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Organizations dealing with the protection of media freedom in Kosovo and the region have reacted with concern regarding a speech by the MP of the Vetëvendosje Movement, Fitore Pacolli, in the Parliament of Kosovo.
She asked for measures to be taken for “government regulation of the media, especially online ones”.
“In recent years, large private investments in the media have been observed, through which the possibility of influencing some main and online media has been created, which are being used for business purposes and political blackmail. Here we ask for the attention of the Assembly and the government to take measures and understand more about what is happening with the functioning of the media, with transparency as well as with the identification of media ownership“, Mrs. Pacolli said on Thursday during a parliament session.
The Regional Platform of the Western Balkans “Safe Journalists” or in Albanian “Safe Journalists”, said through a written response that the call for direct intervention by the government of Kosovo in the regulation of the media “it is unacceptable and is perceived as endangering freedom of expression and democracy“.
“We condemn such language and call on all officials and politicians to refrain from such speeches that pose a danger to democracy. We condemn any initiative by the government that aims to take control over the media, as such attempts are unacceptable in democratic countries“, it is said in the reaction of this organization.
The Association of Journalists of Kosovo and the Council of Written Media of Kosovo, said in a joint reaction that the open call of MP Pacolli represents a danger to the freedom of the media in the country.
“The media, most of which are registered as businesses in the Kosovo Business Registration Agency, while another part as non-governmental organizations, regulate their activities through the relevant laws in Kosovo and the regulations of the Independent Media Commission and the Media Council of Kosovo. Writings of Kosovo”, it is said in this reaction, underlining that “this is a serious threat of the current government against the media”.
In the World Press Freedom Index published in May of this year by the organization “Reporters Without Borders”, Kosovo has made progress in terms of press freedom, being ranked 61st, or 17 places better than a year ago when it was ranked 78th.
However, according to the organization, Kosovo is among the problematic countries and journalists are regularly targeted by political attacks and the target of “SLAPP” lawsuits used by business groups and politicians.
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