Despite the rain-soaked streets of northern Mitrovica, Kosovo’s Minister of Local Government Administration, Elbert Krasniqi, made his third visit to the area this week. Accompanied by local Mayor Erden Atić, Krasniqi was spotted at the newly opened restaurant Missini.
Also present was Halil Kastrati from the „Balkans’ Orphans“ Association. In mid-August, Krasniqi signed an agreement with Kastrati to finance the construction of over 200 houses across four municipalities in the North. The deal includes plans for Kastrati’s organization to build approximately 100 of those homes, aiming to strengthen minority communities, specifically targeting Albanians, Bosniaks, Turks, Roma, Ashkalis, and Egyptians. Notably, the agreement did not mention the Serbian community.
The purpose of Krasniqi’s latest visit remains unclear, as no prior announcement was made. When questioned about the lack of notification, he simply stated, „Why should I announce them?“
This trend of unannounced visits by Kosovo government ministers to the North has become increasingly common, occurring almost daily in recent months.
Media Challenges and Access Issues
Local media has struggled to report on these visits, as many occur without prior notice. Even when media teams accompany the Pristina delegation, gaining access to the ministers has proven difficult. Journalists have reported that officials often ignore their questions, do not bring translators, and refuse to communicate in Serbian or English.
The editors of KoSSev and Radio Mitrovica Sever, alongside the director of Kontakt plus, highlighted these issues in a letter sent to Krasniqi, Justice Minister Albulena Haxhiu, and Interior Minister Xhelal Sveqla in August. Despite the urgency of their concerns, none of the ministers has responded.
On-the-Ground Communication Breakdown
Today, one of our journalists confronted Krasniqi about the ongoing media challenges.
„You are a public official; why must we always chase after you for information? This is compromising for both us and you,“ she remarked. Krasniqi responded curtly, stating, „I didn’t call you to chase me.“
When pressed about the media’s role in covering visits from high-ranking officials, he dismissed the inquiries, claiming he visits a total of 38 municipalities without prior announcements. Additional questions were met with silence, as his security personnel prevented further engagement
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