Small budget challenge to implement MKRS projects

The small budget of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports is an obstacle to the realisation of all programmes this minister has envisioned this year.

So said Culture Minister Cameron Gashi during today's report to the Commission for Education, Culture, Youth, Sports, Innovation and Undertaking.

As one of the challenges, Minister Gashi has also mentioned blocking the current accounts of cultural institutions and cultural heritage, and the lack of subcodes for subordinate institutions.

Gashi: I consider the ministry's small budget a problem

“As a challenge and as a problem I consider the ministry's small budget, given that we have had a programme with great goals and great ambitions. Of course, the budget has been insufficient to finalise all these projects. Kosovo's promotion, of course both abroad and inside, requires an additional cost, already three Kosovo films are nominated for the Oscar award, and I believe that this requires a different approach to the film in Kosovo, despite increasing the budget. We also have sports, we already have 4 Olympic athletes who will represent Kosovo at the 2020 Olympic Games, and financial tools and budget increases for MKRS” are required for all of these, Gashi said.

The head of culture, before the commission members, has presented some of what has been called achievements. He has said that the budget has been increased for the Kosovo Cinematographic Centre for supporting film projects from 800 thousand euros in 2017 to 1.4m for 2018, improving legal infrastructure in the field of culture, approval of the regulation for salaries and degrees of creativity, performers and cultural heritage workers, with which wages have been raised by 50%.

In the area of heredity, Minister Gashi cited the establishment of the Cultural Heritage Inspectorate and the adoption of the Cultural Heritage List under Interim Protection.

He has said they are at the conclusion of the Strategy for Youth 2018-23, as well as the Youth Law.

As for youth, Minister Gashi has announced that there are more than 200 young people who are keeping practice at work, which is supported by the ministry he heads.

That statement has prompted LDK deputy Fidan Rekaliu to react, accusing the minister of selecting only those who were part of the PDK.

Recaliu: What criteria other than being a member PDK are employed

By what criterion are 200 young people employed for practical work within the MKRS, which were the criteria, has there been any criteria other than being a member of PDK's”, he asked.

Minister Gashi has said how the minister has not been involved in selecting those who have benefited.

Gashi: These young people are students, students, they have no political connection

As far as 200 young people are concerned about being party, I say this procedure has not been conducted at all in the MKRS. We have contracted companies and businesses that have developed all procedures and test taking even in interviews. No evolution has ever had the ministry, we've just shared financial means and to tell you right now I don't know 200 of who are on this program. It may be some mistaken information that all these young people are students, students, are not political. Absolutely none, and if only one make sure that I give responsibilities”, he said.

While AAK deputy Teuta Haxhiu has had a request for the minister, in terms of the law on volunteerism.

Haxhiu: Young people are discriminated against at startup when three years of work experience is required

The ongoing problems of young graduates are due to initial discrimination during the opening of employment contests. So it takes three years of work experience, what in this direction, what you're doing as minister, and we're willing to make your contribution so that we have, at least, to be a work experience, to write you work experience so that they don't discriminate that they have their qualifications and are being discriminated against at start”, she said.

And Minister Gashi has indicated that this issue is trying to regulate with the new law on youth.

Gashi: The issue of volunteerism to be adjusted to the new law for young people

As far as volunteering is concerned, we've been thinking about having a law on volunteerism, but since we've come to the conclusion that volunteer work is not only for young people to do it if they can get older, it's been passed by the MKRS then as competence. We've been thinking about adjusting the issue of volunteerism to the new youth law, which we're working on”, he said.

The MP from the Vetevendosje ranks, Arberie Nagavci, has raised concerns about developments at the Kosovo National Theatre, where she has mentioned some of the complaints the theatre director has filed.

She said there has been interference even in reporting, where, according to her, some performances have left because of political positions, she has even considered it political censorship.

However, Culture Minister Kujtim Gashi has said the director of the Kosovo Theatre does not have this problem.

Gashi: The Anques are prejudged

The “Ankes are biased because the Council is competent by law to decide on the programme and the financing of projects rather than the director. He may have been used to being like that in the past, but this time the Council intervenes that it is the Professional Council. There's actors, there's directors, there's science doctors, for the first time there's a science doctor in Albanian, who reads the texts. For the first time, we also have members of civil society. It means no political representative is and if there is only one member belonging to my party, I resign”, he said.