The lack of transparency/ Kosovo institutions closed to public

Media in Kosovo have almost impossible to approach the country's institutions now a month after their formation because of lack of spokesmen, the news writes.net.

The Kosovo government, the Kosovo ministries and the Assembly are showing non-transparent to the media and the public by failing to answer journalists' questions via telephone and email.

According to the Kosovo Journalists' Association, the spokesman's position is of particular importance to transparency, and journalists should have sources where they receive answers to topics that are in public interest.

The government spokesman's “position is of particular importance to the transparency of this public institution, but also to the work of journalists. They must have a source from which they can receive answers to topics that they deal with every day in the interest of the public”, said Gentiana Begolli, president of the Kosovo Journalists' Association.

Begolli, in a campaign for news.net, has shown that they have accepted complaints from journalists who are not receiving answers to questions directed at the country's institutions.

Also, the AGK board has recommended the new government to appoint the spokesman as soon as possible.

AGK's “Bord recommends to the new government the appointment of the spokesman as soon as possible so that Government will be transparent not only to journalists, but to Kosovo citizens. These days we have received complaints from journalists that they are not receiving answers to questions posed to the Parliament, the Government and because of the lack of appointment of the spokesman. The government and Parliament should react by showing readiness for transparency and co-operation with journalists' media”, Begolli said.

Even the assistant of the Journalism Department at the University of Pristina, Alban Zeneli, has said the lack of spokespersons in institutions makes journalists' work difficult.

The new Kosovo institutions, including Government, the New Ministers and Guidance of the Kosovo Parliament, have been established for a month, and the lack of a spokesman no doubt narrows the work of journalists in access to stem information”, Zeneli said.

Furthermore, Professor Zeneli has indicated that the transparency of institutions is measured by journalists' approach to institutions, but according to him, the lack of transparency has also been the practice of past governments.

The journalists don't have any official political address to direct their questions. Transparency of institutions is also measured by the approach journalists have at official information addresses, so the spokesman. But let us not forget that past governments have had such a practice that has made the daily work of journalists difficult.”, Zenel said.

The news.net has sent questions to the Kosovo government and all ministries so far on different topics, but has never accepted answers so far.

It is noteworthy, meanwhile, that Vetevendosje and Albin Kurti, one of the main criticisms of past governments, have had non-transparency towards the media and the public.