RELEX Supports Kosovo Journalist

The EU’s External Relations Committee office in Pristina, RELEX Kosovo, vows support for freedom of speech as the campaign against journalist Jeta Xharra intensifies.

In the letter, sent to the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, on June 5, Renzo Daviddi of RELEX Kosovo stressed that the “European Commission fully supports [top western envoy to Kosovo] Pieter Feith’s statement of yesterday” for BIRN’s efforts to end the campaign against Xharra and to ensure the survival of freedom of speech in the republic.

Feith on Thursday sent a letter of support to BIRN, praising the organization’s work in the region and vowing to consider how to take against the continuing threats.

The RELEX representative also vowed to take the matter up with Kosovo authorities.

Xharra is the host of a popular current affairs program, “Life in Kosovo”, produced by BIRN and aired weekly by public broadcaster RTK.

The show has frequently come under attack for its investigation of issues such as alleged atrocities committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, among other issues. In the past days, Xharra has been the victim of an intensifying campaign due to the 31 May airing of a programme looking into freedom of speech in Kosovo. The Infopress tabloid newspaper, beholden to the government for advertising revenues, has labeled her a “spy for Serbia” and published threatening letters from readers.

“Free and independent media, free from political pressure and threats is one of the main pillars of democracy,” Daviddi wrote in the letter.

“We take any attacks on the freedom of media very seriously and we will respond accordingly. I can reassure you that we will take up this matter with the Kosovo authorities during our policy and technical dialogue next week at the plenary SAP Tracking Mechanism meeting. We will also continue to monitor developments and report in the 2009 progress report which is currently in preparation,” he wrote.

On June 4, a group of nine NGOs and dozens of individuals also sent a letter of support to BIRN amid increasing tension.