This series of latest incidents in Kosovo, such as the graffitis painted on Orthodox buildings  in Štrpce and Dečani, the attack on two young people in Gračanica or stoning the vehicles of the Republic of Serbia’s delagation’s vehicles in Priština, demonstrate that the security situation in Kosovo is far from adequate.
The ever increasing number of incidents is affecting the deterioration of inter-ethnic relations and is is contributing to the rising tensions in Kosovo. A large part of responsibility for today’s status falls on the politicians who are hiding the mounting problems facing Kosovo today and are avoiding the work necessary to solve them.
Numerous parameters in public opinion researches conducted by various organizations show that today’s Kosovo isn’t a place people want to live in, and according to reports by UNDP, almost 50% of the populace aged 15-24 would emigrate out of Kosovo immediately if they could. Researches indicate that more than 60% of young people believe that they cannot effect positive change in their community, making frustration and apathy, along with a prevailing presence of nationalism, indicators of today’s Kosovo society.
We remind that a group of football fans of Albanian nationality attacked local inhabitants in the center of Gračanica. On the same day, two vehicles belonging to the Republic of Serbia’s delegation were stoned in the center of Priština, while the walls of the monastery Visoki Dečani and the church of the Holly Apostle Peter in Štrpce were sprayed with slogans “OVK” and “property of OVK”. Even though KPS arrested several individuals, those arrested were freed after consulting with the public prosecutor, citing a lack of evidence. KPAN considers that the courts of Kosovo have neither the capacity nor the will to solve the myriad cases of murder, theft and attacks aimed at members of the Serbian community.  Only 1% of Serbs participate in the work of judicial institutions in Kosovo, which is one of the key reasons why Serbs have no confidence in the Kosovo judiciary and why they do not hold it as independent, impartial and transparent. 
KPAN salutes the first public condemnation of a group of Serbian politicians who are part of the ruling coalition, who we invite, not only to verbally condemn the discrimination and violence against Serbs, but to use their position in power to make sure that those responsible for such incidents are appropriately sanctioned.
We demand that EULEX and KPS conduct a thurough investigation and to stop such incidents from
occuring in the future, while we invite representatives of institutions in Priština to undertake all necessary measures and disarm the loaded security situation in Kosovo.

On the Fourth annual Conference of the Kosovo Policy Action Network (KPAN), held on April 21. 2012. in Gračanica, Nenad Rikalo was chosen as the new president while Nebojsa Simic, Vladan Trific, Aleksandar Stojanovic and Gordana Djoric were elected as the members of the KPAN’s Steering Committee.

Nenad Rikalo was elected with a majority of votes from the participants of this Conference, which is to say the members of the Network. Upon being elected, he said that he hopes to end his term as president of KPAN with his head held high just as the previous president, Saša Ilić, does today. Apart from that, Rikalo has announced that in the following period KPAN will increase the number of its activities.

During the conference, other members of the steering committee, and not just the president, were elected.

Earlier that day, the former president of the Network, Saša Ilić, presented to the members and guests the activities which KPAN has implemented in the previous period, as well as his recommendations for the organization's continued operation.

„We've achieved a level where we are socially responsible as we assume those activities which influence the consciousness of citizens and raise the awareness in the fight for legal rights. Another level we've reached is that of  influence on social processes and events. But a lot of effort, the prevalence of collective over the individual consciousness, as well as joint over individual endeavors is required in order for this level to be achieved“, said Ilić.

As an example of the Network's success, he cited that not one member of KPAN has left it since its foundation,  while sixteen new organizations and five individuals have joined it.

„KPAN hasn't overstepped its principles in any way in the previous three years. The influence built up in the community and the civil sector allows the Network to build principles and openly defend its position in public. This, I can freely refer to it as luxury, is the result of the trust and mutual understanding between KPAN, USAID and "Mercy Corps".

The annual Conference was, apart from its members, also attended by the American ambassador to Kosovo, Christopher Dell, the manager of the program of Mercy Corps, Robert Garnett, and Srđan Popović, the director of the office for communities of the Prime minister of Kosovo.

As the president of the Journalist Association of Serbia, the plenary session was attended by Živojin Rakočević, who spoke on the issue of improving the media presentation of the Network's work, as well as cooperation with media outlets.

KPAN consists of 90 non-governmental organizations and individuals from the Serbian community in Kosovo and Metohija.

C. Dell: Kosovo Institutions should devote themselves to minority communities

During the annual KPAN Conference, the American ambassador to Kosovo, Christopher Dell stated  that the Kosovo institutions haven't done enough to fully respect and promote the rights and interests of minority communities, despite this being the final year of Kosovo's supervised independence.

„Every day we bear witness to the many things which are still to be done in order to build a tolerant, multiethnic and democratic Kosovo. All institutions in Kosovo must clearly demonstrate their collective devotion to minority communities and demonstrate that Kosovo is the true home of all people who live in it.“

Recognizing the passing of the Law on Prizren and Velika Hoča in the Kosovo Assembly, the American ambassador stated that it's the duty of the government to fully implement laws which govern the protection of cultural heritage.

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Dell stated that Kosovo's government is obligated to reform its Public services sector and to insure that regulations which govern the employment of members of the minority communities are fulfilled in accordance with the Constitution.

„While Kosovo's Law on the official use of languages is one of the most progressive in Europe, its implementation has fallen far short. We hope that the new governmental reforms will strengthen its implementation.“

In his address to the members of the Network, Dell has stipulated that KPAN has become the leading voice of the civil society of Kosovo Serbs by uniting their collective energy in a single organization.

„KPAN is already considered to be the voice of the civil society of Kosov

The Community Action Initiative Program (CAIP) is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Mercy Corps. CAIP hereby announces an open competition for the awarding of grants to civil society organizations’ initiatives in the north as well as throughout Kosovo.

CAIP is multi-sector program which will be implemented over the course of three years with total budget of 9 million dollars. The program seeks to improve the lives of communities and demonstrates a prioritized emphasis on north Kosovo communities; meaning those in northern Mitrovicë/a, Zvečan/Zveçan, Leposavić/Leposaviq and Zubin Potok.

The purpose of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to provide grants to Kosovo based non-majority civil society organizations to tackle priority issues facing non-majority communities in Kosovo and to promote grassroots participation. This RFA seeks to promote constructive two-way engagement with all relevant institutions for example in cooperation, advocacy and lobbying, or in monitoring and watchdog activities and overall to improve the lives of communities.

The Community Action Initiative Program is focused on improvements to quality of life for non-majority communities, especially in the north and to support increased linkages, participation and opportunities for citizens’ initiatives to be put into action with the assistance of USAID and Mercy Corps.

Eligibility and details

The size of the grants awarded will be up to €10,000 maximum under this RFA. Estimated fund for grants is 150, 000 euros.

Interested applicants are required to complete the Grant Application Form with all relevant annexes which can be:

1. Downloaded at: http://www.kpan-ksam.net

2. Requested by email from  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Deadline for Submission: 16. 07. 2012.

Applications should be submitted to CAIP by 16. 07. 2012. Applications may be submitted in Serbian or English.

Applications can be downloaded HERE

Верица Илић мајка ухапшеног Мирослава најавила је да ће контактирати ЕУЛЕКС и МУП Србије поводом, како је казала, неправде која је нанета њеном сину.

Верица Илић се са члановима Косовске стратешко-акционе мреже, састала и са Богољубом Сталетовићем замеником омбудсмана на Косову.

Она је упознала присутне са детаљима хапшења њеног сина. У изјави за КИМ радио казала је да су наредни кораци контактирање релевантних институција.

„Имамо у плану прво ЕУЛЕКС, јер је то тело починило дискриминацију, односно кривично дело што се тиче особе која је сада у затвору. Обратићемо се и нашим институцијама, конкретно министру Дачићу“, казала је Илић.

На састанку који је одржан у Грачаници присутни су говорили о тужби поднетој против ухапшеног Илића и недостатка доказа у овом случају.

Извршни директор КСАМ-а Ненад Максимовић за КИМ радио каже да је Мирослав ухапшен на основу „упитних доказа“.

„Ухапшен је на основу изјава анонимних сведока. Окупили смо се како би ускладили ставове и акције, и реаговали не само на ово хапшење већ и на сам принцип некажњивости лажног сведочења појединаца против припадника друге етничке заједница“, наводи Максимовић

Он је оценио је да су последњи инциденти на Косову очекивани, јер приближавањем српских избора, како је казао, расте напетост.

Мирослав Илић (27) из Косовске Митровице ухапшен је прошле среде у Полицијској станици у северном делу Косовске Митровице када је дошао да да изјаву пошто су му непознати починиоци ноћ раније пробушили гуме на аутомобилу. Илиц је осумњичен за учествовање у убиству Хакифа Мехметија пре две године у Косовској Митровици.

Мирославу Илићу је одређен притвор од месец дана, и тренутно се налази у Гњилану.Истрагу у вези са тим случајем воде ЕУЛЕКС-ови тужиоци из митровачког окружног суда.

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