Opinion: ’s Unlikely Birthday

Dec 7 - 20, 2012 Issue No. 101 www.prishtinainsight.com Price € 1 NEWS Texts Proving Wiretaps Corruption Are Fake, Limaj Says Reveal Ruling > page 3 Party’s NEWS Diplomat Blames Savage Feuds Assets Blunder on Email Mix-up Leaked recordings reveal > page 5 the vicious power strug- gle raging between the NEWS ruling Democratic Party Security Deal of Kosovo leaders – as Draws Charges of well as their taste for Favouritism coarse language. > page 6 See Page 5 CULTURE Albania to Offer Citizenship to Fortunes Sour for Fox Marble Ethnic Brethren Shares tank after Kosovo mining commission revokes four of five exploration licenses. UK-based company says decision > page 9 broke law and set bad precedent for foreign investment. CULTURE looking to put their money into shares. Lushtaku denied attacking happened,” said Fox Marble CEO By Jeta Xharra and Petrit Çollaku Kosovo. Shahini or demanding shares in Christopher Gilbert. The Balkans’ The Independent Commission Fox Marble. spokesman Agron Belligerent Ultras for Mines and Minerals said the “We met twice before with Latif Borovci said police filed a criminal ox Marble’s top representa- revocation of licenses was done Lushtaku. The first time, he con- report against two suspects and tive in Kosovo reported on Avoid Penalties forwarded the case to Municipal FSeptember 26 that he was legally because the Fox Marble tacted me through another person. Prosecution Office. “The police assaulted near the Grand Hotel in hadn’t met deadlines to begin min- He wanted shares in our endeav- interviewed all persons involved Prishtina by a businessman who’d ing operations. our. This is racketeering,” Shahini been refused shares in the compa- Fox Marble had raised 10 mil- said. in the incident,” Borovci said. ny. lion pounds (12.3 million euro) in Shahini said their next Two months later, on November the London Stock Exchange in encounter was on the street, when Businessman denies accu- 30, Fox Marble learned that the August. After the ICMM decision, Lushtaku and another person sations > page 10-11 Independent Commission for shares plunged 25 percent. stopped him, pushed him over and Mines and Minerals had revoked assaulted him. Lushtaku told Prishtina Insight four of its five exploration licenses “This is racketeering”: The Fox Marble representative that he merely had a chance for granite and marble in Kosovo. said he sustained no serious encounter with Shahini outside Fox Marble, which is incorpo- Shahini told Prishtina Insight injuries and reported the case at the Grand Hotel but said he wasn’t Kosovo’s only English-language rated in the United Kingdom but that the man who attacked him, Kosovo Police Station No. 1 in aware that he represented Fox newspaper is available: has all its assets registered in Latif Lushtaku, had said Fox Prishtina. Marble. Kosovo, said this sends a chilling Marble wouldn’t be able to operate “For as much as I know, despite Delivered to message to any foreign investors in Kosovo if it didn’t give him the report (to the police), nothing continues page 2 Your Door

Haradinaj Return Spells Waste Deal with From Newsstands Change for Kosovo’s Politics Austria Faces Probe across Kosovo

Experts in Prishtina are already weigh- A Kosovo prosecutor is investigating the Sent To ing the potential political impact of town hall in Gjilan over allegations of Your Inbox Ramush Haradinaj’s return to his home- irregularities related to a deal reached in land. May with an Austrian company to set up a Haradinaj returned to Kosovo as a free privately run sanitation company. From man to a rapturous welcome following his Under the 15-year deal, known as a pub- our partners acquittal by the Hague ... lic-private partnership... news page 4 business page 7 see page 16 for more info

is supported by: 2 Dec 7 - 20, 2012 news Fortunes Sour for Fox Marble from page 1 ing it 60 to 120 days to respond, 35 licenses of companies, includ- according to Article 9 of the Law ing four licenses of Fox Marble. “Isen Shahini used to be a mili- on Mines and Minerals. The ICMM made the decision tary man in the Tito time and then He said that initially in since none of the companies, in the KLA. I know he owns a December 2011 Fox Marble had according commission, had been restaurant, but I had no clue he requested a three-month exten- able to perform their commit- works for Fox Marble,” Lushtaku sion of its deadline to start field ments to start exploration. said. work because of poor weather “The companies have not “I have never attacked him. I conditions. begun their work within three never wanted any shares in that Gilbert said that in the next months from the license award, business. These are their mines. quarter, from May 1 to July 31, the as required by the law. Our And they can do whatever they company delayed work in its resources cannot remain want with them,” he said, adding fourth quarry in order to clean up unused,” Ahmet Tmava, chair- that police never interviewed him. the site to make way for heavy man of the ICMM board, told machinery. Prishtina Insight. He added that A police source said he Gilbert said he and company the commission had expedited was interviewed. director Colin Terry, in the pres- Fox Marble’s license applica- ence of UK Ambassador to tions. Kosovo, Ian Cliff, explained to Lushtaku owns two companies, The fifth license of the compa- Economic Development Minister Fox Marble CEO Christopher Gilbert says the licensing problems have discouraged L&L, in mining, and N’pike, in real ny, which allows it to mine deco- Besim Beqaj on July 27 that the investors. estate. The former also had a rative stones Rahovec, has been company would soon be listing on licence terminated by the ICMM suspended. The ICMM said it partners and investors, and dis- had invested an undisclosed the stock market and would be in November. wanted more information about trust. sum of money in the company. doing more work in the next Lushtaku also owns shares in the work being done, since the “In a comment I got from an Fox Marble had access to over quarter. Prague Metal, which is licensed license had been issued a year investor, he stated that after this 300 million cubic metres of pre- Beqaj was clear, Gilbert said, for exploration of iron and nickel ago. news, no one will ever invest in mium quality marble including that while this was an issue for near Hani i Elezit. “Our inspectors have visited Kosovo again,” Gilbert said. white breccia and honey yellow the ICMM, “three months of the site, and only saw one truck onyx. delay would not be a problem, and Licensing dispute and one excavator. It only had a Fox Marble in Action Fox Marble had estimated that that he would talk to the ICMM.” small pit, and that was all that when the plant would be at full “We have subsequently in that Fox Marble had obtained its was done,” Tmava said. Fox Marble has become the first production rate, it could obtain quarter put equipment onto four licenses from the ICMM on Asked whether the commission Kosovo-based firm listed on the profits at the rate of 25.9 Million of our five sites and opened one October 31, 2011, which were to be had breached the law in failing to London stock exchange, on euros, before interest and taxes. quarry,” Gilbert said, adding that valid until 2035. give the license holder a notice AIM, Alternative Investment The marketing document by the company would have opened a According to ICMM, Fox period of at least 60 days, Tmava Market. Fox Davies explained in details second mine in Peja this week Marble failed to observe the said: “The commission has acted Last August, Fox Marble had the marble potential in Kosovo, and another one in Rahovec license conditions, which require pursuant to the law, and there is a successfully raised almost £10 and the plans of Fox Marble for immediately thereafter. that license holders begin their period of 30 days for companies million from investors ahead of production in 2013. field activities within three to file a complaint with the com- its AIM listing. It estimated that there is an months from the moment the Commission: We acted mission.” Gilbert told the media in estimated presence of 91.3 licenses were awarded. pursuant to the law This notice was never given to London last year that James Million cubic meters of indicat- Gilbert, Fox Marble’s CEO, said Fox Marble. Caan, star of BBC business ed resources and inferred the commission broke the law by On November 26, the Gilbert said the termination of show “Dragon’s Den”, through resources, and 235 million not warning the company before Independent Commission for licenses has generated a large his company “Hamilton Cubic meters of decoration revoking its licenses and not giv- Mines and Minerals terminated amount of confusion with its Bradshaw Capital Partners”, stones. Kosovo, PMs Agree Border Deal Action Ivica Dacic and have agreed that four border crossings will start working by the end of the year and agreed to appoint liaison officers. Under the terms of the IBM was published on the discussion. agreement, Kosovo and Serbian EU-mediated talks in Belgium customs and police officers will started in March 2011, three years Bojana Barlovac stand under one roof once the after Kosovo declared independ- agreement is put into operation. ence from Serbia. The statement also said that Serbia has vowed never to recog- Dacic and Thaci had agreed to nise Kosovo as a state, but says it is ollowing four hours of talks each appoint a liaison officer. open to deals that improve daily with Kosovo and Serbian "To begin with, as part of the lives on both sides of the [from Fleaders on Tuesday, EU's facilitating role, the EU Serbia's point of view unrecog- Catherine Ashton, the EU Foreign Delegation in Belgrade and the EU nised] border. Policy Chief, said that implemen- Office in Prishtina will provide So far, the two sides have tation of the border agreement the liaison office for the liaison reached deals on freedom of move- will start on December 10 on two officers,” the statement contin- ment, university diplomas, region- border crossings. ued. al representation and on trade. But “The two Prime Ministers con- This was the third meeting not all the deals have been imple- firmed the conclusions of the between Dacic and Thaci in mented. [Integrated Border Management] Brussels. Following Tuesday's meeting, IBM working group, according to Thaci, Ashton and Dacic after another meeting. They first met on October 19 Dacic said that Serbia would sus- which two gates (1 and 3) are now with Ashton, who is now the main pend the border agreement “if the ready and will be operational on Catherine Ashton,” Dacic said. Thaci confirmed after the meet- mediator in talks between both agreed regime is violated in the 10 December," she said. He also stressed that the agree- ing that Prishtina would not place parties. field. "Two more gates (5 and 31) will ment on border management, as any state symbols on the border if Another meeting between Thaci, “A guarantee for the implemen- be ready on December 31,” the far as Serbia was concerned, was Belgrade did the same. Dacic and Ashton followed on tation of the agreement is the pres- statement from Ashton’s office "status neutral", that is, it will not The dialogue is due to continue November 7 but little information ence of EU High Representative added. prejudice Serbia's claim to Kosovo. on January 10.

Y M C +381 38 602042, +377 44 243367, +386 49 243367 K news Dec 7 - 20, 2012 3

Editor’s Word Which Passport

By Artan Mustafa

hen Albania declared independence a century ago, the goal of unifying WAlbanians in a single state was para- mount. But these days, it isn’t so desirable, especially from Kosovo’s perspective. Despite Albania Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s idea to give every ethnic Albanian a passport, in essence there are no strong polit- ical groups working toward unification. The problem is, that it’s difficult to transform public stances such is the one coming from Former Transport Minister Fatmir Limaj is accused of corruption from his time at the ministry. Berisha, into political action. But, proponents of the unification project must seriously take into account the feelings and the reasonings of all those supporting Texts Proving Corruption Are and believing in an independent Kosovo, according to its February 17, 2008 declaration of independence. Supporters of the Kosovo state are not few and they support Kosovo Fake, Limaj Says both as an ideal and as a pragmatic organiza- tion, parallel to taking into consideration the Ex-minister told prosecutors that an incriminating SMS printout found in his home was doctored and given to powerful integration impetus towards him by prime minister Hashim Thaci. . Proponents of the unification of into one state, wherever they appear, often have a lack of courage to risk their current society position, afraid of public opinion. By Liridona Hyseni In addition, with Kosovo in talks with Serbia, the unification calls are detrimental and an invitation for territorial arguments, such as Belgrade’s proposal for a possible ormer Transport Minister Fatmir Dayton-style solution, a partition. Limaj has told prosecutors that the They are discouraging for the coexistence FPrime Minister, Hashim Thaci, gave of different ethnicities in one space, in this him a doctored transcript of text messages region, even though that coexistence is a fact that appear to incriminate him in the ongo- ing corruption case related to his ministe- in the developed world, and it was successful rial work. in the past in the Balkans as well, until An EU rule of law, EULEX, prosecutor, Slobodan Milosevic came into play. Johannes Picker, indicted Limaj and six They are a manipulation of the fate of other suspects on November 16 on charges future Kosovars as, particularly at this point of organized crime and money laundering. of economic underdevelopment, living in this Investigators found the transcript in Limaj says incriminating text messages were doctored. small country helps people to get out of Limaj’s home in 2010 along with a USB poverty and anonymity more quickly. number, which prosecutors obtained from sages had also been faked. memory stick containing a “cleaned ver- Everyone has a better chance of being Post and Telecom of Kosovo, PTK, did not “I thought of filing a lawsuit but lost the employed in a municipality, agency, ministry, sion,” according to prosecutors. contain the incriminating messages. document… I had no idea whether Shala or embassy or to be part of Kosovo’s film or lit- The messages show correspondence in The SMS file contained in the USB stick I had it. That’s why it was found in my erary scenes.It is certain that in other organ- 2009 between Endrit Shala, Limaj’s advisor found in Limaj’s home also did not contain apartment,” he said. izations, at least for a while, their opportuni- in the ministry, and Florim Zuka, owner of the incriminating messages about the In the course of another interview, ties will be more limited. the Tali company from Gjilan. bribery. Limaj said he took the SMS transcript with So it is a job and experience opportunity. The messages “contain numerous The author of the SMS file was the him and gave it to Shala. And, on the contrary, the state of Kosovo incriminating data against Fatmir Limaj, brother of Limaj’s driver, according to the Shala “saw his name and his number doesn’t prevent economic and cultural inte- Endrit Shala, and Florim Zuka,” the indictment. there, and compared the copy with that of gration among Albanians. indictment says. PTK,” he said. It is also not rational to be attracted by such The printed copy contains a bribery Limaj says Thaci involved: Asked recently by Prishtina Insight if projects when no one’s existence is threat- agreement for 250,000 euro between Shala the defence might call Thaci as a witness, ened from an ideology - as it did during and Zuka for a road maintenance tender in When prosecutors asked Limaj how he Limaj’s lawyer, Tahir Rrecaj, said he was Milosevic era. Gjilan. obtained the hard copy holding the incrim- unsure. One should also remember that there are The indictment, which has yet to be con- inating messages, he said Thaci had given “The hearing confirming the indictment other ethnicities which are an integral part of firmed in court, accuses Zuka of paying it to him. must first be held, and we have to receive a our society and share the history and many Limaj and his associates the 250,000 euro “I went to the Prime Minister’s office. copy and review its basis and facts, and viewpoints with the majority. Kosovo is their through Shala as intermediary. Someone had given it to the Prime only then we will know how to proceed,” homeland as well, but maybe that could not Shala says the messages were falsified. Minister,” Limaj told prosecutors, without Rrecaj said. be the case with an-all Albanian state. “These SMSs are planted; it’s been proven specifying the date when Thaci allegedly Limaj, his two brothers, Florim and Instead, the project that Albanians and oth- that they are fabricated,” Shala told gave him the copy. Demir Limaj, his former cabinet chief, ers in Kosovo should be supporting is one that Prishtina Insight on November 30. “The Prime Minister gave it to me and Shala, Nexhat Krasniqi, Gani Zukaj, an IT supports the development of everyone. An “I don’t know who fabricated them, or said, ‘Look at this.’ I looked it and took it administrator and Zuka, owner of the Tali experienced, educated and prosperous citizen how the fabrication was set up. I will speak seriously. I was alarmed. construction company, are charged with - this is the passport that was missing in the about this in court,” he added. “I left it there. I called my advisor [Shala] manipulating tender procedures and giv- past. Shala’s assertion reflects Limaj’s own and told him: ‘Explain what’s happened. ing and receiving bribes. Often this exactly is the ultimate objective words when prosecutors interviewed him He said: ‘No, give me an hour,’” Limaj told EULEX has been investigating Limaj of political systems. For these reasons, reflec- six times in 2011 and 2012. prosecutors. since April 2010 when police raided the tions on November 28, for many, served as a “There are two or three places where the Thaci’s office did not respond to Transport Ministry and Limaj’s properties reminder of the vital importance that the text was changed and another text was Prishtina Insight’s request for a comment in Prishtina as part of an investigation maintaining of the state of Kosovo and imple- placed there instead,” Limaj told prosecu- on whether he’d given Limaj the SMS tran- into road tenders issued between 2007 and menting its Declaration of Independence has tors. script. 2009. for Kosovars. In support of Limaj’s line, the official Limaj also told prosecutors that parts of Limaj has denied any wrongdoing dur- Grand ethnic projects belong to the past. record of the SMS messages to Shala’s the official PTK record of the text mes- ing his time as head of the ministry. 4 Dec 7 - 20, 2012 news Haradinaj Return Spells Change for Kosovo’s Politics The acquittal of the former KLA leader and former Prime Minister paves the way for his political comeback – but what form that will take remains unclear.

Kosovo and other parties led by the Ilir Deda, executive director of ethnic Serbian minority were the Kosovar Institute for Policy included in the governing coalition Research and Development, told By Edona Peci with PDK. BIRN that “the most democratic Pacolli was then elected outcome would be parliamentary , but his elec- elections… and, based on those xperts in Prishtina are tion was annulled by the results, a new, full legitimate gov- already weighing the poten- Constitutional Court, which ernment.” Etial political impact of deemed the process unconstitution- He did not rule out the possibility Haradinaj and Thaci appear on good terms. Ramush Haradinaj’s return to his al. of a political agreement between homeland. To resolve the legal vacuum the PDK and AAK that would lead to the PDK took over the presidency,” mandate. Haradinaj returned to Kosovo as caused by the ruling, the PDK, the a new coalition. he added. Until the future of the AAK’s a free man to a rapturous welcome LDK and the AKR agreed to elect “In Kosovo where basic democra- However, Jahjaga says she has a eventual role is resolved, Haradinaj following his acquittal by the Hague Atifete Jahjaga as an interim cy is still desirable, everything is right to complete her five-year man- will be a leader of the opposition in Tribunal on Thursday. President until electoral reforms possible,” he said. date given in April 2011. the Kosovo Assembly, where his Many predict a future governing had been implemented. “Any change in the current gov- The Constitutional Court this party has 11 of the 120 seats. coalition between his Alliance for These reforms were blocked this ernment’s composition without summer said that an interruption of The AAK’s Blerim Shala was the Future of Kosovo, AAK - now in summer because of different stands holding elections would be a manip- Jahjaga’s mandate would “reduce recently appointed political coordi- opposition - and the governing that the parties have with regard to ulation of… politics,” Bajrami human rights and freedoms” and nator of the government-led dia- Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK. Jahjaga’s mandate. added. was “not in line” with the constitu- logue with Serbia. They are less clear on how the Blerim Shala, an AAK deputy “As Thaçi is Prime Minister him- tion. This move was considered a sig- AAK plans to achieve its involve- head, said on Thursday that “new self, the eventual ranking of Under the constitution, parlia- nal of future coalition plans ment in government with elections may not be held without a Haradinaj at top of the government ment has a four-year mandate, between the PDK and AAK. Haradinaj “at the front” of it. new Law on Elections”. would be rational to the PDK only if while the President has a five-year Before his trial he was briefly Prime Minister, for about 100 days, in 2005. PROFILE “It remains to be seen if this is Kosovo Rambo With a Taste for Politics possible now, without holding elec- Ramush Haradinaj had made a successful transition from guerrilla leader to politician - tions, or whether we will have to wait for elections – either extraordi- until The Hague threw its spanner in the works, not once but twice. nary or regular ones,” Agron Albanians in Kosovo, he had com- Rosin served his political career Bajrami, editor of the daily Koha pleted military service with the for- well after 2000, when he established Ditore told Prishtina Insight. mer Yugoslav People’s Army, JNA. his own party, the Alliance for the Kosovo held extraordinary elec- By Edona Peci Conditions for armed resistance Future of Kosovo, AAK. tions at the end of 2010 to overcome weren’t yet ripe as the Kosovo The transformation from a crisis that occurred after the Albanian leader, Ibrahim , “Rambo”, as he was nicknamed, to Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, vainly pursued a peaceful struggle a politician, was not an easy left the governing coalition with the he world knows him as a for- for self-determination. process in the UN-administrated PDK. mer guerrilla force com- Far from home, Haradinaj did a country. Having won more than 30 per cent Tmander charged for war range of different jobs, from con- Growing up in a region where of the votes, the PDK, led by Hashim crimes during the conflict of 1999 struction to nightclub bouncer, the Canon of Leke Dukagjini, the Ramush Haradinaj is back. in Kosovo. Thaci, was mandated to form a new before returning to Glogan, where Albanian customary law code, still In Kosovo he is one of the key He resigned and surrendered vol- government. he was born, after about six years. held sway, Haradinaj had to adjust figures of the former Kosovo untarily to the Hague four days Behgjet Pacolli’s Alliance for New He soon became involved in his ideas to a modern context. Liberation Army, KLA, a leader, after the indictment was issued. mobilizing the new guerrilla army, At the same time he remained politician and hero. He is also son The international community in the KLA, preparing and carrying faithful to his credo: “Dignity, pride to Hilmi, husband to Anita and gave him a memorable out attacks on Serbian targets. and honour”. father to Gjini, Hana and Trimi. send-off before he left for The At a funeral in November 1997, Entering politics, in the mean- Haradinaj, 44, has spent the last Hague with some ambassadors vis- www.prishtinainsight.com KLA members appeared for the time, was also the aim of Hashim two years in The Hague, in the first time in public carrying Thaci, the KLA’s former political ibly disturbed by his departure. detention unit of the International Publisher: weapons. Among them was leader, who had established the In April 2008, the ICTY acquitted Criminal Tribunal for former BIRN Haradinaj’s younger brother, Daut. Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, him of torture, murder, rape and Yugoslavia, the ICTY. guerrillas con- a future rival to the AAK. deportation and he returned to Balkan Investigative Reporting Network The Tribunal has charged him tinued operations periodically Longtime independence leader Kosovo to a hero’s welcome. with crimes against humanity and Mensa e Studenteve, first floor until March 1998 when all-out war Rugova, head of the Democratic “Ramuuush, Ramuuush, Ramu - violations of the laws and customs erupted. League of Kosovo, LDK, was also uush”, the crowds shouted at 10000, Prishtina of war during the war in Kosovo in Haradinaj’s previous personal still on the scene, though many Prishtina airport. the late 1990s. Kosovo loss, the assassination of his broth- LDK members left to join the PDK Looking forward to his come- On Thursday, November 29, he Phone: +381 (0) 38 24 33 58 er, Luan, by the Serbian police was or AAK. back was also the AAK. Weakened will appear before the court to hear, followed by the killing of Adem Haradinaj competed with by Haradinaj’s absence, it had been Fax: +381 (0) 38 22 44 98 for a second time, its verdict on Jashari, one of the architects of Rugova and Thaci in Kosovo’s first pushed into opposition after the those charges. the KLA. elections in 2001 with little success. Editor-in-Chief: Idriz Balaj and Lah Brahimaj, general elections of 2007, when the Serbian forces killed him and 40 His party made its first major Artan Mustafa his former KLA comrades, will be PDK and the LDK formed a new family members, on March 5 of breakthrough in the second gener- in the same court as part of the government. [email protected] 1998, after laying siege to the family al in 2004, when “Haradinaj et al” case. His efforts to revive his party Editorial Team: home in Prekaz, in the the AAK came second. The trio are accused of torturing would again be interrupted by a region. Haradinaj then became Prime Jeta Xharra, Marcus Tanner, and killing prisoners in a KLA-run message from The Hague, however. Miles from Drenica, Haradinaj Minister through a coalition with camp at Jablanica during the On July 21, 2010 the Appeals Nate Tabak, Petrit Collaku, Gresa continued operations as a com- Rugova’s LDK. Kosovo conflict. Chamber of the ICTY partially Musliu, Parim Olluri, Jeton Musliu and mander of the KLA Dukagjini zone After only a hundred days at the The charges are not the only quashed the acquittals of the for- in western Kosovo. head of government, Haradinaj’s Donjeta Demolli. thing that the suspects have in com- mer KLA trio and ordered a partial NATO intervention in 1999 ended political career was derailed by the mon. Fate brought them together the war in Kosovo with the ICTY. retrial. Marketing, Sales & Distribution: more than a decade ago in their enforced withdrawal of Serbian On March 4, 2005, it issued an The Tribunal prosecution had armed revolt against the Serbian [email protected] forces. indictment against him and his two convinced an appeals judge that it police and military, which then Haradinaj changes roles, becom- co-accused, Balaj and Brahimaj. had not been given time to hear evi- controlled the country. Design & Layout: “Rrjeti” ing deputy commander of the Surrounded by cabinet mem- dence from two key witnesses. Plans to fight a ground war for Arben Grajqevci , a civil bers, Haradianj held an extraordi- The Hague Tribunal has acquit- Kosovo’s independence were not on Y emergency force created by the UN nary press conference, informing ted Haradinaj, Balaj and Brahimaj the horizon in 1989 when Haradinaj M to absorb the former rebels. the public of the Tribunal’s on November 29, 2012 of all charges Printing: Lindi Printing Center left Kosovo to Switzerland. C His contacts with former UN offi- demand that he appear before the of committing war crimes during Copyright © BIRN By then, like most ethnic K cials like Steven Shook or Larry court. the Kosovo conflict of the late 1990s. news Dec 7 - 20, 2012 5 Kosovo Wiretaps Reveal Ruling Party’s Savage Feuds Leaked recordings reveal the vicious power struggle raging between the ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo leaders – as well as their taste for coarse language.

By Edona Peci Bukurije Gjonbalaj, left, is Kosovo's new ambassador to Italy. he recordings - which the PDK insists are fakes - por- Ttray a deeply fractured party Diplomat Blames whose suspicious leader, Hashim Thaci, fears losing control. In one unguarded moment, Assets Blunder on Prime Minister Thaci can be hard describing another PDK leader in profane terms. In leaked wiretaps, Thaci asks about "our bandits" in the assembly. Email Mix-up In the recording posted YouTube, Thaci can be heard appear to relate to directly to the said. To me this not a surprise As Anti-Corruption Agency names ambassador to Rome as instructing PDK parliamentary Ministry of Transport because their stances against me one of 19 officials who failed to disclose assets, she says caucus head Adem Grabovci and Investigation. are obvious.” the form was emailed wrongly. another party leader to appear in The most revealing, and most Krasniqi said the PDK leader- his place at a PDK event. highly coloured, exchanges con- ship was welcome to try to remove address,” she said, adding that the The venue of the event, cern the speaker of the Kosovo him as speaker of parliament. “If form was sent to another official Malisheve, is a bastion of Vice Assembly, Jakup Krasniqi, who is they want they can initiate the pro- who has the same name. President Fatmir Limaj’s, a for- increasingly at odds with Thaci cedure and dismiss me,” he said. “We are two officials with same mer ally of Thaci’s now turned foe. and his allies. By Donjete Hoxha first name and family name,” “Go, make a short speech Krasniqi has accused Thaci of Scandalous fabrication: Gjonbalaj explained. because those dogs there have a not respecting parliament on sever- The 19 officials represented problem with me, not you,” Thaci al occasions and has also boycotted Embarrassed by the unpleasant osovo’s Anti-Corruption about 8 per cent of the new govern- instructs Grabovci. party elections. light that the tapes cast on the Agency has named the ment officials. They did not make The mayor of Malisheve, Isni In one conversation, Thaci can inner workings of - and petty rival- Kambassador to Italy, the legally mandated financial dis- Kilaj, has confirmed that Thaci be heard asking if there is any- ries within - the PDK, Thaci still Bukurije Gjonbalaj, as one of 19 closures by November 16. newly appointed officials who did not attend the event but that thing new on “our bandits” and on denies their authenticity and The Anti-Corruption Agency failed to declared their assets by a Grabovci and other PDK leaders “Jakupovski”, a Macedonianized demands an investigation. “calls on all new officials, from the mid-November deadline the. went instead. version of Krasniqi’s first name. The government “urgently moment of appointment to a sen- However, following release of Last week, the PDK denounced In another chat, Grabovci can be requests the competent authori- ior public post, to declare their the news last week, Gjonbalaj has the recordings as fake and called heard discussing Krasniqi with the ties… and EULEX to shed light on wealth in order to demonstrate… told Prishtina Insight that she on the European Union’s rule of European Integration Minister, this scandalous and illegal case,” a respect for anti-corruption laws,” never received an assets form and law mission, EULEX, to investi- Vlora Citaku. press release said. the agency said in a statement on immediately sent a disclosure to gate “fabricated tapping.” “We have the situation under “Such actions are a direct November 22. the agency when she learned of On Tuesday, the EU mission con- control, but it’s slipping away from attempt of certain domestic and Other officials who failed to sub- the problem. demned the release of the record- us sometimes,” Grabovci com- international mechanisms to mit reports by the November 16 “I only learned about my not ings - while not disputing their plains. blackmail and sabotage institu- cut-off included staffers in the having declared [my assets in authenticity. “EULEX deplores the “Unless Jakup [Krasniqi] is tional stakeholders and the func- Foreign and Culture ministries, time] from friends in Prishtina,” fact that the phone intercepts removed, there is nothing,” Citaku tioning of our state institutions,” municipal councilors in she said. ended up in the public domain,” it answers. “You are being sabo- it added. Gracanica, Malisheve and Gjonbalaj told Prishtina Insight stated. taged.” Citaku has declined to com- Kosovo Police had initially said Mitrovica and prosecutors. that she has since found out that But, far from denying their ment to Prishtina Insight about the it was investigating what it consid- Officials face fines of 1,000 to the form was sent to the wrong authenticity, EULEX said they recording. ered to be illegal recordings. It has 2,500 euro for not declaring their email address. formed part of an ongoing corrup- Krasniqi also features promi- since backed away from the state- wealth in time, according to a 2010 “This happened due to a mistake tion probe into the Ministry of nently in a conversation between ment after EULEX announced that Law on the Declaration, Origin with the official electronic Transport, a case in which ex-min- Grabovci and the mayor of it had performed the wiretaps with and Control of Wealth. ister Limaj is charged. , Sami Lushtaku. a court order. It said the recordings all were “Oh, that motherf-----, what a dog court authorized. The mission he has become, why don’t you f----g offered no information about the bring him down! Can’t you do it, or scope of the phone intercepts or what?” the mayor asks. Photo News: Border Deal Protest what role they played in the Limaj “Only because we didn’t want to case. create a scandal, but he is asking A EULEX prosecutor handed the for it, and it won’t be long,” recordings and all its other evi- Grabovci replies, confidently. dence to the court and defense “I would have showed him the attorneys on November 16, when it door, even if were the son of Adem issued an indictment of Limaj and Jashari,” Lushtaku said, referring others. to a late hero of the Kosovo conflict. EULEX meanwhile said the Contacted by Prishtina Insight, Special Prosecutor’s Office was Grabovci dismissed the signifi- investigating whether the release cance of the phone tapping. “I don’t of the recordings into the public care who records whom… These domain broke the law. are speculations… I have no com- Prishtina Insight has obtained ments,” Grabovci said. confirmation from other sources The Mayor meanwhile con- that many of the conversations firmed that he while he often spoke occurred just as they have been with Grabovci over the phone, they portrayed. never spoke ill of Krasniqi. “When I have something to say about Krasniqi called ‘dog’ – and Jakup Krasniqi or anyone else, I worse: speak openly,” Lushtaku said. Krasniqi declined to speculate on It is unclear how many other the authenticity of the tapes but Serbs in Northern Kosovo protest against the implementation of an agreement recordings exist beside those post- said the words reportedly spoken about him came as no surprise. between Kosovo and Serbia on an Integrated Border Management. The protest halted ed on YouTube. Those leaked con- Y “Ask them. It’s their obligation to sist solely of conversations the construction works at Jarinje as part of the IBM. Today, mayors of four municipali- M between PDK leaders in Thaci’s come before the public and explain whether these are true or not,” he ties in the north will decide whether they will stop the protest. (AP Photo/Zveki) C wing of the party, and do not K 6 Dec 7 - 20, 2012 news Peja Security Deal Draws Charges of Favouritism After the municipality awarded a security contract to a firm that counts two local officials as shareholders, one of the losers has cried foul. But the Anti-Corruption Agency concluded that the tender didn’t break conflict-of-interest laws.

Bidding without a license:

By Liridona Hyseni When the consortium won the tender on February 16, Magnum had only been established in December and did not have a secu- security contract awarded rity-services license from the by the municipality of Peja Interior Ministry. Ato a consortium partly According to the ministry, secu- owned by two municipal officials rity companies cannot operate did not break Kosovo’s conflict of without a license. interest laws, according to the The notice for the tender stipu- Anti-Corruption Agency. lated that the operator was obliged Peja-based Magnum and Kos to possess a license. Kos Security Security secured a year-long had one. contract in February. Merita Vidishiqi, an Interior They will be paid 16,000 euro a Ministry official, told Prishtina month to guard municipal facili- Insight that Magnum received its ties, although the consortium Essential Security License on May did not offer the lowest bid, nor 16 – months after the consortium is it properly licensed. obtained the contract. A municipal security contract in Peja is raising eyebrows. Two officials in the municipal When Prishtina Insight contact- education department, senior ed the office of Peja Mayor Ali Meanwhile the two municipal ment. lost the tender because of its poor officer Leonard Shabanaj and Berisha, in October, it responded officials who are shareholders in Magnum won the contract over performance in the preceding con- senior finance officer Vllaznim that because Magnum had applied the security company told two other bidders Bodyguard tract. Pergjegjaj, are shareholders in for a license by the time of the ten- Prishtina Insight that the contract Security of Prishtina and “Physical Security received Magnum. der, the consortium met the bid does not constitute a conflict of Physical Security of Kosovo. warnings from the municipality However, the Anti-Corruption requirements. interest. Bodyguard offered to guard for not completing its work proper- Agency investigated the tender After we informed the mayor’s “I had no influence in winning Peja’s municipal facilities for ly, which is why they have not and concluded in November that office that the Interior Ministry the tender. Magnum won it 18,000 euro a month, compared to obtained the tender,” Berisha said. it did not violate the 2011 Law on said that Magnum was not allowed because it offered the lowest price, Magnum’s offer of 16,000 euro. However, Peja Municipality told Preventing Conflict of Interest. to operate without a license, the not because I’m involved in it,” The winner of the previous Prishtina Insight in a statement The law “does not consider office countered that the tender Shabanaj said. year’s tender, Physical Security of that it was “seriously reviewing them senior officials [in the city remained valid as Kos Security He said he didn’t see a conflict Kosovo, had offered to do it for far the case,” noting again that the hall], so it’s not a conflict of had a license. because he was only a shareholder less, for only 9,900 euro per month. Office of the Auditor General had interest,” said Hasan Preteni, Peja’s procurement manager in the company, not a manager. Shefqet Damka, Physical looked into it and found no irregu- head of the Anti-Corruption also defended the contact. Xheme Pergjegjaj said that pursuing Security’s owner, told Prishtina larities. Agency. Berisha said the two education the security contract had been Insight that he lost the tender due The Office of the Auditor But Veton Mujaj, head of the officials weren’t involved in the Morina’s idea alone. to favouritism. General said that it was reviewing watchdog organisation Eye of contract, which was signed with “My company didn’t win this the tender and would release its Vision, said the deal was “illegal the company manager, Valentina Lowest bidder lost out: year because I am not from Peja, I findings next year. and immoral. Morina. am from , and don’t have “We are in the intermediary “It shouldn’t have happened. Berisha recalled that the “Morina expressed the desire to anybody working in the munici- audit phase and publishing this When such cases are noticed, Reviewing Body of Procurement make an offer for this tender. It pality,” he said. audit report will be done by June the responsible bodies should had looked at the tender after a los- doesn’t have anything to do with Xheme Berisha, Peja’s procure- 2013 at the latest,” auditor spokes- deal with them seriously,” Mujaj ing bidder filed a complaint and us. I had no direct connection,” he ment manager, rejected Damka’s woman Qendresa Mulaj told said. had rejected the complaint. said. Morina declined to com- accusation, saying his company Prishtina Insight. Serbia PM Pledges Kosovo Solution in 2013 Serbia will be ready to discuss final solutions for Kosovo in the coming year, Ivica Dacic says. In Brussels, Serbia and been staging protest at Jarinje, “We should not play with the Kosovo agreed that implemen- one of the crossing points in destiny of Kosovo. I urge every- tation of the border agreement northern Kosovo where the one not to start any battles that Marija Ristic will start on December 10 at IBM agreement should take we cannot win,” he added. two border crossings while effect. EU-mediated talks in each side will appoint a liaison oppose the bor- Belgium started in March 2011, officer. der agreement as tantamount three years after Kosovo erbia's Prime Minister, Commenting on the border to Serbian recognition of declared independence from Ivica Dacic, on agreement, Dacic said he had Kosovo's independence. Serbia. SWednesday met the not signed or agreed anything Under the terms of the IBM Serbia has vowed never to Serbian leadership following new, as the previous govern- agreement, Kosovo and recognise Kosovo as a state, but his third meeting with his ment had already reached this Serbian customs and police says it is open to deals that Kosovo counterpart, Hashim deal in February. officers will stand under one improve daily lives on both Thaci, and the EU Foreign “These liaison officers are roof once the agreement is put sides of the [from Serbia's Affairs Chief, Catherine not ambassadors. They will be into operation. point of view unrecognised] Ashton, in Brussels. within the missions to the EU “There are no reasons [for border. After the meeting with and will coordinate implemen- Kosovo Serbs] to protest. Serbia So far, the two sides have Serbian President Tomislav tation of agreements,” Dacic will remove those who protest reached deals on freedom of Nikolic and other officials, told the public broadcaster, on our side of administrative movement, university diplo- Dacic said he had obtained sup- RTS. crossing as such protests need mas, regional representation Y port to continue negotiations On Thursday, Dacic met rep- to be in line with state policy and on trade, but not all the M with Kosovo and implement all resentatives of Kosovo Serbs and not against the state,” deals have been implemented. C previously agreed deals. K who for the past two days have Dacic said. Ivica Dacic news Dec 7 - 20, 2012 7 Gjilan Waste Deal with Austria Faces Probe Investigation targets officials after 15-year deal puts Austrian company in charge of sanitation service while collecting more than half the profits.

“We proposed a contractual model of pub- lic-private partnership by which the investor would have paid the municipality a fixed tar- By Parim Olluri iff,” Jashari added, noting that such a deal requires vigilant monitoring. The only fixed amount in the deal was the Kosovo prosecutor is investigating more than 37,000 euro transaction fee that the town hall in Gjilan over allega- Moser had to pay the municipality. Ations of irregularities related to a deal reached in May with an Austrian com- Second bidder’s complaint pany to set up a privately run sanitation rejected: company. Metali’s owner, Elbasan Alidema, contest- Under the 15-year deal, known as a public- ed tendering process. private partnership, the Austria-based The Procurement Office of Gjilan notified Moser Group, represented by Ecovision in Alidema that Metali was a qualified bidder Kosovo, has joined forces with the munici- but said he would only be invited to negoti- pality to create a new company, A public-private partnership, EcoHigjiena, now provides Gjilan's sanitation services. ate with the municipality if the agreement EcoHigjiena. with Moser Group fell through. Gjilan is the majority owner of Higjiena, euro a year working at Grawe Elsig. won the tender against one other bidder. Alidema later complained to the which was in charge of cleaning the town, Rashiti told Prishtina Insight that he did- Directors of the Moser did not respond to Procurement Review Body, which rejected the market and cemetery, as well as collect- n’t see any problems about working for the Prishtina Insight’s questions about the the complaint because it was submitted ing garbage. insurance company that did business with investigation into the public-private part- beyond the legal deadline. The new company, EcoHigjiena, has Ecovision. “I do not think this is a conflict of nership. The body said Alidema should have com- assumed those duties under the manage- interest,” he said. plained as soon as he was pre-qualified as ment of the Austrian firm, which will own Adviser saw problems: the backup bidder, not after the award of the 51 per cent of the company and invest 1.5 Probe’s significance dismissed: tender. million euro over three years. Prishtina Insight has learned that in Alidema told Prishtina Insight that the Profits are to be divided between Higjiena Mayor Qemajl Mustafa told Prishtina September 2010, Christian Moser of the Moser Group wasn’t properly qualified for and Moser, according to their ownership Insight that four municipal officials have Moser Group and Senad Ramaj of Ecovision the work and that he wasn’t given proper stakes. been interviewed in the case. sent a letter to the municipal assembly and notification in the process. Jetish Maloku, chief prosecutor of the “I haven’t been interviewed yet. But these to Mayor Mustafa. District of Gjilan, told Prishtina Insight investigations are normal. The prosecution In this letter, which we obtained, Moser Pilot project criticised: that a prosecutor, Afrim Shefkiu, is investi- is obliged to investigate when it suspects and Ramaj asked municipal officials to draft gating the deal but provided few details. irregularities,” he said. a model for a public-private partnership In Moser Group’s earlier work in Gjilan, “Investigations have started and a prose- Mustafa, who inked the deal with Moser, between Ecovision and Higjiena, seeking at the Austrian company operated a six-month cutor appointed. We can’t give out any more maintained that the investigators would not least 51 per cent of the shares. pilot project to test its waste-collection sys- information since investigations… are in uncover anything illegal. The municipality agreed. Meanwhile, tem. the initial stage,” Maloku said. “I trusted my people to lead this process Mustafa asked the shareholders commission It is not clear if the project involved any The prosecutor, Shefkiu, also disclosed no and we have done a job for the benefit of the of the publicly-owned Higjiena firm to begin money, but Kosovo’s Water and Waste further information. Meanwhile, the citizens,” he said. preparing the public-private partnership. Regulatory Office deemed it unacceptable Economic Crimes Units has been question- “Under no circumstances has there been On August 26, 2011, the municipal procure- after Higjiena’s board sought a legal opin- ing officials involved in the tender. any violation in initiating a public-private ment office issued a notice to solicit bids for ion. While details of the allegations are partnership for Higjiena,” he added. a public-private partnership. The head of the regulator’s legal depart- unclear, sources close to the investigation While Kosovo’s water and waste regulator On December 1, the office qualified the ment, Mejreme Cernobregu, wrote that who spoke on condition of anonymity said reported that it was satisfied with Higjiena’s Moser Group’s Ecovision and another firm another company could not perform the the prosecutor was reviewing an insurance performance, Mustafa said the new compa- in Viti, Metali. On May 23, the municipality work of Higjiena, which already had the policy that Ecovision purchased from ny would serve the people of Gjilan better. closed the deal with Moser. requisite license. Grawe Elsig, which insured a vehicle to be “It was the best contender in the tender Nazim Jashari, one of two advisers con- “In this context, the pilot project to test used for EcoHigjiena. and it won,” Mustafa said, of Moser Group. sulted by Mustafa for the transaction, said the system of waste collection I consider Riad Rashiti, director of economic devel- Moser completed a successful pilot proj- Gjilan had ignored his advice by choosing a alarming,” Cernabregu wrote in the letter, opment in Gjilan, who oversaw the ect for collecting waste in Gjilan in 2009, profit-sharing model. which Prishtina Insight obtained, “because EcoHigjiena deal, is a manager of Grawe based on an agreement of understanding “The model that the municipality chose, companies licensed by the Office of the Elsig, as is his wife. between the municipality and the company. dividing the profit based on shares, leaves Water and Waste Regulatory Office are The Anti-Corruption Agency said Rashiti Moser went on to play a key role in push- room for manipulation of the profit by the obliged to offer services according to the earns 9,600 euro a year and his wife 8,800 ing the public-private partnership before it private company,” Jashari insisted. standards and rules of WWRO.” Summit Calls for Closer Regional Cooperation The heads of states of Western Balkan countries have called for closer regional cooperation at their annual summit which was not attended by the Serbian president. Hague Tribunal acquittal the ex “Isolated, individual and , KLA, provocative incidents are a sub- commander, Ramush Haradinaj, ject for judiciary, but by no means Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga attended the Balkan regional summit. By Milena Milosevic and the presence of Kosovo’s pres- could they harm the good rela- Serbian President Tomislav Nicolic, however, did not. ident at the summit. tions between our two countries,” The summit’s main message said Nishani. his year's regional summit was the need for closer regional The expected exchange of on cooperation was held in cooperation, primarily in the ambassadors between TMontenegro's coastal town fields of fight against organized Montenegro and Kosovo was also of Budva on Wednesday and was crime and corruption, cross-bor- among the issues which drew attended by the president of der cooperation, economy and attention of the press. Montenegro, Filip Vujanovic, his European and NATO integration. In late May, four years after it Kosovo counterpart Atifete Following the meeting with his recognised Kosovo's independence Jahjaga, the heads of state of colleagues from the region, the in 2008, Montenegro's government Albania, Bujar Nishani, and Albanian president, Bujar said it was to open embassy in Macedonia, Djordje Ivanov. Nishani, told the press that Prishtina. Serbia’s head of state, Tomislav Albania’s relations with all its Still, Vujanovic refused to Nikolic, did not attend the sum- neighbours were good, including appoint an ambassador to mit. Y Macedonia, despite the recent Prishtina until Montenegrins According to the local media, Atifete Jahjaga, Kosovo’s presi- statuses for both Montenegrin and M incident when the Macedonian obtain ethnic minority status in Nikolic declined the invitation to dent, repeated on Wednesday that Croat communities in Kosovo was C was burnt. Kosovo. attend in protest over the recent the recognition of ethnic minority just a matter of time. K 8 Dec 7 - 20, 2012 neighbourhood business

Croatia Airlines Gets Serbia’s Upbeat Budget Government Aid ational carrier Croatia Airlines has received a capital boost of EUR 106 million from the govern- Nment in Zagreb. Plans Leave Experts Cold The injection of funds was approved several months ahead of Croatia's anticipated EU accession as a means Bond sale may have rescued finances for start of 2013, but most experts say ministers will still to avoid strict EU competition regulations, observers say. have to revise their optimistic budget calculations. The main goal of this investment is to power a turn- around plan which aims to help the national carrier ing,” Milićević warned. break even and become profitable in 2012. In order to Ljubomir Madžar, another econo- achieve this goal, Croatia Airlines plans to gradually mist, also believes the government downsize, cutting 10 percent of its staff over the next two By Stevan VELJOVI could be forced to change its calcula- years. tions over the coming year, as politi- The government funds are to be transferred in two cal constraints hamper its desire to installments, the first one covering Croatia Airline’s cut spending. debts of EUR 82.6 million and the second investing EUR Four months ago Serbia’s public He believes that the presence of 19.8 million to make the carrier more competitive. The

finances were in a coma. Now the IMF will be beneficial for public in Brief Neighbourhood News net loss of Croatia Airlines in the first nine months of “they’ve woken up and there are finance, as it will mitigate the effects 2012 is EUR 1.4 million, a significant improvement over visible signs of recovery”. of fiscal adjustments and unpopular the EUR 4.2 million loss reported for the same period of Mlađan Dinkić, Minister of structural reforms. 2011. Finance and Economy, explained his According to the Fiscal Council, From January to September 2012, Croatia Airlines car- optimistic observation, made on the achievement of a target deficit of ried over 1.5 million passengers, up 3.5 percent compared November 20th by recalling that back 1.9 per cent and 1 per cent in 2014 and to 2011 figures. The average cabin load factor also went in August “the government didn’t 2015 respectively, as envisaged by the up by three points, reaching 70.3 percent. have money for the following week, government’s fiscal strategy, depends while financing now is secured for mostly on structural reforms to the Indian Firm Plans Lakeside Resort in six months“. pension system, healthcare and state The change follows the second suc- enterprises, about which the govern- Macedonia Mladjan Dinkic cessful sale of eurobonds in mid- ment has yet to present more detailed Sahara India Pariwar’, owned by the billionaire November in the middle of talks with plans. the IMF on economic developments Murgasova, head of the IMF delega- Subrata Roy, plans to build a luxury recreational com- in Serbia. tion, said in statement released on IMF guarantees credibility ‘plex on the shores of Lake Ohrid. The government secured an addi- November 20th. The company did not reveal the expected cost of the tional $750 million [€581.7 million] in The mission is expected to return There is one more urgent reason lakeside complex that will include hotels, casinos and a loans from international markets in spring 2013, when it will discuss a why Serbia wishes to secure an golf course. which, according to the Finance possible three-year precautionary agreement with the IMF. Following But media reports suggest that the investment will Ministry, “is a clear sign that the arrangement. the IMF visit, Dinkić said that Serbia amount to at least 40 million euro. international markets take seriously The Finance Minister can count on will not require the IMF’s financial The complex will be developed “across 240 hectares the government’s fiscal consolida- a parliamentary majority to adopt assistance in 2013. around the Lake Ohrid, consisting of world-class hotels, tion programme and the proposed the Budget Law. “Serbia needs the IMF for credibil- casinos, residential and recreational facilities and an 2013 budget”. But experts argue that this budget ity purposes as the arrangement will international standard gold golf course,” read a state- may not last long, mainly because of improve our credit rating,” he said. ment by Subrata Roy’s son, Seemanto Roy, director and Targeted fiscal deficit for 2013 underestimated expenditures. Jasna Atanasijević, chief econo- head of the company’s international business depart- They say that despite secured mist at Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank, says ment. 3.6% of GDP financing for the first half the 2012, that under present conditions a pre- Subrata Roy visited Macedonia in mid-June, when he Serbia will still need an IMF arrange- cautionary agreement with the IMF received a warm welcome from Prime Minister Nikola The budget, currently before par- ment in order to reduce the risks of is not urgent, but stresses its long- Gruevski and his economic team. liament, predicts a budget deficit of debt and deficit financing and facili- term importance. During his stay, Roy scanned several investment oppor- 121.9 billion dinars [€1.07 billion], or tate implementation of difficult “The precautionary arrangement tunities and promised to propose several ideas to the gov- 3.6 per cent of GDP, compared to 6.2 reforms. gives Serbia implicit guarantees for ernment. per cent of GDP in 2012. “The budget, easier and more favourable borrow- The Indian company says the project has been which aims to halve the fiscal deficit, Increased interest rates ing, as well as indirect mechanisms of designed by Atkins, a UK-based engineering, design, marks a radical shift in public control of public spending and relat- planning, project management and consulting services finance and forms a basis for the sta- The Fiscal Council, an independ- ed reforms,” she said. company. bilisation of the economic situa- ent body, has made more concrete She adds that in conditions of tion,” Dinkić told MPs. criticisms of the budget, predicting uncertain recovery in the euro-zone, Romanian Online Shopper Sold for that the deficit will reach at least 4.2 potential destabilisation of the situa- $80m Size of the public debt in per cent of GDP. tion in Serbia - in the absence of IMF In a report the Fiscal Council said support - could have an impact on he South African-based media conglomerate October 2012 that the budget is short some 25 bil- macroeconomic stability. Naspers has paid 80 million US dollars for a major- € 57.5% of GDP lion dinars [ 220 million], or 0.7 per Milojko Arsić, professor at the Tity stake in the Romanian site emag.ro, media cent of GDP, to meet the targeted Faculty of Economics, says that with- reported. This is one of the largest transactions in the The IMF mission that visited deficit, as it predicts higher spending out the agreement the government Romanian online sector so far. Belgrade from November 13th to 20th on the procurement of goods and could face difficulties, as its ability to Emag.ro was launched 11 years ago and sells mainly to discuss economic developments services, subsidies, welfare benefits raise loans on the market would electronics, IT and home appliances and music. The com- and the budget was more reserved. and interest rates. depend purely on investors’ percep- pany posted a turnover of 145 million euro last year. The mission warned that Serbia The budget predicted less overall tions of Serbia’s credibility. Naspers already owns other online companies in faces numerous challenges, includ- spending on subsidies, while expens- “If economic trends become more Romania, including PayU and the online platforms ing an unsustainably high fiscal es on interest will rise more dramati- negative and the deficit is higher autovit.ro, mercador.ro and compari.ro. deficit for 2012, growing public debt, cally as a result of soaring public than planned, investors could either Online shopping is becoming popular in Romania. rising unemployment and double- debt. refuse to refinance previous loans Millions of people used it to join the annual discount The cost of interest rates will and finance the deficit, or seek higher shopping day on November 23, known as Black Friday, The legal ceiling for increase from 65.9 billion dinars interest rates,” he said. hoping to benefit from bargain prices that only last for [€582.7 million] to 90.1 billion [€797 “We could do without the IMF, but the day. public debt 45% million]. the market is a strict and capricious The Council predicts that an judge, prone to mood swings, and the Bulgaria Offers Citizenship to Rich digit inflation. increase in revenues is more likely if IMF acts as a form of insurance in Welcoming the fiscal measures the inflation rate is higher than pre- these situations,” he noted. Investors that the government introduced, it dicted. As Milićević points out, Serbia is Experts generally welcome the oreign nationals can obtain citizenship if they said scope remains to improve the heavily dependent on financial mar- invest at least half a million euro in a company intention to cut the deficit, but won’t quality of the budget. kets, as a third of total budget Finvolved in a high-priority investment project, par- be surprised if the government soon “The mission believes that the resources is financed through debt. liament says. revises its calculations. identified measures may not trans- Next year the government will The foreign investors in question are also required to Dragovan Milićević, an economist, € late into the full needed adjustment have to borrow 5 billion just to have had permanent residence status in the country for says the gap between revenue and in 2013, while at the same time views finance existing debt and the budget at least one year. spending in the first quarter of 2013 the announced 2013 budget deficit deficit. The companies they invest in should not be bankrupt, will be the first sign that a budget target as overly ambitious,” Zuzana If, for any reason, investors do not in ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, or in debt to the revision may be necessary. buy government bonds in sufficient Bulgarian state or municipalities. “If the plan is not working, we can volume, the budget will not be able to The amendments to the Encouragement of Estimated GDP growth for 2013 expect a revision in the second quar- meet its obligations regarding previ- Investments Act were passed on second reading on ter, probably with a higher deficit, 2% ous loans or paying pensions or Thursday. which will lead to additional borrow- salaries, he concludes. neighbourhood news Dec 7 - 20, 2012 9 Albania to Offer Citizenship to Djukanovic Unveils New Ethnic Brethren Govt in Montenegro After parliament endorsed the programme and structure Prime Minister Sali Berisha announced on Tuesday that the government intends to offer a of his government late on Tuesday, Milo Djukanovic has speedy path to citizenship to ethnic Albanians across the world. officially returned as Montenegro's Prime Minister. handing over his post to Luksic, who was then Finance Minister. Presenting his programme, Besar Likmeta Milena Milosevic Djukanovic listed European and NATO integration, the fight against organized crime and cor- This bill will be a government ruption, establishment of the rule ilo Djukanovic's new gov- initiative as part of the cen- of law and the creation of 40,000 ernment, led by his tennial [celebrations],” jobs as top priorities. “ MDemocratic Party of Berisha declared in Vlora, the city Opposition politicians criticised Socialists, DPS, has 16 ministers from which Albania's independ- and 4 vice prime ministers. The both the return of the former PM ence was proclaimed in 1912. former Prime Minister, Igor and his DPS, which has been the “The law will offer speedy citi- Luksic, has been appointed main pillar in each Montenegrin zenship to every Albanian who Foreign Minister and Vice Prime government since the start of the applies, no matter where he is,” he Minister. political transition from added. Sali Berisha wants to give passports to all Albanians The leaders of the Bosniak and Communism in 1990. Albania last week celebrated the Croatian ethnic minority parties, The general election in 100th anniversary of its declara- the EU's Schengen area. Kosovars Albanians in the region and this Rafet Husovic and Marija Montenegro was held on October tion of independence from the with Albanian citizenship will will disappear only through Vucinovic, who, together with a 14, along with local elections in the Ottoman Empire. therefore find it easier to travel to national unification,” Berisha said coalition representing the towns of Budva, Niksic and Kotor. Ethnic Albanians do not enjoy the EU. recently. Albanian minority have ensured a The DPS and its allies in the particular benefits or positive dis- With the June 2013 parliamen- “We should take up all measures parliamentary majority for the European Montenegro Coalition crimination when it comes to get- tary elections approaching, for Albanians to feel united and new government, also get their won 39 of the 81 seats. Bosniak, ting citizenship of Albania. Apart Berisha has tried to re-invent him- tear down the wall that divides share of posts. Albanian and Croat ethnic minori- from exceptional cases, they have self as a super-patriot. them,” he concluded. Husovic will be Vice Prime ty parties won six mandates and to reside in the country for more A series of statements over the As a consequence of the Balkan Minister in charge of regional have since allied with the DPS. than five years before applying, last week have angered some of wars of 1912/13, and the subse- development, while Vucinovic will The remaining 36 seats are held like everyone else. Albania’s neighbours by appear- quent arrangement of borders in be Minister Without Portfolio. by opposition Socialist People's The citizenship offer will be par- ing to suggest he advocates a big the Balkans, large numbers of Djukanovic stepped down as Party, the Democratic Front and ticularly attractive to Kosovo Albania that includes majority- Albanians live beyond the coun- Prime Minister in December 2010, Positive Montenegro. Albanians, as Kosovo is the only Albanian areas beyond Albania's try's borders in neighbouring country in the Balkans that does borders. Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro not have a visa-free regime with “There is a phobia against and Serbia. Macedonia's NATO Ambassador's Suicide Striking Medics Vow Stuns Serbia to Resist Threats Prime Minister expresses sorrow over the shock death of the ambassador to NATO, Macedonian doctors staging a two-week-long strike say Branislav Milinkovic, who was reported to have killed himself in Brussels on Tuesday. they will take more radical steps if Health Minister Nikola ly and friends of the late ambassa- Todorov acts on threats to punish them. dor. "Belgian police are investigat- ed… so I will be forced to take ing the case, but apparently it was measures very soon,” Todorov said a suicide," Dacic told reporters on Bojana Barlovac at the weekend. Wednesday. Sinisa Jakov Marusic Medics said they remained defi- NATO Secretary General Anders ant. Fogh Rasmussen said in a state- “As you can see, we are gathered erbia's Prime Minister on ment that he was "deeply sad- he Independent Trade Union here in our hundreds so that the Wednesday expressed his dened" by the news. of Medical Clinics, which is minister can see us. It should also Ssorrow about the death of the "Ambassador Branislav Theading the strike by be clear that this strike is not polit- country's NATO ambassador who Milinkovic was a highly respected medics, on Tuesday said they will committed suicide in Brussels on ical,” Stavric told a rally before the representative of his country and erect tents in front of the Health Tuesday. Health Ministry this weekend. will be missed at NATO headquar- Ministry, demanding Todorov’s Media reports said that he killed After being refused a meeting ters," Rasmussen said. resignation, if he acts on threats himself at the airport in Brussels with the minister, the doctors now Jelena Milic, director of the to punish the strikers. by jumping from a parking garage seek talks with the Prime Minister, Belgrade Centre for Euro-Atlantic The warning came after the min- platform in front of Zoran Vujic, Nikola Gruevski. So far, he has Studies, CEAS, told Prishtina istry on Monday boosted inspec- Serbia's Deputy Foreign Minister. remained silent about the strike. Insight that Milinkovic's death was tions of clinics and urged unsatis- Todorov, however, continues to According to Associated Press, fied patients to report medics who a loss for Serbia. insist that the strike is illegal and Milinkovic was meeting Serbian had failed to treat them. "Milinkovic was extremely to deem its organizers irrelevant. officials arriving for talks at “The inspections... are clearly versed in multilateral diplomacy He has meanwhile launched NATO. After the delegation intended to scare doctors from sup- and committed to Serbia's active talks with another, recently arrived, as they walked over to porting the strike,” the head of the participation in those organiza- formed, parallel union, called their cars in the diplomatic garage tions where he represented trade union, Dajan Stavric, said on Milinkovic suddenly strolled to a “Mother Theresa”, which does not Serbia," Milic said. Tuesday. support the strike. barrier, climbed over it and The Foreign Ministry recalled a The striking doctors are angry The parallel union emerged out jumped, one of the diplomats Branislav Milinkovic respected diplomat and lawyer about the Health Ministry’s new of the blue in September, just as recalled. who had served in Vienna and method of calculating their wages, cial envoy to NATO. Before that, he the strikers announced their The incident happened at Brussels. which is based on the number of was a Permanent Representative to intention to strike. around 18:00 (17:00 GMT). "He remains in the memory of patients they have treated over the During the current strike only the OSCE and the . Emergency services were called to his colleagues as a skilled diplo- previous month. In addition, they emergency cases are being treated He is the author of numerous the scene, but were not able to mat, a versatile scholar and a noble want an immediate increase in in most public health facilities. publications on international rela- revive Milinkovic. Serbian jour- man," the Ministry said. basic wages. Support for the strikers has nalists said Milinkovic had Milinkovic's wife was informed tions, human rights and security. Before sending in inspectors, come from the Union of appeared normal during the day, of the news in Dublin and immedi- He was the editor of magazines Health Minister Todorov down- Macedonian Journalists and talking and chatting with them as ately went to Brussels. The couple "International Politics" and played the importance of the Media Workers. The union has they covered a NATO foreign min- have a six-year-old son. "European Legislation". strike, arguing that it was “politi- used a statement to express soli- isters meeting. Milinkovic, a lawyer by training, Serbia is not a member of NATO cally motivated”, by the opposi- darity for the medics, encouraging Prime Minister Ivica Dacic was appointed Ambassador to but joined NATO's Partnership for tion, and lacked support. them to resist pressure from the expressed condolences to the fami- NATO in 2009. Earlier, he was a spe- Peace, PfP, in 2006. “Patients are being left untreat- government. 10 Dec 7 - 20, 2012 investigation Political Football: The Balkans’ Belligerent Hooligans in Macedonia stoke the embers of ethnic strife, and – like their Serbian counterparts – often escape punishment.

Komiti, a group of hardcore foot- ball supporters, or ultras, whose members come from ’s By Aleksandar Manasiev majority Macedonian community. “When will they stop dishonour- ing us?” he asks of the ethnic Albanians who had blocked an ikola says the Komiti boys attempt to build a church-shaped were defending their turf, structure in the fortress. “No one but Blerim says the turf N destroys a church in our Orthodox was not theirs to defend. Nikola country!” says the Komiti were heavily out- Football fans are known for numbered. Blerim says they hid brawling and bravado in the behind the police. Nikola and Blerim are in their stands – but the ultras of the late teens. They belong to rival Balkans have also flexed their gangs of football fans whose rival- muscle for political masters. ry has little to do with football. During the wars of the 1990s, the Last year, the two groups terraces of the top clubs delivered attacked each other in the recruits to paramilitary units Macedonian capital, Skopje, far across the former Yugoslavia. away from any stadium or sport- Most notorious of these were the ing fixtures. Tigers, a militia formed largely They fought in a medieval from Red Star Belgrade hooligans fortress perched above the city and commanded by the gangster, centre, bringing stones and knives Zeljko Raznatovic – better known to defend faith and nationhood – as Arkan. suitable causes for the setting, The old militia bosses have even if it was built with bigger bat- since been killed or dispatched to Football hooligans frequently elude punishment in Serbia and Macedonia. tles in mind. war crimes courts, but the region’s “This is a real war,” says Blerim, new generation of ultras still animosity? and a leader of the Ballisti, sup- each other’s accusations. a talkative, skinny 17-year-old with enjoys notoriety – and a reach that Several experts told the Balkan porters of the FK Shkendija foot- Lazar Nanev, a senior judge a precocious interest in politics. extends far beyond the terraces, Investigative Reporting Network ball club. who has prosecuted many hooli- He belongs to the Sverceri, or into society and politics. (BIRN) that politicians and foot- Although he has faced several gans, says it is hard to prove a “Smugglers”, a band of football Serbia’s hooligans have rioted ball-fan associations are locked in charges of violent behaviour, two-way link between politicians fans whose members come from in protest against gay rights a symbiotic relationship, where including involvement in an and violent ultras. However, many Skopje’s minority ethnic Albanian parades, and were recently in the patronage is traded for endorse- attack on a police officer, the leading fans do seek political population. news for racially abusing the play- ment. leader claims he has never spent patronage. “At the stadium, we fight with ers of England’s under-21 team. The big political parties do more than 10 days in custody. “Some of them want to be iden- words,” he says. “On the street, we Outbreaks of hooliganism often indeed have historic ties with foot- tified with political parties in fight with fists. We defend our follow political skirmishes in ball clubs and their supporters. Heirs to the gunmen order to achieve personal benefit national identity with our blood.” Macedonia, which stepped back But they deny any links with the or privilege,” he said. “It is one of Nikola, also 17, belongs to the from the brink of civil war just most violent ultras – and BIRN Macedonia emerged largely the most dangerous things in our over a decade ago. found no evidence to suggest these unscathed from the Balkans wars society.” The country is now governed by links exist. of the 1990s – but in 2001, the Ivan Anastasovski, an academ- a fractious coalition of nationalist Nevertheless, interviews with country looked as if it might ic and former board member of marketing parties that rely on each other’s fans across the ethnic divide become yet another casualty of the Macedonian football federa- support – but are bitter rivals in reveal that they regard themselves Yugoslavia’s bloody collapse. tion, says parties across the polit- every other sense. Ethnicity as the foot soldiers of the national- The ethnic Albanian minority ical divide believe it is in their defines the country’s politics, as ist causes that dominate politics. make up a quarter of the popula- best interests to maintain good sharply as it divides its ultras. Though some fans claim to fear tion, and had long complained of ties with the fans. Exchanges in parliament have the courts, their violence often discrimination. Emboldened by “They see them as a potential set the tone for confrontations in escapes serious sanction. Where the defeat of Serbian forces in base for voters and activists dur- the stadium, and on the streets. the hooligans of western Europe neighbouring Kosovo, ethnic ing the elections,” he says. The fortress clash between the have been stigmatized, the ultras Albanian guerillas fought skir- In return for mobilising sup- Komiti and the Sverceri, for of Macedonia generally expect mishes against an army dominat- port, fan leaders end up with cov- instance, was triggered by a row their activities to enhance their ed by the ethnic-Macedonian eted jobs in the public sector, between the coalition parties. status. majority. The violence escalated, where careers can be boosted by Are the ultras a convenient tool “The doors of local government, towns were divided and thou- close links with the governing for Macedonia’s feuding politi- companies and political parties sands of people were displaced. parties. cians? Or are they simply a chan- are always open to us,” said a 22- An internationally brokered “Leaders of the Macedonian LED PANELS nel for male aggression and ethnic year-old from the city of Tetovo, peace deal, the Ohrid accord, halt- and ethnic Albanian [fan] groups ed the violence in 2001 and grant- get good positions in state institu- ed the ethnic Albanians greater tions, the customs administra- for RENT autonomy and authority. The tion, the parties, the govern- guerrillas entered the govern- ment,” says Mitre Trajkovski, a Organising a concert? Holding ment as coalition partners. former police major who was also an event? Need a high-tech Below the surface, however, ten- a security commissioner in the background for a conference? sions simmered. Much of the football federation. BIRN is offering 13 LED flexible country is effectively partitioned The ultras’ nationalism may panels, size 2m x 1m, 192 x 96 between the two communities. not be openly sanctioned by the Many Macedonians believe the politicians – but nor does it pixels, for rent for such occa- ethnic Albanians have taken appear to harm their prospects. sions. more than their fair share from Many groups brazenly lionize Including box controller, can be the peace deal. The ethnic men who fought in the region’s used outdoors, moving images. Albanians, on the other hand, conflicts more than a decade ago. Minimum viewing distance: 8 accuse the Macedonians of steadi- The stands where Komiti mem- ly undermining the Ohrid accord. bers watch their team, Vardar meters. And where provocative rhetoric Skopje, are often bedecked with For more information has given way to street-fighting, banners in support of Johan call +381 38 22 44 98 the ultras have been at the front- Tarculovski, a onetime leader of line. the ultras who is currently serv- Macedonian football supporters ing a prison term for war crimes. routinely accuse their rivals of He was convicted by the Hague Y acting hand-in-glove with politi- tribunal for the murder in 2001 of M cians. Ethnic Albanians fans level seven ethnic Albanians. C exactly the same charge at the Supporters of the Ballisti, K Football feuds can spill into the streets. Macedonians. Both sides deny meanwhile, hero-worship ethnic investigation Dec 7 - 20, 2012 11 Ultras Avoid Penalties

Albanian rebels. This May, a dele- But the tidiness of the verdicts a serious prison sentence,” he gation of the ultras travelled to also raised eyebrows, and led says. neighbouring Kosovo to pay their some to speculate that the courts He says his friends have also got respects at a shrine to Adem had been overly mindful of the off lightly for violent offences, Jashari, a guerrilla leader killed political sensitivity of the case. often without even bothering to in 1998. He is regarded as a terror- A member of the Komiti, refus- attend their trials. Most such ist by many Serbs. ing to be quoted by name, repeated cases resulted in suspended sen- Hardcore fans take to the the allegation – heard from both tences or fines, he added. streets whenever political ten- groups of fans – that the courts While the links between the sions rise. After a gruesome cycle were biased in favour of rival sup- ultras and the political parties are of murders this spring that were porters. at best informal, there is a clearer blamed on ethnic animosity, However, he says, the decision connection between the parties Komiti members protested to sentence both sides simultane- and the clubs. against Islamic radicalism. The ously had worked to the Komiti’s Partly a product of history, Ballisti joined counter-protests in advantage, as they were able to these links may also be a product ethnic Albanian neighbourhoods. share in the leniency allegedly of financial necessity. Unlike Last year’s clash at the fortress shown towards Sverceri. clubs in the West, barely any erupted after the main “We are happy we went on trial Macedonian sides can be regarded Macedonian party in the coali- with them because otherwise we as successful, profitable business- tion, VMRO-DPMNE, ordered the would have received tougher es. They do not recoup their run- construction of a church-like penalties,” he says. ning costs through revenues structure where the remains of The criminal court in Skopje alone. Tickets are cheap and there an earlier church had been found. denies handing down lesser penal- is little demand from broadcasters The construction site lay with- ties because of political sensitivi- for the TV rights to games. in Skopje’s fortress, in an area ties. “We do not make political Instead, the clubs depend heavi- that the ethnic Albanians regard decisions,” a spokesman told ly on sponsors for their survival. as their historic home within the BIRN. “We judge according to the As well as attracting the usual capital. Leaders from the ethnic laws alone.” interest from wealthy business- Albanian party in the coalition, Observers say football clubs men, many of the clubs draw DUI, criticised the plan for an supported by Macedonians and funds from the local government. In Scotland, police say effective punishment has curbed hooliganism. apparently Christian structure in ethnic Albanians have a long his- BIRN has found no evidence to their part of town, and young tory of involvement with the suggest that money given from the that the courts grant violent fans led much of the worst violence. men from the community tried to major parties. public purse ends up with the greater leniency. Stanic describes But he warns that their dracon- stop work at the site. This is partly a reflection of the ultras. the case of a supporter of the ian approach ultimately poses a Macedonians marched to the country’s intensely politicised However, Ivon Velichkovski, a Partizan club, who had struck an threat to everyone’s civil liber- fortress in protest, with a contin- society, where political affiliation leader of the opposition Liberal opposing fan in the groin with a ties. gent of Komiti fans, mobilised shapes many aspects of business party, says there may – in some baseball bat. “It is now legal for the police in through internet forums and and cultural life. cases – be an indirect link. “He received a suspended sen- the UK to take away a passport Facebook, leading the way. There Fans from the Komiti, for Clubs have been known to sub- tence of one year in prison. I from someone they suspect might they were met by a crowd of eth- instance, formed the backbone of sidise their supporters’ groups, doubt if such a penalty will be a cause trouble at football aboard,” nic Albanians – including the the youth wing of VMRO-DPMNE offering them cheap tickets or dis- corrective to him – or a deterrent he says. “They do not even need Sverceri. during the 1990s. counts on trips to away games. to others,” he says. evidence! That is wrong. Very In the ensuing fight, Blerim and Today however, the ultras say According to Velichkovski, this Just as ultras across the world wrong.” Nikola saw themselves as heirs to they do not receive any favours or creates an indirect link between claim inspiration from the notori- As a result of the crackdown, the men who had waged war more funding from politicians. The the fans and whichever political ous British hooligans of the Brimson says the violence of the than a decade ago. Komiti’s written code of conduct, party happens to control the local 1980s, many law enforcement offi- hooligan scene has been replaced “I will not allow what he fought circulated in booklet form, says it government. cials look to modern Britain as a by noisy bravado. Nevertheless, for to go to waste,” says Blerim, welcomes members from across “Some fan groups are depend- model for tackling violent fans. he believes men will continue to referring to his father, who was the political spectrum – from ent upon the local governments, Glasgow is home to the Rangers be tempted by hooliganism’s with the ethnic Albanian guerril- anarchists to ultra-nationalists which in turn are run by the rul- and Celtic football clubs, support- promise of a “second family”. las in 2001. and everyone in between. The ing parties,” he says. ed respectively by the city’s Nikola’s brother was a soldier booklet insists political affilia- Protestant and Catholic commu- Aleksandar Manasijev is a in the Macedonian military at the tions must be left at the door. Bravado replaces violence nities. Hardcore fans of both Skopje-based journalist. This arti- time. “The [Albanians] said they There must be no division within clubs have often cast their sport- cle was edited by Neil Arun. It was were fighting for human rights – the ranks. North of Macedonia lies Serbia, ing rivalry in sectarian terms. produced as part of the Balkan but instead they fought for the “Our group includes supporters where the links between football The local police can draw on a Fellowship for Journalistic creation of a ,” he of several political parties, but we hooligans and the parties in gov- variety of laws customised to Excellence, an initiative of the says. are not an extension of them,” ernment have weakened since tackle hooligans. Over time, they Robert Bosch Stiftung and ERSTE say, the punishments have helped says a senior Komiti member. their heyday in the 1990s. Foundation, in cooperation with prevent violence. Courting trouble Like most of his comrades, he Unlike Skopje, Belgrade is not the Balkan Investigative Reporting “There are heavy fines against declined to be named because of an ethnically divided city. With Network. When the dust had settled after the Komiti’s strict prohibition fewer nationalist conflicts to fans who break the laws,” a the fight at the fortress, the police against talking to journalists. divert their attention since the spokesman for Strathclyde Police rounded up the suspects. Fifty- The leaders of ethnic Albanian breakup of Yugoslavia, Serbia’s says. “We even demand bans on THE COST OF four fans were taken into custody fan groups were also wary of most powerful ultras have going to the stadium.” – 27 of them from the Komiti, and being quoted by name – but were focused on organized crime, Asked how they would respond ULTRA-VIOLENCE exactly the same number from the candid about the advantages of using hooliganism as a cover. to a mass brawl such as the one at n 2011, the Macedonian Sverceri. their status. Sasa Todorovic, the chief offi- the Skopje fortress, the interior ministry record- A dozen fans had been injured, A leader of the Ballisti from the cer responsible for sports-related spokesman said the force would Ied 112 disturbances of the try to reach a solution with part- along with four policemen. town of Tetovo said he did not violence with the Belgrade police, peace in and around sporting ners from both communities, con- However, no one went to jail. believe his many brushes with the says the criminal gangs mimic events. sulting everyone from priests to The arrested fans were not law would hamper his prospects. the hierarchy of his force. “There At least 12 referees, 11 politicians, the municipality and required to attend their trials. The However, he says, most fans who are different ranks from com- police officers, 10 fans, five the clubs themselves. judgments were swift and the end up in trouble have to tread manders to watchmen, and every- players, two motorists and a On the terraces however, some penalties identical – a three- carefully. one has a role to play,” he says. bodyguard were injured in month suspended sentence, condi- “Supporting football clubs can The central districts of claim that the British police have attacks that were blamed on tional upon good behaviour. In help us get a job – but the prob- Belgrade are covered in graffiti gone too far. hooligans. Ultras were also effect, the fans would escape lems with the police are the other proclaiming, “Freedom for the “The expression of national blamed for damaging nine incarceration as long as they kept side the coin. If you are convicted Fans” – a reference to the many identity is being criminalised,” cars. out of trouble for the next two and have a criminal record, there ultras currently in prison on says Jeanette Findlay, chair- A total of 15 fans faced years. may be consequences in the charges of racketeering, arson, woman of the Celtic Trust, citing criminal charges as a result. In the eyes of the law, it seemed future.” drug trafficking and murder. how many traditional songs have The police also filed 98 misde- both groups were equally guilty Another leader of the Ballisti, “They claim they are motivated been banned from the stadium. “A meanour charges against and each member of the group speaking on condition of by patriotism, by the state or reli- boy in Edinburgh was arrested fans. bore an equal share of the blame. anonymity, claims he only faced a gion, but they only work for for aggressively blessing him- The figures above do not The rulings may have reflected the small fine after his trial for financial benefit,” says Milan self.” include arrests related to the difficulty of establishing individ- assault. Stanic, chief of Serbia’s Public Dougie Brimson, a writer on clash at the fortress. ual guilt in an outbreak of mob “If they had judged me in anoth- Order Department. hooliganism, acknowledges that violence. er country, I could easily have got As in Macedonia, many believe the British authorities have tack- 12 Dec 7 - 20, 2012 environment Green Revolution: How Eco-Activism Environmental campaigners have shown they can fight the system – but how far can they fix it? “There is a break in the system,” Union of Democratic Forces, an says Vasil Garnizov, an associate umbrella organisation which was a professor of anthropology at the major political player for more New Bulgarian University who has than a decade. By Dimiter Kenarov studied the environmental move- Despite its initial success, how- ments. ever, Eco-Glasnost soon disinte- “Whether it is permanent, or grated into bickering factions and here rebels once fought whether it will truly reconfigure gradually lost its political clout and for cities from the forests, the situation, remains to be seen,” grassroots support. With the eco- Wactivists today say they he says. Garnizov, who is also a for- nomic situation worsening and are fighting in cities for control of mer deputy minister of regional public debate hijacked by raucous the forests. development and public works, ideological battles between “com- On the afternoon of June 13, believes the new activism has munists” and “democrats”, 2012, about a thousand people encouraged Bulgarians to ask who Bulgaria’s first crop of environ- gathered at the Eagles’ Bridge, a runs their country. mental movements went to seed. busy intersection in downtown “The most important question Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, has been put on the table – who ‘Children of the transition’ bringing the traffic to a standstill. makes the decisions: citizens or oli- “Sorry for the inconvenience, garchs?” The period after 1989 – the “tran- but we’re trying to save what’s left For many observers and partici- sition” from communism to capi- of Bulgaria,” read one of the pro- pants, environmentalism has res- talism – has not been kind to tester’s signs. A group of young urrected long lost hopes of a robust Bulgarian nature. men and women sat in the street, civil society in Bulgaria, one of the Ironically, the economic collapse while others sang, danced or rode poorest states in the European of the country initially allowed bicycles between honking cars and Green activists are speaking out in Bulgaria. Union. some natural habitats to regener- buses. “We want nature, not con- The contrast with the years ate. Wildlife flourished as heavy the coalition members. per cent. crete,” was the recurring chant. immediately after communism is industry, until then reliant on the “Environmentalism is in the But perhaps the biggest success The flash-mob had been organ- stark. During the so-called “transi- Soviet Union’s cheap raw materi- best position to unite people, came in January this year, when ised that same day on Facebook in tion” period, public resources were als and export markets, began to regardless of their political or Facebook campaigns helped bring protest against the National plundered by political and business shut down. Market liberalisation, other differences.” thousands onto the streets of Sofia Assembly’s decision to change the elites. As a result, many citizens however, soon reversed the gains. In 2009, for instance, a motley and another 15 towns to protest country’s forestry law. The amend- withdrew from civic life, deeply The real-estate and construction alliance of environmentalists, bee- against the controversial practise ed law would have effectively disillusioned with the democratic boom that preceded Bulgaria’s keepers, chefs, and parental organ- of fracking, for the exploration removed curbs against certain process. accession into the EU devastated isations fought against attempts and extraction of shale gas. types of logging, and permitted the “The environmental movement many of the protected areas along by the government and corporate The National Assembly expansion of ski resorts into state- is the first one that has managed to the sandy beaches of the Black Sea lobbyists to introduce genetically- responded by imposing a morato- owned forests, without changing bring people out in the street and coast and the country’s moun- modified crops. Their efforts rium on fracking, the only such the status of the land. effect change to some degree,” says tains. resulted in a highly restrictive law measure in eastern Europe. The police arrested a few people, Borislav Sandov, a co-chair of The Centuries-old pine forests in the that virtually banned genetically- “These have not just been but efforts to contain the rallies Greens, a young party that has Pirin Mountains, a UNESCO modified crops from the country. protests, but complex campaigns proved futile. The next day, the been involved in the recent cam- World Heritage Site, were The authorities in Bulgaria involving various instruments number of protesters had doubled. paigns in Bulgaria. destroyed to convert Bansko, a pic- have executed a series of U-turns [including media publicity and Bulgaria’s Prime Minister, “The environmental movement turesque village, into a mega-size in the face of mounting protests. legal action],” says Svilen Boyko Borisov, at first stood firm, has become one of the main pillars ski-resort. An inquiry by the The green movement also Ovcharov, a lawyer who has played insisting that nothing could stop in the fight for democracy.” Ministry of the Environment and pushed for the expansion of a central role in environmental investment in winter tourism. Water later concluded that the Natura 2000, the European Union’s legal battles that have proved to be Much of the government-friendly ‘Green shield’ resort had illegally expanded by network of protected areas, to an important, if less visible, coun- media simply dismissed the pro- more than 50 per cent of its origi- include 34 per cent of Bulgaria’s terpart to street action. testers as “ecologists”. Environmental politics have nally assigned area. territory. The initial government “Beyond the green movement, I On the third day, there were as unique roots in this small Balkan Bulgaria is riddled with corrup- proposal had included only five haven’t seen anyone in Bulgaria over 4,000 people at the Eagles’ country. It was the Independent tion. It is estimated to have the Bridge. “We are not ecologists, but Society of Eco-Glasnost, an ecolog- largest “grey” sector in the EU, citizens,” the new signs read. ical organisation founded in the accounting for about a third of the Facing political contagion from spring of 1989, which developed economy. Bulgaria is also the most the spiralling protests, the newly- into the first dissident movement investigated country for abuse of elected president, Rosen Plevneliev, to openly oppose the Communist EU funds, according to the vetoed the Forestry Law and Party. European anti-fraud office, OLAF. returned it to the National That same year, it organised the Through unchecked and often-ille- Assembly for another round of first public rally in Sofia against gal development, corruption has negotiations. the regime and submitted a peti- taken its toll on nature. The law was revised and official- tion calling for greater openness on Studies by the Bulgarian ly ratified in early August, in accor- environmental issues. Aside from Biodiversity Foundation indicate dance with the protesters’ ecological concerns, there were that in the period between 2002 demands. It was a significant victo- also demands for social reforms, and 2007, the country lost more ry for Bulgaria’s eco-conscious citi- democracy, and human rights. biodiversity and natural land- Environmental politics have unique roots in Bulgaria. zens – but it was not the first one. “Eco-Glasnost was first and fore- scapes than in all the preceding 20 Protests against fracking most a dissident organisation. We years. brought together Bulgarians from achieved a lot on environmental The environmental movements ACTIVISM FOR EXPORT a range of backgrounds. issues, but environmentalism was emerged in response to the ram- Over the last few years, civic ulgaria’s green activism has also spilled across the Danube also the shield, in the positive sense pant destruction of nature, which movements have mushroomed in into neighbouring Romania, a country that has many of the of the word, behind which we is often viewed as Bulgaria’s last the country, dedicated to resisting Bsame economic, social and environmental problems. protested against totalitarianism,” public resource. A powerful coali- what they regard as threats to the After pressuring their government to impose a moratorium on remembers Alexander tion, For the Nature, uniting 21 environment. fracking, Bulgarian activists launched the first Facebook campaign Karakachanov, one of the leaders non-governmental and civic Some have opposed unbridled against shale gas exploration in Romania. Both countries share of the movement. organisations, was established in construction on the Black Sea aquifers that risk being polluted by fracking. The Bulgarian “Of all the dissident organisa- 2007, giving rise to a series of cam- coast. Others have fought against activists helped the Romanians with documents and know-how. tions, Eco-Glasnost was the first paigns, many of which have so far the cultivation of genetically-modi- Their efforts bore fruit in March this year, when Romanians took one to liberate the public mind and proved successful. fied crops, or campaigned against to the streets in numbers unseen since the fall of communism in show people that change was on the “It was very difficult for a single gold mines and the extraction of 1989. The protests were largest in the north-eastern town of Bârlad, way.” organisation to tackle the most dif- natural gas through hydraulic frac- where fracking operations had been planned. The movement enjoyed immense ficult cases. At a certain point we turing, also known as fracking. The demonstrators – including many who had been mobilised popularity in Bulgaria during the realized we had to work together Together, they have provided an through local authorities, churches and trade unions – demanded a political changes in 1989. Later, it to achieve success,” says effective antidote to widespread moratorium on fracking similar to the one passed in Bulgaria. was closely associated with demo- Konstantin Ivanov, head of com- political apathy, and have made As protesters took to the streets in Bucharest, shale-gas explo- cratic reforms and became one of munications and marketing at the institutions more responsive to ration became the subject of a national debate. the constituent members of the Bulgarian branch of WWF, one of public pressure. environment Dec 7 - 20, 2012 13 Made Bulgaria Care Again

use so effortlessly the instruments “Environmental regulations in of civic activism, generally speak- Bulgaria are way too strict and ing,” he says. present a serious burden for busi- Some analysts have called the nesses and investors.” phenomenon the “green civil soci- After the Eagles’ Bridge events, ety” and the “new Bulgarian Tzanov’s association helped to uprising”, drawing parallels with organise a counter-protest in the Arab Spring and the Occupy defence of regional development, movements in western Europe and bussing hundreds of residents the United States. from small mountain towns to As the Bulgarian green move- Sofia. Many of them were elderly ment has grown in scope to and impoverished and carried include a wider demographic of their own signs: “Jobs, business young, tech-savvy, mostly middle- and investment are not dirty class professionals, its impact on words”; “Give a green light to government decisions has tourism”; “Don’t give in to ecologi- increased. cal racketeering”. “Today’s battle is not taking The counter-protest in Sofia place in forests for control of the may have lacked the spontaneity of city squares, but in city squares the environmental events, but it for control of the forests,” wrote brought home an important point: Georgi Deyanov, a university stu- the vast majority of people in dent, in a widely publicised essay Bulgaria are still mired in poverty that became the unofficial mani- and see environmentalism – right- The popularity of green movements has yet to translate into votes. festo of the forestry law protests at ly or wrongly – as an additional Sofia’s Eagles’ Bridge this sum- obstacle to their own economic been inspired by the success of This deep distrust of politics tions against the logic of the polit- mer. recovery. similar demonstrations in Sofia. has, in turn, presented a challenge ical system.” “We are against oligarchies, “There is a huge gap between As public pressure mounted, the for new reformist parties which Whether green parties can which remain beyond the law and these two cultures,” says Garnizov, town council reversed its decision. hope to lure younger voters. The attract a bigger following in monopolise all spheres of econom- the associate professor in anthro- According to Radosveta Greens, an environmentalist party Bulgaria remains uncertain. ic, political and public life,” he pology. Krastanova, an expert on the coun- founded in 2007, has been active in However, environmentalism has continued. “We are the children of “The Bulgarian administration try’s green movements, the focus the public sphere, generating fresh already had a tangible effect on the the transition.” has a long way to go before it has on the environment points to a ideas and policies on a range of country’s political discourse. the capacity to control the conflict renewed desire among Bulgarians issues from environmental protec- Having gauged the strength of pub- Environmental law ‘too between the absolute imperative of for community and communal tion and sustainable agriculture to lic opinion, some mainstream par- alternative energy, eco-tourism ties have started to adopt greener strict’ environmental protection and the spaces in general, both wild and absolute imperative of economic urban – something that has nearly and LGBT rights. agendas to appeal to voters. development.” vanished in the past 20 years. However, in the 2009 parliamen- Most importantly, a new genera- Not everybody is pleased, of But there are signs already that “I certainly think the recent tary elections they garnered only tion of Bulgarians seems to have course. Critics argue that too the green movement has started to events created something like a 0.52 per cent of the vote. finally found its voice after years much focus on the environment erase the old social and geographi- community,” she says. “I’m not “The problem in Bulgaria is that of social collapse and a loss of slows down Bulgaria’s economy, cal borders. In the small town of sure what to call it exactly: maybe ‘party’ is a dirty word. We under- common values that had allowed especially in the poorer regions. Krumovgrad, in the Rhodope environmental communities, in stand that and often we’ve had to the powerful to operate without They say excessively strict regula- Mountains, the vast majority of the broadest sense of the word. hide our role in campaigns, so that checks and balances. tions hurt business and invest- residents have spoken out against People who share a common we don’t drive away participants “The fight for the air, water, and ment, resulting in higher unem- a Canadian company’s proposal to vision and common values.” who dislike political parties,” says forests has proven to be the only ployment. build an open-pit gold mine in the Borislav Sandov, co-chair of the viable form of solidarity,” says “The demographic and econom- vicinity. ‘Party’ Is a Dirty Word Greens. Vasil Garnizov. “All other forms of ic catastrophe in the mountain Nonetheless, Sandov strongly solidarity – social and national – In Varna, a provincial resort regions is terrible,” says Philip believes in the need for political seem to have failed.” town on the Black Sea coast with a Despite the popularity and suc- Tzanov, a businessman and presi- representation. In his view, inde- history of corruption scandals, cess of the green movements in dent of Nature for People and pendent civil society groups and Dimiter Kenarov is a Sofia- mass rallies were held in early Bulgaria, the enthusiasm has so Regions, an association that far failed to translate into actual political parties could cooperate in based journalist. This article was July in protest at plans to permit actively promotes ski development votes during national and regional pushing through reforms by work- produced as part of the Balkan private construction in the largest and says it represent the interests elections. ing from both outside and inside Fellowship for Journalistic public park. The protesters had of regional communities. The utter disillusionment with the system. Excellence, an initiative of the electoral politics, which Others, however, fear that any Robert Bosch Stiftung and ERSTE Bulgarians see as inherently bro- direct association with main- Foundation, in cooperation with ken and corrupt, has alienated stream politics would taint the the Balkan Investigative Reporting GREENS FADE IN many voters, especially the young. grassroots ideal, as political deal- Network. It was edited by Neil reece has had a strong environmental movement since the “The rejection of political par- making and compromises would Arun. end of military rule in the mid-1970s. Opposition to nuclear ties and politics in general is over- become inevitable. Gpower galvanized citizens and forced environmental issues whelming,” says Toma Belev, a for- That there are several environ- onto the policy agenda. In Thessaloniki, green parties scored sub- est engineer and perhaps the most mentalist parties fighting each stantial victories. recognizable face of the Bulgarian other over the right to repre- In 2002, Greece’s various green factions united as The Ecologists environmental movement. sent the tiny green vote does Greens, a party which achieved success at national and European Of course, the crisis in political not exactly help any of them levels. In 2009, the head of the party, Michalis Tremopoulos, was legitimacy is a familiar trend all win wider public trust. And elected to the European Parliament, the first ever green MEP from over Europe, but it is especially while the green the Balkans. acute in Bulgaria. A survey by movement has The recent economic crisis has, however, diverted attention from Eurobarometer found that just 17 been thriving, environmental to social and financial issues. per cent of Bulgarians trust their political envi- “We lost many of our green supporters,” says Michalis parliamentary institutions, com- ronmentalism Tremopoulos. “People struggle financially and don’t care so much pared to 28 per cent on average in has fallen into about environmental problems anymore. We lost the connection to the EU. a slump. our voters.” It is one of the reasons why “One of the The crisis has also changed the government’s approach to the political parties have been virtual- fundamentals of environment. Desperate to fill empty state coffers, a number of ly unrepresented at environmen- green parties is that their highly controversial projects have been given the go-ahead – includ- tal rallies – and why any hint of work requires time, it relies on a ing plans for a large gold mine on the Khalkidhiki Peninsula. political campaigning has been cumulative effect, which may be Protests from locals have had little effect. met with outright hostility from felt in ten or 20 or 50 years,” “Foreign multinational companies want to devour Greece now,” participants. Radosveta Krastanova, the says Maria Kadoglou, one of the leaders of the anti-mining cam- “The immunity to politics is environmental scholar, paign. very serious and people do not like says. Just as environmentalism in post-communist Bulgaria and to be identified with political par- “But political logic is Romania experiences a renaissance, the movement appears to be ties,” says Petar Kardjilov, a doc- reversed: you have to pro- Y declining in Greece – a country with a far longer tradition of toral student in crisis communica- vide an immediate result, M democracy and civic engagement. tions and an active participant in right now. C environmental rallies. Environmentalism func- K 14 Dec 7 - 20, 2012 culture

Gallery Closure Shakes Sarajevo Art World The Ceka Charlama gallery was padlocked shut on Tuesday, following a decision of the Skenderija Center management, where it is located, to terminate their contract. Hadzifejzovic accused Becirevic of want- ing to fill the Skenderija centre with turbo- folk concerts and other cheap attractions. By Amina Hamzic “Charlama wants to be... a place where gallery owners, curators and artists from all over the world can gather and discover the talents of Bosnian artists,” Hadzifejzovic ontenegrin musician Rambo said. Amadeus (Left) with the director of “Instead,” he continued, “they want MCeKa Charlama Jusuf Sarajevo's iconic Skenderija Center to Hadzifejzovic (Right) at CeKa Charlama become a place for meetings and exchanges Artists only learned of the decision on of ideas in the field of turbo-folk and such December 4, when they reached the gallery stuff.” to find out that Hajriz Becirovic, director of He referred to a recently planned concert the Culture-Sports Center of Skenderija, of Serbian turbo-folk singers, which has where the gallery is located, had closed it. been scheduled in one part of the center. The closure happened after several artists Ceka Charlama has been one of the most and citizens protested a day earlier, urging active independent art organizations in Becirovic not to carry out the threat to pad- Bosnia. lock it. Through projects such as Subdokumenta The potential eviction of the exhibits and Montenegrin musician Rambo Amadeus (Left) with the director of CeKa Charlama and Emporio Dangularium, it has presented Jusuf Hadzifejzovic (Right) at CeKa Charlama the closure of the gallery were announced a some of the most important artists from the week ago. country, the region and the international But the management of the gallery had scene. hoped that the city would help them reach The permanent exhibition includes pieces an agreement with the Skenderija Center by artists such as Vlado Martek, Dimitri and stop the process. Prigov, Neso Paripovic, Milija Pavicevic, Becirevic decided to end cooperation with Raso Todosijevic, Sasa Bukvic, Maja Bajevic, the gallery, sending a warning letter that Alma Suljevic, Damir Niksic, Danica Dakic gave them until December 3 to leave site, and many others. without explaining reasons. Charlama has also hosted a number of stu- Becirovic later said Charlama owed dents from European art academies such as money to the Skenderija Center. Artists Vienna, Stockholm and Berlin Bauhaus from the gallery have denied that claim, say- Academy. ing they have no such debts. The only politician to voice support for the Charlama director Jusuf Hadzifejzovic on gallery has been Sarajevo Canton's Culture Monday urged Bosnian artists and those and Sport Minister, Ivica Saric, who prom- who had exhibited in this gallery to protest ised to help solve the gallery's problems against the “further destruction of Bosnia while warning that it is not completely and Herzegovina's culture”. under his jurisdiction. "We hope that together we can send a mes- In May, Becirevic did the same to the art sage about the inhumane conditions in collection known as Ars Aevi, when he which artists work and in which cultural asked them to move out, citing unpaid bills. institutions operate,” Hadzifejzovic's That time, under media pressure, the protest note read. Y Sarajevo Canton and the City of Sarajevo “This is a vote against the locked doors of M agreed a budget for the permanent mainte- cultural institutions, which have become nance of the collection, which is the Bosnia's C the dominant image of our reality." K largest contemporary art collection. German film director Wym Wenders in a visit to CeKa Charlama international Dec 7 - 20, 2012 15 Iraq Blocks Syria’s Request to Fetch Combat Helicopters from Russia

ters did not land or take off at the sched- uled times at a military airfield near by Michael Grabell, Dafna Moscow. The reason was unknown at the Linzer and Jeff Larson time. Ali al-Mousawi, the prime minister's media adviser, told ProPublica on Tuesday raq has shut its airspace to four Syrian that Syria's requests had been denied by flights scheduled to pick up attack heli- the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority. Icopters that had been repaired in Russia, "We will not authorize any overflight the spokesman to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri until we make sure that it does not contain Kamal al-Maliki said Tuesday. Syria has any military equipment in line with the failed several times since June to retrieve Iraqi government's policy which firmly the refurbished helicopters from Russia, rejects allowing transporting any military and the regime of Bashar al-Assad appears shipments via our airspace from or to to be growing more desperate as fighting Iraq isn't allowing Syria to use its airspace to shuttle helicopters from Russia. intensifies. Syria," he wrote in an email. Iraq's denial of the flights appears to be a Syria has tried various ways to retrieve its attack helicopters from Russia. hackers associated with the online collec- largely controlled by the U.S. Air Force. But diplomatic breakthrough for the U.S. tive Anonymous. Many of those docu- American officials have gradually turned Although Baghdad has said it won't allow In June, a cargo ship carrying helicop- ters from the Russian port of Kaliningrad ments, as well as others, were obtained sep- over control to the Iraqis and now have lit- arms shipments to Syria and has recently arately by ProPublica, which reported last tle involvement in day-to-day operations, begun to inspect some planes flying from to Syria was turned back after the ship's insurer withdrew coverage in response to week that Syria appears to have flown 240 according to U.S. aviation advisers working Iran, White House and State Department tons of bank notes from Moscow this sum- with the Iraqis. officials have been pressuring Iraq to act sanctions. A second attempt by sea a month later also failed. mer. The New York Times reported Sunday on much more aggressively to choke off mili- One of the U.S. diplomatic officials said the struggle of American officials to stop tary aid. The new plan, according to flight records obtained by ProPublica, was to fly an Iraq's decision to block the flights — and to arms shipments from Iran. According to Two U.S. diplomatic officials who are acknowledge doing so publicly — risks the Times, Iraq's foreign minister promised closely monitoring Iraq-Syria relations Ilyushin IL-76 cargo plane in late November and early December from angering Moscow. Failure to deliver the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in expressed relief when told that Baghdad helicopters, this official said, could mean a September that Iraq would inspect the said it had denied Syria's overflight request Damascus to Ramenskoye Airport outside Moscow, also known as Zhukovsky Airport. delay in payment for the Russians. Russia flights from Iran. But since then, the news- for the helicopters. has long been Syria's main supplier of paper said, it has only inspected two But one of the officials emphasized cau- The records described the cargo as an "old helicopter after overhaullling" (sic) and arms. planes, including one that was returning tion, noting that flights continue over Iraqi Officials at the Russian Foreign Ministry from Syria. airspace from Iran to Syria. Iraq has main- identified the model as an Mi-25 — a heavy combat helicopter that has been filmed in and its lead arms exporter President Obama, speaking yesterday at tained that the flights carry humanitarian Rosoboronexport did not return phone the National War College, said, "We will goods but the United States suspects they online videos appearing to fire at rebels. The documents included four proposed calls from ProPublica. The 150 Aircraft continue to support the legitimate aspira- contain matériel. "The abuse of Iraq's air- Repair Plant, which is listed as the charter- tions of the Syrian people — engaging with space continues to be a concern," the offi- flights, the last of which was scheduled for Nov. 6. Each of the planned flights was to er of the flights, declined to answer ques- the opposition, providing them with cial said. "We urge Iraq either to require tions. humanitarian aid and working for a transi- flights enroute to Syria over its territory to land at Ramenskoye Airport at 2:00 p.m. local time and departing three hours later. Russia's Prime Minister Dmitri tion to a Syria that's free of the Assad land for inspection or deny overflight Medvedev told reporters last week that regime." requests for these aircraft." None of the four flights arrived, according to a photographer ProPublica hired to Russia was obliged to fulfill its existing ProPublica reported on the Syrian fly- contracts even in the teeth of international This article is published courtesy at over requests last week, noting that the observe air traffic at Ramenskoye. Some of the flight records were posted by pressure. http://www.propublica.org – Under Creative cargo plane expected to pick up the helicop- Until last year, Iraqi airspace had been Commons license Photo News: Stubbing Out Rudeness A giant cigarette butt is set up inside the Gare de Lyon railway station in Paris as part of a publicity campaign against rudeness. Besides throwing ciga- rettes and chewing gums in rail platform by rude travellers, the state-owned rail com- pany, SNCF, has received complaints about those speaking loudly on mobile phones, playing music and swearing. Hundreds of “polite- ness police” are recruited to beat bad manners on the French rail network. (AP Photo/Remy de la Y Mauviniere) M C K 16 Dec 7 - 20, 2012 Guide

Here is Prishtina Insight’s guide to the best places in town to eat, drink, shop and be merry. We’ll keep this section updated with the newest and coolest places

Hard Rockers Club Fastfood: opening in Kosovo. Road Ilaz Kodra, contact: vraja_fatos@ hot- mail.com. It's one of the few places in Prishtina where you can catch regular live Bel Ami Restaurants: Stylishly designed and smoke-free, Le Siam acts and the only place which caters for Rr Luan Haradinaj, Tel: +377 (0)44 133 848, has become a real hit for the international those who like their rock served up heavy, or +386 49 133 848. The ideal town-centre stop community of Kosovo. If you are acquaint- hard. On a quiet night, it's quite a comfort- for a quick lunch or takeaway snack, Bel Liburnia 1 and 2 ed with Thai food, you're not in for any sur- able venue to grab a beer, even if you are not Ami unceremoniously serves some of the Rr Meto Bajraktar, tel. +381 (0)38 222 719. prises here, with the typical assortment of being entertained by hirsute musicians . best chicken doner in Prishtina in a surpris- There are actually two Liburnias opposite curries, salads and deep fried treats, deliv- ingly un-greasy, smoke-free environment. each other, both very similar in style and ered to decent standards. At 7 or 8 euro for a The Cuban Ask for a “komplet” to get the classic doner food. Housed in a fine Ottoman abode and main course, it's relatively pricey compared Road Luan Haradinaj Tel: +377(0) 45 620 620. packed with salad and sauces and wrapped surrounded by pleasant walled gardens, to its neighbours. Open Monday-Thursday This is a decent addition to the city's drink- in tin foil. Monday-Friday 9 am - 7.30 pm; Liburnia oozes atmosphere, whether in win- 11:00-14:00 and 17:45-22:30; Friday-Sunday ing scene, even if the place can be full of Saturday 9 am - 8 pm. ter or summer. The food is a roll call of 11:00-23:00. spivs and tarts who aren't going to a fancy- decent traditional Albanian food, including dress party. The Cuban-themed décor is the usual stews (tave) and grilled meat. It’s Clubs: Renaissance II decadent Havana, the food is average, and not the best place in town to sample local Rr. George Bush (behind the Pro Credit Bank not very Caribbean, but the cocktails are delicacies, but a good choice given the set- P1 HQ), tel. +377 (0)44 118 796. Renaissance good. 8 am - 1 am. ting. Open 8 am - 11 pm Fehmi Agani, +377 (0)44 608 669. If you’re offers arguably the best overall dining expe- looking for cool, then P1 is probably not rience in Prishtina. It's quite an experience Xhoni’s Bar Country House the spot for you. The decor is pretty unin- just to find the place. Tucked away along a Rexhep Mala, Pristina, tel. +377 (0)44 750 720. Off road to from Pristina, right spiring, the music is bog standard and the tiny alleyway, you enter the homely, stone Xhoni’s is, without doubt, a Prishtina insti- after the Muciqi Mercedes-Benz garage, tel. atmosphere reminiscent of a cattle mar- building through heavy wooden doors. It's tution. It’s small, friendly and smoky, plays +377 (0)44 656 054. This rustic restaurant is ket. But if your thing is scantily clad 15 euro per head, and for that you will be excellent soul, disco and classic rock music a 15-minute drive outside Pristina (on a young women or packs of amorous boys, kept fed, watered and supplied with booze from vinyl and is open until the last man or good day) and provides glorious views than it’s an excellent choice. And, in the for at least a three course meal, including a woman staggers out. Arrive by 11pm at the across rolling, verdant hills and is especial- venue’s defence, it does have a pleasant wonderful meze starter and a delicious weekend to secure a corner, or even better a ly pleasant place in the summer to watch outdoor area for summer dancing. main course cooked on embers. Open 11 am seat, if you intend to make a night of it. Next the sunset. The overall food quality is - 11 pm. to A&A restaurant and has round windows. Working hours Wednesday, Friday, decent, with special marks for the fresh Opens: 8pm-to late. Shut on Sundays. Saturday from 9 pm to 3 am. bread, straight from the wood stove, and speca me maze (peppers in cream). 10 am - 11 pm. Bars:

Princesha Gresa Crème de la Crème 23 Rr. Fehmi Agani, tel. +381 (0) 38 24 58 41. If Rr Robert Doll, tel. +377(0)44259912. Crème you have a horse-size hole in your stomach is probably the best all-round bar in the city. to fill, this is the place to come. The meal It's run for the amusement of the young, starts with some free bread and dips and is arty owners and not for profit, which followed by gargantuan portions of salad, explains the more-than-generous pricing meat, fish, or anything else on this varied arrangements, especially for the perfectly menu. The food is sometimes great, some- executed cocktails. Its five tiny floors heave times average but always served in massive on Fridays and Sundays with Pristina's cool portions. Open 10 am - 11 pm. to the variety of beats. Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8pm to 3am. Hemingway Rr Ilaz Kodra, tel. +386 (0)49 145 637. Yes, you Filikaqa can get fresh sea fish in landlocked Kosovo. Rr Mujo Ulqinaku BL 4/1, Pejton, website Hemingway is tucked away in an unappeal- www.filikaqa.com; 038 244 288. Whistle, as it ing end of the city but worth a trip if you translates from Albanian, offers a dizzying are craving food of the piscine variety. It's a array of televisions on which to watch your pretty basic sort of set-up and relatively sport of choice and eat the best burgers in expensive for the setting, but undoubtedly town. Select a booth, ask the amiable staff to one of the best places in town for fish. Open tune into your match and grab a 'double 9 am - 11 pm decker' or 'triple burger', which look like American fast-food classics but taste better. Le Siam Thai Friday night Karaoke is a must-see, must- Rr Fehmi Agani, tel. +377 (0)45 243 588. sing event.

Hot Food: NOMNOM, Rr Rexhep Luci, Prishtina. A superb edition to Prishtina’s dining scene. Its London chef serves up food fit for a high-end eatery in the Big Smoke. The excel- lent variety of ingredients on offer is particularly pleasing, as is the extensive wine list. The outdoor area is also great for people watching while you sup a cocktail or two.

PAPIRUN(LEFT). Tel. 045 26 23 23. Papirun has seating at two perpendicular coun- ters in what’s basically a hole-in-the-wall just off Mother Teresa Boulevard, near the Grand Hotel. The menu has 13 options: 6 pizzas and seven sandwiches. The sandwich- es are the stars, though. Every component is handled with care. The bread alone is good enough to make just about any sandwich into a glorious feast. It’s freshly baked and seasoned with rosemary.

Hot Shop: SACRO(ABOVE), Rruga Garibaldi, Behind Metro Caffe, Prishtina, tel. +377 44 234 Y 499, www.sacrobio.com Where in Pristina can you buy dried Kamenica mushrooms? M Lentils to help with a vegetarian/ vegan diet? Marshmallow root? Sacro, the newly- C opened shop in central Prishtina, is an education and a delight. K Dec 7 - 20, 2012 17 Guide Contact Prishtina Insight if you would like your event to feature or to advertise your venue. Email [email protected]

Where to pick up Prishtina Insight?

A taste of Napoli in Prishtina. Hotel Prishtina Prishtina Insight has After ten years of Hotel Prishtina’s teamed up with these making pizza in 43 charming guest excellent venues to Napoli, and with rooms and suites are only love to blame, reminiscent of a offer a limited num- Fatmir, the head small hotel in the chef, returned to European tradition. ber of complimentary Prishtina. His piz- You'll immediately copies of Kosovo’s zas, made in a feel at home in our woodburn stove, living room, sipping a only English-lan- are definitely gen- glass of wine in our guage newspaper. uine napolitanas. fine restaurant sur- Fatmir also has sev- rounded by a gallery Grab a copy of the eral delicious pas- of paintings by local publication and settle tas on offer, a true artists. joy for the taste The hotel offers free, down with a drink or buds. Napoli has an excellent selection of red and white wines or, for fast wifi internet, com- a meal to read it. the more ambitious, one of the region's best quince raki. Napoli plimentary breakfast, makes for delicious lunch, dinner or even after-theatre time out in the conference room, centre of Prishtina. swimming pool, sauna and laundry service. Pizzeria Napoli Hotel Prishtina, off Luan Haradinaj, opposite Newborn St. Vaso Pasha nr. 20 044/409-402402 +381 38 / 22 32 84

Hotel AFA Te Komiteti Located in a quiet neighbourhood just Te Komiteti’s large trees and a beauti- outside the city centre, Hotel Afa can fully garden, which surround the small guarantee guests a peaceful night while outdoor terrace, give you an impression being within walking distance of all the of an exclusive place for ordinary peo- action. The venue has won a host of ple. And this is exactly what it is. From awards for its excellent service to cus- brunch to lunch-time snacks and special tomers and offers a good range of facili- evening meals, this restaurant offers ties, from an exclusive restaurant and dishes comprising quality, varied ingredi- VIP bar to pretty, tranquil gardens. ents, combined to perfection. Alongside Rooms start at 45 euro for a single, and one of Prishtina’s best ‘modern luxury rooms and apartments are avail- European’ style menus, you’ll also find a able. The hotel’s rooms are well appoint- good selection of wine, and great san- ed and comfortable. gria and cocktails . 15, Rr Ali Kelmendi, Te Komiteti Sunny Hill, Prishtina Qamil Hoxha Street +381 38/225 226 Prishtina www. hotelafa. com +381 38 24 96 63

Paddy O’Brien’s Papillon Bistro Bar

The staff at This newly reopened bar in Prishtina, If you live in Kosovo and would like to Paddy O’Brien’s Papillon, offers more than 60 types of wines receive the hardcopy of the newspaper have a saying: “It’s from France, Italy, Spain, and Kosovo with easy to walk in, but great prices and delicious dishes. delivered to your door, you can also sub- very hard to leave.” They serve pasta, sandwiches, salads and And with its different appetizers. scribe for 13 editions, the equivalent of warm atmosphere, You can also try different types of local or six months, for 13 euro, including deliv- fantastic range of international beers. drinks and excel- The bar, with it’s stunning new design, is ery, or for 26 euro for the whole year. lent food, it is easy located in the centre of Prishtina, near Please note, deliveries outside of to see why. ProCredit Bank headquarter, RTK radio There have been centre, and the Mother Teresa cathedral. Prishtina may be refused due to trans- many attempts to port costs. establish a proper Papillon Irish pub in Mother Teresa Str. Nr. 51 A You can pay through an international Prishtina, but this [email protected] bank transfer or in cash at a Kosovo is the only one to 044 103 310 hit the spot. branch of Raiffeisen bank. From classic coffees to cocktails, via, of course, Guinness, you really wont find it difficult to select the perfect drink. If you are interested in subscribing please A mouth-watering menu of Irish specialties is also on offer, spanning from all-day breakfasts to Irish stews at night. email us at [email protected] Options include shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, fish ‘n with the subject "subscription", listing chips, and whopping great burgers. Thursday is pub quiz night, but there is always something what type of subscription you require. We going on at the pub, whether it is sport screenings or just a good will then provide you with an invoice and shindig. Paddy O’Brien’s bank details. Tringe Smajli Street, by the Illyria Hotel Y Prishtina: 045-420900 M C K 18 Dec 7 - 20, 2012 timeout

ODA THEATRE “Hotel Transylvania” “Burrneshat” 8pm Saturday, 12,13 and 14 December In Kino ABC will written by Matt Opatrny and Lirak Çelaj; produced by Jessica Burr be screened the and Florent Mehmeti. premiere of the Cast: Sora Baek, Ilire Çelaj, Jessi Blue, Eshref Durmishi, Damen “Hotel Scranton, Armend Ismajli, Matt Opatrny and Liridona Shehu. Transylvania 3D” “Burrneshat” talks about the ancient Albanian tradition sworn Every day at 8pm Friday, 21 December virgins, then when Albanian women had the right to declare them- 2pm. selves as men and swear that they will never “have to do” with men Eda Zari and that she will behave and act like a man. The film tells a The event takes place in a mountainous village in a shoemaker’s Live Concert “Toka” story of Dracula, the family who because of his age has it difficult to work and who likes owner of Hotel weapons. His son who had gone in the USA to work and is the only son Entrance: 10 Euro Transylvania, where of the family, is back for a visit with his American wife. They tell the world's monsters them they are in finan- can take a rest from cial crisis and can’t sup- human civilization. port them anymore. This Dracula invites some enforces his sister to of the most famous take a shocking decision. monsters, including Meanwhile Madeleine Frankenstein's monster, Mummy, a Werewolf fami- Albright comes to the vil- ly, and the Invisible Man, to celebrate the 118th lage to take part in the birthday of his daughter Mavis. When the hotel is inauguration of a statue unexpectedly visited by an ordinary 21-year-old that their uncle has traveler named Jonathan, Dracula must protect made to honor her. An Mavis from falling in love with him before it is too American soldier and a late. reporter for The New York Times come to Released on September 28, 2012, the film was met cover that event that cre- with mixed critical reception, while the general ated many misconcep- population received it very favorably. Despite mixed tions and reveal many reviews, Hotel Transylvania set a new record for secrets. the highest-grossing September opening weekend, () earning a total of $283 million on a budget of $85 Dialogues: in English million. and Albanian “Asterix and Obelix, God Entrance: 3 Euro Save Britania” in 3D

Every day at Prishtina Diary 4pm. Asterix crosses the AmCham Gala Dinner with Aurela Gace channel to help sec- Friday,7 December at 8:00 pm ond-cousin Hotel Emerald Anticlimax to face down Julius Caesar Filikaqa karaoke night and invading every Friday at 9:00pm until 1:00am Romans. Genres: De Po club Adventure/Comedy Friday – Hip Hop night Running time: 1 hr Hippopotamus with DJ Jungle 40 min Saturday – Tech House Starring: Gerard Toforoff from Skopje Depardieu, Catherine Deneuve, Edouard Paddy O’Brien’s Irish Pub – Baer, Dani Boon Live Sport - GAA, Rugby, American Football and Directed by: more. All Football - Champions League, Premiership, Laurent Tirard La Liga, Serie A. Every Thursday at 7.30pm there is organized Quiz Night. For more information: 038 221 070 & 038 221 077 or ““Skenderbeu in HD” write at [email protected] Every day at 6pm

Directed by: Sergei Yutkevich Screenplay: Stacion - Centre Mikhail Papava for Contemporary Art Starring: Akaki Prishtina Khorava, Besa Imami, Adivie Alibali, Semyon Sokolovsky, Veriko IBRAHIM KODRA EXHIBITION - Andjaparidze, Georgi FANTASTIC ALBANIA Chernovolenko, Naim Frashëri,Oleg Curated by Rubens Shima Zhakov, Aleksandr Open till 15 December Vertinsky, Sergo The Kosova National Gallery and the Ministry of Culture, Zaqariadze, Vladimir Youth and Sport of the Republic of Kosovo cordially invite Exhibition of Belokurov, Vahram you to the opening of the exhibition Ibrahim Kodra Shqipëria Alban Muja My Papazyan, Marie Fantastike on Tuesday 20th November. The opening ceremo- name, their city Logoreci ny will take place at the Kosova Art Gallery at 19:00h. – 7 and 8 The exhibition will mark the 100th Anniversary of the December 2012 Independence of Albania and is being organized in collabora- Artist talk 7 tion between the National Gallery of Arts in Albania, Y December at “Ibrahim Kodra” Foundation (Italy), the private collector Mr. M For any further questions or reservations call at 038 243 7:00pm Kozma Dashi, along with the kind support of private collec- C 238 or visit them at www.kinoabc.com tors. K culture Dec 7 - 20, 2012 19 Serbia's National Theatre Caught Fire A fire that broke out in the National Theatre of Serbia was quickly extinguished by fire-fighters, however the extent of damage is still unknown.

The acting manager of the National Theatre of Serbia, Dejan Nemanja Cabric Savic, said that the damage is not Rolling Film Festival extensive, but that all of perform- ances on the main stage will be cancelled. he century and half old However, the smaller stage building in the centre of “Rasa Plaovic“ escaped fire Kicks Off TBelgrade caught fire at mid- unscathed, so it will continue night between Sunday and working normally. Festival’s third edition brings Roma into focus through cinema. Monday. Savic said for the Serbian news According to the fire depart- agency Tanjug that the most prob- the movie in another location. Rolling Film Festival became the ment, a significant part of the able cause of the fire was faulty “Those not having the opportu- most important event in Kosovo main stage, as well as one curtain, electric installations. nity to watch a movie in the first that presents the Roma communi- went up in flames. “Now we have to find money for By Mihane Mustafa day, they can go to another loca- ty. The police blocked the traffic in the reconstruction and sort out tion and watch it because we re- Rolling is realised by several streets around the theatre, broadcast the movies from the with the insurance to repair the Romawood and Balkan and fire fighters arrived only few damage as soon as possible. day before,” said Milica Milovic, Sunflowers Kosovo. minutes after the call. hirty movies made by and project coordinator. The President of the Belgrade Different directors will partici- “Right after the call 16 vehicles for Roma will be part of the Organisers said that the main City Assembly, Aleksandar Antic, new edition of the Rolling pate in this festival such as Valon with 57 firemen were sent to the T aim of the festival is raising the who immediately rushed to the Film Festival starting from Ymeri, Denis Mustafa and Sami scene. We needed this many people awareness of the society towards theatre, said that damage esti- December 12 to 16. because the fire broke out in the the Roma culture and tradition, Mustafa. mates are not complete, and that Movies will be screened in five city centre,“ said Mile Jovicic, the through the movies. “We are trying to contribute they would also have to include locations such as Kino ABC-1, commander of the fire brigade. Movies are selected to demon- through ‘Rolling Film Festival' to damages inflicted by the water National Theatre, Te Dudi, Dit’ e Two security guards who were strate the diversity, richness and Kosovo’s artistic scene and used to extinguish the blaze. Nat’ and Multimedia Centre. human elements that tell the express our problems,” said in the theatre as the fire broke “It could have been much worse. Organisers said that if anyone story of Roma in the world. Bajram Kinolli, Kafu, a Roma have been treated for smoke The city will help with the damage misses first day, they can watch In the last two years, the artist. inhalation. repair,“ said Antic.

The Rolling Film Festival starts December 12. marketing 20 Dec 7 - 20, 2012 opinion Ecosovo Outside In A time of gifts Kosovar Delirium

to get carried away with celebra- tify the blackmailable stakehold- tions. This is especially the case ers and their potential of mak- when we realise that knives are ing dangerous concessions, By Elizabeth Gowing out and ready for chopping the including territorial conces- By Kreshnik Hoxha Constitution in the upcoming sions, if this guarantees their months. stay in power and keeps them f you’re Dutch, then you have already celebrated the coming of Of course, the gift which I am outside the Dubrava prison. Sinterklaas, this week, bearing gifts. If you’re preparing to cel- ith the spectacular parade using as a euphemism for the We celebrated; we enjoyed our Iebrate Christmas later this month then you’re thinking about of the army in Tirana, phone tapping of our political time and marked the 100th your present list too. Or perhaps you’re saving up for New Year Wbreathtaking events to leaders is not unintentional; on anniversary of the guarantee mark the 100th anniversary of and the coming of Baba Dimrit (‘Father Winter’) in Kosovo’s sec- the very contrary, it is a cun- that Albanians deserve their Albania, the graceful courtesy of ningly planned show, similar to place in Europe. It is now the ular gift-bringing festival. Whatever the reason, it seems that most Google, the glucose overdose from many other political develop- time to think and evaluate people in Kosovo are feeling at least the first thrills of anticipation the independence cake and its ments and policy-making in whether we would want our suc- – every adult coolly (oh, so coolly) walking the streets with their shameful treatment by citizens, Kosovo. Let us remind ourselves cessors to celebrate Kosovo’s shopping bags is actually a child in disguise, holding their breath Albanians all over the region and that the leak of phone tapping 100th anniversary 96 years later in anticipation of holidays and treats. the world marked a historical date for the nation, precisely how we comes just as we are setting the with its current borders or So here are some suggestions for making the season not just know best – euphoria and joy. wheels in motion for the politi- whether our legacy to them is green with envy of another man’s presents, but green with care That there was a strong reason cal dialogue with Serbia. As going to be a dysfunctional for Kosovo’s environment. to celebrate, that we needed to such this leak is like an eye- Kosovo. This depends entirely — Think about the recipient not just of your gift, but the money express our patriotism – it is brow-raising ad for a new TV on our actions now: continuing you spent on it. Kosovo has some wonderful locally produced gifts indisputable, despite the fact series. with our apathy ahead of the The difference is that in this sharpening of knives taking supporting people whose need for money is possibly greater than that many in the region got shiv- case we are not dealing with a place in Belgrade for northern that of the owners of the Duty Free counter at the airport, or the ers from the alleged Albanian irredentist ideologies. Without TV series. Contrary to the empty Kosovo. brand name chain store that’s just opened in the out-of-town mall. even having the opportunity to statements of the then EULEX Kosovo’s constitution and Consider buying products by local craftsmen and –women (how take a breath of fresh air from Chief Prosecutor Johannes Van internal affairs have long been about filigree from Filigran ShPK in Prizren – their shop is at one the celebrations and recovering Vreeswijk, who stated that cer- breached by those who should be end of the Stone Bridge, or from Krenare Rakovica in Prishtina, from the hangover, immediately tain Kosovo leaders should start the prime guarantors of its her shop just down from the Grand Hotel, towards the GEOX store. the morning after Prishtina got sweating ahead of corruption implementation – our leaders. investigations, this time it We shall not be alive for Or knitted or embroidered work from the Emina women’s group excited for the second time, with seems that EULEX is deter- Kosovo’s 100th anniversary of in Mitrovica, or pots from Luan Qukani in ). the same tempo, when it cele- brated the return of Ramush mined to prepare the public independence, but the pride or — An excellent upcoming opportunity to buy and support local Haradinaj after the ICTY ver- opinion for the new troubles the disappointment that will causes at the same time, is the fair organised by the UNKT and UN dict, declaring Haradinaj not that will surface shortly. The associate our ancestors in 2108 Volunteers which will take place on Monday at Elzar (opposite the guilty of the charges raised in European mission once again will be merely dependant on our British Council in Peyton) to support local NGOs with income- the partial retrial in the Hague. showed its teeth and flexed its civic engagement or apathy generating activities. Our NGO, The Ideas Partnership will be The festive delirium was soon muscles in order to remind the which we show in the months to Government that, by being a come. there with a stall run by women from our various projects sup- replaced with a shocking drama club of individuals accused of At the end of the day, every porting women from Fushë Kosovë who make gorgeous essential- related to the phone tapping scandal of senior political offi- organised crime, EULEX can single Albanian celebrating in oil fragranced soaps, each in a cute hand-sewn bag, and recycled cials – a gift from the EULEX to bully the Government as and Tirana a fortnight ago would glass painted tealight holders. Greetings cards and other hand- calm the hysteria. I call it a gift when directed by Brussels. have remembered the century crafts will also be available from other wonderful charitable NGOs as we are one of those nations The leak of the tapped phone old quote of Hasan Prishtina: sharing the space, including the Open Door women’s NGO, SOS that when caught on the rhythm conversations of senior politi- “We will fight, but might not be cians and the potential of future able to reap the benefits (of free- Kinderdorf and Down Syndrome Kosova. The fair will take place of celebrations – the euphoria leaks demonstrate that someone dom), but those that come after on Monday, December 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. last for months. However, in the is seriously being blackmailed. us, will find our signs (of — Consider buying second-hand (or ‘pre-loved) – books (e.g. current state of affairs, we have neither the time nor the luxury It does not take a genius to iden- effort)”. from the 7Arte bookstore in Mitrovica), clothes, antiques (the Delvina treasure house is on the first floor of the block opposite Swiss Casino, on Bill Clinton Boulevard. You’ll find stunning rugs, embroidery, and carved wood) rather than requiring anoth- EU MAGNIFIER er scoop of the earth’s resources to create a new product. —Think about what you take your presents home in – if you’re going on a shopping spree, take with you a reusable cloth bag (like those produced in The Ideas Partnership’s women’s income-gener- ating project in Istog), or some previously-used plastic bags rather than requiring new ones to carry everything you’ve bought. — Think about what you give your presents in: wrapping-paper can be expensive and wasteful. Save what you’ve been given, for reuse, or encourage reuse by presenting gifts in a bright Kraft paper bag (Talens, next to the Ben Af behind the National Theatre have a great selection) or wrapping in something reused and funky – an illustration from a magazine you’ve finished with – or tied up in a scarf. — Give experiences, not objects. A voucher for lunch out togeth- er, the promise of an afternoon planting bulbs together in spring, a dance lesson, a weekend away (somewhere beautiful in Kosovo!), a walk in Germia, your friend’s favourite meal cooked for them (from delicious local ingredients of course)… are all ways of giv- ing a thoughtful present that doesn’t generate landfill. And whomever you’re giving to, whenever you offer it, and whatever the gift, here’s wishing you wonderful celebrations. Contact details for the producers mentioned in the article can be found in the recently-published Green Pages, available free of charge or to download at www.Kosovogreenpages.wordpress.com)

Elizabeth Gowing is a founder of The Ideas Partnership, a Y Kosovan NGO working on educational, cultural and environmen- M tal projects. She is also the author of Travels in Blood and Honey; C becoming a beekeeper in Kosovo. She can be reached on theideas- K [email protected] opinion Dec 7 - 20, 2012 21 The Unlikely Birthday It was the toxic shock of free- that created Albania left the seems either obstructive (about the tional mantra of multi-ethnicity dom, ironically, that brought about Albanians of Kosovo out of it, a unrestricted travel they enjoyed seems to mean eternal compromise the state collapse that had threat- compromise that has troubled the under Tito) or indifferent (about and a distraction from the real ened more than once. Flushed with region ever since. Since Kosovo's cleaning up politics). The acquittal problems of the state, and By Robert Wilton the mythological possibilities of independence was arranged in from war crimes charges of Vetevendosje mix their protests capitalism, after Hoxha's death the 2008, the world's experts have Ramush Haradinaj, just a day after against international shortcom- hen Albanians celebrate population poured their savings helped to create a state with all the the centenary, put extra wind in the ings and Government corruption any birthday, the tradi- into Ponzi schemes; when these structures of free-market democra- flying over Kosovo; Kosovars with fierce advocacy of the right of Wtional blessing is "may exploded in 1996, the Government cy, and special protections for the feel that the verdict vindicates Albanians to be united in one state. you reach 100," but their nation is lost control of much of the country. ethnic minorities. But with the their liberation war. But the pro- It's extremely unlikely to happen, surely the unlikeliest to have The double-headed eagle flying European Union insisting on yet tracted trial (this was the second and wouldn't solve the problems if reached this milestone. proud and massive across Albania more negotiations with Serbia, acquittal) has only confirmed their it did, but the noise reinforces a The declaration of independ- this week has become a symbol of Kosovo's Albanians are feeling sense of international political vic- reputation for immaturity and ence on November 28, 1912 was not remarkable endurance. insecure about their identity. timhood. volatility. This means more inter- really against the Ottoman Albania today has made itself a They're content to recognize the The international community national caution, and a misguided Empire; instead, the ethnic dependable player in the interna- rights of their minorities, but only could itself afford to reflect on the focus on 'stability' to the exclusion Albanian patriots realized that the tional community's engagement in if it means clear acceptance of an last hundred years of Balkan inter- of the real challenges with the judi- collapsing Empire left them vulner- the Balkans, with the outlines of independent and Albanian-domi- vention. The same shortcomings ciary, economy and society - and so able to their voracious neighbours, democracy and the first signs of nated Kosovo state. When they're that characterised the Great Power more frustration. and they wanted to carve out a tourism along its beautiful coast. really happy or really worried, it's intervention before the first world Among the Roma and Ashkali space for themselves. The German But the population are frustrated, not the new flag of Kosovo that war have recurred, during the sec- minority living just a few miles Princeling who was chosen as King and the celebrations are more a appears on balconies and taxis. ond world war and the cold war and from the centre of the capital, no lasted all of six months before statement of what could or should From a stall on the main round- arguably today. Perceiving their flags were flying on the 28th. As the domestic chaos and the outbreak of be. "After the circumstances of the about on the edge of Prishtina, you local clients as passive tools and fireworks exploded across the the first world war among his spon- last two decades," suggests one could buy the Albanian eagle and willing recruits to the internation- night, Kosovo's Serbs stayed sors sent him back into the commentator, "Albanians in the Stars and Stripes - for most al game of the day - be it defeating indoors. The Albanians of Albania German Army. Albania don't have much to be Kosovars the emblems respectively fascism, defeating communism, or and Kosovo have endured much to The one attempt at a home- proud about." Their economic situ- of identity and security. "We're bet- strengthening the European Union get where they are now, and their grown monarch was the self-pro- ation seems bad to them, there's ter than we were; not as good as we - the international community fails unlikely survival and the growing claimed King Zog, now better widespread criticism of Prime could be," says the taxi driver. to understand the local dynamics at peace of their region are worth known for shooting back at would- Minister Sali Berisha (previously Liberation from Serbian oppres- work. Hoxha and Tito had little or marking. Nevertheless, the festivi- be assassins while wearing correct Enver Hoxha's personal physician), sion was the realization of a dream no interest in defeating Germany, ties were also a defiant and faintly evening dress, and for using gold and some feel that they were better of decades, but independence has but flirted with the allies when it desperate attempt to forget some bullion to pay his bills when in protected and respected under not brought practical improve- suited their efforts to consolidate uncomfortable realities, at least for exile. Occupation during the sec- Communism. ments to life. The economy is their domestic power. Today's an evening. A nation is celebrating ond world war was followed by the Over the border here in Kosovo, becalmed, unemployment hard to Balkan politicians have private its birthday, but two states are still bizarre and brutal 40-year regime the celebrations were perhaps even measure but reckoned to be at least interests of their own. feeling growing pains. of Enver Hoxha. His paranoid pas- more feverish. Here the eagle 50 percent. Kosovars are served by In both Albania and Kosovo, dis- Robert Wilton is a prize-winning tiche of Stalinism was a joke to seemed to adorn every building demoralized, under-resourced and content is focusing interest on a novelist, a translator of Albanian those who didn't have to live in it, a and every car. In a strange re-imag- unreformed schools, grim hospi- lost ideal of the nation. Two new poetry, and a student of the region's nightmare to those who did - ining of liberty, one Municipality tals, and a judiciary that no-one movements have recently emerged history and culture. He was advisor although Albanians still speak made it an offence not to fly the flag trusts. The European Union is busy in Albania calling for solidarity to the Prime Minister of Kosovo in proudly of what he did for educa- of the Albanians. in Kosovo but, when it comes to the among their compatriots across the the run-up to the country's inde- tion. The same international politics things that Kosovars care about, Balkans. In Kosovo, the interna- pendence. Hague Verdicts Don’t ‘Justify’ Croatia’s, Kosovo’s, Wars Croatia and Kosovo should not see the rulings on Gotovina and Haradinaj as a vindication of their supposedly ‘just’ wars. made a number of provocative remains to be seen) to use the The rulings simply free certain statements, including on the sup- Haradinaj case a pretext to stop individuals from criminal respon- posed Serbian character of the talking. sibility, largely based on narrow By Florian Bieber eastern Croatian town of Vukovar. The consequences of the rulings technical grounds. Thus, the verdict merely con- are more likely to have negative Just as the International Court firmed that Serb-Croat relations repercussions on domestic politics of Justice did not rule on the sub- he Hague’s acquittal of are worse than they were a year in Croatia, Kosovo and Serbia. stance of Kosovo’s declaration of tion. Kosovo’s Ramush Haradinaj ago. In Serbia the credibility of the independence, the ICTY did not Such hopes might have been pre- Twas widely expected even For relations between Serbia Hague court was already low and, rule on the substance of the wars. mature and overly ambitious. before the surprise acquittal of and Kosovo the Haradinaj ruling while the acquittals of Gotovina, The risk is now it will be diffi- Legally speaking, the verdicts the Croat generals Ante Gotovina has even fewer repercussions. Markac and Haradinaj hardly cult to challenge the narrative in might be the last word on the and Mladen Markac two weeks There was no rapprochement over help, they did not change a dynam- Croatia and Kosovo about a just responsibility of individuals for ago. the past between the two countries ic. war and a just conduct of the war. war crimes. The celebratory scenes are simi- as was the case with Serbia- The acquittals compound the Thus, critical self-reflection on the But they are not, and should not lar in Prishtina as in Zagreb, and Croatia relations. perception of an unjust court that wars has become more difficult. be, the final word on discussing Prime Minister Hashim Thaci’s Most Serbs are convinced that is unable or unwilling to penalize Finally, the acquittals force and interpreting the wars and declaration that the acquittal was Kosovo leader Hashim Thaçi is non-Serbs. Thus, the narrative of human rights activities and schol- identifying the responsibility of evidence of the “just war” that the personally responsible for war victimhood receives convenient ars to take a hard look at the over- different actors. KLA fought echoes similar state- crimes and many Albanians in confirmation in the ruling and reliance on the ICTY as the ulti- The verdicts in The Hague are a ments made in Zagreb after the Kosovo associate Serbian Prime makes life more difficult for mate arbiter over guilt in relation cautionary tale that establishing earlier ruling. Minister Ivica Dacic with the for- human rights activists who sought to the Yugoslav wars. and reconstructing the causality In Belgrade, President Tomislav mer regime of Slobodan to change public perceptions over Recently, Christian Nielsen, who of war and its crimes is a Nikolic interprets the ruling as Milosevic, which has not stopped more than a decade. used to work for the Prosecutors painstaking process that will leave another proof that the ICTY is both Prime Ministers from meet- In Croatia and possibly in Office of the ICTY, wondered scholars, human rights activists biased against Serbs. ing one another. Kosovo even more so, the acquit- whether the judgments of the and local courts with much work So what do these acquittals It is thus no surprise that Dacic tals are wrongly seen as a vindica- court can serve as a “first draft of to do. mean for region? First, they do not in a first statement after the tion for supposedly just wars. history”. The court just made this job a appear to translate into immediate acquittal signaled that dialogue Sentencing Gotovina or The verdicts suggest otherwise. whole lot harder. political consequences: Yes, the between Serbia and Kosovo would Haradinaj would have not meant The hope among many Florian Bieber is a Professor Gotovina verdict had a chilling continue next week in Brussels. that the wars fought by the observers was that the verdicts and Director of the Centre for effect on Serb-Croat relations. For now, Serbia seems to be too Croatian army or by the KLA would provide for an undisputable Southeast European Studies at the But these have already become a much committed to dialogue with would have been per definition interpretation of events that can University of Graz . He blogs at lot more reserved since Nikolic Kosovo (whether the commitment unjust, nor does the acquittal sug- serve as a foundation for both fur- http://fbieber.wordpress.com and became President of Serbia and also extends to reaching a deal gest the opposite. ther research and also reconcilia- tweets at @fbieber. If you would like your NGO to appear in our Making a Difference feature, please email [email protected] 22 Dec 7 - 20, 2012 Life in Focus

Firefighters Demand Better Working Conditions irefighters of the Prishtina Brigade are not satisfied with Fthe latest decision of the Prishtina’s municipal assembly on overtime pay. Firefighters want a 30 percent premium on each extra hour worked. Also, they want extra pay for working at night and on weekends, and are asking for better working con- ditions as well as meals at the work- place. The firefighters say they’re bas- ing their demand on the Law on Civil Servants. On Thursday they quit the strike giving one week time to Prishtina mayor to review all demands. Head of fire-fighter’s union, Muharrem Beka said that he is afraid that they will take radical steps next Thursday.

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C K Dec 7 - 20, 2012 23 Classified Contact Prishtina Insight if you would like to advertise Email [email protected]

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American Address: "Nazim Hikmet" no. 30 Arbëria/Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 549 516 Austrian Address: "Ahmet Krasniqi" no. 22 Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 249 284 Belgian Address: "Taslixhe" I, 23 A 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 734 734 British Address: "Ismail Qemajli" no. 6 Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 254 700 Bulgarian Address: "Ismail Qemajli" no. 12 Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 038 245 540 Dutch Address:" Xhemal Berisha" no. 12 Velania, 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 224 61 Finnish Str. Perandori Justinian No. 19 Pejton 10 000 Prishtina Phone: +386 43 737 000 French Address: "Ismail Qemajli" no. 67 Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 22 45 88 00 Greek Address: "Ismail Qemajli" no. 68 Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 243 013 German Adress: "Azem Jashanica" no. 17 Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 254 500 Italian Address: "Azem Jashanica" no.5 Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 244 925 Japanese Address: "Rexhep Malaj" no. 43 10000 Prishtina Alcoholics Anonymous Personal Trainer Phone: +381 (0) 38 249 995 Luxemburg Classified Ads Address: "Metush Krasniqi" no. 14 (English speaking) Mentor Azemi - 044 811 921 Do you have a flat to rent? Position to fill? Students to find for a language Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina course? Why not speak directly to Kosovo’s international community Personal attention and Phone: +381 (0) 38 226 787 through Prishtina Insight classified ads. training schedule Malaysian Almost every international organisation, embassy, NGO and many oth- For further information... Time and place of your Address: "Bedri Shala" no. 48 ers subscribe to Kosovo’s only English language newspaper, which is also choice 10000 Prishtina on sale at newsstands in seven cities and received in electronic format by Contact : 3 per week = 150 month Phone: +381 (0) 38 243 467 scores of paying clients across the world. Erik - tel nr.: 044937397 5 per week = 200 month Norwegian (Other schedules possible) Address: "Sejdi Kryeziu" no. 6 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 232 111 00 Saudia Arabian Easy Medium Hard Address: Dardania SU 7, building 2, #1 y| y | |y 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 549 203 5 31 73Slovenian Address: "Anton Ceta" no. 6 9 73268 493 59310000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 244 886 7245 86 3687 Swedish Str. Perandori Justinian No. 19 742791 18 4Pejton 10 000 Prishtina 169 7438 84 97Phone: +381 38 24 57 95 Swiss 678659951Address: "Adrian Krasniqi" no. 11 10000 Prishtina 82 7 5 51 6937 Phone: +381 (0) 38 248 088 79512 3 38 6 28 4 Turkish Y Address: "Ismail Qemajli" no. 59 M Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina C 9 47 26Phone: +381 (0) 38 226 044 K 24 Dec 7 - 20, 2012 advert

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