Transitional justice - the way towards a common future for all communities in Kosovo

Keynote addresses will be delivered by Mr. Hashim Thaçi, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, and Ambassador Knut Vollebæk, High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE, The Hague)

Dealing with a legacy of conflict and human rights violations is one of the most difficult challenges a society can face. It is an even bigger challenge in a society in transition, like Kosovo, which remains divided along ethnic lines and in which there is disagreement over the future. Experience has shown that in order to re-establish basic trust between groups and accountability in society, there is a need to publicly acknowledge and address the abuses which have taken place, to hold those responsible for these abuses accountable, and to rehabilitate and compensate the victims. Past injustices that remain unaddressed can easily become a source of new tensions and conflict, while impunity undermines the trust in the legal system and prevents the normalization of contacts between communities. While each community understandably views transitional justice and reconciliation from different perspectives, a debate on these mechanisms and how they could be applied in Kosovo is of vital importance for all communities. At the same time, such a process of dealing with the past cannot take place without the involvement of all groups concerned.
In the case of Kosovo, a single comprehensive approach to transitional justice has yet to emerge. In the period after 1999, the UN administration has been completely unable to develop an integrated and comprehensive approach to address these questions. Now that Kosovo has started a new phase in its history, there is both a need and a possibility to address these pressing issues.
    • In a major policy speech Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo will make public the concrete outlines for a comprehensive and inclusive approach towards and in cooperation with the communities of Kosovo.
    • Based on his conflict prevention mandate and his experience in addressing inter-ethnic tensions in many different situations and countries, Ambassador Vollebæk will set out his vision of the role transitional justice can play in promoting justice, reconciliation and truth finding in Kosovo. Moving forward towards these goals is crucial for improving inter-ethnic relations in Kosovo.
    • Panel debates will follow with active members from civil society and the NGO sector, from the police, the media, the judiciary and the government.
    • In the afternoon will be the official premiere screening of the award winning documentary film RULE of LAW- Justice in Kosovo, directed by Mrs. Susanne Brandstaetter will be shown. The filmmaker will also be present. She will actively participate in the panel debate that will close this glocal seminar.





Transitional Justice in the Republic of Kosovo
KIJAC seminar, 27 May 2008


10:30 – 10:45 Opening, word of welcome
    Willem Houwen, KIJAC head of school, Obrad Savic, KIJAC director of
    international programmes

10:45 – 11:15 Keynote address, PM Hashim Thaçi,

11:15 – 11:45 Keynote address HCNM, Ambassador Knut Vollebæk,
    High Commissioner on National Minorities

11:45 – 12:15 Panel discussion
    Momčilo Arlov – Programme Coordinator / Centre for Civil Society Development
    Isak Vorgučić – Radio KIM and KIJAC
    Shpresa Agushi – Head of NGO “Roma women for Roma women”
    Osman Osmani – Head of Roma NGO “Iniciativa 6” [tbc….]
    Zenun Pajaziti – Minister of Internal Affairs
    Ilir Dugolli – KIPRED
    Shukrije Gashi – Center Director / NGO Partners
    Ardita Metaj – Humanitarian Law Center
    Albin Kurti – Self-determination Movement
    Dorothée Marotine, Program Associate / Chargée de Programmes International
    Center for Transitional Justice

    Anna Di Lellio – moderator, KIJAC and New School University (USA)

12:15 - 12:45 Q&A, discussion with audience

12:45 - 13:00 Coffee break

13:00 – 14:50   Kosovo premiere screening of documentary,
                          RULE OF LAW- Justice in Kosovo

14:50 – 15:20 Panel discussion about the documentary
    Susanne Brandstaetter, director,
    Momčilo Arlov – Programme Coordinator / Centre for Civil Society
    Albin Kurti, Self-determination movement

    Jeta Xharra – Moderator, BIRN

15:30 Ends


Transport Schedule

Departure from	Time	Destination	Transportation by
Parking lot behind Youth & Sports Center	9:30	KIJAC	KIJAC Bus
Parking lot behind Youth & Sports Center	10.00	KIJAC	VAN
Parking lot behind Youth & Sports Center	10.30	KIJAC	KIJAC Bus
Note: KIJAC Shuttle will drive back and forth from Pristina (Parking Lot behind Youth & Sport Center) to KIJAC and vice versa every half an hour starting from 9:30 to 14:00
KIJAC	15:30	Parking lot behind Youth & Sports Center	KIJAC Bus

 

RSVP:
Kosovo Institute of Journalism and Communication
Mazgit/Obilic, next to sultan Murat's tomb, Kosovo
Telephone: (+381) (0).38.560541, ext. 105, Arben Fejzaj
arben.fejzaj@kijac.org