AGK reacts to media publishing of veterans' lists

The Kosovo Journalists' Association has been closely following the recent debate over the KLA war veterans' lists, allegedly falsely acquired veteran status.

AGK expresses concern about publishing the personal data of these citizens in the media.

This form of reporting is a violation of human rights, the Ethical Code of Journalism, and the law on personal data protection.

“The AGK requires journalists to abide by the fundamental professional criteria and the ethics of journalism on sensitive occasions like this, but in others, it also requires that journalists hold to the basic professional criteria and ethics of journalism. We understand that we live at a time when there is a great effort to make news and initiative, but this does not mean that it must be accomplished by violating basic professional principles and serving certain groups that attempt to use certain media for their interests and agenda”, it says in response.

The AGK strongly supports the professional work of all journalists in an not easy environment in Kosovo, but, on the other hand, requires respect for basic professional principles.

We believe that this concern of ours will be clearly and correctly understood by all colleagues journalists”, the AGK communiqué says.