The Director of the Institutefor Spatial Planning (ISP),Ilir Gjinolli, discussed thedraft document “SpatialPlan for Kosovo 2005 -2015+” with civil society re-presentatives at a roundta-ble organized by ATRC onMay 23.

Through a visual presen-tation, Gjinolli informed par-ticipants about the spatialdevelopment strategy ofKosovo, which is based on:a) development of a strongurban network for econo-mic development, b) deve-lopment and conservation ofnatural resources, and c) de-velopment of strategic links.

“The Spatial Plan is a do-cument that should pro-mote the common interestsof Kosovo residents, acce-lerating economic develop-ment, improving the qualityof life and simultaneouslyprotecting natural resour-ces and cultural heritage,”Gjinolli said.

Throughout his presenta-tion, Gjinolli emphasizedthat this document will re-main flexible.

The Institute for SpatialPlanning in the Ministry ofEnvironment and SpatialPlanning compiled this draftdocument. Presently, thepublic can participate in

suggesting revisions priorto the document being han-ded over to the govern-ment.

The Spatial Plan for Ko-sovo 2005 - 2015+, entitled“Kosovo our Home,” is a re-sult of joint efforts betweenthe government, experts indifferent fields and civil so-ciety representatives, un-der the coordination of ISP.

Citizens can send theircomments or suggestionsto: komentet.planihapesi-nor@yahoo.com or komen-tet.planihapesinor@ks-gov.net

Volume IV • Issue 5 • June 2006

New fundingopportunities, news,events, trainings, etc

can be found onATRC web site:

www.advocacy-center.org

The ADThe ADVOCAVOCATETEAdvocacy Training & Resource Center

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Civil Society Participates in Public Discussion on Draft“Spatial Plan for Kosovo 2005 - 2015+”

CONTENTS

Page 2

NGOs Discuss DecentralizationProcess

Civil Society ContinuesContribution towards

Accountable Governance inKosovo

“Intelligence Agencies ofKosovo: Dismantling, Osmosis

or Integration?”

Olof Palme InternationalCenter Urges Kosovo NGOs

to Submit Better ProjectProposals

Page 3

Farmers Cross Ethnic Lines,Form Cooperative

Kosovo Journalists Protest onWorld Press Freedom Day

NGO Initiated Debates:“Kosovo in Europe”

“Interethnic Dialogue”

Page 4

NGO Anticorruption CoalitionDistributes Posters, Warnsthat Kosovo Can Become

“A Banana Republic”

Greater Public Trust Can beBuilt by AdoptingCodes of Conduct

On May 9, more than 50 children fromPrishtina ended their carnival at the Na-tional Assembly office, holding Europeanflags and cheering “Europe wait for us,”to mark the Day of Europe.

The pupils of primary school “Faik Ko-nica” met with Kosovo President FatmirSejdiu, who vowed that their future will bein Europe.

“Everyone calls Europe the old conti-nent, but you children will make thiscontinent younger,” Sejdiu said.

NGO “INTEGRA” organized the carnivalas part of its project called “Europe Waitfor Us!”. The project aims to promotefreedom of movement, raise awareness

about the European integration processand initiate debates on this issue bet-ween citizens and governing structures ofKosovo.

The meeting of Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiuwith dozens of children on the Day of Europe, May 9

“Kosovo our Home”

“Europe Wait for Us!”

Coordinator of Olof PalmeInternational Center inPrishtina, Levent Biçaku,informed local NGO repre-

sentatives about the PalmeCenter's programs at ameeting organized byATRC on May 16. Biçaku

outlined funding ob-jectives and priori-ties, application pro-cedures, as well asavailable funds forthe Western Bal-kans.

“Funding prioritiesinclude democracy,human rights andpeace,” Biçaku sta-ted. He said that“Kosovo will be a hi-

gher priority for regionalPalme Center funding.” Heurged NGO representati-ves to submit better projectproposals because “thechances of being fundeddepend on the quality ofproject proposals.” August 15 is the deadlineto apply for Palme Center'sthis year funding.

Donor presentations arepart of an ATRC programthat seeks to link NGOswith funding opportunitiesand donors with NGOs thathave similar interests.

Volume IV • Issue 5 • Page 2

Olof Palme International Center Urges Kosovo NGOsto Submit Better Project Proposals

NEWSLETTER

“Intelligence Agenciesof Kosovo:

Dismantling, Osmosisor Integration?”

The Kosovar Institute forPolicy Research and Deve-lopment (KIPRED) publi-shed a new policy briefabout intelligence agenciesin Kosovo on May 10.

The publication includedinformation about politicalparty intelligence agenciesand challenges for one in-telligence service for Ko-sovo, such as politicization,inter-governmental relationsand designing an appro-priate, enforceable legal fra-mework. It also recommen-ded principles for buildingKosovo's future intelligenceservice, such as setting thelegal framework, limitingresponsibilities and des-igning accountability me-chanisms.

“As the structure of Ko-sovo's future institutions isbeing discussed, it is only amatter of time until Kosovo'sintelligence service is ad-dressed. How current orga-nizations are put to an endis essential for the develop-ment of new structures,which need to be built pro-perly, on a legal footing,with a clear mandate andeven clearer lines of ac-countability,” the publicationsaid. This project was sup-ported by Freedom Houseand USAID.

The publication is availableat www.kipred.net

Civil Society Continues Contribution towards AccountableGovernance in Kosovo

On May 12, ATRC organi-zed a roundtable discus-sion between RamushHaradinaj, leader of thepolitical party “Aleancapër Ardhmërinë e Koso-vës - AAK,” and local non-governmental organiza-tions to discuss the latestpolitical developments inKosovo.

Haradinaj praised therole that civil society hasplayed in successful de-velopments in Kosovo, ur-ging it to “continue its

contribution towards bet-ter and more accounta-ble governance.”

Participants suggestedthat political partiesshould better unders-tand the role and impor-tance of civil society.They mentioned theproblems Kosovo so-ciety is facing, such asunemployment, studentprotests at the Univer-sity of Prishtina and cor-ruption in public institu-tions.

Information about Olof Palme InternationalCenter’s funds and application procedures

can be found at www.palmecenter.org

NGO funding opportunities

Ramush Haradinaj discusses the latestpolitical developments in Kosovo with

local NGOs on May 12

New NGO Publication

NGOs Discuss Decentralization Process

Lutfi Haziri, Deputy PrimeMinister and Minister forLocal Government Admi-nistration, briefed localNGO representatives aboutthe latest developments inthe decentralization pro-cess in Kosovo, during aroundtable discussion onApril 26. The meeting, or-ganized by ATRC, aimed todiscuss civil society'scontribution towards the

decentralization process. Haziri emphasized that

the Kosovo governmentand Serbia are discussinglocal government adminis-tration reforms to betterserve the needs of all citi-zens.

“The principals of the Ko-sovo delegation regardingdecentralization are basedon interethnic relations foran integrated environ-

ment,” he said. Decentralization based on

a multiethnic society setsthe pace for functional andfinancially sustainable mu-nicipalities, Haziri noted.He referred to good decen-tralization practices in Ma-cedonia and Slovenia.

Participants commentedthat Kosovo would be uns-table if it were to be separa-ted ethnically.

Serbian and Albanian far-mers have lived side byside as neighbors in Raho-vec municipality for deca-des. They tended their landand sold their products in-dependently. With only abit of land, sometimes sel-ling their products was diffi-cult.

“Collecting and sellingagricultural products is verydifficult for farmers. A co-operative provides farmerswith a place to collect anddistribute products, whichenables them to sell theirproducts more easily,” Sy-lejman Balaj, a farmer andPresident of the coopera-tive Agrokop, said.

The Kosova DevelopmentCenter (KDC), a NGO fromGjakova that seeks to im-prove the social economyof agricultural communities,began a project to supportcooperation between diffe-rent ethnic groups in Raho-vec last fall.

KDC facilitated meetingsbetween farmers of diffe-rent ethnic groups; offeredtrainings on agriculture,which they could attend to-gether; and, tried to provide

support wherever itwas needed. KDCalso assisted the far-mers in preparingtheir statute so thatthey could register.

“They decided towork together,” KDCExecutive Director Is-met Isufi explained.“We didn't pushthem. We just sup-ported them.” He explainedthat communities mustchoose to come togetheron their own. While NGOscan support this, they can-not force this process, hesaid.

After nearly six months ofinformal talks, 20 farmersfrom Rahovec formally re-gistered their agriculturalcooperative, “Agrokop,” inMay. In order for it to work,each farmer had to givetheir land, some moneyand agree to organize to-gether.

The cooperative is thefirst of its kind in Kosovo.The Executive Director isMarjon Šaciq, a Serb, andthe President is SylejmanBalaj, an Albanian. Thereare eight Serb and twelve

Albanian members.“The cooperative will em-

ploy new people in agricul-tural services, bring far-mers together and providethem with trainings andconsultancy,” Balaj said.

Working together hasmany benefits for the far-mers. They can buy inputsand prepare their land to-gether, which will decreaseindividual farmers' costs.By pooling their products,they can sell to largerbuyers and make more in-come. Their agreement canmotivate other communi-ties to work together in thefuture, according to Isufi.

This project was madepossible with support fromthe Foundation for Demo-cratic Initiatives and fundedby USAID.

Volume IV • Issue 5 • Page 3

Farmers Cross Ethnic Lines, Form Cooperative

“A cooperative enables farmers to selltheir products more easily”

Kosovo Journalists Protest on World Press Freedom Day

NEWSLETTER

NGO Initiated Debates

“Kosovo in Europe”

ATRC and Youth Initiativefor Human Rights organizedon May 18 a discussion bet-ween Stephen Heintz, Presi-dent of the Rockefeller Bro-thers Fund (RBF) and civilsociety representatives, en-titled “Kosovo in Europe.”The discussion focused ondevelopments regarding ne-gotiations about the futurestatus of Kosovo, EuropeanUnion integration, interethnicrelations and the role andcontribution of civil society insupporting official dialogue.

“RBF will continue to focusprimarily on Kosovo, Serbiaand Montenegro, while re-serving flexibility to supportexceptional regional andcross-frontier efforts,” Heintzsaid. For more information, seewww.rbf.org

Dozens of Kosovo journa-lists protested the new Ad-ministrative Instruction forimplementing the Law onAccess to Official Docu-ments for a half hour infront of the governmentbuilding in Prishtina. The Association of Profes-

sional Journalists of Ko-sovo (APJK) organized theprotest to mark WorldPress Freedom Day onMay 3.

“The Administrative Ins-truction does not fulfill thepurpose it should; it doesnot enable easy access to

official documents,” FatosBytyçi, Chairman of APJKsaid. As a sign of dissatisfaction

with the Administrative Ins-truction, signed in April by

the Ministry of Public Servi-ces, journalists at the pro-test threw copies of thisinstruction into a garbagebin and burnt them.

World Press FreedomDay was first proclaimed bythe United Nations GeneralAssembly in 1993 at a timewhen new democraciesemerging from the ColdWar were beginning theirstruggles to overhaul theirformer system of gover-nance. It aimed to highlightone of the most importantinstitutions to be developed- a free press.

Representatives of RBF andcivil society discuss situa-tion in Kosovo on May 18

“Interethnic Dialogue”

Civil society and governmentrepresentatives discussedon May 11 the issue of inter-ethnic dialogue, which theyconsider to be a preconditionfor stability and prosperity inKosovo. This issue was dis-cussed at a cross sectorroundtable meeting, held inPrishtina and organized bythe Western Balkan Initia-tive. For more information,contact the Western BalkanInitiative: 038 247 689

Volume IV • Issue 5 • Page 4

St. Agim Ramadani Nr. 152nd Floor Prishtina, Kosovo

Phone/Fax: +381 (0) 38 244810

The Anticorruption Coalition distributed postersthroughout Kosovo on May 8, informing citizensabout the risks that the incumbent corrupt politi-cal structure presents. The activity is part of acampaign implemented by the “Organization forDemocracy, Anticorruption and Dignity - Çohu”and its local NGO partners.

The posters read “United around Corruption”and “Banana Republic of Kosovo,” which “intendto show the contradiction between patriotic phra-ses used by politicians and the real jeopardy inwhich Kosovo finds itself on its route towards aquasi-mobster manner of governance,” the me-dia announcement issued by Çohu said. The Anticorruption Coalition was established on

May 4 and includes the following local NGOs:Çohu, Urban FM, Llap Civic Initiative, Initiative forPeace, Youth Center of Dragash, Fisnikët, Elita,Kcic, Alarm Movement, KEK IndependentTrade-Union, Syri i Vizionit, Avonet and Commu-nity Building Mitrovica.For more information, contact organizata-cohu@yahoo.com

Executive DirectorRREZE DULI

rreze@advocacy-center.org

Financial & AdministrationManager

GANI ASLLANIgani@advocacy-center.org

Training & ConsultancyServices Manager

ILIR HOXHA ilir@advocacy-center.org

Trainer & ConsultantMERITA BARILEVA

merita@advocacy-center.org

Trainer & ConsultantDONIKA SALIHU

donika@advocacy-center.org

Communication & OutreachManager

ARJETA DOROCIarjeta@advocacy-center.org

Program AssociateNATYRA ZHJEQI

natyra@advocacy-center.org

IT and DatabaseManager

ARMEND SUSURI armend@advocacy-center.org

NGO Anticorruption Coalition Distributes Posters, Warnsthat Kosovo Can Become “A Banana Republic”

Greater Public Trust Can be Built by AdoptingCodes of Conduct

Among the general public,there is greater trust ofgroups who do not placeprofit as their number onegoal. NGOs are thereforemore trusted than compa-nies. Trust is a non-displa-ceable and vital part of re-lationships and the imageof NGOs.

Public trust of NGOs co-mes from two main sour-ces: performance and ac-countability. Performancemeans the useful socialvalue placed on projectswhich support positive andenduring change. NGOcodes of conduct are onetool that can support ac-countability.

NGOs should adopt co-des of conduct for two rea-sons. They can defendNGOs against criticisms ofbeing secretive, non-transparent about fundingsources, less than rigo-rous with managementprocedures and practices

and without democraticprocesses. By establishingdefinite standards of ethi-cal behavior, corporategovernance and financialtransparency, codes en-able NGOs to build theirsupport bases and givethem greater credibilityand authority in their acti-vities.

NGOs in several coun-tries now work under co-des of conduct.

Source: Global Develop-ment Research Center

This newsletter is made possible by the generous support of the Ameri-can people through the United States Agency for International Development(USAID). The contents are the responsibility of ATRC and do not necessarilyreflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

Building Trust in NGOs