Editor’s Word: 100 Issues of Kosovo’s Only English Newspaper > page 3

Nov 23 - Dec 6, 2012 Issue No. 100 www.prishtinainsight.com Price € 1 NEWS Kosovo Klecka Case Officials’ Sent to Retrial > page 3 Gun-toting NEWS Kosovo and Serbia Rights in Must Reconcile, Balance Panel Says > page 4 As grace period for NEWS UNMIK-era gun licenses Gotovina Verdict ends, more than 300 offi- cials have no clear right to Stirs Hope in Kosovo self-defense permits, About Haradinaj though a government > page 5 department is trying to change that. CULTURE See Page 4 Bekim Fehmiu ‘Ended Life as He Probes Force Two Top Kosovo Lived it’ > page 14 Politicians to Leave Businesses CULTURE After the Anti-Corruption Agency warned an MP and a mayor about their private-sector activities - first reported on by Gjakova In Hot Prishtina Insight - both men have withdrawn from those interests. Water Over Old

Insight. contradiction with my function as concluding that he was no longer in Bazaar By Parim Olluri Haradinaj, brother of Ramush a deputy, I will immediately end a conflict-of-interest situation but Haradinaj, the former prime min- the contract,” Haradinaj told the indicated it could reopen the case. osovo’s Anti-Corruption Agency has suspended ister now on trial for war crimes, agency. “That’s an official decision. I Kinvestigations into two pow- was working as an external advis- The agency concluded that he don’t have any comment on that,” erful politicians after they with- er at the company Erc Trade. was indeed breaking the 2011 Law Haradinaj told Prishtina Insight. drew from business interests. According to his 2012 wealth decla- on Preventing Conflict of Interest Haradinaj’s former employer, The two men acted after the ration, he earned 18,000 euro per by holding a position at Erc Trade. Erc Trade, represented the > page 19 agency warned them that these year in that position. “A senior official does not have Slovenian company ISKRA and activities conflicted with their The agency began investigating the right to practice private activi- imported such brands as Colgate positions as elected officials. Haradinaj in August, a month ties (as advisor in a private compa- toothpaste, Palmolive shampoo The two unrelated investiga- after Prishtina Insight reported ny), so this practice… contradicts and Ajax detergent. tions, against the Alliance for the about his second job. Haradinaj with holding a public position and In July, when Prishtina Insight Future of Kosovo deputy Daut told the agency that he didn’t such a situation should be avoid- first reported on his employment, Kosovo’s only English-language Haradinaj and Mitrovica Mayor think he was breaking the law. ed,” the decision read. Haradinaj maintained that he had newspaper is available: Avni Kastrati, followed reports on “If the agency finds that practic- In October, Haradinaj told the no business interests in the com- the two men’s employment and ing as the external advisor in the agency that he’d left the company. pany and was just an employee. Delivered to business interests by Prishtina private company Erc Trade is in The agency closed its investigation, continues page 2 Your Door

Thaci Installs Ally to Head Macedonia’s ‘Indiana Jones’ From Newsstands Privatisation Body Scorns Retiring at 65 across Kosovo

When Prime Minister Hashim Thaci Pasko Kuzman, who is expected to retire Sent To addressed lawmakers on the Kosovo soon as head of the Cultural Heritage Your Inbox Privatisation Agency in October, he vowed Protection Office, says he will never stop to keep politics out of the entity that over- searching for the tomb of Alexander the sees the sale of state enterprises. Great, which he is convinced lies some- From “As Prime Minister, I have decided to where in southeast Macedonia. our partners avoid political influence... Many in Macedonia... business page 7 news page 12-13 see page 16 for more info

is supported by: 2 Nov 23 - Dec 6, 2012 news Probes Force Two Top Kosovo Politicians to Leave Businesses from page 1 with his business,” Haradinaj told the ruling Democratic Party of “I am only an external advisor Prishtina Insight in July. Kosovo, has resigned from mana- there since Arben, who is the gerial positions in Eko Kosova brother of Avni Arifi [former advi- Mayor quits three and Oil Trade and from several sor in the Ramush Haradinaj gov- companies: positions in a third company, ernment], needs a person with Amar. authority. Kastrati’s actions came after Avni Kastrati, mayor of “Owing to the respect that peo- the agency warned him on Mitrovica and also a member of ple have for me, I can help him November 8 that holding those jobs potentially put him at odds with the Law on Preventing Conflict of Interest. “A potential situation of a con- flict of interest in holding a pub- lic function has been prevent- ed,” the agency ruled after Kastrati reported that he had curtailed his private employ- ment. Prishtina Insight reported in Daut Haradinaj used to make 18,000 euro per year from his extra job. May that Kastrati had not declared his entire business Administration of Kosovo. of some regulation” in the interests in his wealth declara- They remained active on the Registration Agency prevented tions in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Kosovo Business Registration him from shutting down his Two week later, Kastrati said Agency’s registration rolls, how- businesses. he had effectively shut down the ever. “Therefore, I quit the posts as businesses by declaring them In an interview with Prishtina director in order to prevent the Avni Kastrati is no longer a businessman. inactive with the Tax Insight, Kastrati said “the lack conflict of interest,” Kastrati said. Kosovo Ex-Deputy PM's Ex-KLA Sentenced for Trial Set for January War Crimes in Prizren The corruption trial known as 'Tolaj et al' will start in January, a judge Mark Kasnjeti, a former member of the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, has from the EU rule of law mission, EULEX, announced on Monday. been found guilty of war crimes against civilians committed in Kosovo in schedule for the main hearing against 11 1999. former Ministry of Health officials for January and February. By Fatmir Aliu Bukoshi is one of a group of defen- dants charged with abusing their official positions and accepting bribes to award BY Marija Ristic health contracts in the case known as court has set January 10 2013, as the “Ilir Tolaj et al.” first date for the trial of Kosovo’s for- Prosecutor Maria Bamief has added a Amer Deputy Prime Minister, Bujar he Special Court in Belgrade has sen- Bukoshi, accused of corruption in connec- new item in the indictment against tenced Mark Kasnjeti to two years in tion to the Ilir Tolaj case. Bukoshi, accusing him of illegally rein- Tprison for torture and inhumane A mixed panel of judges chaired by stating Ilir Tolaj as the Permanent treatment of two Serb civilians in the Camila Pek of EULEX on Monday set the Secretary of the Ministry of Health Kosovo town of Prizren on June 14, 1999. while he was minister. Explaining the verdict, the presiding Bukoshi’s attorney, Besnik Berisha, judge in the case, Vinka Beraha Nikicevic, accused the prosecutor of “continuing said that the verdict has been based on the with innovations in the case”. testimony of the witness Bozidar Djurovic The EULEX prosecutor charges who survived the torture by Kasnjeti and Bukoshi with holding private meetings other KLA members. with companies that participated in ten- “On June 14, Djurovic and his colleague ders before issuing decisions on whom to were taken out of the car by Kasnjeti and award contracts when he was Minister of other unknown KLA members. They were robbed, beaten and taken to one of the local Health in 2008. This photo was key to the prosecution’s case. houses where they were illegally impris- Bukoshi resigned in July 2012 after the oned,” said Beraha Nikicevic. The arrest was criticized in Kosovo as it EU rule of law mission announced that “After couple of hours, Kasnjeti released was perceived to be politically motivated. he was being investigated in connection the two civilians, gave them back their per- Following the arrest, the Council for to charges against Tolaj. sonal documents and forced them to leave Human Rights and Freedom from Prizren Tolaj, former permanent secretary at Prizren and flee to Serbia, “ the judge added. said the international community should the Ministry, was arrested in 2010 by The judge also said that the Trial react urgently because there is no evidence EULEX police and the Kosovo Police Chamber did not accept Kasnjeti’s alibi that that Kasnjeti was a member of the KLA, or Anti-Corruption Task Force in the con- he was not present at the crime scene. that he committed any war crimes. text of a criminal investigation into tax The prosecution based the case against The Serbian deputy prosecutor, Bruno evasion. Kasnjeti on a photo which was given to the Vekaric, however, says that with Monday’s Tolaj was later charged, together with War Crimes Proecutor’s Office by the vic- verdict all the prosecution's claims were other nine defendants, on 10 counts, tims. confirmed. ranging from abuse of official position to The photo shows Kasnjeti and three other “The prosecution was under pressure taking bribes from private companies. KLA members beating two people, who had from different sides, there were talks that The government said Bukoshi stepped their hands tied behind their backs, with we had arrested an innocent man, but the down as Deputy Prime Minister out of the end of their rifles. Trial Chamber with this verdict proved that respect for legal procedures and to give Serbian police arrested Kasnjeti at we were right,” said Vekaric. justice institutions room to do their Merdare border crossing, in south Serbia, All sides have 15 days deadline to appeal Bujar Bukoshi, right, leaves court. work. on April 14. the verdict.

Y M C +381 38 602042, +377 44 243367, +386 49 243367 K news Nov 23 - Dec 6, 2012 3

Editor’s Word 1 0 0

By Petrit Collaku

his is Prishtina Insight’s 100th edition. It’s been a little more than four years since the Tnewspaper’s founding, in a journey that reflects the overall state of journalism in Kosovo. The first issue came on Friday, October 3, 2008, and since then the paper has come out every two weeks, except for some holidays. Its purpose was give the international community and those inter- ested in Kosovo a reliable and unbiased source of information about current events and issues in the country, in English. Kosovo is a small market when it comes to peo- Fatmir Limaj takes questions after his acquittal in the Klecka war crimes case. The Supreme Court reversed the ruling. ple and money, so many laughed at the idea of publishing a regular English-language newspaper here . Surely, many doubted the paper would still be around four years later — let alone in print Klecka Case Sent to Retrial form. But we believed and still do in the importance of Fatmir Limaj and three more ex Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, fighters will have to answer again war crimes reaching English-speaking readers, who’ve included key decision-makers here. Our reader- charges after Kosovo’s Supreme Court ordered a retrial of the so-called Klecka case. Two days ago, ship continues to push us toward ever-higher jour- November 19, EULEX prosecutor accuses Limaj for organised crime and corruption durigrn his tenure as nalistic standards. Our investigative reporting — backed by rigor- minister of transport. ous research and editing — has scrutinized power- ful people and held them accountable, especially mony and diaries were inad- accused of depriving the coun- in cases where the law was broken. This newspa- missible. try’s budget of over 2 million per is case in point. But on Tuesday the panel of euro and of laundering a mil- By Fatmir Aliu On the front page, you’ll read about the how the judges at the Supreme Court, lion euro. Anti-Corruption Agency successfully pressured presided over by Judge Gerrit- An EU rule of law, EULEX, two top elected officials to withdraw from their Marc Sprenger, overruled that prosecutor indicted Limaj and business interests. The agency’s investigations mixed panel of three decision. six other suspects on into MP Daut Haradinaj and Mitrovica Mayor EULEX judges and two November 16 for organized “The panel also ruled that Avni Kastrati followed reports in Prishtina Alocal judges has crime and money laundering. the evidence of Agim Zogaj, ordered on Tuesday the retrial Insight, which revealed that both officials hadn’t also known as “Witness X”, is Johannes Picker, EULEX’s of Fatmir Limaj and three disclosed employment or business interests. special prosecutor in the other co-defendants in the admissible,” states EULEX’s While our reporting holds powerful people Ministry of Transport and Klecka case. press release. accountable, we also are committed to doing so Post-Telecommunication, The four men were acquit- The prosecutor, Maurizio fairly while adhering to high ethical standards. MTPT, case, alleges that “the ted on May 2 but the prosecu- Salustro, has requested an Prishtina Insight also strives to give a voice to offences took place in various tion appealed the verdict. immediate “detention on those who’ve been wronged — like whistleblowers periods of time between 2008 “The Supreme Court panel remand for the defendants”. who’ve been unfairly fired — as well as giving and 2010; with regards to partially granted the appeal of However the Supreme Court space for people to freely share their opinions money laundering between the EULEX Special Prosecutor was unable to rule on that about developments in Kosovo and the region. 2009 to 2012.” and annulled the verdict of motion as such competencies We’ve also set precedents for the availability of The prosecutor charges the first instance court which fall under jurisdiction of the public information in official documents and Limaj, his two brothers, acquitted Fatmir Limaj, District Court. Tough times for Fatmir Limaj. other materials, which often prove invaluable in Limaj, the Vice President of Florim and Demir Limaj, his Nexhmi Krasniqi, Naser Shala criminal offences that he is stories. And many public officials have learned the ruling Democratic Party of former cabinet chief, Endrit and Naser Krasniqi,” reads a alleged to have committed about their obligations in transparency in the press realease iessued by the Kosovo, also faced war crime Shala, the procurement chief, process. with his two brothers. EU Rule of Law Mission to charges at the Hague Nexhat Krasniqi, Gani Zukaj, Prishtina Insight’s efforts also reach beyond BIRN reported on Kosovo, EULEX. Tribunal, ICTY. the IT administrator and our core English-speaking audience. The newspa- September 7 that Limaj, who is According to the indict- He was charged, along with Florim Zuka, owner of the per works in concert with the Balkan “Tali” construction company, currently a member of parlia- ment, Limaj and other co- Isak Musliu and Haradin Bala, Investigative Reporting Network’s Albanian out- of manipulating tender proce- ment for the ruling defendants had “violated the with war crimes against Serbs lets in Kosovo — including the online newspaper dures and giving and receiv- Democratic Party of Kosovo, bodily integrity and health of and Albanians suspected of Gazeta Jeta ne Kosove and the TV programs “Life ing bribes. an unspecified number of collaborating with Serbia dur- was about to be charged with in Kosovo” and “Justice In Kosovo.” Other news- EULEX has been investigat- Serb and Albanian civilians ing the Kosovo war. corruption during his time as papers often pick up our stories, either by re-print- ing Limaj since April 2010 and Serb prisoners of war In November 2005, the ICTY the Minister of Transport, ing them or reporting them anew. when police raided the held in a detention centre in acquitted him and he returned Post and Telecommunications Other journalists in Kosovo have also followed Transport Ministry and the village of Klecka.” home to a hero’s welcome. in 2009. Prishtina Insight’s lead by adopting our methods Limaj’s properties in Prisoners were held in On November 16 this year, A Balkan Insight investiga- for researching public records. We actively sup- Prishtina as part of a corrup- "inhumane conditions, which EULEX has indicted Limaj for tion revealed that a number of port the journalistic community by holding regu- tion probe linked to road ten- included keeping prisoners organized crime and corrup- lucrative building contracts lar trainings to share our experiences. ders issued between 2007 and chained, cold and hungry, in tion during his time as the appeared to have gone to Over the years, Prishtina Insight’s investigative 2009. unsanitary conditions, and Minister of Transport, friends and relatives of Limaj. journalism has earned several awards from the Limaj has denied any frequent beatings," reads the between 2008 and 2010. Limaj was recently freed in Association of Professional Journalists of wrongdoing during his time as another trial relating to war Kosovo. And just a few weeks ago the BIRN indictment. head of the ministry. Kosovo Ex-Minister crimes during the 1999 conflict Kosovo director, Jeta Xharra, received an award Almost all of the charges The defendants are also were based on the testimony of in Kosovo. from South East Europe Media Organisation. Indicted for Corruption accused of obstructing evi- But above all, it’s the assessment of readers that Agim Zogaj, known as Witness dence in relation to three ten- On May 2, a mixed panel of X, who killed himself last European and Kosovo Judges matters. Each week Prishtina Insight gets new EULEX prosecutor accuses ders in the MTPT that were subscribers in Kosovo and abroad, and those leav- September in Germany, before at Prishtina’s District Court Fatmir Limaj, his two broth- allegedly fixed for the Tali con- ing the country seek to continue reading the paper the first trial started. announced that they had ers and four other suspects of struction company from via digital subscriptions. Zogaj was a prison guard at found no evidence to justify depriving the Kosovo budget Gjilan. As we mark this milestone of 100 issues, we the Klecka prison and his continuing the trial against 10 of 2 million euro and of laun- Limaj is also charged with remain committed to providing you with the kind diary about events there was dering another million euro. not declaring received cam- former Kosovo Liberation of high-quality journalism you’ve come to expect crucial to the prosecution’s Kosovo’s former Minister of paign money when running Army fighters, including from us. To all our readers — whether you’re new case. However, on March 21, Transport, Fatmir Limaj, and for Prishtina’s mayoral elec- Limaj, who had been accused or have been with us from Issue 1 — thank you. the court found that his testi- six other defendants have been tions in 2007 as well as other of war crimes. 4 Nov 23 - Dec 6, 2012 news Kosovo Officials’ Gun-toting Rights in Balance As grace period for UNMIK-era gun licenses ends, more than 300 officials have no clear right to self-defense permits, though a government department is trying to change that.

By Jeton Musliu

ore than 41,000 licensed guns became illegal in MKosovo as of November 1 in accordance with a 2010 law that requires UNMIK-era firearms owners to obtain new permits. “Any person who carries a weapon without a permit after November 1 is breaking the law,” Driton Gashi 41,000 guns in Kosovo need to be re-registered in accordance with a 2010 law. said Driton Gashi, head of public safety in the Interior Ministry. building where a cabinet meeting fessionals employed to protect peo- about the regulation or when it Since the 2010 Law states that More than 95 per cent of those was taking place in November ple, money or other valuables. would come into force. When only security professionals can 41,000 guns are for hunting and, 2011. Beqaj said his driver and Citing a provision in the asked where this left people with obtain permits to carry guns for according to Kosovo police, most bodyguard fired it accidentally weapons law, the Interior Ministry expired gun permits, Gashi said: self-defence, it’s unclear how the owners have applied for new and no charges were filed. in 2010 allowed those who obtained “This is a process.” Interior Ministry can come up licenses. In May, Burim Ramadani, secre- permits under UNMIK to apply for For the time being, there does with a regulation allowing others “As such, they are considered to tary of the Alliance for the Future new two-year permits. appear to be a loophole. Police to obtain permits. be in accordance with the Law on of Kosovo party, reported that his “This was done when the risk of spokesman Kelani said a self- Behar Selimi, a former police Weapons,” Kosovo police car was stolen from a parking lot officials was evaluated,” Gashi defense permit will be considered colonel, and now a deputy in par- spokesman Baki Kelani said, in Prishtina containing his gun, said. “These are not weapons and valid as long as the owner is in liament, said he applied for a self- adding that hunting weapons for which he had a license. licenses for fun.” the process of applying for a new defence permit in 2010 after he would not be confiscated during These permits were issued by Those permits expired on one — even if the law would decided to join politics. the licensing procedure, which the UN Mission in Kosovo, November 1. ensure the rejection of the appli- “Since then, I haven’t received takes at least three months. UNMIK, from 2001 to 2009. cation. any response,” Selimi told But the fate is unclear for 344 According to UNMIK’s Regulation New permits promised: Lawyer Fehmije Gashi-Bytyci Prishtina Insight. guns previously licensed for self- on the Authorization of said any regulation on gun per- Selimi admitted that he wanted defence purposes. Possession of Weapons in Kosovo, Gashi, whose department in the mits would still have to conform a gun out of habit rather than Gashi did not reveal the owners’ those seeking self-defense permits ministry deals with gun licensing, to the 2010 law. because he felt a pressing need to identities, but said almost all were needed to provide evidence that said his office is working on a “If the regulation accords with defend his safety. officials, including ministers, they were in danger. regulation to allow UNMIK-era the law and its function, then it is “I wanted to have a weapon members of parliament, mayors, But Kosovo’s 2010 Law on permit holders to obtain new per- OK,” Gashi-Bytyci said. “If it because when you work in the prosecutors and judges. Weapons says police may only mits. breaks the [weapons] law, it is police for a long time, it becomes As of now, they could be in ille- issue new permits to security pro- Gashi wouldn’t offer details illegal.” a habit to have one,” he said. gal possession of guns. Some have got their owners into trouble before. A semiautomatic pistol belonging to Economic Kosovo and Serbia Must Development Minister Besim Beqaj went off in a government Reconcile, Panel Says Debate in Prishtina hears calls for rediscovery of trust www.prishtinainsight.com and a degree of compromise between the two estranged neighbours. Publisher: from 2008 in 2008, which Serbia has BIRN vowed never to recognise. Balkan Investigative Reporting Network However, Kosovo and Serbia are By Edona Peci engaged in a political dialogue Mensa e Studenteve, first floor facilitated by the European Union, 10000, Prishtina which started in March 2011. Kosovo The process has resulted so far he normalization of rela- in agreements on freedom of move- Phone: +381 (0) 38 24 33 58 tions between Kosovo and ment, regional representation, Fax: +381 (0) 38 22 44 98 TSerbia is essential for trans- mutual recognition of university forming the hostile relations of the last 20 years, a debate organ- diplomas and integrated border Editor-in-Chief: management, IBM. But not all ized by the Kosovar Institute for Kosovo’s independence remains a sore spot for Serbia. Artan Mustafa Peace agreed on Tuesday. agreements have been fully imple- [email protected] Representatives of the Institute mented. issue of missing people from the some 2,000–2,500 were Serbs, Roma, On October 19, fresh talks, now Editorial Team: said negotiations between both 1999 conflict is “the start of accept- Bosnians and ethnic Albanians parties should be based on “reci- conducted at a higher level than ing the past. who were loyal to Serbia. Jeta Xharra, Marcus Tanner, procity and mutual trust, compli- before, were held in the office of “The admission of this by one Thirteen years after the end of Nate Tabak, Petrit Collaku, Gresa ance mechanisms, time limitation, the EU High Representative for party and the acceptance of this the war in Kosovo uncertainties Musliu, Parim Olluri, Jeton Musliu and historical compromise and inter- Foreign Policy and Security, admission by the other party is a regarding the victims’ identities Catherine Ashton, where Hashim Donjeta Demolli. national assurances and monitor- start for another relationship,” remain. ing”. Thaci, Kosovo’s Prime Minister Kandic said. “We all know the figures... but Bajram Kosumi, a former prime met his Serbian counterpart, Ivica “We haven’t arrived there yet. names are important, because in Marketing, Sales & Distribution: minister of Kosovo who chairs the Dacic. There are still discussions on miss- the Balkans there have always [email protected] board of the Institute, said recon- Talks are expected to resume in ing persons that are not in line been battles about numbers,” ciliation between Serbs and December, but no agenda is offi- with the facts,” she added. Kandic noted. Design & Layout: “Rrjeti” Albanians, “be it in the context of cially set. The Humanitarian Law Center Issues linked to missing persons Arben Grajqevci Kosovo or Southeast Europe will Natasa Kandic, director of the believes 13,421 persons died, were have been discussed between gov- Y help the process of normalizing Humanitarian Law Centre and one killed or went missing during the ernmental commissions of both M Printing: Lindi Printing Center relations between Kosovo and of the founders and leaders of a conflict in Kosovo in 1998-1999. parties led by the International C Serbia”. coalition of NGOs, the Coalition Most of those still missing are Red Cross but with no concrete Copyright © BIRN K Kosovo declared independence for RECOM, said resolving the considered to be Albanian, while result. news Nov 23 - Dec 6, 2012 5 Gotovina Verdict Makes Kosovo Hopeful Over Haradinaj As the release of two Croatian generals has raised hope in Kosovo of not guilty verdict for Ramush Haradinaj, a Serbian official fears Haradinaj's acquittal would impede Belgrade- Pristina talks.

By Edona Peci and Bojana Barlovac

ajredin Kuci, Kosovo's Deputy PM, has expressed Hconfidence that the verdict in Ramush Haradinaj’s case will Ramush Haradinaj is a hero to many in Kosovo. lead to his release. “The release of Mr. Haradinaj in Future of Kosovo, AAK. think there are no arguments to the first case was the right deci- For Ahmet Isufi, one of the sentence Mr. Haradinaj,” Haliti told Serbia PM Mulls sion and I believe the second trial party’s deputy leaders, the Hague BIRN. will confirm that decision,” Kuci Tribunal’s acquittal of the two However, Aleksandar Vulin, the told BIRN. Croatian generals, Ante Gotovina head of the Serbian government Dayton-Style Deal The Hague Tribunal, ICTY, is and Mladen Markac, bodes well for Office for Kosovo, fears that due to pass the verdict in the case Haradinaj’s case. Haradinaj’s acquittal would impede known as Haradinaj et al, on “This is good news, because it talks between Prishtina and on Kosovo November 29. was based on the right of liberation Belgrade. Haradinaj, former Kosovo of people attacked by Serbia. This "The ICTY acquittal for Ramus As Serbia marks the 17th anniversary of the historic Liberation Army, KLA, leader, and raises hope that Mr. Haradinaj will Haradinaj would send a message accord that ended the 1992-5 war in Bosnia, Ivica Dacic his fellow KLA commander, Idriz be back in Kosovo,” Isufi said. that it is permissible to kill Serbs in Balaj, were acquitted of all war Last Friday, the Appeal Chamber Kosovo. How can we talk about the has suggested that a 'New Dayton' might solve the Kosovo crimes charges following a three- of the Hague Tribunal has quashed fate of missing persons, justice for issue, too. year trial at the ICTY. The third the first-instance verdict passed in those killed and return of those member states - not far from a defendant, Lah Brahimaj, was sen- April, 2011, under which Gotovina exiled, if a man who talk part in all majority, after which Kosovo may tenced to six years for cruel treat- and Markac were jailed for 24 and this is set free," Vulin told the expect to apply for and obtain UN ment and torture. 18 years for involvement in a joint Serbian daily newspaper Vecernje membership. A partial retrial for the trio had criminal enterprise aimed at the Novosti. By BIRN Slobodan Samardzic, political started on July 2010 after the prose- forcible removal of Serbs from the EU-mediated talks between science professor at the Belgrade's cution convinced an appeals judge Krajina region in Croatia. Prishtina and Belgrade started in University, also ruled out the idea that it had not been given sufficient The court ruled that they were Belgium in March 2011, three years rime Minister Dacic said of a new Dayton-style deal for time to hear the evidence from two not guilty of killings, deportation after Kosovo declared its independ- that a lasting solution for the Kosovo, through for different rea- key witnesses. and inhumane treatments of Serb ence from Serbia in 2008. Pformer Serbian province of sons. Haradinaj, Balaj and Brahimaj civilians during the Croatian mili- Serbia has vowed never to recog- Kosovo, which declared independ- "I don't understand why we do are charged with being a part of a tary operation codenamed "Oluja" nise Kosovo as a state, but says it is ence in 2008, might resemble the not insist on the implementation joint criminal enterprise and with ["Storm"] in the summer of 1995. open to deals that improve daily 1995 Dayton Ohio peace accord. of [1999] UN Security Council doc- crimes against Kosovo Albanians, Xhavit Haliti, one of KLA’s for- lives on both sides of the [from "A Dayton agreement is possible ument [Resolution 1244], which Serbs and Roma in the Jablanica mer political leaders and a deputy Serbia's point of view unrecog- for other problems, such as guarantees Serbia's sovereignty detention camp. in the Assembly of Kosovo, said no nised] border. Kosovo," Dacic said. and integrity [over Kosovo], but Although not being actively prejudice should be made in any So far, the two sides have reached The peace deal signed in the US talk about some kind of confer- involved in politics since 2010, case until the court’s decision is deals on freedom of movement, uni- in 1995 ended the three-year war in ence [Dayton], whose rules are not Haradinaj, who briefly served as made. versity diplomas, regional repre- Bosnia and Herzegovina and known," Samardzic said on prime minister of Kosovo, is still “Verdicts are given based on sentation and on trade. But not all organized the country into two Wednesday. the leader of the Alliance for the existing facts and arguments. I the deals have been implemented. autonomous entities, the Resolution 1244 empowered the Republika Srpska and the UN to take control of the former Federation of Bosnia and Serbian province, but did not prej- Herzegovina. Photo News: Registering War Veterans udice Serbia's claim to the territo- Marking the occasion of the ry. 17th anniversary of the Dayton BOX BOX BOX BOX BOX agreement, Dacic recalled it as a Key principles of the Dayton historic document that ended a Agreement: war and created the legal, political The Dayton Peace Agreement, and constitutional conditions for DPA, comprises 11 annexes cover- Bosnia to function. ing the military, political and civil- Noting that any changes to the ian aspects of the peace settle- Dayton Accords could only take ment, as well as those of regional place if all peoples and entities in stabilisation. Bosnia and Herzegovina agreed to The Agreement created Bosnia them, Dacic reiterated that Serbia as a sovereign state composed of was a guarantor of the peace deal two largely autonomous entities -- and wished to have good relations a Muslim and Croat dominated with the country as a whole. federation, the Federation of Meanwhile, not all Serbian Bosnia and Hercegovina, and a politicians agree with the idea of slightly smaller Bosnian Serb-run "new Dayton" for Kosovo. entity, Republika Srpska. Oliver Ivanovic, former State The DPA obliged Bosnia, Secretary in Serbia's Ministry for Croatia and then Yugoslavia to Kosovo, said that such an agree- fully respect each other's sover- ment for Kosovo was unrealistic. eign equality and to settle disputes "Only Serbia thinks that by peaceful means. By signing the Kosovo's status has not been Accords, the parties undertook a resolved, while for the [Kosovo] commitment to respect human Albanians and the West the issue rights and the rights of refugees is resolved," Ivanovic said on and displaced persons. They fur- Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and Security Forces Minister Agim Ceku are the Wednesday. ther agreed to co-operate fully He was referring to the fact that first to fill out applications to register as veterans of the Kosovo Liberation Army. Ceku with all relevant entities and the US and 22 of the 27 EU member organisations in implementing the is leading the initiative to register veterans as well as those who were wounded or died states long ago recognised peace settlement and investigating Y Kosovo's independence. while serving in the war. The last registration recorded 40,000 people, but its accura- and prosecuting war crimes and M So far, Kosovo has been recog- other violations of international C cy was widely criticised. nized by a total of 93 of the 193 UN humanitarian law. K 6 Nov 23 - Dec 6, 2012 news Marking Prishtina Insight’s Milestone Issue

Our Readers’ Reflections

"For me, Prishtina Insight means straight talk, high- speakers eager to get the scoop on what’s "It is always worth waiting for the next edition of profile authors, civil engagement and no-nonsense going on here in Kosovo. Each new edition Prishtina Insight. It offers independent and in- journalism. All these components are essential for explores something new and exciting about depth media analysis of key political, economic the further development of Kosovo society, so I Kosovo and its vibrant communities. and cultural events. Prishtina Insight is both hope that together with its web and TV brothers and Congratulations on your 100th edition, and I local and regional and strikes the right balance sisters, this strong team will continue to give serious look forward to continuing to turn the pages in being such. It features refreshing articles, insight during these tabloid times." as Prishtina Insight launches into its next 100 stories and opinion pieces that are thought editions!” inspiring." Samuel Zbogar, Head of European Union Office and EU Special Paul Engelstad, Public Affairs Officer, Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger, Representative U.S. Embassy, Prishtina Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo

“With time, each issue of “Prishtina Insight” has Prishtina Insight is “Every time an independent and professional become like my “Madeleine de Proust” (Proust’s newspaper in Kosovo marks a jubilee or Madeleine). Q as in quality anniversary, as in this case of Prishtina Insight Appreciating even more and more its pragmatic, U as in unique marking its 100th edition, all journalists and the pertinent — and sometimes, yes, impertinent — in- O as in outreach general public as well, should share a satisfac- depth investigations and descriptions of facts, T as in truly investigative tion for such an achievement. Because, in events, characters, policies, places as well as of the A as in ambitious Kosovo is hard to survive as a professional, lack-of-policies. B as in bold without compromising personal and profes- Using it as a tool for further information about L as in look into reality sional integrity, without bending against politi- unsuspected (and “suspect”) subjects, and as intel- E as in English cal pressure, business and power. ligence in order to better understand what is at stake today in the Kosovo society and in the region. Lage Olofsson For this reason, I congratulate Prishtina Insight My wishes for at least the next 10 years: Keep on Auditor General of Kosovo for this occasion, which at the same time is for rocking (the boat), Prishtina Insight!” all of us, because, even though it’s in English, this newspaper is of Kosovo and for Kosovo, Pascal H. Gregoire “Congratulations to Prishtina Insight on its and above all, remains a professional one what Head of Mission, Kingdom of Belgium 100th edition. I always find Prishtina Insight a is needed for our country and society. On behalf Diplomatic Office in Prishtina lively and stimulating read. It is good to have of Koha Ditore, as a precursor of independent an English language newspaper in Kosovo. and professional journalism, in the service of “Congratulations on this happy milestone. Prishtina This is useful for many members of the inter- truth and society, but also in my name, I wish Insight has set a high standard when it comes to national community whose Albanian or Prishtina Insight and its journalists many more reporting on the Balkans. Long may it continue.” Serbian is not so strong and it improves the such jubilees, with the only requirement not to Y English language skills of Kosovan readers.” avoid the path so far in the profession.” M C Tim Judah, The Economist K “Prishtina Insight is a terrific resource for English Ian Cliff, UK Ambassador to Kosovo: Agron Bajrami, Editor-in-chief, Koha Ditore news Nov 23 - Dec 6, 2012 7 Thaci Nominates PDK Ally to Head Privatisation Agency Back in October, Kosovo PM vowed to keep politics out of the agency – only to nominate a political ally as chairman of the board.

Rexha listed his educational qualifica- tions, including a doctorate from the By Parim Olluri Technical University of Vienna, and his stint as deputy minister for Energy and Mines from 2008 to 2011. He did not mention that he served in the hen Prime Minister Hashim Thaci PDK’s shadow cabinet as the director of the addressed lawmakers on the Department of Technology. WKosovo Privatisation Agency in Rexha has not explained why he omitted October, he vowed to keep politics out of the his post in the shadow government. entity that oversees the sale of state enter- prises. The four other candidates nominated to “As Prime Minister, I have decided to the Agency board do not have any known avoid political influence and not propose political ties to Thaci. ministers of the board of the Kosovo They are: Haxhi Arifi, head of the Privatisation Agency,” Thaci said in the Alliance of Independent Unions of Kosovo; October 2 parliamentary session. Skender Komoni, chief inspector of Kosovo It took less than a month for Thaci to Customs; Maja Milanovic, an economist who worked in the privatisation agency renege on that pledge. On October 29, during Blerim Rexha is Thaci’s pick to head the Privatisation Agency. a cabinet meeting, Thaci proposed Blerim from 2007 to 2009; and Dardane Peja, a proj- Rexha to head the Privatisation Agency as ect manager for the US Agency for terms of the board’s four Kosovar members nominate members of the Privatisation chairman of the board. The cabinet assent- International Development, USAID. in July have left the Kosovar Privatisation Agency’s board. ed. Agency without an oversight body for The 2011 Law of the Kosovo Privatisation The former chairman of the board, Dino Strange death: months. Agency gives that right to the Assembly Asanaj, died in June. According to authori- The board has three international mem- under Article 12.2. More than four years ago, in 2008, the ties, Asanaj stabbed himself 11 times for bers whose terms last until 2014, but lacks a Daut Beqiri, head of Assembly’s legal Kosovo government named New York busi- reasons unknown. quorum. office, could not point to a section in the law nessman Dino Asanaj to chair the Andrea Capussela, who served on the that granted the Prime Minister or the cabi- Privatisation Agency board. Party member: board as an official in the International net the right to nominate agency board He became the agency head in 2010 under Civilian Office, said the Privatisation members but said it was established prac- Rexha is a member of Thaci’s Democratic a new mandate that placed the chairman of Agency cannot function properly without a tice. He also pointed to new section in the Party of Kosovo, PDK, and formerly ran for the board in charge of the agency as a working board. law, Article 12.3, which gives the cabinet the assembly. He also served as minister in the whole. “The board must approve all tenders and power to nominate the three international PDK’s shadow cabinet when the party was Asanaj had close ties to Thaci. He told all sales and many other things, and without members of the board. in opposition. Once the PDK came to power, Prishtina Insight in 2008: “The government a board PAK can only administer itself, not Rexha became deputy minister for Energy nominated me… However, I do not deny that do its job,” he said. Zenun Pajaziti, a PDK member who heads and Mines. the Prime Minister is a good friend.” Capussela added it would be a mistake to the Assembly’s commission for Economic The Office of the Prime Minister did not On June 14, Asanaj was found wounded in appoint someone with connections to Thaci Development, Infrastructure, Trade and respond to Prishtina Insight’s questions his office at the International Village in as the head of the agency shouldn’t be seen Industry, said his commission had asked about Rexha’s nomination and connections Prishtina. He died two hours later. to be acting “thanks to political or personal cabinet to nominate the board members. to the PDK. Rexha also did not respond. An autopsy ruled that he had committed influence”. “The Assembly Legal Office hasn’t object- The Assembly still must approve Rexha’s suicide by stabbing himself 11 times. The ed to this practice and I have acted in com- nomination. As part of the process, Rexha Kosovo Public Prosecutor’s Office affirmed PM’s right questioned: pliance to this practice,” he said. submitted an obligatory biography to the the finding in October. But the office is still “Since the Legal Office gave no objection, Office of the Secretariat at the Government investigating why Asanaj took his own life. It is also unclear whether the Prime we have the right to continue this way,” of Kosovo. Asanaj’s death and the expiry of the Minister or cabinet has the legal right to Pajaziti added.

Y M C It’s not clear if Thaci’s cabinet has the legal right to nominate the Kosovar members of the Privatisation Agency’s board, but it did anyway. K 8 Nov 23 - Dec 6, 2012 neighbourhood business Albania's Water Companies Face Power Cut The embattled Albanian subsidiary of the Czech power giant CEZ has threatened to turn off the electricity supply to water companies citing their unpaid debts.

By Besar Likmeta

On November 16 we will cut off electricity to the water “supply companies that owe CEZ a total of 38 million,” CEZ Shperndarje said last week. Price Hikes Force Serbs “We advise the public to fill up any water reservoirs at their dis- posal or check up with their utili- ties if they have any alternative to Hunt for Bargains means of supplying them with capacity and number of cus- water,” it added. tomers. Wave of recent price rises means that the pressure is now on for the average family to CEZ bought Albania’s largest The move to cut the power to utility company in 2009 for €102 local water supply companies make ends meet. million, promising fresh invest- comes as Albania’s government liquefied petroleum by 20 per cent the problem. ments and a drive to cut losses and and CEZ Shperndarje are increas- up and cigarettes by 10 to 16 per “They present a false image. For stem theft in the grid. ingly at odds over electricity tar- cent. example, they calculate the aver- CEZ Shperndarje is a member of iffs and tax fines. By Gordana Andric The revised budget increased age family basket based on a price CEZ Group, a multinational corpo- The Czech company has threat- VAT on non–food items from 18 to for toothpaste that is so low that it ration that is among the ten ened to withdraw from the 20 per cent while taxes on profits cannot be found anywhere,” Goran largest energy companies in Albanian market, citing a substan- will rise from 10 to 12 per cent next Papovic, president of the National Europe, both in terms of installed dard business environment. We have reduced all of our year. Organisation of Consumers, says. expenses, even food rations. Although basic food VAT “Our assumption is that an aver- “The prices of everything went remained at 8 per cent, a signifi- age basket actually costs about up, so what else we could do?” cant price hike was also registered 1,000 [a month],” he adds. Slovenia, Macedonia So asks Jasmina Boskovic, a 65- in September when the VAT Papovic says that the stated con- year-old retired professor, careful increase was announced to choosing groceries in a Belgrade tents of the “average” basket are Top Forbes' Business include dairy products, cooking market. also misleading. oil, flour, pastries, eggs, fruit, Most prices in Serbia have risen “If you say that you need one- juices, chemical and energy prod- Ranking in Balkans by 10 per cent compared to October and-a-half salaries for a basket, it ucts. 2011. doesn’t sound too bad. But the con- The summer’s severe drought Forbes magazine has rated Slovenia and Macedonia as the Unemployment rose from 22 to tent of the Serbian basket is very halved the harvest of corn, soya 27 per cent over the same period, different to the content of the aver- best countries in the Balkans in which to do business. bean and sunflower while other while the average monthly age EU consumer’s basket,” he crops, including fruit and vegeta- Serbia is rated worst. salaries of those in work fell by 13 notes. bles also suffered. Greece, which is currently to about 370. The average basket in Serbia is The Chamber of Commerce esti- struggling with its debt crisis, “I have no clue how my family dominated by food and beverages, mated the cost of the damage at takes 68th position. Albania, survives the month,” Milos clothing, housing, water, electrici- roughly 1.68 billion, stating that BIRN Skopje Bosnia and Herzegovina and Pavlovic, 42, a taxi driver, says. ty, gas, health costs, transport, this had also had an impact on Serbia are in 74th, 85th and 90th “We’re always calculating communications, recreation and prices of flour, oil, sugar, milk and places respectively. The list does things, such as where to buy food culture, education and only a meat. not include Kosovo. or when to turn on the heating and small element is set aside for luxu- he US financial magazine in “The drought and the VAT Forbes scanned 141 countries on the washing machine. We never go ry items such as alcohol, tobacco, its annual list ranks increase are objective factors that factors that include stock market to restaurants or the cinema.” restaurants and hotels. TSlovenia in 23rd position out performance, property rights, caused price hikes, but monopo- With average monthly salaries Basic necessities of food and of 141 analyzed countries world- lies also used the situation to raise taxes, technology and innovation. now on about 370 and an average beverages account for 41 per cent wide. Macedonia is second in the prices,” Sasa Djogovic, an econo- Globally, New Zealand topped basket of goods and services cost- of this consumer’s basket. Balkans, ranked in 37th place. mist from the Institute for Market Forbes annual list, followed by ing about 520, most Serbs are In an average basket in the EU, Montenegro is ranked 45th Research think tanks, says. Denmark and Hong Kong. becoming much more price sensi- by contrast, such basics account while Croatia is two places below The least business friendly tive. for only about 12 per cent of the in 47th place. Bulgaria takes 49th “Serbia must liberalise its mar- countries on the planet, according Experts attribute the hikes in position and Romania is ranked in ket, bring more retailers and total amount spent. to the magazine, are Zimbabwe, food prices to the severe drought, 60th place. increase competition,” he adds. Amid pressure to reduce overall Venezuela and Guinea. and the other increases to VAT At the moment, according to the consumption, consumers are look- rises, monopolies and inflation. statistics office, Serbs spend most ing hard for discounts and credit Meanwhile, consumer protec- of their income on food and bills. deals. tion organisations claim the aver- About 41.3 per cent of the aver- Big retailers are now giving 200 age family needs more money than age household’s money goes on days grace to make payments, state statistics suggest. food and beverages and 16 per cent while just a year ago the grace Under the guise of revising the goes on bills such as rent, electric- period was about 30 days on aver- 2012 budget, the new government ity or water. age. raised prices on items ranging Serbs spend about 4.4 per cent of “Compared to the same period from food to heating. The amend- their income on alcohol and ciga- last year, more consumers are ments came into force on October rettes, 4.1 on health services, 4.8 turning to cheaper products. They 1st. per cent on clothing and footwear target only those goods that are on The wave of hikes, ranging from and 1.9 on restaurants. Only 0.9 sale, spend more time in compar- 3 to 40 per cent, hit household per cent goes on education. ing prices and finding the best chemicals, alcohol, processed According to the state statistics deals,” Delhaize, Serbia’s biggest fruits and vegetables, beverages, office, Serbs need about one-and-a- retailer firm, told the daily canned meat and fish, city trans- half salaries to cover a consumer’s Politika in early November. port fares, frozen fruits, confec- basket for an average three-mem- “[Cheaper] label products are tionery, ice cream, clothing, ber family. becoming a more common choice footwear and mobile phones. But consumer protection organ- for customers and the share of Heating went up by 18.5 per cent, isations say that the statistics these products in trade is about 15 diesel fuel by around 3 per cent, office underestimates the scale of per cent,” it added. profile Nov 23 - Dec 6, 2012 9

Komsic Sounds Out Bosnia Croatian Generals Greeted Opposition Leftists he Croat member of Bosnia's state presidency, Zeljko Komsic, has met leaders of the opposi- with Hero's Welcome Ttion Nasa Stranka [Our Party] with a view to forming a joint bloc in the 2014 election. Tens of thousands of Croats gathered at the main square in the capital to greet army generals Ante Zeljko Komsic recently met leaders of Nasa Stranka [Our Party], a small left-oriented opposi- Gotovina and Mladen Markac after they were acquitted of war crimes charges in the Hague. tion party, to discuss campainging together in the 2014 elections. According to reports, on November 22 they agreed to act together in the general elections as a By Boris Pavelic, united opposition block. Bojana Barlovac Dino Mustafic of Nasa Stranka said the new bloc would have a clear program that would bring about much-needed changes in politics. uphoric Croats waved national He added that Nasa Stranka would talk to all left- flags and held up photos of the wing parties “which did not give up on a better and Egenerals along with banners happier Bosnia” and Komsic's announced party reading "Pride of Croatia" while patri- would be one of them.

otic songs blasted from speakers. in Brief Neighbourhood News “We agree 100 per cent with Zeljko Komsic,” The main square was covered in red Mustafic said. “We did not firm up details of our smoke from flares, with the crowd cooperation but we will continue these talks in the singing "My Croatia" and chanting following months.” Vukovar when the generals arrived. The Bosnian Presidency member is working on Gotovina thanked the crowd and forming his own new party after quitting the ruling state institutions for the support. He Social Democratic Party, SDP. said: "The future is in our hands and this grave error has been rectified and pendence] war wasn't bloody, that mis- we are all together. Thank you and good that the Croats have been victims not takes were not done," he said. luck". villains." "There were mistakes, and for them Driver Tries to Intercept Serbian Markac also addressed the crowd Earlier, the Hague Tribunal ruling Croatian state is responsible. To all President’s Vehicle saying " I carried my homeland in my was watched live on the main square in these we did harm, Croatia will repay," heart and my homeland are all of you". the Croatian capital Zagreb, with many Milanovic added, expressing gratitude oncerns grow for head of state's security after "I knew there was no joint criminal citizens, mostly veterans of the inde- to Gotovina and Markac "for with- unidentified driver tries to cut through enterprise, I knew that the Croatian pendence war, present. The sentence standing so much for Croatia". CPresident Tomislav Nikolic's motorcade sev- army and police liberated the country was watched live also in several other Stipe Mesic, Croatia's former eral times. in an honorouble way" cities, including Zadar, where Gotovina President, said ther verdict was wel- A Skoda Fabia with no licence plates tried to cut He added that he is "happy that was army commander for several come but should not be politicised. into President Nikolic’s motorcade several times on everyone now can say that Croatian lib- years. "The politicization of the decisions Wednesday afternoon, the Serbian Interior Ministry eration was without a stain. As Judge Theodor Meron read out made by the ICTY Appeals Chamber confirmed. "Croatia is free" he concluded. the sentence, the mood in the crowd would not serve Croatia or Croatian The incident took place in Yuri Gagarin Street in Along with Gotovina and Markac's changed rapidly from one of fear to image in Europe and in the world," he New Belgrade around 6 pm local time, the Ministry photos on a big screen a sign read cheer. When Meron announced the said. said. "Thank God, welcome home". acquittal, loud celebrations erupted. "Verdicts to individuals, whoever The police are searching for the driver, the The government has sent an official Last night, thousands of Croats they were and whatever they were, Ministry added. Officials at the Serbian Presidency plane to bring Gotovina and Markac responded to appeals to attend church were never judgments on Croatian sol- have not commented on the incident. back to Croatia on Friday. They landed services and pray for the release of the diers, the Croatian people and the According to the Belgrade-based daily newspaper in Zagreb around 4pm. two generals. Croatian state, as was once claimed. Blic, the Skoda driver tried four or five times to cut Branko, a 60 year old Croat told "We always knew that 'Operation "Today's decision should not be an through the motorcade, after which the cars in the Balkan Insight that "today is the most Storm' wasn't a joint criminal enter- obstacle to a much needed facing the motorcade tried to make the driver stop, but he beautiful day as justice has prevailed prise. There were crimes, but Gotovina truth about the past and learning les- escaped. and light has shined on Croatia". Ana, and Markac weren't guilty for them," sons from the past. It's about time for Earlier this month, on the Belgrade-Nis highway, a 49 year old from Vukovar was also Croatian President Ivo Josipovic Croatia to move forward." an official jeep of the Interior Ministry got too close emotional saying she lived to see this declared soon after. Serbian officials have slated the rul- to the President's motorcade, contrary to regulations. day arrive. Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic ing as shocking and scandalous, saying The investigation on this case is still ongoing. "After seven years of torture in the made a similar statement. "Gotovina it only confirmed the Hague's political Hague now the entire world knows that and Markac are obviously innocent, agenda. Albania Arrests CEZ Staff as but that doesn't mean that the [inde- Power Row Escalates

lbanian police on Friday detained nearly 20 employees of the Czech power company CEZ, Croatian Ex-PM Sanader Aafter they cut off power to water utility com- panies, in an escalating dispute over unpaid elec- tricity. Five detained employees remained behind bars Jailed for Ten Years on Saturday and the Ministry of the Interior has announced that it will bring charges against them. Ivo Sanader has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for taking bribes from two Police acted after CEZ Shperndarje, the local sub- foreign companies. sidiary of CEZ in Albania, cut the power to water companies in several cities, a move the government claims is illegal. Hungarian oil company MOL, in order state-owned companies and manipulat- “We will not allow CEZ to act like a vigilante, and to give MOL a dominant position in the ing public tenders. will stop all attempts to cut off the power to water Bojana Barlovac Croatian oil company, INA. The 59-year-old, who served as prime utility companies,” the Minister of Interior, Flamur BIRN Zagreb MOL was a shareholder in INA, but minister from 2003 to 2009, is the high- Noka, said. Sanader was accused of giving MOL est ranking former official in Croatia CEZ Albania’s director, Miroslav Macek, said the more authority in the company than its to be tried for graft. arrests of its employees were illegal and they had Zagreb court on Tuesday sen- shareholding should have allowed. Croatia has been under pressure every right to cut off electricity to clients who tenced Ivo Sanader to three-and- The two indictments were consoli- from the European Union to take a refused to pay for it. Aa-half years in prison in the dated in November 2011, soon after the tough line with corruption, and “The police have detained our employees arbi- "Hypo Alpe Adria Bank" case and for trial for the Hypo bank case started in Brussels has followed the case closely. seven years in the "MOL-INA" case. He trarily and illegally,” said Macek. “We will file crim- October 2011. The country is in line to join the EU in was also ordered to pay a fine of 5 mil- inal charges against the police for illegal imprison- The trial lasted for a year, and about June 2013. lion euro. ment and improper intervention in the electricity 30 witnesses testified in the court. Both the defendant and prosecutors "You were found guilty of both distribution system,” he added. In the closing arguments last week, have the right to appeal, in which case offences for which you were charged," CEZ bought Albania’s largest utility company in the prosecution asked for the maxi- the Supreme Court will deliver a final the presiding judge Ivan Turudic said, 2009 for 102 million, promising fresh investments mum sentence of 15 years, while the verdict. reading the verdict. and a drive to cut losses and stem theft in the grid. defence sought Sanader's release. Sanader was elected premier in 2003 Sanader was charged with taking CEZ Shperndarje is a member of CEZ Group, a One more trial against Sanader is and 2007, and left office without expla- half a million euro in bribes from multinational corporation that is among the ten ongoing. Another indictment has nation in 2009. He was arrested in Austria's Hypo bank in 1994 in order to largest energy companies in Europe, both in terms meanwhile been filed against him for December 2010 in Austria on an inter- allow the bank to enter the Croatian of installed capacity and number of customers. allegedly creating a slush fund for his national arrest warrant and was extra- financial market. The company and the government have been party, the Croatian Democratic Union, dited to Croatia in July 2011. He was also charged with taking 10 locked in a struggle over debts, which threatens to HDZ, by skimming off profits from million euro in bribes from the bring Albania’s power sector to a collapse. 10 Nov 23 - Dec 6, 2012 neighbourhood Tapping Scandal Highlights Serbian The mystery of who ordered the tapping of the Deputy PM and President’s phone records highlights broken police chain of command.

By Gordana Andric

leksandar Vucic, the man in charge of Serbia’s police Aand military secret servic- es, claims he had been tapped, but does not know the identity of the culprit. Answers may come at the end of November, he says, when “everything will become clear”. Vucic, police officials, observers and reporters have all presented possible scenarios about the phone tapping scandal. One relates to Vucic’s high-pro- file battle against corruption, another to bids to cause a rift between him and his party’s Socialist coalition partners, and a third to struggles for the position to head Serbia’s police. Vucic, Defence Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and a senior figure in the governing Serbian Progressive Party, is also secretary of Serbia’s National Security Council. This means that all relevant information from the Security Information Agency, BIA, the Military Security Agency, the Military Intelligence Service and Aleksandar Vucic, right, is in charge of Serbia’s police and military secret Service and says his phones were tapped. Ministry of Interior lands on his vacy of Serbian citizens, which The four laws that currently reg- His conversation was not lis- rate investigations on who desk. only comes to light when a senior ulate this area must be amended tened into, he said, but somebody accessed Vucic’s and Nikolic’s Experts say that the case high- public figure is targeted. so that phone listings can only be within the police had entered the data. As the probes are continu- lights how a poor legislative Rodoljub Sabic, Commissioner requested on the basis of a court mobile network operator, ing, no findings have yet been pub- framework and broken chain in for Information of Public Interest, order, he adds. Telekom, and obtained informa- lished. police command can affect the pri- warns that in just one year, in a tion about his received and dialled The trail behind the tapping country of around seven million Different scenarios: calls, call lengths and movements. and request, signed by someone citizens, the police and BIA Serbia’s Interior Minister and from the police, which might marketing entered the systems of Serbia’s Vucic told the daily Vecernje Prime Minister, Ivica Dacic, and reveal who gave the original order, four mobile network operators a Novosti on November 1 that a the Director of Police, Milorad has not yet been found. million times to seek phone group within the Interior Veljovic, both stated they knew Vucic himself suggested that records. Ministry had tapped his phone nothing about it and pledged to his fight against corruption had According to him, this is deeply and that of President Tomislav investigate. irritated various tycoons who alarming and a violation of the Nikolic. Police, the Prosecutor’s Office might be behind the affair. constitution. and BIA have since launched sepa- Since Vucic assumed his post, Photographers from the The touring exhibition of LED PANELS photo-essays "SEE New for RENT Perspectives“made by the Balkan photographers has Organising a concert? Holding opened at the Artget an event? Need a high-tech Gallery in Belgrade. background for a conference? BIRN is offering 13 LED flexible panels, size 2m x 1m, 192 x 96 pixels, for rent for such occa- By Nemanja Cabric sions. Including box controller, can be used outdoors, moving images. he exhibition, which was opened last Saturday night, Minimum viewing distance: 8 Tdisplays some 20 photo meters. essays made by 15 photographers, Photography from Ferdi Limani (above and right) was featured in the exhibition., For more information on the topic of 'New Perspectives'. between Albanians and Serbs and development of photographers, as new colleagues from other coun- call +381 38 22 44 98 Each photo essay is accompa- nied by a large poster, and a book- the depiction of student life in well as to bring up a discussion tries, as well as too promote their let containing descriptions and the Bulgaria. about important social issues in carriers internationally. remaining photos from the story. The exhibition is a part of a the Balkans. Marko Risovic said that he is master class organized by World The photographers agree that satisfied with the exhibition and Y The essays feature wide range of subjects including the Balkan Press Photo and the Robert Bosh being involved in the project the project as it contributes to the M kitchens, the Albanian heavy Stiftung foundation with an aim to helped them to go deeper in the power of photography to shed a C metal fans, arranged marriages contribute to the professional stories they are working on, meet light on certain problems, and K neighbourhood Nov 23 - Dec 6, 2012 11 ‘Police Chaos’ he has focused on 24 problematic cooperates in corruption investi- lion occasions from June 2011 to privatisation deals. gations. June 2012. | Photo by Media A police official who preferred Centre Belgrade to remain anonymous told BIRN Missing links in command According to data gathered by that the aim of tapping was not to chain: Rodoljub Sabic, the Commissioner trace Vucic’s calls or movements. for Information of Public Interest, The likely aim was to disrupt and Sasa Jankovic, the Security analysts say that as the the corruption probes by under- Ombudsman, from June 2011 to police cannot establish who tapped mining Vucic’s trust in the police June 2012 the police and BIA Vucic’s phone records - or find out with whom he needs to cooperate accessed the system of just one of who might have given such an on these cases. Serbia’s four mobile phone opera- order – it shows the chain of com- “Behind this are tycoons with tors no less than 270,000 times. mand in the police and Interior police connections and an interest The three other operators do not Ministry does not function. in stopping what we are doing,” track when and who accessed their According to the Law on the source said. systems. Policing, adopted in 2005, all On the other hand, Ivica Dacic, But Sabic said the police and departments of the police are the Socialist Party leader and BIA have probably requested directly responsible to the police Prime Minister, believes Vucic phone listings on a million occa- director who must inform the Aleksandar Vucic says his phone was tapped four times in 2012. Photo by Beta was given the information on the sions in the year to June 2012. Interior Minister of their work. tapping to create political turmoil. In practice, BIA has online “The case has shown the chaos others the police director or BIA and why the police access phone “Someone tried to play the card access to mobile network opera- in the police and Interior Ministry sign requests themselves, or records,” he added. of government disunity to make tors’ databases and can access - that in practice there is no com- empower somebody else in the “The fact that the police direc- Vucic and me fight, but it won’t be them without informing the opera- mand mechanism,” Orhan Dragas, forces to do that. tor and other people from the possible,” Dacic told the public tor of its actions. Through BIA’s head of the Institute for Security, Sources told BIRN that SBPOK, police can decide on tapping, broadcaster RTS on November online systems, police enjoy the an NGO, said. the Organised Crime Unit, is instead of a court, is against the 13th. same access. A BIRN source in the police says sometimes entitled to do so, constitution,” Sabic concluded. Others suspect the tapping of People with the right to use the that some police departments com- whereas on others UKP, In May, Sabic and Jankovic Vucic’s phone was the result of a system have passwords. Although municate directly with Minister Department for Criminal Police, asked the Constitutional Court to power struggle within the police there should be a paper trail about Dacic, instead of with the police or the Department for IT Crime, declare unconstitutional those whose new director will soon be who ordered a tapping, Vucic’s director. may do so. Sources say that the list legal articles that allow this prac- appointed. case shows this is not always so. “We have some departments is not exhaustive. tice. According to this scenario, the While a court order is required that are professional and follow Mobile network operators In future they say that tapping goal was to undermine Vucic ‘s to listen to a phone conversation, procedures, while others are led by meanwhile also give clients’ phone records should only be per- trust in the current director, phone records containing infor- people who obey their political phone records to courts and prose- mitted on a court order that Milorad Veljovic , who is planning mation on received and dialled superiors, the interests of tycoons cutors. explains why the person is being to apply again for the position. calls, call lengths and the location or friendly ties,” the source said. In the course of a year, opera- tapped. Veljovic’s mandate expired of the person at the time of a call, Daniel Sunter, Director of the tors responded to more than 4,500 In April, the Constitutional about a year ago and the Interior are easier to retrieve, obtaining Euro-Atlantic Initiative, says there requests from courts and prosecu- Court ruled that similar articles Ministry is about to open a call for this data does not count as wire- appears to be a power vacuum tors, although more than half of that allowed the Military Security a new director. tapping. within the police. requests did not say on what legal Agency, VBA, and Military After his appointment in 2006 by Based on the Law on Policing, “Veljovic’s mandate has expired basis the records were being Intelligence Agency, VOA, to the then Democratic Party of BIA and the police can thus obtain and Veljovic and Dacic have never requested, as the law requires. access phone records on the Serbia-led government, he later such records without court order. cooperated well,” he noted. “The fact that three of four orders of their own directors are became close to the Democratic It was only after the news of the “Now you also have a new play- mobile network operators are not unconstitutional. Party, which governed Serbia tapping of high state officials was er, Aleksandar Vucic. It seems monitoring when police or BIA These two agencies must now from 2008 to 2012. published that Vucic said the laws unclear who is in charge of what entered their systems, and the fact seek a court order if they wish to Veljovic has never been close to on who can tap phone records, why and who has the last word,” he that they give phone records to obtain phone records. Dacic, who told RTS on November and for how long, needed to added. courts and prosecutors without “The best solution would be to 13th that the police directorate change. knowing the legal grounds for constitute one body that controls under Veljovic had not been Confusing laws: Currently, it is still not clear those requests shows they are not who has access to phone records - informing him of police opera- who in the police and BIA is enti- respecting the law but the author- like a national council that keeps tions, although it was obliged to. tled to request records. Rodoljub Sabic estimates the ity of institutions,” Rodoljub an indelible track on who took the Meanwhile, Veljovic is one of In some cases the police and BIA police and BIA have probably Sabic told BIRN. records, when and why,” Sabic those with whom Vucic closely act on prosecutors’ orders but in requested phone listings on a mil- “There is no control on when said. region Exhibit in Belgrade

hopes that projects like this Breka concluded that the exhi- would help photography as well bitions unique design, made by as culture in general to gain back artist Jeroen de Vries from the the influence it once had in the Netherlands, as well as interac- Balkan countries. tive features such as the chat box “Today, photography is not and the website, helps to establish viewed as an art form, or as some- understanding and a broader dis- one’s expression, but only as cussion on the issues presented. something colourful that simply The managing director of exists,“ said Pancic. World Press Photo, Michiel points towards the ways of solving The director of Robert Bosh Munneke, said that the project them. Stiftung foundation, Sandra helped photographers not only to “Our mission is to contribute to Breka, said that that the exhibi- improve technical skills, but also changes and to transmit messages, tion aims to find new perspectives to enhance their visual story- ideas or stories to other people,“ by examining the “the view of the telling. Risovic said. other“ in the region. “We consider the project that Jetmir Idrizi said that this proj- “If you look what we have we launched with the Robert Bosh ect gave him a respite from daily today, for example, media cover- Stiftung as a part of our Academy. newspaper journalism and age of the Hague decisions, we We are happy to be able to setup allowed him to focus on one par- see how present the past is and this programme, as it enables ticular problem. how everything goes back to what photographers to really learn“, “It was helpful because I had have happened several years ago. he said. more opportunity to play with my There are good reasons for it, but The exhibition was already dis- subject, to do it my own way, and the understanding between coun- played in Sarajevo last month, also get professional advice,“ tries is also important, as well as and after December 14, when it Idrizi explained. that people know how other peo- closes in Belgrade, it will be Nemanja Pancic added that he ple live,“ Breka explained. shown in Zagreb and Berlin. Eugenia Maximova, of Bulgaria. 12 Nov 23 - Dec 6, 2012 neighbourhood Macedonia’s ‘Indiana Jones’ Scorns Pasko Kuzman, Macedonia’s excavator in chief, says he is not putting down his shovel until he finds the tomb of Alexander the Great – even if it takes him till he is 99. until he is 99. “I love watches, they are my “There is no force in this world hobby,” he declares. that will make me stop working “I don’t wear them to measure after retirement,” he told time conventionally in 24 hours as By Sase Dimovski Prishtina Insight. others do… they are time “Pasko Kuzman will work until machines, vessels that help me he is 99, and afterwards we shall travel through time. Definitely not asko Kuzman, who is expect- see. Pasko can be retired only by in minutes, but in centuries.” ed to retire soon as head of Pasko,” he said in Ohrid, his home Seen often at public events Pthe Cultural Heritage town, where he has conducted his standing next to Prime Minister Protection Office, says he will major researches. Nikola Gruevski, and presiding never stop searching for the tomb Kuzman’s name is closely linked over the main institution in of Alexander the Great, which he with the extensive excavations in charge of cultural heritage, many is convinced lies somewhere in this ancient town, dominated by a see him as the mastermind behind southeast Macedonia. medieval fortress, as well as with the grand revamp of the capital Many in Macedonia compare the reconstruction of the prehis- called “Skopje 2014”. this restless, adventurous and toric settlement in the Bay of Kuzman is a member of eccentric-looking archeologist to Bones, on the nearby Ohrid Lake. Gruevski’s VMRO-DPMNE party. Indiana Jones. Sitting in a café near St Sofia, a Drawing inspiration from Recently, he vowed to give no medieval church that is more than Classical Antiquity, and intended more interviews until the govern- a thousand years old, he says he to give the neglected capital a ment decides whether to retire was always captivated by the city’s more monumental appearance, the him this year or extend his term beauty. Skopje 2014 project envisages the Pasko Kuzman is a celebrity in Macedonia. until 2014. But he broke his "vow of Beside his long almost white construction of numerous tall silence" for Prishtina Insight. hair, one of the most striking bronze and marble monuments “It is true that I was on all the served comes from Ancient Kuzman says that even if he things about him are four wrist and some 20 buildings. committees, selecting the monu- Macedonia”, Kuzman says. does leave the Cultural Heritage watches that he wears on both Statues of Alexander the Great, ments, suggesting historical fig- “Even the Prime Minister asked Office, he will not rest at least hands. of his father and mother, Philip ures from that time and insisting me once, ‘Did we go over the top and Olympia, as well as of the on [the construction of ] the Muses with the Ancient characters and medieval Tzar Samoil are among and Dionysius in Skopje,” Kuzman neglect the Slavic ones?’” he the focal points of this massive concedes. recalls. undertaking. He strongly defends one of the “I replied by asking him to name “No, they exaggerate! I am not most disputed aspects of the proj- me one character from that time the mastermind!” Kuzman ect, placing characters from and we would include it. But there exclaims, adding that the man Classical antiquity under the spot- aren’t any. We only have St pulling the strings behind Skopje light. Clement and we already have a 2014 is Prime Minister Gruevski. “We did not skip the Middle university in Ohrid named after “This man has amazing ideas Ages, but there were simply no him.” and visions that fitted into our Macedonian characters from that Kuzman says the wax figures ideas, and so the project started. time,” he notes. being prepared for the new archeo- But Gruevski was the one initiat- “Macedonia was under the five- logical museum in Skopje will try ing the building of these monu- century-long rule of the Turks… to add some balance in that ments,” he says. so, everything that we’ve pre- respect. The museum, adorned by Lavish Party Donations Raise Curious pattern of donations to the Democratic Party – many from poorly paid civil servants - raises fresh questions about party financing.

All had donated about €5,000, a large sum for poorly paid Serbs on monthly average earnings of €350. By Aleksandar Djordjevic While the pattern of payments raises sus- picions that the party is channelling funds from unverified sources into its accounts uestions about party financing are via city hall employees and low-ranking being raised in Serbia after a surpris- party officials, the donors interviewed by Qingly large number of individuals BIRN denied being used in this way. gave the country’s former ruling party What actually happened will be hard to almost exactly the same amount of money find out, however, because no state body is on the same day. obliged to investigate the origin of this Ninety individuals donated more than money. €5,000 to the Democratic Party, DS, this year. Since last year, when Serbia adopted a The party still runs the city of Belgrade. Law on Financing Political Activities, all The party’s financial report shows that on parties in Serbia are obliged to release regu- October 17, seven people donated about lar reports on receipts of donations. €5,000, two paid exactly €5,370, and three oth- By law an individual may donate to all ers donated €5,373. High-ranking party officials, with the with a 1993 Subaru as his only asset. political parties in one year a maximum of Seven days later, another seven people exception of Bozidar Đelic who donated “It is meaningless to ask anyone about 20 average monthly salaries, that is, €6,760. from Belgrade donated sums from €5,050 to €5,000, donated less than junior public ser- private matters. That [donation] was my The Democrats’ financial report shows €5,720. vants, BIRN found out. personal decision,” he said. that throughout this year the party obtained This pattern was repeated throughout the Dragan Sutanovac, former minister of “No one advised me how much to give, it financial support from some 30 business- year. On July 20, 11 donors gave between defence and DS outgoing vice-president gift- was my decision,” Bastac said in a tele- men and over a thousand individuals worth €4,870 to €5,220, for example. ed the party €320, Oliver Dulic gave €450 and phone statement to BIRN. a total of €1.6 million. BIRN contacted 15 donors, all modestly Bojan Pajtic €390. Marko Nikolic, a Democrat councillor in This contrasted with other parties that paid employees of Belgrade public compa- At the same time, Marko Bastac, a 28-year- Vracar municipality, who told BIRN that he had just a few individuals providing dona- nies and agencies under the control of the old Democrat municipal councillor in had recently graduated, gave €5,370. tions. Democrats. Eight responded to BIRN’s ques- Belgrade, donated about €5,000. “I wanted to do something for Serbia’s Of 89 donors in Serbia who gave the tions about the donations while seven He declared to the Anti-Corruption well-being in any possible way that I can,” Democrats €4,400 to €6,760 from January till refused contact. Agency that his monthly income was €756 Nikolic said. November, all but two were from Belgrade. neighbourhood Nov 23 - Dec 6, 2012 13 Retiring at 65

Classical columns, is due to open “We opt for the second theory, next year. that there is a grave in Egypt, but The figures will range from that Alexander is not there, Philip of Macedonia to the because on the request of his medieval King Marko and the first mother, Olympia, the sarcophagi Slavic princes, he says. were replaced and one coffin was One of the things that put sent to Egypt, while the other trav- Kuzman on the covers of the world eled to Macedonia, where press was his controversial deci- Alexander is buried. sion to place a set of valuable “He was buried with all the hon- Ancient sculptures excavated ours, but in a secret location in across Macedonia out in the open southeast Macedonia at a ceme- at the entrance to the Macedonian tery which still exists”, Kuzman government building. continues, comparing the mystery Despite objections, mainly from of his grave with the mystery of Greece, which saw the move as the lost kingdom of Atlantis. provocation, the 15 statues found “I'm always behind him, closely in Stibera, Stobi and Heraklea following his footsteps! My pas- excavation sites are still there. sion since my student days is to “We wanted to present our cul- find his grave. I am convinced that tural heritage in the Government day will come,” he insists. [HQ], inside and outside, so that Kuzman is proud of the excava- distinguished visitors to the coun- tions he led in and around his try who don’t have time to go to home town of Ohrid. Kuzman says he won’t retire until he finds the tomb of Alexander the Great. museums can see these things,” he The discovery in 2002 of an recalls. ancient golden burial mask and a Macedonia opened a museum on Great. ing on a vast scientific tome that “Initially, we wanted to place the golden burial glove near Ohrid, water. “The forts will be fully explored covers the whole of Macedonian sculptures inside the building but believed to date from the 5th or 6th The museum in Lake Ohrid on and preserved and lit up to attract history from the Stone Age until after talking to the architect, he century BC, made Kuzman a local which Kuzman worked lies on the the attention of night drivers the present time. said they were too heavy to go celebrity. southern coast of the Gradiste along the highway,” he explains. Still secretive about this work, inside,” Kuzman adds. However, he is disappointed that peninsula in the Bay of Bones “The plan includes Skopje which he says may attract hostile With possible retirement from the extensive excavations at Tsar where a stilt-house settlement, or fortress, Kozhle fortress on the views from neighbouring coun- office looming, Kuzman says he Samuil’s fortress on the hill above pile-dwelling, dating from between Skopje-Veles stretch, Stobi, tries, he says that it will soon be will not give up his dream of find- the old part of the town did not 1,200 and 700 BC has been recon- Antigona, Demir Kapija, Isar published in three volumes, each ing the tomb of Alexander the reveal much about the life of this structed. Marvinci and Vardar Hill, which containing some 2,600 pages. Great, who he is convinced is king. Now he is engaged on another is located near Valandovo and Finally, Kuzman has a very buried in present-day Macedonia. Kuzman says the golden arti- ambitious project, to explore, Gevgelija. important key, which opens the Recently he told the media that facts along with a rare bronze reconstruct and prepare all the “We will rebuild the walls of the archeological depot in his home he was close to making this grand krater used for mixing wine and main archeological sites and fortresses. These are buildings town. It is full of unearthed valu- discovery. water from Ohrid will be the star fortresses situated near from the Ancient and medieval ables. “There are two theories: accord- attractions in the new archeologi- Macedonia’s main highway lead- period and the plan is to finalize But with his retirement ing to the first his tomb is in cal museum in Skopje. They will ing to Greece in the south and to them by 2020.” approaching, he is faced with a Egypt, but a mosque was built be “our biggest surprise”, Kuzman Serbia in the north. Kuzman announces one more dilemma: with whom should he above the tomb so no one dared dig maintains. The highway, part of the pan- major archeological project. entrust safekeeping of the key? He under the mosque and reveal the In 2008, another of Kuzman’s European corridor 10, was recent- Under his leadership, a team of says the government will decide tomb. dreams came true when ly named after Alexander the experts in various fields is work- his successor. Hackles in Serbia

Asked to comment on the origin be legally challenged. The Anti- need to be investigated if there are of his gift, he said: “No one gave Corruption Agency, the govern- signs that persons other than the me money for the donation, this ment body tasked with implement- listed donors are giving money to was my money.” ing the Law on Financing Political parties. The head of the city’s day care Activities, explains that donors “Elements arousing suspicion agency for developmentally chal- working in public companies and are payments made on the same lenged children, Mirjana Bilbija, institutions are free to give to par- day and in similar amounts. This who donated €4,900, also said the ties. should certainly be subject to an donation was her private affair. The law does not oblige the investigation,” he said. “It’s my personal business. I can Agency to check the origin of the Democratic Party representa- give money to whoever I want and money that individuals or legal tives say it is not their duty to as much as I want and that’s none entities donate to political entities, know who is helping them, or of your business,” she said. a written response to BIRN said. investigate the origin of the dona- “I love the Democratic Party and Djordje Vukovic, an author of tions. Bait for parties I would give everything for them,” the Law on Financing Political “Whoever gives money is wel- Bilbija added. Activities, from the Centre for Djordje Vukovic, from CeSID, says the upper limit on donations come. The one thing important to Daniel Hadnadjev, programmer Free Elections and Democracy, was raised to 20 average monthly salaries so that political parties us is that the amount is within the at the city-run Water Supply and CeSID, an NGO, said if there are would feel more motivated to report all donations. allowed limits and that no one Sewerage company, who donated any indications of irregularities “This was ‘bait’ for the parties to put their money into legal chan- asks us for favours in return for €5,100, gave a similar response. concerning donations to political nels,” he said. the money,” the party secretary, “I’ve been a party member for parties, the Anti-Corruption “If the limit was five average salaries the parties would not Tamara Trpic, said. ten years… they needed help and I Agency could order the Tax report all their donations,” Vukovic added. helped,” Hadnadjev said. Administration to investigate. The party says that it only runs So far the Democrats are the only ones to have swallowed the so- The donation was his alone and Experts doubted this step would checks on private companies want- called bait. Their report for 2012 listed over a thousand donations, no one had used him, or instructed be taken as the Agency has never ing to support them. while the Serbian Progressive Party listed only one. him when or how much money to before checked the validity of par- “The Democratic Party is not an After the Democrats, United Regions of Serbia, URS, has the donate, he added. ties’ financial reports or the origin investigative body. We have 197,000 highest number of listed individual donations, almost 900, but the € Milan Cerovac, a business secre- of donations. members; do you think it’s possi- total value of these payments was only 191,000. € tary with Belgrade City Council, Some experts say that the body, ble to check them all?” Trpic The average donation to URS is 215 while for the Democrats it is € until a few months ago a coordina- whose members the government asked. 1,570. tor for the Stari Grad Youth Office, selects, is politically dependant “The public has been informed The website of the Socialist Party of Serbia, SPS, contains a list € who donated €5,100, also said the and reluctant to act. and everything is in line with the of 23 names who donated a total of 53,867 over the year. Y Over the past nine months 43 donors gave the Liberal Democratic gift “was my private decision to Transparency International law. Unlike the other parties, at M Party, LDP, a total of €200,000. help the party”. Programme Director Nemanja least we release information on all C These statements are unlikely to Nenadic says all circumstances our donations,” she concluded. K 14 Nov 23 - Dec 6, 2012 culture Bekim Fehmiu ‘Ended Life as He Lived it’ The widow of the Yugoslav-Albanian acting legend recalls her late husband’s film successes, love of tango, pride in his roots – and, finally, the resolve with which he took his own life.

pened when Fehmiu was making the 1970 Serbia to avoid military service as war American film “The Adventurers”. broke out in the former Yugoslavia. “The filming stopped and Bekim told Petric-Fehmiu says it was a difficult By Jeton Musliu them that he wouldn’t change his name, time for her husband. “He had great faith and if they didn’t like it, they could change in humanity, and at that moment, that the actor. In the end, they gave in.” faith started crumbling down.” Feeling powerless, Fehmiu decided that ressed tastefully like a stage actress Passion for tango: the best way to make a statement was by from a bygone era, Branka Petric- not saying anything at all. DFehmiu arrives at Belgrade’s While Fehmiu was an actor by profession, “Only when he left this world did peo- Zvezdara Theatre in a coat, scarf and Petric-Fehmiu says tango was his private ple understand the meaning of his cream-coloured hat. passion. silence.” It’s a small but prestigious theatre. Petric- “He danced tango very well,” she says, Bekim Fehmiu in his heyday. Fehmiu has acted here often, the last time in adding that her late husband turned down 2011. She still acts, but not as much as she offers to pursue dancing in Argentina pro- used to. Now 74, she the same age as her late fessionally. “He taught me, too. We celebrat- husband, Bekim Fehmiu, was when he took ed success and joy by dancing together.” his life in 2010. At home, she says, life was normal. “But Fehmiu was an acting legend both in there is no word that can describe life after Yugoslavia and abroad, appearing in more him. I don’t even want to find those words.” than 40 films. He starred in the 1967 film “I Petric-Fehmiu, wrinkles her face as she Even Met Happy Gypsies,” known as reflects on families who maintain that their “Skupljaci Perja” in Yugoslavia, which domestic life is only “good, good, good.” chronicled the lives in Roma living in the “Our life was like a ship that cruises with Vojvodina province of Serbia and which sails but sometimes needs oars. Sometimes won the jury prize at the Cannes film festi- it appeared to be sinking but we always val. managed to get to port, and there it would be “This movie opened doors around the fixed to sail again”. world,” Petric-Fehmiu recalls. “When he There was always an anchor: “That was returned from Cannes, he was received like the love that Bekim had.” a hero. All of Yugoslavia was happy about the success of the movie.” Fehmiu was 31 at Devoted to family: the time and married Petric-Fehmiu a year later. Fehmiu was something of a sex symbol. In an obituary, the British Daily Telegraph noted his “youthful conquests and acquaintances with the likes of Brigitte Branka Petric-Fehmiu says her late husband was a family man. Bardot and Ava Gardner.” But Fehmiu was devoted to his family, especially his mother, his widow recalls. “He would see her whenever possible,” she says. “I’m just sorry that I never managed to learn Albanian … [but] each time I’d go [to his mother’s house], everyone would speak Serbian.” Today, Branka Petric-Fehmiu lives with her youngest son, Hedon. The eldest, Uliks, is an actor in the US. “I am blessed to have two children,” Proud of his identity: Petric-Fehmiu says. “Bekim wanted 12, but I said we should be happy with two. “Radiance and Sadness,” the second part Maybe I feel a bit sorry we didn’t have a of Fehmiu’s autobiography, published in third.” October, reveals that the acting legend received various offers to join political par- ‘He ended his life as he lived it’: ties, but Petric-Fehmiu says politics never interested her husband. In July 2010, Fehmiu ended his life by “He did not want it [politics]. He wanted shooting himself with a revolver. to be totally free,” she says. “He didn’t want According to his will, the ashes were to belong to anyone.” thrown into the river in Prizren, in On screen, Fehmiu played roles in a vari- Kosovo, the town where he spent much of ety of places and languages, but never in his childhood after his birth in Sarajevo. Albanian. But Petric-Fehmiu says Fehmiu “He ended his life the way he lived it,” wasn’t suppressing his identity. Petric-Fehmiu says. “He was determined Fehmiu and his wife, Branka Petric-Fehmiu, out and about in Belgrade. “This shouldn’t be seen as contempt,” and never in doubt.” she says of his non-appearance in That same resolve led him earlier to Albanian-language films. “He absolutely abandon the theatre in 1987. He was per- was an Albanian. But you are forgetting forming “Madame Kolontine” at the time that we were in Yugoslavia at that time. He in Belgrade when he left the show. From belonged to everyone. that moment he never appeared in the “When we started to see who was what, theatre. what happened, happened,” Petric-Fehmiu “He threw down the anchor and that says, referring to the disintegration of was it. Finished,” Petric-Fehmiu says. “At Yugoslavia. the time, in the 1980s, all the anti- Far from scorning his origins, when a Albanian propaganda was starting [in number of people in the film industry Serbia under Slobodan Milosevic]. He asked Fehmiu to change his name, he Y abandoned the theatre and, in the 1990s, refused. M his international movie career, too.” “They asked him three times but he did- C The couple sent their children out of K n’t accept,” she says, recalling what hap- In his later years, Fehmiu spends time with his sons, Uliks and Hedon. international Nov 23 - Dec 6, 2012 15 From Russia With PR Several opinion columns praising Russia and published in the last two years on CNBC’s web site and the Huffington Post were written by seemingly inde- pendent professionals but were placed on behalf of the Russian government by its public-relations firm, Ketchum.

Russia, often criticized for human rights abuses and corruption, paid handsomely for By Justin Elliott the public-relations work. From mid-2006 to mid-2012, Ketchum received almost $23 mil- lion in fees and expenses on the Russia account and an additional $17 million on the he columns, written by two business- account of Gazprom, the Russian state-con- men, a lawyer, and an academic, heap trolled energy giant, according to foreign Tpraise on the Russian government for agent filings. A PR firm hired by the Kremlin pitched pro-Russia op-eds to US websites. its “ambitious modernization strategy” and Op-ed editors interviewed by ProPublica “enforcement of laws designed to better pro- said they work to include full disclosure of rel- ProPublica he could not recall Ketchum’s role up "a blog on the editor’s site for a member of tect business and reduce corruption.” One evant financial interests or conflicts — or in the piece. the Russian government." The company did of the CNBC opinion pieces, authored by an decline to run pieces that read like advertori- A September 2010 Huffington Post piece, not provide that correspondence. executive at a Moscow-based investment al. titled “President Medvedev's Project Of Huffington Post spokesman Rhoades bank, concludes that “Russia may well be Modernization,” by Pabst, the University of Alderson said the site has a policy requiring the most dynamic place on the continent.” “People write op-eds because they have Kent academic. While acknowledging human bloggers to disclose any financial conflicts of There’s nothing unusual about Ketchum’s agendas. Separating out what’s an ethical rights and corruption problems, the thrust of interest related to the issue they are writing work on behalf of Russia. Public relations agenda from an unethical agenda is really Pabst’s op-ed was praise for Medvedev’s about, but Pabst did not violate the policy. firms constantly peddle op-eds on behalf of tough,” says Sue Horton, op-ed editor of the “transformational vision for Russia's domes- “The job of our blog editors is to make sure politicians, corporations, and governments. Los Angeles Times. tic politics and foreign policy.” Pabst told all of our posts add value for our readers,” Rarely if ever do publications disclose the role ProPublica he was contacted by a Ketchum Alderson said in a statement. “Part of that is of a PR firm in placing an op-ed, so it’s unusu- Horton said the role of the Russian govern- subcontractor, Portland Communications, making judgment calls about the transparen- al to get a glimpse behind the scenes and see ment’s public-relations firm in placing the and that he was not paid to write the piece. cy of each blogger's motive, even in cases how an op-ed was generated. CNBC and Huffington Post op-eds "absolutely The piece, as well as another he wrote for a when there is no technical violation of the dis- What readers of the CNBC and Huffington seems like something the reader would want web site run by Ketchum, “reflect my own closure policy. A submission by a PR firm rais- Post pieces did not know — but Justice to know.” ideas and arguments,” he said in an email. es flags but is not automatically disqualified if Department foreign agent registration filings The op-eds placed by Ketchum for Russia, A January 2012 CNBC piece by Laura the blog adds value and is in keeping with our by Ketchum show — is that the columns were according to the filings, are: Brank, the head of the Russia practice for the guidelines.” placed by the public-relations firm working A March 2010 CNBC piece by Peter international law firm Dechert. Brank Placement of op-eds is a standard part of on a contract with the Russian government to, Gerendasi, then managing partner of praised the Russian government for working the influence game, but it’s rare for readers among other things, promote the country “as PricewaterhouseCoopers Russia, that praises to overcome the perception of an inhospitable ever to find out who is behind the curtain. a place favorable for foreign investments.” the government of then-President Dmitry investment climate “through the implementa- In 2011, top public-relations firm Burson- In at least one case, a Ketchum subcontrac- Medvedev for its “strategic priorities [of] tion and enforcement of laws designed to bet- Marsteller came under criticism after it asked tor reached out to a writer and offered to place diversification, innovation, promoting small ter protect business and reduce corruption.” a blogger to author an op-ed criticizing his columns in media outlets. The writer, business, supporting families and strengthen- Brank did not respond to requests for com- Google’s privacy standards. Burson was work- Adrian Pabst, a lecturer in politics at the ing the country's financial system so that it ment. ing on a contract for Facebook at the time. University of Kent, said that his views were can provide the investment capital that will While Ketchum maintains it always identi- Public-relations firms have also been his own and that he was not influenced or paid enable business to grow and people to realize fies its client when dealing with the media, the known to write op-eds and have them placed by Ketchum. their potential.” Gerendasi declined to com- 2010 email sent by Ketchum to Huffington under the byline of a third party, and even to A spokesman for CNBC, which published ment on the piece and Post pitching the Pabst column did not men- pay experts to write favorable op-eds. There’s the pieces on the Guest Blog section of its PricewaterhouseCoopers said it did not pay tion that Russia was the firm’s client. (See the no evidence Ketchum paid any of the authors website, declined to comment. A Huffington Ketchum to place the piece and declined to full email.) of the Russia op-eds or that it ghost-wrote Post spokesman said the column placed by comment further. “Below is a piece from Adrian Pabst, a lead- them. Ketchum did not violate the site’s policy. An April 2010 CNBC piece by Kingsmill ing Russia scholar in Europe,” wrote then- Update: This post has been updated with Ketchum spokeswoman Jackie Burton told Bond, then chief strategist at the Moscow Ketchum Vice President Matt Stearns, who is more detail on Ketchum's correspondence with ProPublica that when the firm corresponds investment bank Troika Dialog, that ran now at UnitedHealth Group. Huffington Post. with experts or the media on behalf of Russia, under the headline “Russia—Europe's Bright Ketchum says that Stearns had in previous This story is published courtesy of The “consistent with Ketchum’s policies and Light of Growth.” It called Russia possibly correspondence identified Russia as his client ProPublica http://www.propublica.org under industry standards, we clearly state that we “the most dynamic place on the continent” for to the Huffington Post editor, including to set Creative Commons license. represent the Russian Federation.” investors. Bond, now at Citigroup, told Photo News: Fragile Truce in Gaza

An Israeli soldier stands on top of a military vehicle as the sun rises in a stag- ing area near the Israel- Gaza border. As of Thursday, a fragile truce between Israel and Hamas appeared to be holding. It ended a week-long conflict that left more than 120 Palestinians and five Israelis dead. Diplomatic efforts by Egypt and the US led to the ceasefire, which appears to have averted a full-scale ground invasion by Israeli forces into Gaza. Y M (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) C K 16 Nov 23 - Dec 6, 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 Podujevo 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 Nov 23 - Dec 6, 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 Nov 23 - Dec 6, 2012 timeout

National Theatre National Theatre 8pm Saturday, 24 “Hotel November “Lisistrata” Transylvania” by Aristophanes, directed by Elmaze Nura In Kino ABC will be screened the premiere of 8pm Monday, 26 Mustachers & CO IBRAHIM KODRA EXHIBITION - the “Hotel Transylvania November FANTASTIC ALBANIA 3D” Ethno-musical show Public Event by Team Mosovo Curated by Rubens Shima Every day at 2pm and from Ulcinji 4pm. At the Cuban, on Monday 26 8pm Saturday, 27 November The film tells a story of November Dracula, the owner of “Lisistrata” What about showing our mustaches, Hotel Transylvania, where by Aristophanes, directed and raising some more funds! the world's monsters can take a rest from human civ- by Elmaze Nura What about for a night of funk dilly ilization. Dracula invites some of the most famous 8pm Wednesday, 28 music! monsters, including Frankenstein's monster, November Mummy, a Werewolf family, and the Invisible Man, “Twelfth night” to celebrate the 118th birthday of his daughter William Shakespeare, Mavis. When the hotel is unexpectedly visited by an ordinary 21-year-old traveler named Jonathan, directed by Ilir Bokshi Dracula must protect Mavis from falling in love with 8pm Thursday, 29 him before it is too late. November Ballet “The flight toward Released on September 28, 2012, the film was met the light” with mixed critical reception, while the general pop- cerography by Silvia The Kosova National Gallery and the ulation received it very favorably. Despite mixed Tomova Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport of the reviews, Hotel Transylvania set a new record for the Republic of Kosovo cordially invite you to highest-grossing September opening weekend, earn- the opening of the exhibition Ibrahim 8pm Friday, 30 ing a total of $283 million on a budget of $85 million. Kodra Shqipëria Fantastike on Tuesday November 20th November. The opening ceremony will “The house in auction” take place at the Kosova Art Gallery at “TAKEN 2″ by Fadil Hysaj 19:00h. What about raising some prostate every day at 6pm 8pm Saturday, 01 The exhibition will mark the 100th cancer awareness! Bryan Mills is the retired Anniversary of the Independence of December And because prostate cancer will CIA agent with a “particu- Albania and is being organized in collabo- “The house in auction” affect 1 in 6 men in Kosovo without dis- lar set of skills” who ration between the National Gallery of Arts by Fadil Hysaj crimination, The Cuban will also be stopped at nothing to save in Albania, “Ibrahim Kodra” Foundation supporting TEAM MOSOVO's efforts to his daughter Kim from kid- (Italy), the private collector Mr. Kozma raise awareness among all communi- nappers. When the father of Dashi, along with the kind support of pri- ties Kosovo-wide about prostate cancer one of the villains Bryan vate collectors. killed swears revenge, and Prishtina Diary and other men's health issues. takes Bryan and his wife Prishtina Diary hostage in Istanbul, Bryan BASSOUND - Andrea Mi (It),Larssen (it), Roots Raid enlists Kim to help them (Al), Dagg X Base (Ks) escape. Bryan then employs Filikaqa karaoke night his unique tactics to get his family to safety and sys- every Friday at 9:00pm 11pm Saturday, 24 November tematically take out the kidnappers, one by one. until 1:00am This night emerges from the great desire to organize a DUB/DUBSTEP night accordingly. A Hall and a Sound “SKYFALL” De Po club System, is this which constitutes primarily the atmosphere every day at 8pm and Friday – Hip Hop night of a DUB Dance since 1960s. Through its musical selection 10:30pm Hippopotamus with DJ this night will offer a unique perspective of the evolution of BASS MUSIC. Jungle Daniel Craig is back as At the Controls: ANDREA MI (It), a DJ and one of the lan Fleming’s James Bond most noticeable journalists in Italy that covers this genre Saturday – Tech House 007 in Skyfall, the 23rd and LARSSEN (It) a producer and DJ part of Nasty FM UK, Toforoff from Skopje adventure in the longest- Pocket Panther Recs and "Puglia Sounds". Supported by running film franchise of ROOTS RAID (Al) and DAGG X BASE (Ks). all time. In Skyfall, Bond’s Hamam Jazz Club loyalty to M is tested as her Friday, 23 November Pre-Event at Dit' e Nat' : Multimedial presentation from ANDREA MI on the evolution past comes back to haunt FRIDAY BLUES NIGHT of Dub Music. (English Language) her. As MI6 comes under Crossroad Blues band attack, 007 must track The whole event happens through the irreplaceable support of Dit' e Nat' Entrance: 2 Euro down and destroy the threat, no matter how person- Saturday, 24 November al the cost. GROOVE RELATION Bossa Nova, Latin jazz, “The Last Station” Halfway he meets a young girl called 8pm, Every Thursday, Drama Shpresa who reminds him of Behare and Funk “SPARKLE” finally gets part of Burim’s life. The author Every day at 10.30pm Written by: Lirak Çelaj of this play is inspired from the novel Paddy O’Brien’s Irish Directed by: Lirak Çelaj & Florent “Birds fly on their own” by Ibrahim Pub – Mehmeti Kadriu. Sparkle is an American Live Sport - GAA, Music by: Labinot Sponca musical film directed by Costumes: Rudina Xhaferi It was a play Salim Akil and produced by Rugby, American Football The cast: Besnik Krapi, Liridona Shehu, 8pm, Every Friday and more. All Football - Stage 6 Films, It was Ilire Çelaj, Adrian Morina, Eshref released on August 17, 2012 Champions League, Durmishi, Kushtrim Sheremeti The play is based on the drama by Almir by TriStar Pictures. Premiership, La Liga, The story is situated in the year 2015. Imshireviq. Director: Agon Myftari. Inspired by The Supremes, Serie A. Nowadays and past problems are carried in During the war time, on bus number 4 in Sparkle is a remake of the Every Thursday at the year of 2015. Burim is the main charac- Prishtina, near Hotel Union there was a 26 1976 film of the same name, 7.30pm there is organized ter who is looking for the truth, for his fam- year-old guy wearing jeans and a black T- which centered on three Quiz Night. ily and his fiancé, which are still missing shirt…Sniper bullet breaks the window singing teenage sisters since the war of KLA ended. After many and shot the youngster in the neck. a lady For more information: from Harlem who form a girl group in the late 1950s. attempts he finds out that his neighbour is who was next to him, stars to scream. The remake takes place in Detroit, Michigan in the 038 221 070 & 038 221 077 still alive and that he knows more about his When she sees the blood in her shirt she 1960s during the Motown era. or write at family. Burim can’t live in the present; he is faints. Y [email protected] always going back to the past, in the mem- Starring: Rebeka Qena, Adrian Morina, m ories of his family and Behare, his fiancé. Armend Ismajli, Besnik Krapi. M For any further questions or reservations call at 038 243 C 238 or visit them at www.kinoabc.com K For more information call +381 (0)38 246 555 or write [email protected] inside kosovo Nov 23 - Dec 6, 2012 19 Kosovo Town In Hot Water Over Old Bazaar Plans to replace Gjakova’s iconic cobblestones have drawn ire among locals and have prompted ministerial interventiuon.

which dates back to the Ottoman Not Change History.” era and forms the historic heart of In addition to opposing the the town. removal of the cobblestones, they By Njomza Salihi The local assembly approved the called on the municipal assembly to restoration plan more than 30 years discuss the issue publicly. ago, in June 1982. “We accept restoration, but not This called for “restoration, changing history,” Arber Fetiu, an hen 75-year-old Hamez reconstruction, construction, and organiser of the Facebook cam- Zhubi saw workers follow-up maintenance” to keep the paign, said. Wreplacing cobblestones bazaar in “its original historical- with tiles on the main street of architectural form.” Other plans for cobbles: Gjakova’s Old Bazaar in early The project was never finished. November, he asked them to stop. Few took notice when the munici- Leonora Rraci, head of urban “You should not be working here,” pality re-started work October. But planning for Gjakova, told he recalls telling them. that changed once workers started Prishtina Insight that the munici- The work has now been halted removing the cobblestones on pality is keeping the cobblestones on orders from Kosovo’s Culture Ismail Qemajli Street. safe and has plans for them. Gjakova residents weren’t happy to see cobbles replaced. Minister, Memli Krasniqi, who Dozens of residents came out to “We will use them to restore the declared the Old Bazaar part of a protest against the removal of the secondary roads of the Old Bazaar, The municipality maintains that mitted a detailed project proposal to “list of heritage sites under tem- cobblestones and their replacement which are not included in this proj- it informed the Ministry of Culture the Commission for Conservation porary protection.” by tiles. ect,” Rraci said. about the work planned for the Old and Restoration, he added. The municipality has not since In 1960, the Yugoslav-era authori- But Sali Shohi, head of the foun- Bazaar by submitting two project obtained approval from the min- ties removed the cobbles on the dation Cultural Heritage Without templates at the end of 2011. Town hall overstepped the istry to continue the project. same road but replaced them with Borders, said the cobblestones But Ministry spokesman However, a kilometer-long mark: new cobblestones. should be restored to their old site. Shkelzen Dragaj says the ministry stretch of cobblestone is still gone, never received exact plans. The new tiles, residents say, rep- “If the cobblestones haven’t dis- Municipal officials admit that replaced by tiles. A government “We have received a detailed proj- resent an aesthetic departure from appeared, they can be brought back they didn’t give sufficient notice commission will decide if the cob- ect, what it concretely foresaw, and, tradition. to their previous place,” he said. about the restoration. blestones will be restored. as we have said, no approval was “We should protect our identity, “What is more than 50 years old Rraci, head of urban planning, given, as the law requires,” Dragaj we should preserve the Old Bazaar is authentic and mustn’t be said “We should accept that, based Restoration or told Prishtina Insight. of Gjakova,” Ali Haraqia, head of touched without the permission of on the Law for Cultural Heritage, “The procedure requires that any destruction? the Association of Artisans of those responsible.” the project needed approval from project that includes interventions Gjakova, said. the Ministry of Culture. in buildings or heritage sites The work was part of a 500,000- Meanwhile, young people in Official suspended: “We didn’t do this, but with any should pass through the euro drive by the authorities in Gjakova started a Facebook group specific motive,” he added. Commission for Conservation and Gjakova to restore the Old Bazaar, entitled “Restore the Old Bazaar, Do In the aftermath of controversy, Rraci said the project’s inten- Restoration, which then submits its Minister Memli Krasniqi has sus- tion was preserve the town’s cul- recommendations.” pended the head of the Regional tural heritage, not destroy it. Article 14 of Kosovo’s 2006 Law Centre of Cultural Heritage in Ylber Vokshi, one of the archi- on Cultural Heritage states that Gjakova, Osman Gojani, for three tects involved in the 1982 project “any intervention that impacts on months. to restore the Old Bazaar, said the the entirety or values of cultural The ministry suspended him for new project represented a discon- heritage requires written permis- “serious violations of official nect with the history of Gjakova. sion by the competent institution”. duties, lack of respect for the law of “We must be aware that the loss Gjakova Mayor Pal Lekaj has the Cultural heritage of Kosovo and of our urban identity is inter- assured Minister Kasniqi that the neglecting work”. twined with elements of histori- municipality respects its decision, Prishtina Insight contacted cal heritage, which our actions Dragaj said. Gojani about his suspension but can easily destroy,” Vokshi The municipality has since sub- said he could not comment. warned. Fresco Flirts With Greatness was assertive and the goat cheese was whipped to cushion its tartness. My only quibble was that a few very hard seeds By Gravlax remained in the quince slices. Other dishes I tried in my two visits took this compositional approach to highlight a limited number of ingredients. The salmon on’t be fooled by its resemblance to a filet (11.50 euro) arrived as a trio, with the lighting shop. Despite having more fish — succulent and flavorful — appearing Dchandeliers and lamps than seats, alongside a sweet potato puree and tempura- Fresco is a restaurant. And it’s the most fried zucchini. The sweet potato puree stood promising fine-dining establishment to out, as warm and creamy, topped with a cool grace Prishtina in at least two years. compote of avocado and chimichurri. It was Fresco just opened last week on Fehmi A perfect salmon filet at Fresco. a perfect exercise in contrast in both flavor Agani Street. Any review of such a new and temperature. fruity. light fixtures and abundance of mirrors, restaurant needs to carry a caveat: New Contrast also came through in the pump- Hopefully, it was just a one-time oversight. places tend to still be working out kinks or suggests ostentatiousness, the menu is kin soup (2.20 euro) with the addition to And hopefully the kitchen doesn’t make the have yet to develop bad habits. With that grounded in elegant simplicity. If the Fresco toasted pumpkin seeds, which added wel- same mistake with the steak tartare (12 said, Fresco appears to be doing all the right come crunch and nuttiness. works out its kinks, it could very well things even if the execution isn’t perfect. euro), which I’m very excited about trying. The only serious disappointment came become the premier destination for fine din- The food is simple, elegant and ingredi- My dining companion’s panko-crusted fried with the roasted lamb au jus (9.50 euro). The ing in Prishtina. ent-forward. The menu, printed on a single chicken (6.50 euro) came out perfectly. Light coil of meat was tough — apparently over- sheet of paper, largely sticks to stating the and crunchy on the outside and juicy on the cooked. It was offset by the sauce, which composition dishes such as, “Roasted inside, served alongside creamed green added a potent burst of flavor from the quince + goat cheese + rukola.” beans. Fresco lamb’s own juice. If only the meat had been That starter (3.50 euro) arrived as Fresco isn’t flawless, nor should it be cooked just right, to leave it tender and Fehmi Agani Street described. Each ingredient was in top-notch expected at this point. But the kitchen has a flaky. This dish could have been truly spec- (next to Friends bar) form, unified by a light vinaigrette. The clear understanding that food needn’t be tacular, especially washed down with the quince was sweet and succulent, the rukola complicated to be brilliant or delicious. 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. house red wine (3 euro), which was bold and While the interior design, with its excessive 20 Nov 23 - Dec 6, 2012 opinion Ecosovo Outside In Green Cooking: A An Albanian Celebration Kosovar Solution Shkodra’s cells. live through everything which was being Further up north, a grandfather is looted, humiliated and even killed in standing by the Prizren Fortress enjoy- front of him by the most chauvinist and ing the freshness of the Lumbardhi bloodshed-causing regime and state in By Kreshnik Hoxha River. He gets flashbacks of those the history of postmodern Europe. By Elizabeth Gowing moments when the statues of the His age has started to crumble his Albanian renaissance leaders were physical fitness, but his memory t would not be unfair to claim that being thrown into the river by the remains intact enough to remember the with the unfolding of the new centu- Serbian regime of Milosevic back in resistance in Kosovo during 1990s. The ome aspiring chefs dream of an AGA cooker, Iry, a new and definitely more positive 1999. He very vividly remembers the celebrations for the 100th anniversary multiple gas burners or a Hibachi grill, but my era started for the Albanian nation in humiliation he felt when seeing the stat- have yet another meaning for this grand- Skitchen fantasies currently involve a tupan. You the Balkans. The previous century chal- ues of Ymer Prizreni and Sami Frasheri father. He is also celebrating the virtues may not think you know what I’m talking about, but lenged this nation on several occasions desecrated and demolished. A wave of of his nation, which were the only tools these efficient ovens are a common sight for sale in and many times it brought us at the Kosovo, and you have probably seen them stacked up in verge of collective extinction. Today, in anxiety overtakes him when he remem- that enabled our survival at a time when the market or in homeware shops. the wake of the 100th anniversary of bers his arrest and imprisonment by the our collective extinction seemed like the Tupan just means drum, which is the shape of the Albania’s independence we find our- gendarmerie of Aleksandar Rankovic end scenario. oven, just big enough to fit one of the large round tepsi selves in a different and much better situ- because he was simply listening to Radio For the likes of the Sarandian grand- trays which are used for most traditional Kosovar cook- ation. It is therefore a convenient time to Tirana on a transistor. mother, the Prizrenian grandfather and ing – for making pogace bread, for fli and for pite, the leave aside our differences and disagree- If someone had told him 13 years ago all of us that are witnessing these cele- huge round cornbreads, and pies like lecenik, as well as ments and to nationally reflect back and that him and his family will be celebrat- bratory periods, days such as November desserts such as tespishte and baklava. But of course celebrate with wisdom and pride. ing Albania’s 100th anniversary of state- 28 and February 17 represent important you can put anything you like in the tepsi – jacket pota- Those who resisted the passing decades hood in an independent Kosovo, he turning points. The gravity of these two toes, vegetables for roasting, sponge cakes and pud- and lived through lots of regimes are would have probably laughed from the days is irrevocable and their value will dings. The reason why you might choose to use this probably the best ones to undertake the absurdity of this claim back in those certainly not depreciate with time. The brilliant Kosovar traditional kitchen item for any kind process of reflecting back in time. times. It would have been an absurd regimes, presidents, prime ministers of baking is because of its wonderful efficiency: the Though they are tired from the struggles claim not only because Kosovo’s inde- and ministers come and go. Their politi- space that is heated is little more than the space taken they faced during their lifetime, it is pre- pendence seemed like a dream, but also cal work could bring benefits or prob- up by the tepsi and your food, so you are not wasting cisely them — our wrinkled and shriv- because all of us had lost those little lems to both Albania and Kosovo. valuable electricity to heat a gaping oven only for the elled grandfathers and grandmothers — traces of belief and hope that we would However, no force, neither internal nor sake of one dish. Anyone who’s loved the retro class of who can guide us through the past. actually be alive for the 100th anniver- external, cannot undo or shadow our the Czech Remoska pots will get the idea and its appeal Every single wrinkle of theirs unfolds a sary of Albania. ability to keep the chin up and stand immediately. certain memory or event that remained As he is being mesmerised by the view ahead of threats. And the outlay for these neatly portable tupans is with them forever. of Prizren, this old Kosovar grandfather November 28 and February 17 are two reasonable, too – a few tens of euros, depending on size A noble grandmother from the rural remembers the injustice Albanians important days that served justice for a and make and where you buy it. areas of Saranda remembers the old faced as a nation. Lots of memories cross belittled nation in Europe. It is therefore My newly conceived passion for the tupan has led me days when the ingredients constituting his mind and they are related to the the best time to nationally reflect on the into conversations on other ways to cook with less elec- her family’s daily meal were only plain harassment and suffering caused by the challenges that brought us to this 100th tricity. I haven’t yet used a straw box, but these original bread and water. Even to this date she Serbian police, the sacking from public anniversary. However, this should be sector jobs, exterminations and humilia- done without provoking others, by crockpots are the mark of the truly green chef – a way still feels the soreness of the dictatorial tions. He cannot avoid remembering the reminding them of the cruelty they of slow-cooking casseroles, chilis, rice, soups and por- regime of Enver Hoxha. However, so cohabitation with poverty which had caused, but without repeating this cruel- ridge. By heating the ingredients at the beginning and many years on, today on the 100th become his routine for a while. All these ty to them in revenge. then leaving them overnight or during the course of a anniversary of independence, she is memories undoubtedly cause him to Celebrating with wisdom and pride day away from the heat source but in an extremely well- standing by the dinner table with her tremble and wonder how is it possible for would be the best honour that we as a insulated box, the food can cook with only a fraction of children and grandchildren raising a a nation to be forcefully stripped out of nation can give to ourselves and to the the heat needed for conventional cooking. The reduc- drink for the sake of this important day. She cannot hide her desire of wanting to its dignity to this level. 100th anniversary of the guarantee that tion in heat is a reduction of fuel used (and bills paid). have her husband present in the dinner, He, however, shakes off his tremble by the Albanian nation strongly deserves The Teflon-coated version of these is the slow cooker but she quickly tries to shake off the bit- recalling the solidarity, resistance and its place in Europe. and although it doesn’t have the farmyard chic of a ter memories of her husband’s life patience. These were his only remaining So, hajde, let’s raise a drink for our- haybox, the slow cooker has a similar effect on the envi- imprisonment and subsequent death in unwavering sources that enabled him to selves! Urime! ronment. And even if you don’t invest in either bit of kitchen equipment, slow cooking techniques can save your (our) fuel. Dishes like rice pudding can be made much more efficiently by heating the rice and milk and “Isn’t it a paradox if the Privatisation Agency is privatised?!?” then leaving with no source of heat, than by simmering for hours as some traditional recipes require. Interested in cooking greener but finding all of this too technical? Don’t want to make a haybox or buy a Remoska, a tupan or a slow cooker? Well, for goodness’ sake then just remember to put the lid on the pan while you’re boiling. That goes a long way to reducing the electricity needed for cooking. There are funky foods available to those interested in experimenting with ‘retained heat cooking’ but not up for buying or making new equipment. A friend recent- ly told me about ‘thermos flask cake’ which uses the same principle as a haybox. And a British austerity wartime recipe (echoing an Orthodox Jewish recipe I’d read, which was designed to remove the need for any- thing that could be classified as work on the Sabbath) suggests making ‘one-pot’ meals where the vapour from water in which vegetables are boiled is used to steam a muslin-wrapped sponge pudding suspended in the same pot. If any reader can actually make that work (and not produce a chocolate sponge with a strange tang of the carrots over which it swung while it was cooking) then please invite me over. In exchange, once I’ve become the proud owner of that shiny tupan, I’ll bake you a low-carbon tepsi meal of something local and delicious.

Elizabeth Gowing is a founder of The Ideas Partnership, a Kosovan NGO working on educational, cultural and environmental projects. She is also the author of the recently published, “Travels in Blood and Y Honey; becoming a beekeeper in Kosovo” and “The M Little Book of Honey,” both available for delivery in C Prishtina by ringing 044 151180. She can be reached on K [email protected] opinion Nov 23 - Dec 6, 2012 21 The Fallacy of “Post-American Europe” The Thessaloniki declaration of a from European policymaking and twice, once only few weeks ago at decade ago was supposed to build direct influence. If Europe cannot the twilight of her tenure at the tracks for the Southeastern agree on basic foreign policy issues State Department. Our own European countries for more inte- within its geographic coverage President Jahjaga met President By Vlora Citaku gration and more cooperation with such as recognition of Republic of Obama three times in less than two the context of Copenhagen crite- Kosovo, or the war in Georgia, or years. State Department officials rias of good neighborly relations. the name issue of Macedonia, then are an essential part of all Editor’s note: A version of this The political landscape in US is how will EU ever be an actor in attempts in this corner of the text was originally delivered as a also changing. In 1989, I was only 8 major foreign policy issues? If world to create a sustainable and speech during the Germia HIll for- years old when Kosovars hosted there is a lack of unified voice, how long-term framework for peace and eign policy conference in Prishtina Tom Lantos, a Democrat and the will EU voice be heard in America economic development. in November. only Holocaust survivor serving in and how can America respond to Precisely because Europe failed Congress, and Senator Bob Dole, such a voice if there is no unified to find a common voice on many of here have been numerous who later became a Republican stance? the issues I have mentioned — statements, analyses and contender for US presidency. From Kosovo to Iraq and from Kosovo being closest to me — US Tposition papers written Nowadays there’s continuity of Arab spring to Caucuses, not a sin- involvement has been key to push- about the so-called American pivot the dedication to Balkans among gle policy issue in Europe received ing some of the most important to Asia and US reset of relations members of the older administra- a consensual backing of all mem- steps in reconciliation and with Russia, which were supposed tions who have institutional mem- ber states. In which case US picks progress in Balkans. My under- to have taken place in the last two ory, but there is a question of how and chooses the partners from standing is that US realizes that years. much of Balkans the new politi- Europe to implement joint agen- job is not finished in Balkans, that In a way, these are natural prior- cians know? The Tea Party move- das. progress is not irreversible and ities for US. Asia is quickly out- ment in US has a very ideological Now to tell you the truth, I am that powers of darkness and con- pacing everyone else in economic agenda, and sometimes the reality not sold on any of these three flict may still be reignited if we growth and the future of global sta- in Balkans is seen in the prism of points. There are numerous rea- don’t follow up carefully in our bility involves China as an indis- religious debate, which is com- sons to believe that the core of US pledge to build normal and good Citaku: US still a major player in pensable new economic and politi- pletely foreign to us here. We know policy in the region is the same neighborly relations between all Southeast Europe. cal pole. Russia’s assertive power that in Balkans, religion was not since the end of Second World War. states in Balkans. in energy sector and its immediate the cause of the war but a conse- The US believes that Euro-Atlantic Hence, I say that for the foresee- despite the Nobel Prize for neighborhood also require its quence of the ethnic divisions. integration is the best way to over- able future there is no Post- President Obama, that it can fully inclusion in global debates as well Some Democrats, too, are asking come old grievances and to build a American Europe. Instead, I dare resolve the principal foreign policy as decisionmaking. for US to be detached from all the sustainable and progressive say that if the crisis in Europe is issues in a coherent and unified In this scenario, Southeast nation-building that it has started Europe that will be a strong and prolonged, if enlargement fatigue manner. Until that moment comes, Europe is too small and too close to around the globe and to dedicate credible partner in global affairs. becomes a permanent feeling that Europe and America will always the EU in order to grab the atten- more resources inward to help the In terms of attention, Southeast disable us to obtain free travel and need each other for making sure tion of US. Experts and so-called US economy. Europe still receives a dispropor- more integration with Brussels, if that the weakest links in the chain experts have been proclaiming for Some analysts also claim that tionate amount of attention from dark scenarios of status-quo and remain strong and do not snap years now the departure of US pol- problems related to Euro crisis, US policymakers and diplomats. nationalism prevail, then there under the pressure of the difficult icy-makers from the region. The Greece debts and other points of US Vice President Joe Biden visit- will be plenty of issues in which times that we are all going EU is supposed to take reign of contention have made Europe an ed Balkans immediately after his US involvement becomes essential. through. developments from Zagreb to unreliable partner and have election in 2008. Secretary of State The EU still has not managed to Vlora Citaku is Kosovo’s minis- Athens and everything in between. caused the US to distance itself Hillary Clinton visited the region convince the rest of the world, ter for European integration. General Poses Dilemma for Croatian Courts Once the euphoria surrounding the Gotovina-Markac verdicts fades, the justice system will still have to address the question of war crimes committed in 1995. in Croatia, and could only meas- mitted during and after Oluja itself in the last thing he needed chance: to radicalise the public if ure up to such a hypothetical event must not remain a tragedy without was possible unrest, had the out- the verdict was a conviction, or as Croatia winning the World Cup. an epilogue.” come in The Hague been differ- put Gotovina forward as their By Drago Hedl But when the euphoria settles However, will Croatian politics – ent. For his Social Democratic icon if he and Markac were down, Croatia faces a new prob- despite the announcements from Party and the centre-left coali- released. But since the right, lem. Now that Gotovina and highest positions – have the will do tion he heads, the release of gen- without support from the HDZ, Markac are found not guilty, the this, and the Croatian judiciary erals is a great plus. He himself can do little by itself, it won’t nte Gotovina and Mladen Croatian judiciary will have to the strength? The lack of political admitted that hearing the ver- gain much political advantage Markac, the two generals answer a part of the question that will and the lack of readiness by dict, he felt a great sense of from generals being at liberty. Athat the Hague Tribunal the Hague Tribunal raised in the the Croatian judiciary to deal with relief. While still in the Hague’s cus- acquitted of charges of war explanation of the acquittal: the war crimes, according to many, The main opposition Croatian crimes in Operation “Oluja” tody, General Gotovina on several victims of Oluja existed, and were brought Gotovina to The Hague in Democratic Union, HDZ, howev- [“Storm”] in 1995, have now offi- occasions, via his lawyers, asked not that few. the first place. er, will find it hard to profit from cially become what the majority of that his name not be used for The President, Ivo Josipovic, When, in the late 1990s, Hague the acquittal. It is the party that Croatian citizens claimed they political purposes, especially not were anyway: heroes, not crimi- said so himself, noting that the investigators wanted to interro- was in power at a time when those mentioned when protests Croatian state has the responsibil- gate Gotovina, the highest officials Gotovina – with help from the nals. and possible unrest were being ity to take care of all the victims of in the state did not allow him to Croatian secret services – was News of the release of two gen- announced. He was consistent in war, but also punish each and answer them. The then president, arrested in the Canary Islands in erals created euphoria all across that request. It is likely, now he is every crime. “The Croatian state is Franjo Tudjman, probably fearing early December 2005 and trans- Croatia, primarily because of free, that he won’t become active not responsible for crimes commit- he could be charged by the Hague ferred to The Hague. their release, but also because of politically but will merely enjoy ted by individuals, but it is respon- court himself, did not allow him to The current president of the the explanation of the verdict. his status as a national hero, sible for punishing each perpetra- contact the investigators. Had they HDZ, Tomislav Karamarko, at the The fact that the court explained which is no longer hindered by tor, regardless of who that may acted differently and allowed time was head of those secret in the verdict that there was no be,” Josipovic said. Gotovina to reveal what he knew, services. One of the founders of anything since the Hague acquit- joint criminal enterprise, that Prime Minister Milanovic said he might not have been indicted in the party and the man who held tal. there was no planned expulsion of something similar, talking of what the first place. the highest party and state posi- When it comes to relations in the Serbian population, or exces- Croatia faced now. “They Thus the return of the generals tions for 20 years, Vladimir Seks, the region, the acquittal of sive shelling of Knin, additionally [Gotovina and Markac] are obvi- to Croatia will have interesting authored the slogan “Locate, Gotovina and Markac (and earli- heightened that euphoria. ously innocent, but that does not political implications both in identify, capture, transfer”, er, Cermak), judging by the fierce Tens of thousands of delighted mean that the war was not bloody domestic and foreign policy. which heralded Gotovina’s arrest reactions from Belgrade, could people gathered on the main and that no mistakes were made,” When it comes to internal and transfer to the Hague over slow the establishment of better square in Zagreb, as in other he said. affairs, everyone will try to five years ago. That is why the political relations for some time. cities, and the Prime Minister, “When it comes to what it did extract the maximum political HDZ will not profit at all from Since the departure of Boris Zoran Milanovic, sent two minis- wrong, Croatia will settle its benefit from it. It is certainly a General Gotovina’s release. Tadic as President of Serbia they ters, of defence and veterans, on a debts,” he promised. The non-gov- prize that Prime Minister High hopes of profiting politi- were already on a downward government plane to The Hague to ernment organisation, Milanovic did not hope for. cally from the verdict were cher- path. We should hope that it is a bring the two generals home. Documenta, said immediately In the dramatic economic cir- ished by the ultra-right: days temporary trend, because Such euphoria is unprecedented after the verdict: “The crimes com- cumstances the country found before the verdict they saw their Belgrade, too, knows that the If you would like your NGO to appear in our Making a Difference feature, please email [email protected] 22 Nov 23 - Dec 6, 2012 Life in Focus

Pride in a flag Cities around Kosovo are decorating streets with the Albanian flag on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Albania’s independence on November 28. While the day lost its designation as an official holiday in 2007, most people in Kosovo hold the occasion dear. Prishtina’s streets are already adorned with the flags. In Vushtrri, the municipality has ordered all shops and houses to display the flag or face a fine. (Photos by Agron Haliti)

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