informed Jovanovic about the government’s initiatives and its active role in empowering the Roma community in Kosovo.

Jovanovic shared with Kurti the details of the projects managed by the Foundation, which aim at economic development, political empowerment, but also educational and cultural ones of the Roma community.

In the framework of the discussion, the necessary measures within the Growth Plan that stimulate employment, the establishment of micro, small and medium businesses as well as the professional training of this community in the Republic of Kosovo were highlighted.

In the end, the importance of the participation of the Roma community in the Population Census that begins in April was emphasized, this process is essential for the proper planning of policies for all communities living in Kosovo.

Bislimi on IMC draft law: It increases transparency of media ownership (Koha)

Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi said today that the new draft law for the Independent Media Commission (IMC) will increase the transparency of media ownership. The Kosovo Assembly Committee for Public Administration, Local Government, Media, and Regional Development discussed the draft law today and it is expected to be sent to the Assembly amid many criticisms. Bislimi meanwhile says that the draft law is in line with European directives.

Tea Blakaj, legal advisor to the Kosovo government, said the draft law has passed through all phases of public consultations. “We have covered the entire European directive,” she said.

But MP from the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Isak Shabani, suggested that the draft law should be sent to the Venice Commission for assessment. “We have several remarks which I will not raise in the working groups. With this draft law, the media are not free. Some freedoms could be restricted and this smells like dictatorship,” he argued.

Bislimi responded to Shabani saying that “either what we said that we have covered the European directive is not true or European directives are against the freedom of the media”. “No one denies the right to make comments, but no one gives assurances that the comments are accurate … an economy that wants to get closer to the European Commission aims at formality not informality,” Bislimi said, referring to the obligation of online media that publish video content to be registered with the IMC.

MP from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Besnik Tahiri, claimed that the draft law is a tendency by the government to control the media. “I can say with full competency that the draft law prepared by the Office of the Prime Minister has had a great lack of transparency in terms of public consultations,” he said.

Prelec: It is likely Kosovo will form an empty Association or none (RFE)

Marko Prelec from the International Crisis Group (ICG) said in an interview with the news website that the decision banning the use of the Serbian Dinar in Kosovo should be negotiated in the EU-facilitated talks between Kosovo and Serbia. He argued that the Dinar “is not only a currency – for better or for worse, the Serb community depends on it”.

Prelec said that the decision on the Dinar as well as the shutting down of several Serbian parallel municipalities in Kosovo will affect the Association of Serb-majority municipalities that is expected to be formed. “The way things stand right now – we will either have no Association, or one for the sake of it, which would be an empty institution, which the government will create unilaterally without any real effort to meet the needs of the community that it is supposed to help. And this is regrettable,” he said.

Asked about the international community’s reaction on the matter, Prelec said their engagement is completely understandable. “This is exceptionally important for the Serb community in Kosovo, both in the north and the south. They depend existentially on Serbian institutions. If they are removed overnight, those people, the majority of them, would have few other opportunities, but to try to leave,” he said.

Prelec said that “the Kosovo government, by doing what it is doing, is not trying to expel the Serbs. I think there is no indication of this.”

Prelec also said that Kosovo should postpone the enforcement of the decision on the Serbian Dinar. “I think it is way better if it is done through negotiations in the Brussels dialogue. A system is needed to replace what the Dinar does,” he said.

Dimic to Kurti: I’m returning to Kosovo; Vucic’s dictatorship intolerable (RTK)

RTK claims to have seen a request that Serbian reporter Radomir Dimic made to Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, asking him to create conditions to come back to Kosovo, “because he can no longer live in Aleksandar Vucic’s dictatorial regime”. “Honorable Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, in line with your public call for the return of Kosovo Serbs, I am addressing you personally to enable me and create existential conditions in my homeland, after over 20 years in exile in Serbia … I don’t want to live in a dictatorial regime which is based on the industry of the populist system of a dictator that has been in power for 12 years. As a Kosovar, I am committed with all my being for a Democratic European Kosovo. I want to do everything I can to build trust among the Kosovo Serbs,” he said. Dimic said he strongly believes in a joint future between Albanians and Serbs and that he expects a response as a person that has no other homeland except Kosovo.

Serbia fears documentary novel about crimes in Kosovo (Koha)

“Glimmer of Hope, Glimmer of Flame” a documentary novel by Ag Apolloni, which through the stories of Ferdonije Qerkezi and Mother Pashke documents Serbia’s crimes in Kosovo, speaks in several languages of the world. The novel has been translated into Serbian too but has no publishers yet. “The novel sounds good in Serbian too, because it rings the bell of truth. The bell tolls for those who can hear. I hope that Serbs are not deaf,” Apolloni said.

Koha notes that “it is a novel that already speaks in several languages, and it documents the horrors of two mothers that lost their children in the last war in Kosovo. The crimes of the Serbian state are covered through two families in the municipality of Gjakova. But for the book to speak in Serbian to the Serbian people about what happened, turns out to be problematic. Serbian publishers are hesitating to publish the book although it has already been translated into Serbian by Shkelzen Maliqi.”

Apolloni said he talked to several friends and his colleagues who wrote to several Serbian publishers, but they were either ignored or received ironic responses. “For example they told us let’s see if we have room in 2025, or they asked us to understand them why they can’t publish this book. I’m trying to understand their fear, but not their submission. I wouldn’t like to be in their shoes,” he said.

Apolloni, who is a professor of literature in university, said he knew Serbia has serious problems with democracy but that he didn’t know that Serbs are still living in a dictatorship. “My book does not attack, it only presents evidence, and it is very necessary for Serbs that are not manipulated to read this evidence. They need to know what was done by their compatriots who were manipulated by Milosevic’s political system”.

According to Apolloni, “some intellectuals in Belgrade were engaged in publishing my novel but they were not successful”. He said that those that have read the novel in Serbia said the translation was excellent.

Serbian Language Media

Dacic: I received information that UNSC session will be open to public, President Vucic to attend (Tanjug, RTS, media)

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, said today he received a message from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guyana, which chairs the United Nations Security Council, that the session of that UN body dedicated to Kosovo will be held tomorrow at 9:00 p.m., in an open format, reported Tanjug agency.

"It has not been officially announced yet, but according to the information we have from the UN headquarters, that is, from the chairman himself, the session will be of an open type by the decision of the chairman, without voting", he told RTS's morning news.

He explained that the members of the Security Council have already received the invitation, that is, Guyana's decision to schedule an open session for Thursday at 3:00 p.m. American time, based on its authority as the chair of that UN body.

Dacic pointed out that President Aleksandar Vucic will represent Serbia at the session.

First shipment of dinars following CBK decision banned from entering Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

Pristina authorities did not allow today shipment of dinars dedicated to the payments of salaries, pensions, social aid and related costs to enter Kosovo, Kosovo Online portal reports.

As National Bank of Serbia (NBS) told the portal, although the vehicle transporting dinars was sent to the crossing point of Jarinje in line with years-long established and précised procedure it was returned back from the crossing point without providing any explanation or dismissal note.

The armored vehicle with dinars that was sent from the NBS branch in Kragujevac arrived at Jarinje around 11:00 a.m., where the money was supposed to be taken over by the British Henderson Company which has a license to transport money and with whom NBS has successfully cooperated for years. The money was supposed to be transferred to the NBS vault in Leposavic.

After several hours waiting for approval from Pristina, the permission was not given and the shipment was banned from entering Kosovo, the portal said.

Serbian Democracy calls upon EU to establish Fund in Kosovo (Radio KIM)

“Due to numerous administrative problems preventing transition of the Serbian payment transactions, same as functioning of (Serbian) institutions within Kosovo payment transaction system, we call upon European Union to establish a Fund in Kosovo”, reads the letter Serbian Democracy (SD) sent to the EU and EU special envoy for Belgrade-Pristina talks, Miroslav Lajcak, Radio KIM reports.

Serbian Democracy warned in a letter that economic, financial, educational and health collapse is looming in the Serbian areas in Kosovo, following Pristina’s decision to ban use of dinar as of February 1.

“According to this model, Serbia would allocate to the EU financial means for pensions, social aid, salaries and projects dedicated to the citizens. After that, the EU would transfer those funds to its Fund registered in Kosovo in order to finance Serbian areas in Kosovo. Salaries, pensions and all other means mentioned above would then be transferred from this fund to the citizens”, Serbian Democracy added.

They also believe given that EU donations are exempted from taxation, this way double taxation of the Serbian citizens would have been avoided, and also possible obstructions from official Pristina.

“This would spare the citizens from possible indictments for serious criminal acts such as tax evasion, violation of the Kosovo constitutional order, terrorism and so on”, the party explained.

They also underlined the establishment of this fund would spare citizens from going to the towns outside of Kosovo to withdraw the money, that would particularly affect those poor and with disabilities, both because of financial costs and physical obstacles.

The Serbian Democracy proposed the Fund should remain in force until the Community of Serbian Municipalities is established, with agreements on it clearly defining the financing model of the Serbian areas in Kosovo.

China Ambassador Li Ming: The issue of Kosovo should be resolved through dialogue (RTS)

Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Serbia Li Ming said in an interview with RTS that China supports the territorial integrity of Serbia. He hopes that the Brussels Agreement of 2013 will be able to be implemented, adding that China and Serbia are very good friends because ''we have similar historical experience'', reported Radio Television of Serbia (RTS).

Chinese Ambassador Li Ming said in an interview with RTS that the issue of Kosovo should be resolved through dialogue and that the solution should be within the framework of Resolution 1244 of the UNSC.

The ambassador pointed out that the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia must be fully respected.

"We have carefully observed the recent events in Kosovo and Metohija and we are concerned. We believe that any unilateral action can lead to the spread of panic and lead to an escalation of tensions, and this is not in anyone's interest, not a single party participating in this dispute, nor in the interest of regional peace and stability," Li said.

He emphasizes that he believes that all ethnic groups and their legitimate rights and security should be respected and guaranteed, including the rights of the Serbian community.

"That is why we hope that the Brussels Agreement from 2013 and the establishment of the Community of Serbian Municipalities will be able to be implemented. In principle, we hope that the Kosovo issue will be resolved based on international law and within the relevant UN resolutions. We respect and appreciate Serbia's political efforts to solve this problem and issue, and we hope that we can maintain close contacts with each other on this very important issue," said the Chinese ambassador.

Li emphasized that yesterday he had an excellent meeting with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, at which, as he said, they exchanged views and ideas on bilateral relations between the two countries.

"We also discussed issues concerning our common interests and main concerns. China and Serbia are very good friends because we have similar historical experience. We are fighting for our sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence. We respect each other and experience each other as equal partners and we have established deep political trust on that basis. That is why in these areas of mutual interest and major causes of concern, China and Serbia understand each other and support each other," said the Chinese ambassador.

Hovenier: Reactions of Kosovo authorities have direct impact on quality of our partnership (Radio KIM, KoSSev)

US Ambassador in Pristina Jeffrey Hovenier in a lengthy interview with Radio KIM spoke about current events in Kosovo and recent actions of Pristina authorities which concerned the Serbian community.

The US expects from Kosovo authorities to ensure that recipients of benefits in Serbian dinars, confiscated on February 3, receive those payments without delay, he said during the interview, KoSSev portal reported. “As I said in my statement over the weekend, we are deeply concerned because of those actions that have direct and negative impact on Kosovo Serbs, but also on other minority communities. The confiscation of dinars on February 3, dedicated to the payment of social aid from Serbia is one example of those actions”, he said.

“In particular for those payments, we expect Kosovo authorities to ensure that recipients of those benefits receive those payments without delay”, he stressed.

“I’m a parent, I’ve raised four children. If my government started doing things that made it harder for my children to go to school and be educated, or for me to have access to a pediatrician, I’d be pretty angry. And I would feel that my government wasn’t necessarily paying attention to things that directly affect me and my family. So, I don’t have special insights here. I’m just talking as a human being. Most of us want our families to live in conditions of dignity and security, to have good education, to have good healthcare, to have predictability. I want my grandpa to receive his pension every month. And I’m less concerned about the bank account that he goes to and more concerned that he has money to buy bread. That’s what we’re trying to talk about here, and that’s why we’re so concerned”, Hovenier said.

He confirmed the request for postponement of Kosovo Central Bank decision remains until appropriate, satisfactory procedures in line with European standards are established and population sufficiently informed how continuation of their benefit payments will continue. He also noted that the US respects the rights of the Kosovo Central Bank and Kosovo Government to regulate the financial sector, but that “this is a very sensitive issue” and that is why the reactions of the Kosovo Government will have a direct impact on the quality of Kosovo partnership with US, Hovenier said again.

Speaking of elections in the north, Hovenier said US considers as important that citizens have the possibility to exercise their right to recall elected mayors, if they decide so, reiterating expectations that Kosovo Government will do all it can to ensure that all citizens, regardless of ethnic background, live in conditions of dignity and security. In relation to the Community of Serbian Municipalities, he noted that the government “must immediately move ahead” in regard to it. “We have always seen A/CSM as a mechanism through which Serbia can continue offering this (financial) support in a manner that is in line with Kosovo requests and transparent for the Kosovo Government”.

Speaking of the Constitutional Court decision on returning the land to Serbian Orthodox Church Visoki Decani Monastery he said it is a matter of rule of law. “And not of ethnic background, politics or religion. We continue urging Kosovo authorities to immediately implement the Constitutional Court decision from 2016 and register land”.

He also said respect for courts’ decisions is not a matter of choice. “And certainly not a matter of negotiations, politicking or deal-making. Constant delays in upholding the law call into question Kosovo commitment to equal justice, responsibility, transparency and respect for property rights", he recalled.

Read the full interview at: https://xk.usembassy.gov/kim_int/

Pistorius: I am concerned, Germany has been sending additional forces to Kosovo since April (Blic, Kosovo Online, media)

Minister of Defense of Germany, Boris Pistorius, stated that he was concerned about the situation in the Western Balkans in recent months, which had been marked by tensions on several occasions, and that this region in the heart of Europe, not far from Germany, required Berlin's attention, announcing that from April, the German KFOR contingent would consist of 250 personnel, instead of the current approximately 70, reported portal Kosovo Online in English.

Pistorius in an interview for Blic daily also highlighted that the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo was the first step towards a positive future, pointing out that, as in any conflict, blame was never solely on one side and that he told everyone he spoke to in the region that provocations were never helpful.

Regarding the abolition of the dinar, he said that the Serbian population in Kosovo, especially in the north, still depended on the use of the Serbian dinar, and that change takes time, and that dialogue was needed to find a solution and avoid escalation due to hasty actions.

Read more at: http://tinyurl.com/2upkv5zz

Sentic: Serbs in Kosovo deprived of basic rights, existence, and dignity (Kosovo Online)

Kosovo deputy Ombudsperson, Srdjan Sentic in a post on Facebook said Serbs in Kosovo are deprived of basic human rights, including the right to existence and dignity and are not being offered any solution or alternative, Kosovo Online portal reported.

“Institutions are obligated to act when requested to ensure, among other, also right to life, freedom and create all preconditions for a dignified life and exercising rights to a minimum material existence and equal conditions to obtain means for life”, he said.

He also said all ethnic communities affected by recent decisions, and in particular the Serbian community, are rightly upset, adding there is no justification or understanding for such inhuman acts of authorities.

“Instead of constant fulling animosities, hate speech, stigmatization and obvious discrimination and human rights violation on number of grounds, it is necessary to turn to essential integration, dialogue and opening the room for harmonization for relations, responsible approach and responsible rhetoric, respecting Constitution, the law and above everything international conventions about human rights. They are the leading principles of western democracies and European values”, he concluded.

Gogic: Pristina closes down Serbian institutions, and does nothing to return Serbs in institutions in the north (N1, Kosovo Online)

Political analyst Ognjen Gogic told N1 broadcast that Pristina undertakes unilateral measures and closes down Serbian institutions, but does nothing that Serbs in the north of Kosovo return to the institutions there.

He pointed out the fact that Pristina, upon adoption of the decision on dinar, first targeted the most vulnerable part of the Serbian community, and Gorani people, demonstrates the intention to continue endangering the lives of the Serbian people.

He added nothing changed in the north of Kosovo since the decision entered in force on February 1, but that there is a feeling of tensions and uncertainties, and also panic among the people as to what could happen. “An impression is being created that Kosovo police could raid the area at any moment”, he said.

Gogic told N1 that the day before a regrouping of Kosovo police took place in Mitrovica North and the news spread that they would raid Trepca premises in Zvecan. “That did not happen, but anxiety is created because south of the Ibar River disturbing events occurred (…)”.

He said the arrest of Serbian Post Office workers in Gorazdevac and confiscation of 4.000.000 dinars from them, same as in Ugljare, represents demonstration of force, noting that this money should have been used to pay pensions and social aid to the people.

Statements of Kosovo Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla that the sole symbol of Serbia “will be its embassy in Pristina” he termed as highly problematic. “They first started attacking the most vulnerable communities, they started from Gora (in Dragas) where the population is small. In the entire Metohija part there are no Serb-majority municipalities, Serbs and Gorani live in enclaves, villages inside majority Albanian municipalities, and mainly do not have representatives in those municipalities. They are the most endangered in institutional ways. Intentions are shown to endanger and make the lives of Serbs in Kosovo more difficult, when you start from their most vulnerable part”, Gogic said.

10 years of KoSSev: Awards to Milivoje Mihajlović and posthumously to Belul Beqaj

Kosovo Sever portal (KoSSev) celebrates the 10th anniversary of its establishment today.

To mark ten years of reporting, this year we are establishing an award for professionalism and contribution to the public interest. The award is titled „ČasTnica“ and shall be awarded once a year – on February 7th, the day KoSSev started operating back in 2014.

The award will be given to an individual who is dedicated to professional work, representing the public interest, distinguished by integrity, credibility, and commitment to peace.

The editorial board of the portal decided to grant two awards this year: to journalist Milivoje Mihajlović and posthumously to publicist Belul Beqaj.

Our choice this year was not difficult, it was clear-cut. In a time of hostility, the spread of hatred and evil, promotion of hypocrisy, lies and propaganda, their correspondence on our portal was the voice of truth and reason; a measure of decency that did not compromise the intense honesty of their testimony. They confessed their deep inner experience of the society in which they live and to which they actively contribute, always from the critical distance of an individual who reflects sensitively on himself and the environment. They talked to each other. Such was their ‘Pristinska veza.’

International

Kosovo Allows Consumers to Terminate Contracts with Cable Operators Escaping Penalties (Prishtina Insight)

One day after authorities decided to allow consumers to terminate their contracts with cable operators, Kosovo’s electronic and communications body, ARKEP, announced changes to its regulation.

Kosovo’s Electronic and Postal Communications Regulatory Authority, ARKEP, announced, on Tuesday, it approved changes in its regulation allowing consumers to terminate the contracts in cases the operators change their packages, without incurring a penalty, in conformity with the Law on Consumer Protection.

“The period established when the service provider can request compensation for the early termination of the contract (during the first 9 months when the contract is concluded for 12 months, respectively the first 12 months when the contract is concluded for 24 months), applies only to the cases when all the terms of the contract have been met by the service provider,” ARKEP explains.

The announcement comes one day after the Kosovo Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, MINT, decided to enable consumers the right to terminate the contract if the cable operator has failed to fulfill its obligations, obliging cable operators to remove the unfair conditions in the contract.