Three days of attacks on the media, by the presidency, no response.

It's been more than two weeks since the Kurti Government has approved the Law for which even Internationals had remarks, because it is not compatible with the Council of Europe standards. The adoption of the Law for Independent Media Commission brought major reactions, such as from media representatives, journalists, but what is not making a sound is the first of the state, President Vjosa Osmani. Silence is not only for this Law, but also for the attacks on Periscope by its Vetevendosje and explorers...

Why the KPM Law was sent to the Constitutional Court by PDK i n LDK, President Osmani has not yet come up with a stand against opposition and criticism from internationals. After approval of the KPM Law, the Association of Journalists with July 16th asked Osmani for a public stance on the Law on Independent Media Commission.

“The AGK, requires the president of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs. Vjosa Osmani, to form an attitude about this law and divide it with the public and not only limit it to its formal role of decreeing laws. Free media and media pluralism are the cornerstone of a democratic society, and when this foundation begins to shake seriously then the president of the state is obliged to publicly declare”, it was said in the AGK's reaction.

Same request was repeated today by AGK chairman Xhemajle Rexha. He said it is a pity that they have not yet received an answer from the President.

“We President Osmani made a public call to form a stance on KPM, but even though there is now a week we have made this public call, we haven't heard a word, it's a pity that the president in question should react to the latest lynching campaign against two portals but has not done it, it's disappointing that it doesn't form a” attitude, he told Blic newspaper.

While Periscopi has been facing a lynching campaign from the ruling party and attacks are ongoing, President Osmani is still choosing silence.

Periscop has sent questions to President Osmani's office, and even her adviser Bekim Cupina was notified that we have sent emails regarding Vjosa Osman's stance on the KPM Law and recent attacks on the media, but we have not yet received an answer from them.

What do you foresee the KPM bill?

The bill adopted Thursday, July 11th, envisions the licensing and controlling of online media producing videos from the KPM, earlier in this body, had been obliged to register only audio-visual media.

Independent Media Commission (KPM) founded in 2005 is a competent body for regulation, management and monitoring of the spectrum of transmission frequencies in the Republic of Kosovo.

Under this bill, media operating as nongovernmental organisations will have to open companies to meet the terms of licensing by the KPM.

Also, the media should receive KPM permission in case of changing ownership over 10 per cent.

According to him, online media would submit to the sanctions regime worth up to 40,000 euros for eventual violations such as disrespect of the law, failure to submit the annual report to KPM within the deadline, failure to save the transmission archive, disregarding the time set for broadcasting, as well as some other cases.

In addition to the involvement of online media producing videos under KPM monitoring, the new law envisions increasing the number of KPM members from seven to 11 and extending their mandate.

KPM members are voted to vote on by the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo and, according to the Association of Kosovo Journalists (AGK), this increase of staff in the KPM can be misused by the government “to send their people”, who could stay longer in their positions, thus jeopardising, according to them, KPM independence.

Meanwhile, for this bill, days ago the EU Office in Kosovo reacted, saying that despite some of the Council of Europe's recommendations, legislation needs further revisions to improve legal clarity and adapt more to the standards of the European bloc and the Council of Europe.

This bill was adopted by the Kosovo Government on December 27th last year, and has been submitted for approval to the Kosovo Assembly, where it was approved in first reading on 7 March of this year.

The association of Kosovo Journalists (AGK) and the Kosovo Media Council written (KMSHK) had called on the Kosovo Government to give up changes to the bill immediately, as something like that was considered “the attack on the media”.

The mission of the OSCE and the EU earlier said they support the purpose of the draft law to harmonise Kosovo's legislation with relevant EU provisions, including the Audio-Visual Services directive, but, “sic emphasises the Council of Europe's report, more work is needed in the draft to ensure that it does not underestimate KP's independence or create legal contradiction<1>. /Periscopi

IKD: New Law on Independent Media Commission Destroys Constitutional Independence