Radosavljevic: Kurti’s message to journalists from Serbian-language newsrooms is a form of institutional belittlement

Jovana Radosavljevic from the NGO New Social Initiative reacted to the call by Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti to journalists who report in Serbian that they could occasionally ask questions in the Albanian language, assessing that this represents a form of institutional belittlement and demonstrates a lack of understanding of the concept of equality.

“This represents a form of institutional belittlement and shows a lack of understanding of the concept of equality. He has shifted the responsibility for communication from official institutional representatives onto journalists and citizens, instead of onto institutions that are obliged to respect the law and ensure equal access to information for citizens and journalists,” Radosavljevic noted for RTS.

According to her, the actions of the authorities in Pristina clearly indicate that there is no space for building trust among communities in Kosovo.

“When this is placed in the context of all previous statements, events, and policies of the Pristina government, it creates a context in which there is no room for building trust between communities, as well as between institutions and Kosovo Serbs,” Radosavljevic added.

Kurti spoke with journalists at the opening of a new pedestrian bridge over the Ibar River, which connects North and South Mitrovica. After a question was asked in Serbian, he told them that they could sometimes ask a question in Albanian as well.