This regular semiannual newsletter of the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS), aims to share information and details with its-readers about events, publications, and implementation of projects from our organization. This time we bring you details of the implementation period from January to June 2016, when KCSS celebrated eight years of its work in contributing to the establishment

advancement of the Security Sector in Kosovo with over 70 publications and 150 events.

KOSOVAR CENTRE FOR SECURITY STUDIES

NEWSLETTER JANUARY-JUNE 2016

With proactive aprroach on preventing and combating violent extremism.It has been three years since KCSS has launched several activities with partners of the program to prevent and combat violent extremism in Kosovo, a work that has been reflected even in internationally renowned media such as New York Times (NYT). On May 22nd, we published the response Executive Director of KCSS, Dr. Florian Qe-haja, gave to the New York Times article: “How Kosovo was turned into a fertile ground of ISSIS”, indicating it did not reflect the reality in Kosovo. Qehaja said the article provided the context for the growth of Islamic extrem-ism in Kosovo, but only echoed the dark side of the story without mentioning the recent positive developments in the country. Qehaja’s reaction has been among the few published following the publication of the article on Kosovo NYT.

Countering violent extremism through education Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS) in co-operation with the Institute for Peace Building and Human Rights at Columbia University organized a conference on the role of education in preventing violent extremism. Views on the role of education in combating and prevention of extremism were shared by Professor David L. Phillips from Columbia University, Dr. Dukagjin Pupovci from the Kosovar Education Centre, the director of the Albanian Cen-tre for Good Governance - Arben Cejku, and Dr. Flo-rian Qehaja the Executive Director of KCSS.

From the visits of the executive director of KCSS in the United States of America KCSS Director, Dr. Florian Qehaja contributed to the ninth annual security conference organized by the U.S. Department of State in cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, NY FBI field office, held on May 4th, 2016. The panel discussion in which Mr. Qehaja took part focused on “En-gaging Diverse Populations and Refugee Communities to Counter Violent Extremism” and ways to counter violent extremism while effectively assim-ilating the ongoing wave of refugees.

KCSS director at iSA conference in AtlantaKCSS Director, Dr. Florian Qeha-ja, presented at the International Studies Association (ISA) Confer-ence, held in Atlanta, USA from 16-19 March 2016.  The ISA  is the most prestigious academic events in the field of internation-al peace and security. It brings key theorists and academics in the field from around the world. This conference brought togeth-er more than 5000 participants and contributors with over 300 panels organized. Mr. Qehaja provided a presentation on the concept of local ownership.

KCSS director in an official visit to CanadaUpon the invitation of the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (CMFA), KCSS Executive Director paid a visit to Ottawa. First, he presented in front of a selected audience at the CMFA on regional security issues, countering violent extremism, and NATO enlargement. Mr. Qehaja had two meetings with senior Canadian officials: the first meeting was with Mr. Kevin Ham-ilton, Head of Eastern Europe and Eurasian Division of CMFA whereas the second meeting was with Mr. Stephen Fuhr, Chair of Parliamentary Com-mittee on National Defense.

Hate speech on digital and social media and its influence on violent extremism KCSS Researcher Skender Perteshi attended the two-day internation-al conference on: “Hate speech in digital and social media”. During this conference, Perteshi presented Kosovar practices in combating and pre-venting violent extremism. Furthermore, he presented the activities and report of the KCSS on “Causes and consequences of Kosovo citizen’s in-volvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq”. This conference was orga-nized by the Jordan Media Institute (JMI) in cooperation with Norwegian Institute of Journalism (IJ).

KCSS Executive Director, Dr. Florian Qehaja, on Tuesday, April 19th delivered a presentation on “Countering Violent Extremism in the Context of the Western Balkans” at START Headquarters, Maryland.

KCSS for rehabilitation and reintegration of foreign fighters returned to KosovoKCSS Researcher Skender Përteshi participated in a training organized by the International Institute for Rule of Law and Hedyaja, Malta during the period of time 8- 13 May 2016, together with the main actors in the fight against violent ex-tremism in Kosovo. The training has assembled a working group to develop the National Strategy for reintegration of former foreign fighters and their de-radicalization. This working group will meet again in Budva in July this year. Përteshi also presented the KCSS work in the fight against violent extremism in the annual conference of the Organization for Co-ordination and Cooperation in Europe OSCE, in Berlin on May 31st this year.

iftar dinner with representatives of the islamic Community, believers, and police in GjilanThe Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS), on June 26th, 2016, or-ganized an Iftar dinner in Gjilan. The KCSS had the pleasure to gather a considerable number of representatives of the Islamic Community, imams and believers, Police and public institutions representatives from the Anamorava Region. KCSS Executive Director, Florian Qehaja, addressed to over 40 participants and emphasizing the role of imams and believers of traditional Islam in preventing and combating violent extremism.

Breaking the gateway of foreign fighters- Fostering cooperation between Kosova and TurkeyThe KCSS in cooperation with the Institute and the Centre Daily Sabah - SETA, organized a confer-ence with the theme: “The closure of the corridor for foreign fighters: Strengthening cooperation Kosovo - Turkey” on February 29th, 2016, in Pristi-na. The conference discussed the challenges facing both Kosovo and Turkey when dealing with foreign fighters. The same conference was held in Turkey on April 1st, 2016.

Good intentions, mixed results – A conflict-sensitivity unpacking of the EU comprehensive approach to conflict and crises mechanisms (EUNPACK)KCSS Secretary, Mentor Vrajolli, and KCSS Senior Research Associate, Shpend Kursani, attended the first three-day workshop organized on behalf of the project: “Good intentions, mixed results – A conflict-sensitivity unpacking of the EU compre-hensive approach to conflict and crises mecha-nisms (EUNPACK)”.

KCSS director at the Gërmia hill conference KCSS Director, Florian Qehaja, contributed to the panel: “The Global Efforts of counter narration to violent extremism”, or-ganized by Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ASPEN In-stitute at the two-day conference “Germia Hill”.

An evaluation of integrity in institutions of security in Kosovo The KCSS published on May 26th, 2016 a report monitoring and evaluating the internal governance and integrity of the security sector in Kosovo, particularly in two key security institutions: the Kosovo Police and the Kosovo Security Force. The first report of its kind published in Kosovo.

Privatization of security sector in Kosovo: development and mandate of private security companies On May 19th, 2016 the KCSS published a research dealing directly with the theme of “Security Sector Privatization in Kosovo: Development and mandate of Private Security Companies”. The main findings of this research show that this sector is too broad, not allowing for supervision from the public sector.

The citizens views against violent extremism and radicalization in Kosovo Within the framework of the Kosovo Security Barometer (KSB), the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies launched a special edition that talks about the views of Koso-var citizens on violent extremism and radicalization in Kosovo at a press confer-ence held on June 13th of this year. The KCSS research findings show that 95% of citizens (by 1070 respondents surveyed in 2015) perceive as harmful the decision of individuals to participate in the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

Good GovERNANCE iN THE SECURiTy SECToR AS KEy To THE iNTEGRATioN oF KoSovo

EdiTioNS oF KoSovo SECURiTy BARoMETER

Public perceptions towards foregin policy and dialouge with Serbia On February 9th, 2016 a special edition of the KSB was launched, “Public Perceptions of Foreign Policy and Dialogue with Serbia”. The results indicate that the creation of the Association of Serbs Municipalities in Kosovo is negatively perceived by a large part of the survey respondents, sparking a heated debate about the bilateral dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

Trends of citizens’ perceptions on public safety in KosovoTrends of citizens’ perceptions on public safety in Kosovo were pub-lished as a special edition of the Barometer of Security by the KCSS on May 5th this year. Sofie Kryeziu, author of the report, presented to the audience the key findings of this special edition of the KSB highlight-ing how Kosovars perceive the important topic of public safety within the Republic.

Citizens perceptions on the police integrity in KosovoOn February 29th, 2016 the KCSS launched a special edition of the KSB that addressed a wide range of stakeholders who are interested to follow perceptions of the integrity of the Kosovo Police (KP). Specifically, it addressed an audience that is interested to follow the trends of public opinion in Kosovo, with particular emphasis on public confidence towards the KP and the Police Inspectorate of Kosovo (PIK), the frequency of contacts between citizens, the KP and its respective units, the perception of corruption in the ranks of the KP, as well as public safety.

Study visit Research and support staff of KCSS engaged in the project titled: “Monitoring and Evaluating the Safety and Integrity in Kosovo Institutions” and participated in the study visit and the two-day workshop organized by Transparency International - Protection and Security Program in London. This project is funded by the Project for Democratic Society Promotion (DSP) funded by the Swiss Cooperation Office in Kosovo (SCO-K) and man-aged by Kosovar Civil Society Foundation (KCSF), in April of this year.

Countering fear, the security mindset and the ‘othering’ of RomaTringa Naka from the KCSS team participated in a four-day meeting in Brussels, held from 17th to 20th June 2016 and organized by the Office for Roma Initiative, Open So-ciety Initiative for Europe, and the Open Society Institute and European Policy. The purpose of this meeting was to bring together various organizations, think tanks, watch-dog organizations, together with Roma NGOs, activists and groups to understand the institutional barriers, social barri-ers, political and economic inclusion of Roma in all Western European countries.

KCSS STAFFFlorian Qehaja: Executive Director

Mentor Vrajolli: Senior Researcher/Secretary

Skender Perteshi: Researcher

Sofije Kryeziu: Researcher/Project coordinator

Donika Emini: Researcher

Plator Avdiu: Researcher

Tringa Naka: Finance Officer

Vesë Kelmendi: Researcher

Leonora Aliu: Researcher

Shpend Kursani: External Senior Researcher

Abit Hoxha: Senior Research Associate

Robert Muharremi: Senior Research Associate

HoW To KNoW WHAT’S HAPPENiNG AT KCSS?

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Within six months period, KCSS launched seven publications, related to the security sector