From November 3 to November 8, 2024 Internews Kosova with BIRN Serbia held the second study visit for 14 journalists from Kosovo and Serbia. This program included visits of the cultural monuments and objects and meetings with representatives of institutions, civil society and journalists from two countries.

The trip opened with the welcoming meeting of the journalists at Reporting House in Prishtina – an exhibition produced by BIRN Kosova and Paper Gallery with footage of the local and international reporters and photoreporters who covered developments of the latest war in Kosovo. The journalists visited the exhibition and then they were invited in a discussion regarding the relation between institutions and media as well as a discussion on EU programs for developing professional media in Kosovo, with panelists Cyprien Francois – Chief Political Advisor to Aivo Orav – EU Ambassador and Klisman Kadiu, Advisor for Media of the Office of Besnik Bislimi – Deputy PM of Kosovo.

The second day of the trip proceeded with the meeting with Elbert Krasniqi – Minister of the Ministry of Local Government, in which the journalists had the chance to know more about the work of the Ministry and their relation with non-majority communities. After this interactive meeting, the journalists visited the Documentation Center of Humanitarian Law Center and its exhibition “Once upon a time and never again” a dedication to children and youth killed during the war of 1999 in Kosovo and the exhibition “One day” that portraits the life of the pregnant women during this period.  were welcomed by Bekim Blakaj, the director of the HLC, Blerta Hocia, the curator of the exhibition and Vesa Qena, the manager of the Documentation Center.

During the visit in Kosovo, journalists had the chance to meet other journalists and civil society in the North of Mitrovica from NGO Aktiv and with Darko Dimitrijevic – director of Radio Gorazdevac near Peja. These meetings aimed to inform journalists about the importance of media and civil society of the non-majority communities in Kosovo as well as create a picture of the co-living of the communities and their relations with Kosovo institutions.

In the third day, the journalists were welcomed by Gazmend Muhaxheri -Mayor of Peja, Xhenet Syka Kelmendi – Director of Culture of Peja and Mirzet Dzogovic – Vice Mayor for Communities in the Municipality of Peja to discuss on the distribution of subsidies, the work of the Municipality of Peja for the wellbeing of the citizens and cultural resources of this municipality.

The study trip of journalists also included visits to the religious monuments that symbolize a part of the country’s culture. These visits were at the Peja Patriarchiate and Monastery of Gracanica on which tour guides explained the history of these religious objects.

In the third day journalists traveled to Serbia and throughout day four, five and six, they met with civil society and journalists from Bujanovac as well as with Arbër Pajaziti – Mayor of Bujanovac to continue the introduction program with the challenges and benefits of co-living of the two communities in this city. In Belgrade and Novi Sad, journalists from Kosovo and Serbia met with journalists that report on the relation between Kosovo and Serbia and also met with representatives of civil society that mainly focus their activity on reconciliation and strengthening cooperation between Kosovans and Serbs.

Furthermore, journalists visited the Fortress of Kalemagdan in Belgrade and the Fortress of Petrovaran in Novi Sad.

Throughout the whole trip, journalists posed questions in the meetings with representatives of institutions and managed to build new contacts from the other community for potential cooperation in the future.

Find here the documentary from the first journalistic study visit held in June of 2024.

The program of the journalistic study visit is a part of the project “Fostering a media intercultural exchange as a milestone in the reconciliation process between Kosovo and Serbia” financed by the European Union and implemented by Internews Kosova and BIRN Serbia.