The first “ČasTnica” awards presented to mark the decade of work of the KoSSev portal

In honor of a decade of reporting, the KoSSev portal presented its first award for professionalism and contribution to public interest, „ČasTnica“, today.

Two awards were presented this year – to journalist and analyst, a Pristina native – Milivoje Mihajlović, and posthumously to university professor and publicist Belul Beqaj, who passed away in September 2022. Beqaj’s daughter, Adea Beqaj, accepted the award in his name.

The award ceremony of the newly established „Častnica“ in North Mitrovica was attended by journalists from Serbian and Albanian newsrooms in Kosovo, as well as representatives of civil societies, institutions, international organizations in Kosovo, the KFOR mission and embassies.

The president of the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS), Željko Bodrožić, was also present.

The award ceremony was attended by the creator of this award, Serbian journalist Danica Vučenić, as well as the „godfather“ – journalist of the KoSSev portal, Ivan Mitić, who came up with the name of the award.

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“Our choice this year was not difficult, it was clear-cut. In a time of hostility, the spread of hatred and evil, promotion of hypocrisy, lies and propaganda, their correspondence on our portal was the voice of truth and reason; a measure of decency that did not compromise the intense honesty of their testimony. They confessed their deep inner experience of the society in which they live and to which they actively contribute, always from the critical distance of an individual who reflects sensitively on himself and the environment. They talked to each other. Such was their ‘Pristinska veza,’” said the editor of the KoSSev portal, Tatjana Lazarević, at the award ceremony.

Unfortunately, death prevented Belul Beqaj from continuing with his loud reflections on our reality and raising his voice for peace, she stated further.

The column he started for KoSSev was completed by his close friend and colleague Ismet Hajdari, who also attended the ceremony today.

University professor and political scientist, Belul Beqaj, was born in Prizren in 1957, where he completed primary and secondary school. He graduated from the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Belgrade, obtained his master’s degree from the Faculty of Law of the University of Pristina, and received his Ph.D. in political science from the University “Kiril I Metodije” in North Macedonia. He wrote hundreds of public and scientific works and participated in numerous public dialogue-related events.

“What he used to say at public events, he would also repeat in private. He truly advocated for dialogue and coexistence and ultimately believed in it as the only viable solution to Balkan troubles. He was willing to listen to the other side, he was proud of his own, and equally respected what belonged to others. He was happy with the joint life, saddened by hatred, misunderstanding, and lack of education. He could not stand the corruption of bad leaders,” Lazarević said.

Milivoje Mihajlović was born in 1958 in Pristina. He graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Pristina, Department of Literature, in 1983. He reported on events in Kosovo for the Pristina-based “Jedinstvo“, Tanjug, Radio-television Belgrade, BBC, APTN, Agency France Press, CBS… He was the editor-in-chief of Radio Pristina, founder of the Media Center, editor of the YU-info television news program, director of Radio Belgrade, and director of the Information Office of the Government of the Republic of Serbia from 2007 to 2015. In 1999, he left Pristina with other Serbs and moved to Belgrade, where he still lives today.

Mihajlović is an expert on Kosovo issues. He is one of the few Serbian journalists who, although forced to leave Pristina, Kosovo never really left him, actively testifying about the past and present.

“In the era of the decline of the journalistic profession, he maintained his dignity, as well as integrity. In the tumultuous political events and the fate experienced by Kosovo Serbs, he did not bow down, nor did he rise to the narratives of the official authorities,” Lazarević underscored.

„ČasTnica“ will be awarded once a year – on February 7, when the KoSSev portal was established back in 2014.

The award is given to an individual who is dedicated to professional work, representing the public interest, marked by integrity, credibility, as well as commitment to peace and the common good.

There are two reasons why this is the first time KoSSev commemorates its anniversary publicly:

“Duty calls – it is the first and most important reason. Every February 7th was full of events to report on and work to be done. The other reason, a personal one, perhaps bordering on superstition: It was made clear to us that a powerful part of society does not like what we do; sometimes through open attacks, sometimes with soft pressure, always by being ignored by the individuals who are obliged to answer the public’s questions.”

“What would you celebrate in such a situation? Solely the very fact that you exist, persist, and have not given up? Wouldn’t the fanfare and confetti seem out of place against even more workload, an effort to remain on the right path, and a deep gratitude that the most powerful part of society – the public – supports you, even if they are not allowed to express it publicly? Since we celebrate our anniversary best with new results, so be it!”