The Speaker of the Parliament, Albulen Haxhiu, has said it is time to start discussions for a stable model of funding Kosovo Radio Television, which will not make the public broadcaster dependent on the executive.

It has stated it is open to meet with RTK management, experts and the relevant parliamentary commission to discuss the issue.

I think the challenges Kosovo Radio Television has overcome are serious. And I think that in relation to the same ones there should be attention from the Republic of Kosovo’s Parliament. I think management, board, RTK would generally need either the Parliament along with them, or they along with the Assembly and field experts to speak broadly about the sustainable financing of Kosovo Radio Television. You mentioned the budget sharing issue RTK must depend on the Government to function. I think it’s time for the end to continue extensive discussions in relation to the financing of Kosovo Radio Television. So I think it’s wrong for RTK to depend on institutions, in this case the executive. You know that every time we’ve been, especially in the last two years in election processes, RTK employees are left without pay. And it has taken government decisions again to get the salaries that are due to RTK staff. So I’m very open to meet with RTK management, with experts, with the relevant commission here and start discussions on RTK funding. A stable financing that does not even bring about executive dependence. Over the next few days, of course, we will have more detailed meetings with responsible persons, but as Speaker of the Parliament I certainly support that the RTK financing be done by other aspects and not to be dependent on the Government. Therefore, sustainable financing and editorial independence are our goals and I think we should work together in this direction, she told RTK.

Source Layer: RTKLive