EFJ secretary criticised the power that is favouring RTK's board candidate Mehmet Calisin hits the LDK~

Ricardo Gutierrez, secretary general of the European Federation of Journalists, has said he is concerned about the prosperity of the process of selecting a member aboard Kosovo Radio Television directors.

He said he clearly has political manipulations, especially from the LDK.

“ #Kosovo: I have strong concerns for the validity of the current process of overhauling the board of public broadcaster directors RTK. It seems clear to me that there have been political manipulations, especially from the opposition LDK, for the unjust discreditment of the designated candidates. The LDK would do better to protect public interest than its party interests”, he said.

Gutierrez said there are even doubts about the most favoured candidate by most political parties, Mehmet Calis.

This, according to him, publicly supports the ruling party and the prime minister.

I have some doubts about even the most favoured candidate by most political parties, Mehmet Calis, who is a person who publicly supports the ruling party and the prime minister of Kosovo. His proposal to create a state news agency within the public broadcaster is a dangerous project. Public television is for all citizens, not the state. I think that a candidate with such plans should not become a member of the RTK board”, he said further.

He has asked Prime Minister Albin Kurti to cancel the current process and ensure that persons like Calis or others related to VV stay away from the RTK board.

“I call on Vetevendosje Movement and Prime Minister Albin Kurti to cancel the current process of selecting board members and to ensure that individuals like Mr. Kalis or others who are related to the ruling party to be kept away from the RTK board. I remind Mr. Kurti that the good work done by his party in choosing the board of public broadcasters two years ago was seriously compromised when public television director Riley Gervalla, a person close to Vetevendosje Movement. Public authorities in Kosovo should avoid further politicisation of RTK. In the best interest of Kosovo citizens”, he said among other things in a post in “Facebook” reported Express.

The Ad hoc Commission had nominated the Assembly for a member of the RTK Board to vote with Mehmet Calis and Besnik Ali. Observers of the process and international organisations are alarmed by lack of transparency and objectivity during the selection. It is required that this process be repeated. The most esteemed, Mehmet Calis, had posts defaming all of Kosovo media and said that when you read Serbian media <x0, you become much more relaxed”.