Opinion: Kosovo Lies and Dacic’s Good Cop/Bad Cop Routine

March 15 - 28, 2013 Issue No. 107 www.prishtinainsight.com Price € 1 NEWS Suspicious Kosovo’s Spy Bonus Agency Put on Prompts Crime Beat Investigation > page 3 NEWS in Prizren Dispute Over On January 23, the Ben-Af Judges Delays supermarket chain won a North Kosovo Deal contract for 43,600 euro > page 4 to supply members and NEWS staff of the assembly in Macedonia Mass Prizren with a New Year’s Murder Suspects gift: 100 euro worth of Still in Kosovo groceries. > page 6 See Page 2 NEIGHBOURHOOD Remembering Kosovo Mulls Power and Djindjic With Love But No Optimism Phone Concessions in North > page 11 Chief negotiator says government supports having a Serb company administer power bills, and may legalise rogue CULTURE phone operators. Diagnosing Kosovo operating legally in northern make at the EU-led negotiations region, which covers northern By Bardh Shkreli Kosovo. but offered a glimpse of Prishtina’s Kosovo, was not metered - presum- Tahiri was responding to recom- vision for a solution to the restive- ably stolen through illegal connec- mendations from the International ness in northern Kosovo. tions. he Kosovo government sup- Crisis Group in a February report, She suggests willingness exists Residents and businesses in the ports having a local subcon- “Kosovo and Serbia: The Path To also to allow Serbs to keep some Serbian-controlled region largely Ttractor take over electricity Normalization.” form of autonomy under avoid legitimate connections to billing in the Serb-run north, > page 12 where illegal connections to the Part of the report addressed the Prishtina’s overall authority. the grid of the Kosovo Energy power grid are common, electricity and telecommunica- Corporation, KEK. Prishtina’s leading negotiator in tions disputes that have been a Power play: Most of their power comes talks with Belgrade says. major sticking point in ongoing either from illegal connections to Speaking to Prishtina Insight, technical talks between Kosovo The issue of electricity in north- KEK or from EPS, the Serbian Kosovo’s only English-language Deputy Prime Minister Edita and Serbia. ern Kosovo has been particularly state power utility, which operates newspaper is available: Tahiri also expressed willingness Tahiri stopped short of outlin- vexing for the Kosovo authorities. illegally in northern Kosovo. to enable rogue mobile phone ing specific proposals that the gov- In 2011, about 62 per cent of the Delivered to providers from Serbia to begin ernment has made or intends to energy supplied to the Mitrovica continues page 2 Your Door

Fresh Row Hits New Turks Sound Wary Over From Newsstands Passport Contract KEK Upgrades across Kosovo

The selection of new company to take The Kosovo Energy Corporation, KEK, Sent To over production of biometric passports for has signed more than 400,000 euro in con- Your Inbox Kosovo in the wake of an earlier scandal tracts to upgrade its distribution network – has itself come under fire. One of the los- just before it is due to come under the own- ing bidders, Cetis of Slovenia, told ership of a Turkish consortium. From Prishtina Insight on Tuesday that it is The largest contract, totalling 339,158 our partners appealing the 6.6 million ... euro, involves... business page 5 business page 7 see page 16 for more info

is supported by: 2 March 15 - 28, 2013 news Kosovo Mulls Power and Phone Concessions in North from page 1 Contacted by Prishtina Insight, a repre- sentative from Calik Limak declined to com- Tahiri blamed the situation on residents ment about the prospect of an additional who have fallen pray to the “manipulations bill collector. of Serbia”. Echoing the suggestions of the Legalising rogue operators: International Crisis Group, Tahiri said the Kosovo government supports allowing a Meanwhile, Tahiri suggested the govern- subcontractor - presumably Serbian - to ment is open to licensing mobile phone handle electricity billing. providers that now operate illegally in But Tahiri said Kosovo would also Serbian parts of Kosovo. demand that Serbia “stop illegal interven- Tahiri said that mobile phone providers tions in the energy transmission system in could be licensed as mobile virtual network Kosovo and compensate for damages operators – MVNOs. These operate on incurred by the illegal use of transmission mobile phone frequencies belonging to pre- lines in Kosovo and compensations from existing, licensed providers. overloads. Kosovo has two MVNOs, D3 and Z- “On the other hand, this agreement will Mobile, which operate on Kosovo’s two open up possibilities for inter-state collabo- mobile networks, Vala and Ipko. The Kosovo Government supports hiring a separate power bill collector for Northern Kosovo to encourage more ration between Kosovo and Serbia,” Tahiri “It’s possible to license virtual operators Serbs to pay for their electricity from the Kosovo Energy Corporation. (Photo/Petrit Rrahmani) added. if the applicant meets the conditions as It is unclear, however, what the addition of provided by law,” Tahiri said. of Slovenia, Monaco and Serbia. “Accepting the code +3815 as a temporary a subcontractor would mean for the forth- The International Crisis Group report Naim Rashiti, an analyst with the solution would save Kosovo a great deal of coming privatisation of Kosovo’s power also urged Kosovo to accept Serbia’s sug- International Crisis group, said Kosovo money in tariffs that it’s paying to Monaco grid. gestion to adopt the phone country code stands little chance of getting its own code. and Slovenia to use their mobile telephone In May, the Turkish-owned Kosovo Calik +3815, which is Serbia’s country code, plus This is because membership of the codes,” Rashiti said. Limak Energy consortium assumes owner- 5. International Telecommunications Union Tahiri, however, remained firm that ship of KEK’s distribution network and will Kosovo lacks its own country code and is largely contingent on UN membership, Kosovo must have its own separate country start collecting power bills. phone numbers currently use the prefixes which Kosovo has yet to obtain. code, distinct from Serbia’s. Kosovo Serbs Urged to Aid Bombing Probes As Serbia and Kosovo leaders meet the EU High Representative to mull solutions for the Serb-run north of Kosovo, the EU law mission has urged Serbs in the area to cooperate with probes into recent bomb attacks. flict in the late 1990s, the north of Kosovo has been beyond the de facto control of the Kosovo govern- By Prishtina Insight ment, while Serbia has continued to Prizren Municipality gave its employees 100 euro in groceries as a New Year’s gift. finance local security, judicial, health and educational institutions. ernd Borchardt, head of the While Kosovo wants Serbia to EU rule of law mission, dismantle its so-called "parallel" Suspicious Bonus Prompts EULEX, has urged Serbs in B structures in the north, Serbia the Serb-run northern part of insists on broad autonomy being Kosovo to cooperate more closely offered for all Serb-populated areas Investigation in Prizren with EULEX and Kosovo Police in in Kosovo first. finding the perpetrators of recent The seventh meeting of the Regulator says contract to provide municipal leaders and staff with free groceries violat- bomb attacks. prime ministers of Kosovo and ed procurement law. “No police service can be suc- cessful without cooperation and Serbia, taking place within the Procurement Regulatory from the session. the help of the whole of society,” framework of the EU-mediated dia- Commission, said. “No supplying, The next day, on December 28, the Borchardt said. logue, will be on March 20 in work or service can be first done municipality placed a notice, call- He said EU and Kosovo police had Brussels. before [tender] procedures are fol- ing for bidders to supply the gro- By Petrit Kryeziu significantly increased their pres- Dacic and Thaci are expected to lowed.” ceries. Bidding officially closed on ence in the northern part of the flesh out the modalities of disman- Abdullah called the contract a January 7. Ben-Af appears to have town of Mitrovica owing to the fre- tling Serbian-financed "parallel" “serious violation of procurement been the sole bidder. n January 23, the Ben-Af quency of bomb attacks. institutions in the Serb-run north law.” Municipal spokesman Ymer supermarket chain won a “Every night, together with of Kosovo and discuss the future The acting head of Prizren’s pro- Berisha defended the New Year’s Ocontract for 43,600 euro to members of Kosovo police, we operations of an "Association of supply members and staff of the curement office, Alban Susuri, said bonus, saying that “we acted search certain motor vehicles and Serbian Municipalities" in Kosovo, assembly in Prizren with a New he was also surprised that the con- according to decision-making pro- question individuals," he said. which the Kosovo authorities have Year’s gift: 100 euro worth of gro- tract with Ben-Af was apparently cedures”. Since the end of the Kosovo con- agreed to endorse. ceries. put into effect before it was award- Only one of the 41 members of The trouble was that many public ed. the assembly, Kimete Hoxha, voted servants in the city had already He noted that although Ben-Af against the bonus, telling Prishtina taken advantage of the gift weeks wonder the tender, the contract has Insight that the assembly ought to earlier, and had presented their gov- yet to take effect because the munic- have done something to help needy ernment IDs at Ben-Af stores to get ipality doesn’t have the money to families instead. the free groceries. pay for it. Revelations of the legally suspect The Public Procurement Ben-Af ’s legal officer, Besnik contract come as Prizren faces a Regulatory Commission is now Kuqi, said his company won the corruption scandal. investigating the matter, on the contract fairly. “It’s up to the munic- In February, a prosecutor from grounds that this suggests that Ben- ipality of Prizren to give its own the EU rule of law mission, EULEX, Af was the predetermined winner reasoning,” Kuqi said, declining to indicted the mayor, Ramadan Muja, of the contract. comment about the contract. and five other municipal officials Y “What happened with the ten- Although the Prizren Assembly for corruption involving the illegal M der… in Prizren is against all pro- approved the gift on December 27, use of municipal land. C curement standards,” Abdullah Prishtina Insight has been unable Muja has dismissed the allega- K Limani, from the Public to obtain a transcript or minutes tions as politically motivated. Serbs protest in North Mitrovica. (Photo/Petrit Rrahmani) news March 15 - 28, 2013 3 Kosovo Puts Ex-Fighter Limaj Editor’s Word Under House Arrest Spooked

government forces in Kosovo. s capers go, the February 21 robbery of His pre-trial detention was extended by the NLB bank in Prishtina wasn’t imagi- two months in February, but the defence Anative or lucrative. Three men claiming By Edona Peci appealed against the decision, with Limaj to be armed —but not showing any weapons — claiming that the case has been prolonged stole 13,000 euro. The police caught three sus- to prevent him from returning to active pects not long after. politics. The robbery would likely not have left the Prishtina court has released for- The former minister was acquitted of mer Kosovo Liberation Army com- the charges in May last year but the pros- pages of the daily newspapers’ kronike e zeze, or Amander Fatmir Limaj and put him ecution successfully appealed against the black chronicle, had it not been for the identity under house arrest before his trial on war verdict and the case has been sent for a of the employer of one of the suspects: The crimes changes. retrial. Kosovo Intelligence Agency, KIA. Ex-KLA commander Limaj, a lawmaker According to the indictment, Limaj and with Kosovo’s ruling Democratic Party, The KIA’s director, Bashkim Smakaj, told the the other co-defendants, also former KLA will remain under house arrest until the news portal Indeksonline that the suspected rob- fighters, “violated the bodily integrity trial continues in April, the court ruled and health of an unspecified number of ber was merely a security guard, not a secret last Friday. Serb and Albanian civilians and Serb agent. “Mr. Limaj was released five minutes prisoners of war held in a detention cen- Still, it’s never good to have someone working ago and will be under house arrest,” PDK MP Fatmir Limaj will remain under house tre in the village of Klecka”. in a sensitive area of the government allegedly Limaj’s defence lawyer Tome Gashi told arrest until April Prisoners were held in “inhumane con- Prishtina Insight. taking part in a bank robbery. And this case is ditions, which included keeping prison- Tribunal in 2005, Limaj was acquitted of Limaj is one of ten suspects in the high- especially ironic. ers chained, cold and hungry, in unsani- war crimes against Serbs and Albanians profile ‘Klecka’ war crimes case, accused tary conditions, with frequent beatings”, suspected of collaborating with Serbia As Prishtina Insight reports in this edition, of abusing prisoners at a detention camp the indictment said. during the Kosovo war and returned the KIA now has an expanded mandate to help during the late 1990s conflict with Serbian In a previous trial at the Hague home to a hero’s welcome. prevent crime. Among its new tasks is to identi- fy would-be criminals before they commit a crime. Kosovo’s Spy Agency Put on While it would not be fair to take the KIA to task for one bad apple, the robbery underscores the problematic nature of the agency’s new role Crime Beat as a crime fighter. The KIA is a small agency, only operational The government’s crime-prevention strategy has since 2009. Its job is to help safeguard Kosovo’s widened the remit of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency security and national interests by supplying timely intelligence to the government. Given to include crimes ranging from that a section of the national territory in the murder to juvenile delinquency. north is not under government control, it’s safe remarked. to assume that the fledgling spy agency has had “By modern standards, an its hands full. intelligence service deals only While little is known publicly about the KIA’s with gathering, selecting and By Njomza Salihi operations, recent troubling developments sug- processing information and delivering it to the govern- gest that the agency increasingly resembles a ment,” Krasniqi said. secret police force. he Kosovo Intelligence The 2008 Law on the Kosovo The crime prevention mandate is in itself sus- Agency, KIA, set up to Intelligence Agency conceived pect. The Kosovo Police Service has an intelli- Tdeal with matters of of it as a guardian of national gence arm that is designed to operate within the national security, is expanding security and national inter- its remit to cover crime pre- The director of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency, Bashkim Smakaj, right, is bounds of the criminal justice system. So it is ests. keeping mum about his agency’s new crime-prevention duties. vention. While the law envisaged the unclear why Kosovo needs the KIA, which by The KIA will be tasked with KIA providing intelligence on have a spokesperson, an email agency would “allow early design is not part of the criminal justice system, preventing murders, assaults, certain criminal activities, it address or a phone number for access to collected informa- to go out of its way to tackle police matters. traffic offences, illegal gam- left the scope fairly narrow. public inquiries. tion, which, in the majority of bling, loan sharks and even Taken in the context of the proposed wiretap- The law also makes it clear Albulena Haziri, secretary cases, makes possible the pre- juvenile delinquency. ping law, this new development is troubling. If that the KIA is not a police to the director of the KIA, vention of different criminal The National Strategy on approved, the law will make the KIA the centre agency. It cannot arrest peo- Bashkim Smakaj, declined to acts”. Crime Prevention for 2013- ple, use force or initiate crimi- respond to Prishtina Insight The National Crime of all wiretapping operations in Kosovo, be they 2017, which the government nal proceedings. regarding the agency’s new Prevention Strategy appears for criminal investigations or intelligence opera- adopted on January 30, lays “Robbery, thefts, assaults, duties, citing national securi- to mark yet another effort to tions. out the agency’s new responsi- general danger to the public, ty concerns. place law enforcement under bilities. Smakaj, the KIA’s director, reports directly to juvenile delinquency and The Kosovo Police has its KIA auspices. While much remains Prime Minister Hashim Thaci. A small agency other issues are the sole own intelligence operations. A law on wiretapping, pro- unclear about how the KIA’s with a broad intelligence and policing mandate responsibility of police,” A November 2012 EU report posed by Prime Minister new duties will be work in Krasniqi noted. noted that the Kosovo Police Hashim Thaci’s government, seems ripe for manipulation. practice, the crime prevention “The KIA should not deal that year had “achieved a sin- would establish a clearing- Kosovo is no stranger to the dangers of secret strategy suggests that the KIA with discovery of thefts and gle, centralised system of house for electronic surveil- services. SHIK, the former intelligence arm of will in future identify people similar acts. Intelligence serv- gathering, collating, lance within the KIA. who are thought to be at risk Thaci’s Democratic Party of Kosovo, has been ices are obliged to offer that analysing and disseminating This single centre would of committing crimes. linked to dozens of political assassinations. The [criminal] intelligence intelligence data”. administer wiretapping for The new duties mark a secret services under Slobodan Milosevic have through official channels if The Ministry of Internal both intelligence and law departure from what intelli- they encounter information Affairs, which oversees the enforcement needs. This con- their own notorious history here. gence services normally do in that would destabilise law and police, in a written response tradicts EU recommendations While there is no immediate danger of the the rest of the world, Kole order,” he continued to Prishtina Insight about the to separate those functions. KIA turning into SHIK or the State Security Krasniqi, a University of KIA’s role in traditional Parliament has yet to vote on The KIA does not appear to Service, its current trajectory is worrying and Prishtina law professor, police matters, said the the wiretapping law, however. the government should rethink the animal it is creating. Editor-in-Chief: Parim Olluri, Jeton Musliu and Design & Layout: “Rrjeti” While Thaci’s PDK might be itching to have Artan Mustafa Donjeta Demolli. Arben Grajqevci the secret service under its thumb again, it [email protected] might want to think twice about empowering the Editorial Team: Marketing, Sales & Printing: Lindi Printing Center Publisher: BIRN • Balkan Investigative Reporting KIA. The PDK may not be in power forever - and Distribution: Copyright © BIRN Network • Mensa e Studenteve, first floor • 10000, Jeta Xharra, Marcus Tanner, the intelligence service it leaves behind could [email protected] Prishtina • Kosovo • Phone: +381 (0) 38 24 33 58 Nate Tabak, Petrit Collaku, www.prishtinainsight.com come back to haunt it. 4 March 15 - 28, 2013 news Dispute Over Judges Delays North Kosovo Deal Serbian and Kosovo officials have agreed on the executive powers to be ceded to the Serb-run north of Kosovo - but are still at odds over who will appoint judges there.

By Prishtina Insight

he EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, arrived Tin Belgrade from Kosovo on Thursday to try to resolve the future shape of the judicial system in the Serb-run north of Kosovo, Prishtina Insight has learned from an EU diplomat. According to the source, the dis- pute is about who, besides the EU mission EULEX, will appoint judges in the north, the Kosovo Serbs themselves or the Prishtina authorities. The source said that the two sides had already agreed on execu- tive powers for a future "Association of Serbian Municipalities", which will replace the Serbian-financed "par- allel" institutions, and operate under the overall control of Prishtina. The dispute over the north has been ongoing, and the two sides failed to reach a deal on it in Brussels on March 4. Kosovo has demanded that Serbia dismantle its so-called The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, shakes the hand of Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci as President Atifete Jahjaga looks on. "parallel" structures in north, while Serbia wants to see broader mediated talks due on March 20, "I'm convinced we are very "We spoke... about the imple- framework and the constitu- autonomy offered for all Serb- Serbian officials travelled to close, but that now depends on mentation of agreements already tion”. populated areas in Kosovo first. Brussels on Monday to meet with whether people in Prishtina are reached and about the need to The EU-mediated technical Since the end of the Kosovo Ashton. aware that they have to help peo- finalise discussions and reach dialogue between Kosovo and conflict in the late 1990s, the Serbian President Tomislav ple or only their political agreements on open issues, Serbia was launched in March region has been beyond Kosovo's Nikolic said a deal was within careers," Nikolic said on Monday. notably on northern Kosovo," 2011. The aim is to normalize control while Serbia has contin- sight, following talks in Brussels On Thursday, Ashton visited Ashton said after the meeting. relations between the two coun- ued to finance local security, judi- in which Kosovo had "relented" Prihtina where she met the Meanwhile, Jahjaga said on tries, both of which aspire to EU cial, health and educational insti- over the powers to be given to an Kosovo President, Atifete Thursday that Kosovo had shown membership, in the context of tutions. "Association of Serbian Jahjaga, Prime Minister Hashim it was ready to be “constructive Serbia's refusal to recognise Ahead of the next round of EU- Municipalities" in Kosovo. Thaci and opposition leaders. and flexible within its legal Kosovo's independence. South Serbia Albanians Seek Community of Municipalities As Belgrade and Prishtina mull forming an association of Serbian municipalities in Kosovo, ethnic Albanians in South Serbia now want the same deal for themselves. support in this view from the US and NATO. Ambassador, Michael Kirby, the Riza Halimi, the only Albanian British Ambassador, Michael MP in the Serbian parliament, By Prishtina Insight Davenport, and the EU head of del- said that there were plenty of sim- egation, Vincent Degert. ilarities between the position and Stankovic's tough response demands of the Serbs in the north came after members of the of Kosovo and that of Albanians erbian officials have slapped Albanian Assembly of Preshevo, in South Serbia. down a call from ethnic Bujanovac and Medvedjalast "As ways to solve these prob- SAlbanians in southern Saturday adopted a declaration lems are trying to find a resolution Serbia for the formation of an demanding various measures to in Kosovo, why cannot the same autonomous "association" of improve their status. mechanism be applied to solve the Albanian-majority municipalities. Ethnic Albanians in the three same problems - only with twice Zoran Stankovic, head of the municipalities, which border the population - in this region?" he government's Coordinating Body Kosovo and are home to most of asked. for Preshevo, Bujanovac and Serbia's Albanians, say they want The ethnic Albanian initiative Riza Halimi, the only Albanian MP in the Serbian parliament, says Albanians in southern Medvedja, has told local Albanians an association modelled on the comes at a time when Kosovo and Serbia have similar problems as Serbs in northern Kosovo. (Photo/bujanoci.info) to stop comparing the situation in community of Serbian municipal- Serbia are reported to be close to a their region with that of the ities in Kosovo to which the gov- deal on the troubled north of "Association of Serbian of Kosovo, and discuss the future Serbian minority in neighbouring ernments of Serbia and Kosovo Kosovo. Municipalities". operations of the "Association of Kosovo. have recently agreed. Serbia's President, Tomislav In the next round of talks due on Serbian Municipalities". "South Serbia is an inseparable South Serbia is home to 50,000 or Nikolic, on Monday said that a March 20, the Serbian and Kosovo The association's precise powers part of Serbia and there can be no so Albanians. In 2001, the region deal between Kosovo and Serbia prime ministers, Ivica Dacic and remain unclear and are still a sub- discussion [of an association of Y saw an armed conflict between the over northern Kosovo was within Hashim Thaci, are expected to ject of debate between Kosovo and municipalities]," Stankovic said M security forces and Albanian sight, following talks in Brussels flesh out the modalities of disman- Serbia, which, however, has made last Tuesday. C rebels, which ended with the help in which Kosovo had "relented" tling Serbian-financed "parallel" no secret of seeking the broadest He added that he had enjoyed K of the international community over the powers to be given to an institutions in the Serb-run north possible autonomy. news March 15 - 28, 2013 5 Fresh Row Hits New Passport Contract German firm’s promise of a hasty delivery of passports suggests the tender was rigged, Slovenian firm says. The Slovenes promised their first G&D added: “We placed our bid batch within 90 days. based on the tender require- The German promise of deliv- ments.” The company said it was By Jeton Musliu ery speed looked suspicious, now awaiting the ministry’s Cetis said. instructions to proceed with pass- “As experts with years of expe- port production. rience in passport production we Agim Islami, head of procure- he selection of new compa- believe that high-quality passport ment at the Ministry of Internal ny to take over production of cannot be manufactured and Affairs, declined to discuss the Tbiometric passports for delivered within 30 days,” Cetis appeal. Kosovo in the wake of an earlier said. scandal has itself come under fire. The company said it suspected Scandal-prone contract: One of the losing bidders, Cetis that G&D had pre-made passports of Slovenia, told Prishtina Insight based on a prior agreement, or The Ministry has been scram- on Tuesday that it is appealing had obtained a supply from else- bling to find a new maker of bio- the 6.6 million euro contract where. metric passports since it scrapped awarded to its German rival, G&D declined to respond to spe- its contract with the Austrian Giesecke and Deverient, G&D. It cific allegations, but said in a State Printing House, OeSD, in said it suspects that the process written statement: “G&D is, January. was rigged. worldwide, the only company that The ministry said OeSD violat- Cetis offered the lowest price to disposes in-house the entire ed the terms of the 14.1 million produce 1 million passports by chain of passport production: euro deal by failing to pay value- 140,000 euro, but the Ministry of own passport assembling factory, added tax. It capped a series of Interior picked G&D in late security paper production and troubles, including the disappear- February because it promised to chip operating system.” ance of 1.4 million euro, which A non-biometric Kosovo passport. Kosovo began issuing biometric booklets in 2011, a deliver an initial batch faster: key step in visa liberalization. In a subsequent statement, was due as payment to OeSD. 10,000 passports within 30 days. An OeSD subcontractor, Natali Prishtina Insight did not Velija, has since been charged observe any irregularities. with stealing the money. The com- After four bidders were disqual- pany claims the ministry paid ified for not meeting contract Velija without authorisation. The requirements, G&D and Cetis ministry insists that the remained as the only competing Austrians requested that the pay- companies. Both companies made ments go through Velija. bids for the original 2011 passport In jail since November, Velija contract, losing out to OeSD. said she used the 1.4 million euro The companies ultimately were to pay off a number of govern- rated on a point system. Price con- ment officials at OeSD’s direction. stituted 90 per cent of the rating, The Austrian firm has denied her while delivery time represented claims. the remaining 10 per cent. The ministry moved quickly to Cetis received 93.33 points, replace OeSD. On February 1, the while G&D got 98.11. The German day after terminating the con- promise to deliver passports with- tract, it issued a new call for bids in a month gained it a five-point to produce more passports. advantage. The ministry also opened up the G&D itself also has ties to OeSD. process, allowing representatives It once supplied the Austrians from the Anti-Corruption Agency, with passport chips. G&D told Prishtina Insight and the Kosovo Prishtina Insight that those chips Democratic Institute, an NGO that were never used for Kosovo pass- monitors the government, to ports. However, Cetis described The Ministry of Internal Affairs is under fire for its latest biometric passport contract. observe the evaluation process. the connection as suspicious. Kosovo Stages Mass Protest Over Corruption Thousands of protesters took on Wednesday to the streets of Prishtina in a march against official “theft and corruption" and demanding ministerial resignations.

corruption.” Last week, KEK's board of The protest comes on the back directors suspended four officials By Prishtina Insight of earlier demonstrations over from the Pristina District for sus- new, higher energy bills issued by pected graft. But protesters have the Kosovo Energy Corporation, also called for the resignation of KEK, in January. Besim Beqaj, Minister of olding banners that read Protesters yesterday, supported Economy, Bajram Rexhepi, the “Stop theft, develop the by 21 non-governmental organiza- Interior Minister and Arben Hstate”, protesters marched tions, urged the authorities to stop Gjuka, KEK's executive director. through the capital of Kosovo to disconnecting energy consumers "Arben Gjuka-out, Bajram government headquarters to voice and stop the hikes in energy Rexhepi-out, Besim Beqaj-out... their anger about official graft, prices. You have one week to meet this poverty and corruption in state They also urged the authorities demand," Ilir Deda told the rally institutions. to start probing corruption in in front of the government build- Arta Dobroshi, an actress who Kosovo institutions and to bring ing. recently won the 63rd Berlinale any perpetrators of abuses to jus- Deda is head of the non-govern- Famed Kosovo actress Arta Dobroshi joined the protests Wednesday. Shooting Star Award, said: “The tice. mental Kosovar Institute for moment has come for the people of “KEK is just one aspect of the Policy, Research and Development said the government was dealing Energy Regulatory Office and Y Kosovo to come together and show deep corruption in our institu- and was formerly a political advi- with people's concerns about high asked for a final report and [once M that we want a beautiful Kosovo, tions,” the organizers of the sor to the Kosovo president. utility bills. we receive it] we will take ade- C with a good economy and without protest said in a press release. Economy Minister Beqaj later “I have sent a letter to the quate measures,” he said. K 6 March 15 - 28, 2013 news

Ex-Yugoslav Army commander Nebojsa Pavkovic and former Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Sainovic were convicted at the Hague Tribunal of repressing Kosovo Albanians. Serb Officials Call for Kosovo War Crimes Acquittals that”. According to the defence, Albanians leaving Kosovo fled By Marija Ristic because they were afraid of NATO’s bombing, Serb paramili- Thousand of Albanians were forced from Kosovo during the war. taries and the war in general, but t their Hague Tribunal the Yugoslav army didn’t have any appeal, ex-Yugoslav Army role in forcing them to leave. Acommander Nebojsa “A joint criminal action was not Yugoslav Army’s Prishtina Pavkovic and ex-Yugoslav deputy proved, neither that Pavkovic was Prime Minister Nikola Sainovic part of that, neither that he said they weren’t guilty of repress- ordered some criminal actions… ing Kosovo Albanians. Commander Asks for Acquittal He actually did everything to pre- Pavkovic and Sainovic are vent this,” the defence said. committed atrocities,” the defence appealing after being sentenced in The defence also requested 2009 to 22 years’ jail each for the said. acquittal for Sainovic, claiming the deportation, murder and persecu- His lawyers quoted army 2009 verdict was “legally By MarijaRistic tion on political, racial or reli- reports that detailed how, three ungrounded and unclear”. gious grounds of Kosovo months after the war,Lazarevic According to the 2009 verdict, as Albanians during the 1999 conflict. filed 30 criminal charges against Yugoslav deputy prime minister, t his Hague Tribunal “This is a huge injustice and a Yugoslav Army servicemen. Sainovic “had the intent to forcibly appeal, ex-Yugoslav Army politically-motivated indictment,” The defence said the NATO displace part of the Kosovo Acommander Vladimir the defence for Pavkovic told the bombing was the reason why Albanian population and thereby Lazarevic said he was not respon- Tribunal on Tuesday, adding that Albanians left Kosovo at the time, change Kosovo’s ethnic balance to sible for the deportation of he was a “remarkable soldier”. arguing that the Yugoslav Army ensure continued control by the Albanians from Kosovo in 1999. According to the 2009 verdict, only provided humanitarian aid Federal Republic of Yugoslavia”. Lazarevic is appealing after Pavkovic “intended to forcibly dis- and returned displaced people to “There was no proof of his being sentenced in 2009 to 15 years place part of the Kosovo Albanian their homes. direct involvement in a joint crimi- in jail for the deportation and population and shared this intent It also quoted additional army nal enterprise,” said defence forcible transportation of Kosovo with other members of the joint reports in which he ordered that lawyer Toma Fila. Albanians during the conflict in criminal enterprise”. Ex-Yugoslav Army commander Vladimir population that left its homes to be “Additionally, it has not been 1999. Accused of taking part in the Lazarevic is appealing his convication for found and returned. proved that Sainovic commanded His defence claimed at the hear- joint criminal enterprise along deporting Albanians from Kosovo during Lazerevic voluntarily surren- the Yugoslav army,” he said. ing at the Hague Tribunal on with Pavkovic and Sainovic were the war. dered to the International “It is an unreasonable conclu- Wednesday that Lazarevic, as com- former Serbian strongman leader mander of the Yugoslav Army’s Criminal Tribunal for the Former sion that Sainovic played a crucial Slobodan Milosevic, former chief Slobodan Milosevic, former chief Prishtina corps, acted according to Yugoslavia in 2005, after the court role in the deportation of of staff of the Yugoslav Army of staff of the Yugoslav Army’s issued an indictment two years Albanians, or that he coordinated the law, aiming to defend his coun- Prishtina Corps Vladimir Nebojsa Pavkovic, deputy prime previously. the actions of the Serb police and try from NATO “aggressors” and Lazarevic, former interior minis- minister of Yugoslavia Nikola Ex-Yugoslav Army commander army,” Fila continued. Kosovo Liberation Army “terror- ter Sreten Lukic and former Sainovic, former interior minister He added that if the appeals ists”. Pavkovic and ex-Yugoslav deputy Yugoslav army general Dragoljub Sreten Lukic and former Yugoslav chamber does decide to uphold Lazarevic is also accused of tak- Prime Minister Sainovic also said Ojdanic. army general Dragoljub Ojdanic. Sainovic’s conviction, his sentence ing part in a joint criminal enter- in their appeals that they weren’t Pavkovic’s defence said that “the should be much shorter than 22 prise together with former “Lazarevic did everything he guilty of repressing Kosovo Albanians left Kosovo but there is years. Serbian strongman leader could to punish those soldiers who Albanians. no proof that they were forced to Detained Macedonia Mass Murder Suspects Still in Kosovo some consultations,” a well- Skopje on terrorism charges. informed source at the ministry “We are working on this case told Prishtina Insight on condi- and we will act according to the By Sinisa Jakov Marusic tion of anonymity, adding that he laws and the bilateral agreement “cannot give a precise date” when [with Kosovo],” said Macedonian the request will be sent to justice minister Blerim Bexheti acedonia’s justice min- Prishtina. on Wednesday. Alil Demiri and Afrim Ismailovic are suspects in an April 2012 mass murder in near Skopje. istry has yet to issue an Earlier this month, Kosovo Kosovo’s justice ministry has Mextradition request for police detained Alil Demiri and not indicated whether it will allow Ismailovic, Fejzi Aziri, Rami Sejdi Their corpses had been lined up two recently-detained ethnic Afrim Ismailovic, the last two of a swift extradition. and Haki Aziri have pleaded not and appeared to have been execut- Albanians wanted for trial over six ethnic Albanians wanted for “It would depend on the ruling high-profile killings near Skopje. guilty. ed. The body of 45-year-old Borce trial over the killings near the of a respective court when the The justice ministry said it was The four were held when police Stevkovski was found a short dis- Macedonian capital in April 2012. extradition can take place so we preparing the request for the arrested 20 allegedly radical tance away from the rest. A court in Prishtina ordered them can't give any timeline,” said min- extradition of the two men, arrest- Muslims during an operation last Although the trial in Skopje is to be detained for 30 days. istry spokesperson Astrit Kolaj. ed in Kosovo earlier this month May in several villages around the now nearing its end, sources at the They have been indicted by the Meanwhile, the trial in Skopje and wanted for involvement in the capital. Skopje criminal court have said Macedonian prosecutor as direct continues in the absence of the killings of five Macedonians last The bodies of Filip Slavkovski, that if the two recently-arrested perpetrators of the multiple two wanted suspects after opining Y year that have raised ethnic ten- Aleksandar Nakjevski, Cvetanco suspects are extradited to killings in the case known locally in December while they were still M sions in the country. Acevski and Kire Trickovski, all Macedonia, there is a possibility as ‘Monster’. The four other sus- on the run. C “We still have some administra- aged between 18 and 20, were dis- that proceedings might have to pects are already standing trial in The other defendants, Agim K tive work to complete, and to make covered on April 12 last year. start again. business March 15 - 28, 2013 7 Turks Sound Wary Over KEK Upgrades While Kosovo’s power company expects the new Turkish grid owner to underwrite more than 400,000 euro in recently agreed upgrades, the consor- tium is making no commitments.

Electricity Distribution and Supply, told Prishtina Insight that the grid’s new owner are obliged to By Petrit Collaku see through existing, inherited projects. “Works cannot be stopped or he Kosovo Energy stagnate because of privatisation Corporation, KEK, has and should continue according to Tsigned more than 400,000 the KEK management’s plan,” euro in contracts to upgrade its Hoxha said. distribution network – just before The new contracts “cannot be it is due to come under the owner- changed or stopped, or deviate, ship of a Turkish consortium. from the framework that the The largest contract, totalling Energy Regulatory Office has 339,158 euro, involves strengthen- allowed,” she added. ing and expanding the distribu- tion network in Prishtina, Prizren and Peja. Companies handpicked: Three others, worth 98,146 euro KEK handpicked the companies in total, concern the expansion of for the four contracts, which substations in Ferizaj, Peja and bypassed standard tender proce- Prizren. All were signed in dures. February. Normally they call for a bidding KEK spokesman Viktor Buzhala process, but KEK invoked a provi- said KEK had received approval sion of Kosovo’s Law on Public for the upgrades from Kosovo Procurement to get round this. Calik Limak Energy, the Turkish The provision allows contracts consortium that assumes owner- to be agreed and signed where ship of the power grid on May 6. detailed specifications cannot be KEK has made it clear it also The future owner of Kosovo’s power grid doesn’t seem keen on KEK’s upgrades. (Photo/ Korab Basha) supplied in advance. expects Calik Limak to pay for the The upgrades are due to com- projects. firms, purchased the power distri- tomers who have a history of not ed for different reasons, such as pleted in this spring. The expand- But Ferhat Dinc, a representa- bution network, KEK Electricity paying their bills. property problems, obstacles dur- ed substations, however, were com- tive of the Calik Limak, declined Distribution and Supply, for 26.3 In 2012, KEK reported that the ing contract implementation and pleted last year, before KEK signed to endorse the upgrades to value of unpaid power bills now other issues,” KEK spokesman the new contracts. million euro last October. Prishtina Insight. “We will take totalled around 400 million euro. Buzhala said. “Work was completed by New Calik Limak will take over an over the distribution in May [but] According to KEK, the contracts “It was delayed until this year Year. Very good work has been we are not interested in KEK’s aging, unreliable power grid, and signed in February are extensions because last year there was no done there,” said Nexhmi Ahmeti, activities,” Dinc said. is promising to invest millions of of a larger upgrade project from budget,” he added. owner of the Monten company, Kosovo Calik Limak Energy, a euro. 2010. Fllanza Hoxha, privatization which completed one of the sub- consortium of three Turkish It also will inherit a base of cus- “Additional works were request- project manager for KEK station expansions, in Ferizaj. Kosovo Commemorates KLA Leader Jashari ers. The house is now the site of a museum and a KLA shrine, while By Edona Peci Prishtina's airport has also been named after the ex-guerrilla com- mander. Kosovo President Atifete rishtina staged a lavish cere- mony to mark the 15th Jahjaga opened last Tuesday's cer- Panniversary of the killings emony, which marks the start of a of Kosovo Liberation Army com- three-day memorial event. mander Adem Jashari and his A commander of KLA opera- family. tions in the Drenica area, Jashari, Hundreds of security troops known as the 'legendary com- paraded in the capital last mander' by people in Kosovo, took Tuesday, March 5 as political lead- part in a number of attacks on ers recalled the role that Jashari, Yugoslav forces before he was one of the founders of the Kosovo killed. Liberation Army, KLA, played in At the ceremony, prime minister their wartime struggle against and former KLA political leader Yugoslav forces. Hashim Thaci said the guerrillas Trumpets sounded as some of had helped push Kosovo forwards Jashari's surviving relatives, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci pays his respects to fallen KLA commander Adem Jashari. towards freedom and independ- politicians and representatives of the War Veterans Association laid ence. wreaths at a monument erected in “We bow our heads before the his memory outside Kosovo secu- freedom martyrs' sacrifice,” Thaci rity forces' headquarters in said. Prishtina. Events to commemorate Jashari “Glory and honour to all those will continue for the next two days, who fought for the freedom we culminating with a firework dis- enjoy today,” the former KLA com- play on Thursday evening in mander's brother, Rifat Jashari, Skenderaj/Srbica, not far from said at the ceremony. where he died. Rifat Jashari was among 10 His death is commemorated members of the family who were every year as part of celebrations living abroad and therefore sur- of the role that the KLA played in vived a siege by Yugoslav forces on Kosovo's independence battles. Y the Jashari home in Prekaz in Kosovo declared independence M March 1998 which killed the for- in 2008, but Serbia has vowed C mer commander and some 40 oth- never to recognise it. Kosovo President Atifete Jahjagatakes part in a ceremony with members of the Kosovo Security Force. K 8 March 15 - 28, 2013 neighbourhood business Bulgaria’s Economy Feels Impact of Political Turbulence The likelihood of a hung parliament poses questions about the future of Bulgaria’s adherence to tough austerity measures, which in turn will affect investor confidence. caretaker government without a parliament will be in charge, entails as many economic prob- By Georgi Kantchev lems as political unknowns, ana- lysts agree. The most immediate threat is to fiscal discipline – ironically an area ebruary was not a good in which Bulgaria excelled in month for Bulgaria’s outgo- recent years. From a fiscal point of Fing Prime Minister, Boiko view, the country weathered the Borisov. Thousands took to the global economic crisis relatively streets over higher electricity and well. heating bills, which quickly mor- Unlike its neighbours, Romania phed into wider discontent with and Greece, it did not require an poor living conditions and turned international bailout and its debt violent as protesters pelted parlia- ment with stones and firecrackers, and deficit levels are well within smashing windows and damaging the limits prescribed by the cars. European Union. After dozens were injured in But all that can change in the clashes between the security forces next few months, economists warn. and demonstrators, Borisov - and “The risk to the budget comes from his ministers - resigned on a lack of discipline in the revenue February 20, the Prime Minister and expenditure administration, saying that he could no longer par- which tend not to work actively ticipate “in a government under enough in a political vacuum,” says which the police are beating peo- Georgi Angelov, Senior Economist ple”. at the Open Society Institute. Georgi Stoeff, managing partner To top it all, he had to be hospi- Political turbulence is hurting Bulgaria’s economy. talised with high blood pressure at Industry Watch Group, says “probably caused by the situation efforts must focus on balancing the who demanded its nationalization. Economist at the Institute for ing minister of European funds. in the country,” as the director of budget by scrapping inefficient Any decision in that direction, if Market Economics in Sofia. The mayor of Pernik, Rositsa the hospital noted. policies and by privatization. it were driven by political and elec- The next months will also be cru- Yanakieva, agrees: according to In the next months, before snap According to Stoeff, particularly toral considerations, would worry cial for another important pillar of her, the political instability means elections in May, Borisov may well in pre-election periods, pressure foreign investors and send a mes- the Bulgarian economy, European that no one will be in any ministry recover both in his health and in grows to increase public spending sage about the risks of doing busi- Union funds. in the next few months “to sign the the polls, where his GERB party in order to win votes. Moreover, the ness in the country, analysts say. In recent years, as foreign invest- necessary documents”. lost support in recent months and interim government will find it Besides foreign investment, ments have dwindled due to the Furthermore, Bulgaria is in the is now running neck-and-neck with especially difficult to stay the fiscal Bulgaria depends on foreign mar- global financial crisis, a large part process of negotiating EU financ- the opposition Bulgarian Socialist course in the face of protesters' kets for its exports, which amount of economic growth has been driv- ing for the next programme period, Party. demands to cut electricity bills and to more than 40 per cent of GDP. en by EU capital. According to offi- from 2014 to 2020, and negotiations However, neither party is likely raise wages and pensions. The current instability is also cial estimates, up to 65 per cent of are the hands of politicians, not to be able to form a majority gov- Giving in to those demands reflected on that front, says Rumen GDP growth in 2011 was a result of administrators. ernment on its own, increasing the would be unwise, says Georgi Radev, president of the Bulgarian their absorption. Besides short-term worries, the odds of a hung parliament. Prohasky, chair of the Center for Industrial Capital Association. Therefore, says Georgi Prohasky, crisis will also have economic Moreover, considering the nature Economic Development in Sofia. “If “Contractors call us and are secure management of EU funds is repercussions beyond the current of the recent nationwide protest - the new government raises interested in what is happening in one of the main worries, and will political stalemate. “In the long the largest in 16 years - whichever incomes and public sector the country. If the crisis deepens, depend on the political situation. term, the economic impact will party or coalition ends up govern- salaries… that will lower the com- this will affect the orders of the 2013 is the last year of the current depend on whether Bulgaria man- ing will face more pressures to ease petitiveness of the economy and companies,” Radev says. funding period, when new con- ages to produce a stable govern- austerity measures. turn away foreign investors,” he Still, while the political crisis tracts can be negotiated, and is one ment,” Prohasky says. Economic growth has been slug- warns. has unavoidably raised uncertain- of the last years when funds on The longer the political uncer- gish since Bulgaria emerged from The latter is especially problem- ty, the risk perception of the coun- existing ones can be absorbed. tainty, the greater the risk to the recession in 2010. Unemployment atic since, in the last decade, the try in the wake of the protests has While this in theory should be economic recovery, which is expect- remains high at 12.4 per cent and economy has grown dependent on increased only slightly as measured handled by the administration, ed to accelerate this year, Georgi wages are low at around 400 euro a foreign inflows. Before it resigned, by Credit Default Swaps, a type of most of which is not affected by the Angelov adds. month. Living standards, meas- the government started the process insurance against default. political changes, in reality “even Thus, while outgoing Prime ured by GDP per capita, are about of revoking the licence of the The effect of the political vacu- the best administrator cannot sub- Minister Borisov can probably 45 per cent of the EU average. Czech utility giant CEZ – one of the um, however, will only show up in stitute for a politician who can push hope for a better March, the That outlook, combined with at main culprits for the high energy the next couple of months, says mayors do work more efficiently,” Bulgarian economy faces nerve- least two months during which a bills in the eyes of the protesters Dessislava Nikolova, Chief says Tomislav Donchev, the outgo- racking months ahead. Albania Blast Case Again Before Supreme Court

The blast on March 15, 2008 in der. the village of Gerdec, killed 26 The court cut a third off the By Besar Likmeta people, wounded more than 300 ten-year sentence of Mihal and left thousands homeless. Delijorgji, owner of Alba-Demil, The explosion ripped through a the firm managing the plant. hree years after the case of former army barracks used as a Dritan Minxholi, manager of the the deadly blast in Gerdec collection point for old Chinese munitions demolition plant, sen- Zamira Durda, right, whose 6-year-old son died in a deadly 2008 explosion at an ammu- Tvillage went before the nition disposal factory that killed 26 people, speaks to reporters in Tirana. (AP Photo) Supreme Court, it now faces a new and Soviet-made shells that a tenced to 18 years, will now only appeal. Alba-Demil was demilitarizing to serve 12. The court also cut the former defence minister, Fatmir thus left dealing solely with Albi Serjani, a spokesperson for extract the metal. sentence of the former head of Mediu. The indictees include a Mediu. the prosecutor's office, told Immediately after the explosion Albania’s arms exports agency, former army chief of staff Luan On September 15, 2009, the Prishtina Insight that Tirana pros- it emerged that the company bla- Ylli Pinari, from 18 to 10 years. Hoxha, and generals Shpetim Supreme Court dropped the crim- ecutors on Tuesday lodged an tantly disregarded safety rules. The blast case was first filed Spahiu and Zija Bahja. inal case against Medi, however, appeal against the Appellate Court On February 14, the Tirana before the Supreme Court in In May 2009, the Supreme Court hours after he was sworn in as verdict, which slashed the sen- Appeal Court slashed the sen- March 2009, indicting 29 people assigned cases involving defen- minister in the new government, tences for the defendants accused tences for the three main defen- for involvement in the explosion, dants who did not enjoy parlia- because of the immunity from of murder and disappointed vic- dants, for whom prosecutors had among them former senior mentary immunity to a lower prosecution he had obtained from tims’ families. sought life imprisonment for mur- defence ministry officials, and the court. The Supreme Court was his parliamentary seat. neighbourhood news March 15 - 28, 2013 9 Half a Century of Watching the Movies At 73, Belgrade’s oldest cinema operator is celebrating 50 years of work - and is as devoted to his job now as he was on day one.

fast, and his eye seems to spot wrong with the digital projector, every detail. His build remains the screening has to be cancelled - athletic and not even his hair is but on my machines I can make it By Gordana Andric completely grey. to the end of the movie, no matter Yet, in fact, he is 73, and the old- what.” est cinema operator in the country. For him, the theatre is like a here was no reason to worry “I have no time to grow old, I child. And, indeed, he treats it just about whether Dragan think about work all the time,” he as lovingly. The grey paint on the TVelickovic would be late for says. “When there is an important 50-year-old projectors is spotless his interview. screening, there’s a rush of adren- and shiny, and the old equipment This man is never late. Not by a alin and it seems that this adrena- looks as good and well preserved minute. His job leaves no room for line doesn’t let my body grow old.” as the new digital items. such excuses as traffic jams or bad During his career he has The movie theatre in which he weather. watched more than 30,000 movies, has worked from day one is also As the cinema operator in the but although he loves all films his where he met his wife, who worked Cultural Centre of the Belgrade favourites are war movies and at the ticket office. He considers it Movie Theatre, for 50 years he has westerns. his second home. “I have to watch the first projec- The walls of the three small never been late. Reminders of that Dragan Velickovic at work. (Photo/Jelena Cosic) fact bring a smile and a trace of tion of every film to check if rooms where he works are covered pride to his face. everything is alright,” he explains. with his family photographs, icons He explains that even the cine- says. “I’ve never been late for work. “That means I see at least one of St Petka and the Virgin Mary, ma audiences illustrate the great “That is why our tickets are Oh, no. I’d have a heart attack if I film per day, but we often had and dozens of posters and pictures changes that have taken placed in among the cheapest and we don’t was. It would kill me,” he says. three, four or five,” says of Josip Broz Tito, former presi- society. just screen blockbusters. Private “Imagine the whole cinema hall Velickovic, whose favourite movie dent of Yugoslavia. “I remember when people could companies can’t do that, their role booing! And, if the first movie was is The Violet Seller from 1958. Many Serbs may have turned just take some change from their is to earn money.” not on time, I’d be late for the rest About a year ago, the movie the- against the memory of the old pockets and go see a movie. Now After spending his life playing of the day,” says Velickovic, turn- atre obtained a new digital projec- Communist leader, who was also a that is not possible. People just movies, Velickovic says he has no ing crimson at the thought. tor, but Velickovic still prefers the Croat, but he is not one. cannot afford it,” he says. intention of stopping now. He does He rolled his first movie in 1963 old cinema projectors for 35mm “Tito was a hero. He fought for “There are computers and DVD not dwell on the idea of being a and this year marks a half-century tape. the rights of the workers,” he says players now and the cinema is a pensioner. behind the projector. On the wall hangs a calendar on with pride. thing for the wealthy,” Velickovic “Never. I don’t acknowledge it. However, his appearance seems which the dates of projections for “I’m here in the city centre for sighs. Some people love to play chess, to beat the math. His straight back 35mm tape are clearly marked. 50 years now. I remember when However, he is pleased to be some go to the kafana. But I love to and easy steps as he goes up the These are the days Velickovic is people on the streets smiled and working at the Cultural Centre come here and work,” he says. stairs into his cabin might confuse waiting for. were merry. Today they are wor- Movie Theatre and not for a pri- “I left my youth here and I will those who try to work out how old “I always loved 35mm projec- ried and grumpy, so tell me what is vate company. leave my old days as well,” he is. tions and I love these machines,” better – Tito or the multiparty sys- “This cinema is preserved to Velickovic concludes, without a His moves are quick, his reflexes he says. “When something is tem we have now?” he asks. promote art, that’s our role,” he trace of regret. Macedonia Convicts 14 Croat-Serb Kiss Photo Over Ethnic Clashes A court in Skopje gave suspended sentences to 14 people involved in ‘Symbolises New Era’ violence between ethnic Macedonians and Albanians at the city’s fortress in 2011.

By Bojana Barlovac

By Prishtina Insight photo of Croatian girl kissing a Serbian boy in the Bosnian town of Mostar has Abeen hailed by international media as a kopje’s criminal court last brave symbol of a more tolerant new generation. Tuesday handed down seven- Smonth suspended sentences to The photograph, which shows the young cou- participants in the clashes between ple kissing while draped in their respective ethnic Albanians, who were angry national flags, was described as a sign of recon- about the controversial building of a ciliation among the younger generation after it was uploaded to the online image service ingur. museum in the style of a church at the In Mostar, the kiss symbolises reconciliation. fortress, and Macedonians who said The Serb was walking through Mostar hold- Clashes in Skopje injured eight people in they came to defend the construction February 2011. ing hands with his Croatian girlfriend, and brothers!” was sprayed one of Belgrade site. when an older woman asked how she could walk University’s walls in the centre of the Serbian They were convicted of taking part been nominated by the Democratic Union that way with a Serb, the girl responded by kiss- capital. A heart and the words “I love my Hrvoje" in a mass brawl and obstructing offi- for Integration, DUI, the ethnic Albanian ing the boy, said a comment posted alongside the [a Croatian male name]” were added above the cials, but will only face jail if they reof- party that’s the junior partner in picture by someone who saw it taken. graffiti. fend within two years. “It is nothing special really, a couple showing Macedonia’s ruling coalition, as its candi- Such moves have been highly infrequent since Eight people were injured in the vio- date for mayor of Skopje in the upcoming affection, but for us here in Mostar, it is evidence Yugoslavia dissolved in the early 1990s and lence in February 2011. local elections scheduled for March 24. that new generations are not willing to continue Croatia’s declaration of independence resulted It erupted amid fears raised by some The fortress clashes also provoked with war in their minds,” the comment said. in a bloody Croat-Serb war. Albanian Muslims that the church-like debates about the actions of deputy inte- The picture is said to have been taken during Relations between the neighbours, which had museum, which stands on the site of a rior minister Xhevat Buci, an ethnic a parade staged by the pro-tolerance United demolished medieval church, would at Albanian who was observed at the scene World college in Mostar. warmed after the overthrow of the Serbian some stage become an active Christian of the violence taking handcuffs off some US news website the Huffington Post repub- strongman Slobodan Milosevic in 2000, turned place of worship in an area of the city of those arrested by the police. lished the photo, calling the kiss “the bravest distinctly icy after a more nationalist coalition that they see as their own. Ethnic Albanian guerrillas were thing ever”, while another US site, MSN, said: came to power in Serbia last year. The violence was organised on over involved in a brief conflict with “You can tell a story in a thousand words, but Croatia’s President Ivo Josipovic did not social networks by the ethnic Macedonian government troops in 2001 sometimes one image sums it up beautifully.” attend the inauguration of his Serbian counter- Macedonian group, which was mainly and their leaders formed the DUI after the Mostar was devastated during the Bosnian part, Tomislav Nikolic, after the latter appeared composed of football fans, and the ethnic insurgent force was disbanded. war and still suffers from ethnic divisions some to express support for a ‘Greater Serbia’. Albanians who were mobilised by an Ethnically-charged violence also erupt- two decades later. Relations worsened again last November after NGO called “Zgjohu” (Wake Up). ed this month in Skopje after the appoint- A similar rare instance of public promotion of the International Criminal Tribunal for the The leader of Zgjohu was Artan Grubi, ment of a former guerrilla, Talat Xhaferi, inter-ethnic tolerance was reported in January, Former Yugoslavia acquitted two Croatian who has since entered politics. He has as the country's defence minister. when graffiti reading “Serbs and Croats are wartime generals, causing an outcry in Serbia. 10 March 15 - 28, 2013 neighbourhood

Gjirokaster Crisis-Hit Greece Cuts Lifeline to Minority in Albania

81-year-old Vasili worries about making ends meet after loosing his Albania's Minister of Labor, Spiro Ksera. Jorgo Militi pension.(Photos/Telnis Skuqi) Athens’ decision to scrap pensions for the Greek minority in Albania has left the community worried about its future wellbeing.

tion of 2.8 million, mainly concen- minority newspaper, LajkoVima, done,” he said. families. trated in the region of says the Greek pensions were “However, Greece is suffering a “The MPs from the Epirus area Gjirokastra, Saranda and Himara. vital for the local economy. severe economic crisis, so that in the Greek parliament are draft- By Besar Likmeta While Greek minority politi- “A lot of houses in Dervican even if the pensions are restored, ing a new law, and are looking at cians remain hopeful that the aid were revamped through the pen- they will surely be smaller,” he all the possibilities under the con- will be restored, albeit at a lower sions, people spent more, and the added. ditions that Greece is now in, to rate, locals are concerned about whole region’s economy benefit- Despite their positive impact restore the subsidies,” he noted. or more than a decade, finan- what the future holds. ed from them,” he said. on the local economy, the Greek “Through this aid the Greek cial allowances paid by Marianki, a 76-year-old grand- Acknowledging that the cuts state pensions have always been minority has invested more FGreece to older members of mother from Dervican, in the will be painful, Militi says most controversial in Albania. money [in Albania], which has the Greek minority in the Dropull upper Dropulli area, says she has people understand the crisis that For decades, Greece main- ultimately helped their integra- region of southern Albania have provided an important economic not received her pension from last Greece is facing, and hold no tained a territorial claim to tion into the wider community,” boost. month and is already thinking of resentment toward Athens. southern Albania, which it calls he added. Nearly 18,000 members of the the difficult choices she will have “If Greece overcomes the cri- Northern Epirus. Ksera said misconceptions in Greek minority in Albania to make. sis, I believe it will open its hand As a result, Greek moves to fos- Albania about the pensions from received a 330 per month pension “What should I do first, go to the again,” he said. “No matter how ter economic and cultural con- Greece stemmed from a lack of from Athens, costing Greece 71.2 doctor or spend money for food?” we sometime see it from afar, nections to the region have knowledge about the community million a year. she asked. “It’s very difficult to Greece is a generous state and always been eyed with suspicion and its values. In an area that has seen massive live on the pension I get from the nation,” he added. in Albania. “People should come here and outward migration over the past Albanian state, which is only Dhimitri Maluqi, head of the Many Albanians see the pen- see their hospitality, and realize two decades, pensions several 60.” commune of Upper Dropull, says sions as forming part of a wider the positive contribution that the times higher than those paid by Vasili, an 81-year-old, says that that the local economy will feel agenda, aimed at building up a Greek minority has made in the Albanian state helped rebuild he also has not received last the burden of the pension cuts. large community in southern strengthening the Albanian houses and boost consumption in month’s Greek state pension. “This is revenue that will now Albania that identifies primarily state,” he continued. the local economy. “The pensions have been a disappear from every Greek with Greece. “Nationalist who cry foul for However, with its finances in great help for us old folk living minority family and the impact They also believe that many reasons of political expedience tatters, Athens has been forced to here, and for those who moved will be undeniable,” he said. people only declared themselves cannot break the bond created cut the pensions as part of the across the border with their chil- Mayor Maluqi, who is also the of Greek nationality in order to between the two communities.” IMF- and EU-imposed austerity dren,” he said. head of the Greek minority benefit from Athens’ generosity. Militi, the journalist, agrees, drive. “I understand the economic organization Omonia for the However, Spiro Ksera, arguing that the minority has The move has left many elderly crisis that Greece is suffering, Gjirokastra area, however, Albania’s Minister of Labor and served to act as an important people without an important eco- but it is hard to make ends meet remains hopeful that something Equal Opportunities and an MP bridge between Albania and Y nomic prop. on the 100 I receive from the may change. for the Dervican area, says the Greece. M According to last year’s census, Albanian state,” Vasili added. “We have had contacts with the pensions should be viewed like “Like every bridge, the stronger C the Greek minority accounts for JorgoMiliti, a former journal- Greek government and we the remittances that Albanian it is, the better the bond between K 0.87 per cent of Albania’s popula- ist for the now defunct Greek believe that something will be emigrants send home to their the two nations,” he concluded. neighbourhood March 15 - 28, 2013 11 Remembering Djindjic With Love But No Optimism Ten years after the assassination of reformist Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, his opponents are in power and a march in his memory was overshadowed by political gloom.

The people watching the ‘March front-page headline in the tabloid for Zoran’ from the balconies were Kurir that morning: “Ruzica older too, and seemed to have lost Djindjic: (late PM’s widow) Vucic Citizens lay flowers on the place of Djindjic’s murder. (Photos by Beta) By Nemanja Cabric the will to take part. They had is Just Like my Zoran.” Of course grown old on these balconies, cele- there was nothing in the article to brating, protesting, and peeking back up the newspaper’s assertion through these same windows in that Djindjic was anything like the s people slowly got out of fear, expecting things to change hard-right ex-Radical and current the buses that brought for the better, or simply watching deputy prime minister Athem to Belgrade’s for something to happen. But now Aleksandar Vucic, but it showed Republic Square on Tuesday and they seemed to be mostly glad how those who are now in power made their way down the street because for a few hours the street in Serbia have sought to hijack his towards the famous building in would be cleared of traffic, so they memory for their own political Simina Street that was once could at least open their windows purposes. known as the headquarters of the and breathe. The current Prime Minister DOS coalition which Zoran Djindjic helped to lead, traffic Ivica Dacic and his deputy Vucic police got into position on the The manipulation didn’t join the marchers to lay street corners where 20,000 people of memory flowers; they had honoured their would later pass by as they former political foe earlier, sepa- rately. Protocol decreed that they marked a decade since he was On one of the stops along the had to make a tribute, but it was killed. procession’s route, in the court- their former leaders, Milosevic These Belgrade streets have yard of the safest building in and Seselj, that Djindjic had sent seen hundreds of thousands, even Serbia, the government headquar- to stand trial for war crimes at the millions of demonstrators go past, ters, Djindjic was murdered with Hague Tribunal. Deputy PM and defense minister Aleksandar Vucicpays his respects. but on this day, the marchers had one bullet fired by a professional Neither was there a wreath from come to remember the man who killer. People entered the cemetery hold- one of Djindjic’s most important ‘The end of the world’ led them to achieve what was an As the march approached the ing the candles and the flowers they almost unimaginable goal at the former political partners, Vojislav government building, a few shouts It was only on the steep had brought with them. A patient time – taking Slobodan Milosevic Kostunica, who strongly disagreed erupted but were quickly silenced Beogradska Street, or on queue formed, with Djindjic’s col- down, and inspiring a new vision with sending some of the coun- and replaced with applause. The Ruzveltova Street that leads to the leagues, allies and other politicians of Serbia. try’s top politicians to The Hague. government is currently run by cemetery, when it became truly at its head. They walked around the The balconies above the street There were few smiles in the some of those who Djindjic strug- clear how many had come to pay grave, lit candles, had their pictures once echoed with cries of support grim courtyard of the building gled against – the former members their respects. There was not a sin- taken by the press, then moved for Djindjic, and ten years after where Djindjic died as the masses of Milosevic’s Socialist Party and gle placard or flag, just a river of aside and left space for others, his death, they still looked the turned and continued their walk Vojislav Seselj’s Radicals. people, wide as the road itself, including Djindjic’s widow Ruzica same, although everything has to the Novo Groblje cemetery, Perhaps some of the thousands stretching all the way back from and their son Luka. changed. where he is buried. of people marching had read the Djindjic’s grave for a kilometre. Here at the cemetery, faith in Djindjic and his ideas was still strong. “I was in the eighth grade of ele- mentary school and he meant a lot to my family, so I thought that this day was like the end of the world in some way,” said one of the mourn- ers, Ana, now aged 25. Miroslav Kovacevic, meanwhile, was from the older generation that grew up in socialist Yugoslavia. He said he mainly admired Djindjic’s character, his humanity and seri- ousness. “People have shown today that Zoran is with us. He inspires hope in the future,” he said. Twenty-year-old Lara concurred: “Young people in Serbia should fol- low Djindjic’s vision. My family passed on to me everything that he achieved, so he means the same to me today as to them,” she said. But they all agreed that his ideals are becoming further removed from contemporary reality as each day passes. Political fatigue and melan- choly seemed to have cast a cloud over Djindjic’s famous optimism. Sitting on a bench away from the crowds of mourners was an elderly woman, Slobodanka Vukasinovic, who said that as a politician, Djindjic was unique, and that Serbia would be a better place now if he had lived. “This kind of visionary will never show up again,” she said. “Everything would be different if he was alive. We would be already Thousands march to remember Djindjic. in Europe.” 12 March 15 - 28, 2013 review Diagnosing Kosovo Hamza and Zizek’s “From Myth to Symptom: The Case of Kosovo” decon- structs the NATO intervention and independence.

called existing reality. We in the Balkans are by no means hostages to our own myths, or By Hana Marku our own history, or even more, are we a region of gang philistines that cannot over- come their own past, but necessarily revive our myths and folkloric tales and let them gon Hamza and Slavoj Zizek’s book, rule our path.The exact opposite is true: it is “From Myth to Symptom: The Case precisely when the wars exploded that these Aof Kosovo,” initiates a delayed myths were brought up (resurrected), but debate: Kosovo is independent, but what they had a precise ideological function: Albanians welcome NATO forces into Kosovo in 1999. kind of independence is it? What are its con- myths had the function of the ideological tours, and what economic and political sys- result is a washed out independence, an (apart from a few moments by Zizek, who is supplement for what was happening in the tem is taking shape in this country? “From independence which doesn’t provide space infamous for his chaotic prose) and gives an present (81, Hamza). Myth to Symptom” deals with the mytholo- for real emancipation and real political understandable summary of power rela- In the context of independence, criticiz- gized perception of Kosovo as a place that acts: “The ‘independence’ of Kosovo is the tions in Kosovo. ing NATO’s intervention in Kosovo is con- suffers from historical hatred, a hatred that negation of the political ‘will of the peo- On the fifth anniversary of Kosovo’s exis- sidered practically anti-patriotic. However, blocks its own progress. ple’, precisely because its foundations are tence as a state, we urgently need to decon- it’s worth analyzing the narratives and According to Zizek, the famed Slovenian humanitarian. It is a continuation of the struct the ideologies and narratives that images that were constructed about philosopher, and Hamza, his disciple in UNMIK humanitarian administration. define this country. We urgently need to Kosovars by international media during the Prishtina, Kosovo is in fact a symptom or That is to say, the independence of Kosovo view Kosovo politically- not only from the intervention, since those narratives and result of capitalist and neo-imperialist ide- does not mark a break from the (humani- angle of party struggle, but as a project that images impacted the way the intervention ologies that have been installed from abroad tarian/neo-imperialist) past. The entire belongs to all of us. We urgently need to itself took place. Zizek argues against the since NATO’s intervention in 1999, and process that led to the declaration of inde- review our relationship with the outside discourse of “humanitarian intervention,” that’s where the real problem lies. pendence was depoliticized … It happened world - do we need to be eternally grateful to which was used to justify the intervention Democracy, capitalism and the logic of the in order to cover up that nothing (emanci- our saviors? Will we reproduce ourselves as in Kosovo: “...the Other to be protected is free market are treated as if they are parts patory) really happened. Independence an eternal victim, or will we start to act as good INSOFAR AS IT REMAINS A VICTIM of the same whole. Kosovo’s economic poli- served to fill in a gap that was being creat- agents of our own destiny? (which is why we were bombarded with pic- cies, legal framework, and national identity, ed. They needed the decaffeinated inde- Hamza and Zizek have started a conversa- tures of helpless Kosovar mothers, children, are partially the result of interventions pendence to prevent a real political act: tion, a conversation that’s worth joining. and elderly people, telling moving stories of made by Kosovo’s administrators and inter- that of real independence, that is, a sover- their suffering). The moment it no longer national supervisors, if we can continue to eign country (97, Hamza). “From Myth to Symptom: The Case of behaves as a victim, but wants to strike back define UNMIK, the ICO and EULEX as such. I would have liked to have read more Kosovo” can be purchased at Dit’ e Nat’ in on its own, it all of a sudden turns into a ter- “From Myth to Symptom” is a compila- about the possibilities for structural Prishtina. Price: 10 euro. Published by rorist/fundamentalist/drug-trafficking tion of two essays, the first written by Zizek change in Kosovo, and perhaps commen- Kolektivi Materializmi Dialektik. Written in Other.” (32, Zizek) and the second by Hamza. Zizek describes tary on what would have been the ideal way English, 103 pages. We should remember the time when the philosophical and ethical problems of to establish Kosovo’s independence. Apart numerous media described the Kosovo NATO’s intervention in Kosovo, whereas from that, the unfolding of the ideas is clear Hamza discusses the myriad issues which Liberation Army, KLA, as an illegal guerril- make the true independence of Kosovo la force, linked to religious fundamentalist impossible. Zizek and Hamza present a groups and suspicious money - an attitude marketing strong argument against the “culturaliza- that was reflected in the reserved tion” of the Albanian-Serbian conflict by approach that NATO took towards the Western analysts and policy makers, argu- KLA before, during, and after the bom- Exclusive Property for Rent ing that in so doing the political and eco- bardment. NATO’s intervention, despite Modern / Secure / Top Location / High Standard nomic roots of the problem are minimized. its humanitarian nature, established a If you’ve ever been at a conference or taken precedent in the relationship between part in a workshop where the topic has been Kosovo and the West: that of a pseudo- This beautiful and stylish house is arranged over two floors and is located “inter-ethnic reconciliation”, of if you state that needs continuous administra- in Arbëria’s (Dragodan) most sought after streets. The property comprises of remember the KFOR posters placed around tion, observation and supervision. four bedrooms, two bathrooms, cloakroom, reception room, and spacious Kosovo to promote “tolerance”, you know For people living in Kosovo, Hamza’s living room with open plan access to dining room, fully fitted kitchen with all the frame of thought the authors are refer- essay is of particular interest, since it pro- the appliances, utility room, storage room, two terraces. Landscape gardens ring to: “we’ve all committed crimes, learn vides a post-independence analysis of and double garage with off street parking for 3-4 cars. Opposite the house how to live together, if they can be tolerant, Kosovo. Hamza talks about the imposition there is 24h police security. so can you, etc.” In this discourse, hatred is of policies that favor free market capital- the basis of inter-ethnic relations, and it’s ism at any cost, stability instead of Central heating, generator, and 1500L water tank. the misguided people of the Balkans who healthy and necessary conflict in internal It can be easily transformed for office use because of its open space design and is unfurnished. There is also a commercial office space of 100msq in front need to learn that violence is wrong, and tol- politics, and the promotion of multi-eth- of the building that can be rented as a part of the house. erance is good- without facing the real polit- nicity at the expense of direct confronta- ical problems that exist between Albanians tion with the political conflict that lingers Previous tenants were: and Serbs in Kosovo, and between the coun- between Kosovo and Serbia. t
Swiss Cooperation Office (SDC) -living tries of Kosovo and Serbia. The entire system is defined by interna- t
Swiss Embassy Immigration -living “..the wars in the former Yugoslavia by no tional leaders and structures in Kosovo as t
Darlington Inc. (USA) -office means were the consequence of our inabili- “a democracy” even though the word itself has become bankrupt of its substance. The t
ABA Rule of law (USA) -office ty to distinguish between myths and the so- t
UNICEF Kosovo -office

Address: Arberi / Pristina; Location: In between: French, Greek, German, UK and US Foreign offices Contact person: Labinot Demi - +377(0)45/301-216 - [email protected]

Independence Day celebrations in Prishtina in 2011. neighbourhood March 15 - 28, 2013 13 Montenegro’s Last Sworn Virgin Has No Regrets

Stana Cerovic took an oath of virginity, swapped skirts for trousers and ‘became a man’ decades ago – a decision she has never looked back on.

question, she just starts stroking Ciro. Although we were looking for- By Jelena Kulidzan ward to the first coffee of the day, Stana decided that homemade brandy would make for a better welcome. One for a clearer mind, fter a week of snow, when then a second to warm us up. The the old road from Niksic to third helped smooth the interview. ASavnik finally opened for Stana loves to talk, and, like any traffic, we decided to get to Tusin, man, likes to talk politics and his- a small, half-forgotten village in tory. Her current topic is the presi- the north of Montenegro. dental election in April, in which Only a few houses are left there, she is cheering on the present but in one of them, a stone cottage incumbent, Filip Vujanovic. "He beside the village church, lives 80- knows how to talk, he walks like a plus Stana Cerovic, Montenegro’s strong, reliable man. Those kind of last sworn virgin. people are best," she declares. Sworn virgins are a phenome- But she well remembers Josip non of rural society in Tito, the longtime Communist Cerovic’s dog, Blacky, keeps her company. Montenegro, northern Albania president of Yugoslavia - and with and Kosovo. Families with no male some regret. “There is no Tito any heir effectively turned their longer, and if there were, every- “How can a woman go and live daughters into men. thing would be different,” she in the house that isn't hers? I do The youngest daughter of the opines in a melancholy voice. not understand it.” The idea that “I did not want to leave my Dad and he supported me in not house “became” a man and could “People have changed. They are the house might also belong to the thus inherit the family property. getting married,” not merciful to each other, as we woman when she gets married did- They cut their hair, started to wear once were. Hatred starts to rule,” n’t seem to mean much to her. men’s clothes and took an oath never to marry. She remains proud of her weakness. Upon taking the oath, society choice. During her lifetime, she In an old blue sweater, men's treated them like any other man. took care of her four sisters and black pants and a funny cap, Stana Unlike most other sworn virgins, their common household. tries to cover up what remains of however, Stana remained Stana. But after two hours of talking, her feminine characteristics. She has kept her woman’s name. she has to go and feed her cow. It But she also like to hide some- Stana was not happy to see me, a takes her a while to stand up. But thing else - her age. She claims she single girl, with dyed hair and the pain in her legs and curves in is no more than a few years older her spine do not prevent her from than seventy, but her nephew tells feeding the cow three times a day. me that she was born at the begin- “How can a woman go Her nephew offers to help with the ning of the 1930s, which makes her and live in the house daily chores, but she prefers to do a decade older. Either way, she is everything by herself. In the end, the last sworn virgin in that isn't hers? I do not men are not supposed to show Montenegro. understand it.” make-up. Evidently disappointed, she asked where the real “people” were (Old Montenegrins used to refer to men as “people”): “Where are the people, when woman enters first?,” she declared Cerovic rolls a cigarette at her rural Montenegro home. crossly, as, by tradition, a man always enters the house first and she adds. women follow behind. When she “This is a disgrace. In Tito’s saw my male colleagues, she time we used to say that calmed down. Montenegrins were the chosen “I don't like women. I cannot ones. Look at us now. It is all rust!” even sit near them at the local Then she stops talking for a while. gatherings,” she continued. Her thoughts drift away. “Only men can talk normal sto- Tito was just starting out in his ries, women are full of gossip and career as Yugoslav leader when they cannot be any good.” Stana decided to become a man. Somehow, I passed the test. She The youngest of five daughters, nicknamed me “She-wolf”. her family had no sons. Wishing to Home for her is a small, smoke- inherit from her father, she agreed filled, stuffy room where she sits to take an oath of perpetual vir- in an old torn chair by a wooden ginity. stove, a good position from which “I did not want to leave my Dad to light up a chain of cigarettes. and he supported me in not getting In spite of the fact that she has a married,” she said. “'Stay here!', large stone house, Stana barely he said,” Stana adds with a smile. uses the rest of the building. It was her own decision to become Her pets keep her company - her a sworn virgin. cat, Ciro, and dog, Blacky. She Decades on, Stana does not Y becomes unexpectedly emotional regret her choice. “Who, me? M and gentle when communicating Regret? You are silly,” she C with them. When she doesn’t like a answers. Sworn virgin Stana Cerovic has a glass of rakia. K 14 March 15 - 28, 2013 culture Dubrovnik Bids to Become European Culture Capital The Adriatic resort city in southern Croatia is applying to become European Capital of Culture in the year 2020.

By HRT Zagreb

he city of Dubrovnik, which the English poet, Byron, once lauded as Tthe "Pearl of the Adriatic", is prepar- ing an application to run for the title of European Capital of Culture 2020, Tatjana Simac-Bonacic, the deputy mayor, announced on March 13. The call for appli- cations will be open by the end of this year. Dubrovnik is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Croatia. Since 1979, the city has been on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites. The European Capital of Culture is a title awarded by the EU for the period of a calen- dar year, during which the winning city organises a series of cultural events that promote common European values and highlight the richness of different European cultures. Since its launch in 1985, it has become one of the most prestigious and high-profile cul- tural events in Europe. So far, more than 40 cities have been designated European Capitals of Culture. Since 2011, there have been two annual European Capitals of Culture. The capitals this year are Marseille in France and the Slovakian city of Kosice. The title is sought after, as winning cities gain several advantages. Along with cultur- al, social and economic benefits, they increase visibility and tend to attract more tourists. Dubrovnik has been on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites since 1979. Albania Mourns Death of Theatre Icon

Albanian leaders paid homage to Roland Trebicka, a legendary actor who passed away last week after a battle with cancer.

and professionalism. Nishani added. Opposition Socialist leader Edi the Soldier’s Theater and in 1971 to “What he left behind with his Prime Minister Sali Berisha Rama said that Trebicka’s death the National Theater in Tirana. art was his great service to the declared Thursday a day of nation- had left a void in the world of the- A master of the farce and the By Besar Likmeta nation,” President Bujar Nishani, al mourning, saying Trebicka will atre that would be hard to fill. grotesque, he is well known for said in a statement of condolence live on through the characters he “With great pain we say goodbye playing the role of Jovan Bregu, in to the family. created. not only to a great comedian, but the comedy Flat 176. “His short life was only a thresh- “Trebicka was one of most loved also to rare human being,” Rama The comedy, which premiered in rebicka is remembered in old to immortality, which he Albanian artists,” he said. said. Tirana in 1986, had more than 500 Y Albania for dozens of popu- deserves, and which makes us “Nobody better than him Born in Korca in 1947, Trebicka showings in seven years, hundreds M Tlar roles in theatre and cine- proud of his contribution to embraced the characters that he started his career in the movie of TV broadcasts and still collects C ma, and news of his death brought Albanian art and culture,” created.” Debatik in 1961. He then moved to strong sales on DVD today. K praise from critics for his talent international March 15 - 28, 2013 15 Erased US data shows 1 in 4 missiles in Afghan airstrikes now fired by drone Drones are now firing nearly a quarter of all air-launched missiles in Afghanistan, just as the US military deletes its drone figures. the Bureau the data had been delet- ed because it ‘disproportionately focused’ on drones. Drone strikes By Alice K Ross were ‘the exception, with only about 3% of all RPA [drone] sorties over Afghanistan involving kinetic events [bombings].’ he US military has stopped But this apparently low ratio is publishing data on drone due to the high number of armed Tuse in Afghanistan, claim- drone missions being flown – in ing missions that include drone fact, drones are playing an ever- strikes are ‘the exception’ – just more vital role in airstrikes, as 3% of all drone flights. However, reported by the Bureau in the figures themselves demon- December after the data was first strate the increasingly important declassified. role played by drones in airstrikes by the US and its allies in At the same time as it started Afghanistan. publishing the figures, Afcent also The now-deleted figures show released to the Bureau an expand- unmanned aircraft fired nearly ed set of data from 2008, which also one in four of all missiles used in showed the number of missions coalition airstrikes in January – flown by drones, and the number of up from just one in 20 in 2011. drone strikes or ‘kinetic events’. Until October 2012, all statistics The number of kinetic events is on drone use were classified. The different from the number of mis- move to publish data came after siles fired, since several missiles months of pressure from the can be used in a single attack. Bureau over accessing drone strike That data showed that three data for ‘conventional’ wars such times as many drone strikes had Drone strikes are on the rise in Afghanistan. as Afghanistan, Libya and Iraq. taken place in Afghanistan as in neighbouring Pakistan, where the for the same data, but was refused. including by drones. ground commanders in The Bureau argued that there ‘They like to put the data out But the latest release, published Afghanistan with close air support was a strong public interest in pub- CIA flies drones in a covert bomb- ing campaign. there for advertising purposes to on February 28, no longer features capabilities, and it was determined lishing such material. Afcent even- show how great they are, and the drone-only data. And pre vious edi- that presenting the weapons tually agreed, and added a new sec- Although it was notably miss- ing one of the key metrics – infor- moment someone starts picking at tions published on the Afcent web- release data as a whole better tion to its Afghan monthly statis- it to find out what the data really site have had their drone statistics reflects the airpower provided in tics showing the number of mis- mation on how many people had been killed, and who they were – says they withdraw it,’ Wheeler removed too, as Air Force Times support of Operation Enduring siles fired by drones from 2009 told the Bureau. revealed. Freedom.’ onward. the data nonetheless offered a rare insight into how drone use has Afcent continues to publish In an emailed statement, an Air The Bureau asked both Afcent information in its monthly statis- Force spokeswoman told the and Isaf why previous data releas- ‘Disproportionately expanded in Afghanistan over time tics on how many missiles have Bureau that Afcent removed the es had now been altered, and focused’ Soon after providing informa- been fired in all Afghan airstrikes, data ‘in co-ordination with the whether Afghanistan drones data tion to the Bureau, Afcent declined International Security Assistance has now been reclassified. Neither The US military has stopped to release the full data set to others, A determination found the Force’ (Isaf), the Nato-led mission was willing to offer an explanation. to Afghanistan. The decision was publishing data on drone use in the Bureau has learned. Winslow This article is published courtesy data disproportionately made as ‘a determination found the Afghanistan as part of its monthly Wheeler, a former member of the of The Bureau of Investigative data disproportionately focused on statistical release – and removed US’s Government Accountability focused on RPA kinetic Journalism, RPA kinetic events.’ all drone data from each preced- Office who now directs a project at http://www.thebureauinvestigates. events.’ - The statement added: ‘A variety ing month on its website. the Center for Defense com, under Creative Common of multi-role platforms provide An Air Force spokeswoman told Information, approached Afcent Afcent spokeswoman license. Photo News: Ode to Shiva

Hindu holy men take shelter as it rains during the Shivaratri festival at the courtyard of the Pashupatinath temple in Katmandu, Nepal, on March 10. Shivaratri, or the night of Shiva, is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of death and destruction. (AP Photo/Niranjan Y M Shrestha) C K 16 March 15 - 28, 2013 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

town. Select a booth, ask the amiable staff to seat, if you intend to make a night of it. Next opening in Kosovo. tune into your match and grab a 'double to A&A restaurant and has round windows. decker' or 'triple burger', which look like Opens: 8pm-to late. Shut on Sundays. Restaurants: community of Kosovo. If you are acquaint- American fast-food classics but taste better. ed with Thai food, you're not in for any sur- Friday night Karaoke is a must-see, must- prises here, with the typical assortment of Fastfood: Liburnia 1 and 2 sing event. curries, salads and deep fried treats, deliv- Rr Meto Bajraktar, tel. +381 (0)38 222 719. Hard Rockers Club ered to decent standards. At 7 or 8 euro for a There are actually two Liburnias opposite Road Ilaz Kodra, contact: vraja_fatos@ hot- Bel Ami main course, it's relatively pricey compared each other, both very similar in style and mail.com. It's one of the few places in Rr Luan Haradinaj, Tel: +377 (0)44 133 848, to its neighbours. Open Monday-Thursday food. Housed in a fine Ottoman abode and Prishtina where you can catch regular live +386 49 133 848. The ideal town-centre stop 11:00-14:00 and 17:45-22:30; Friday-Sunday surrounded by pleasant walled gardens, acts and the only place which caters for for a quick lunch or takeaway snack, Bel 11:00-23:00. Liburnia oozes atmosphere, whether in win- those who like their rock served up heavy, or Ami unceremoniously serves some of the ter or summer. The food is a roll call of hard. On a quiet night, it's quite a comfort- best chicken doner in Prishtina in a surpris- Renaissance II decent traditional Albanian food, including able venue to grab a beer, even if you are not ingly un-greasy, smoke-free environment. Rr. George Bush (behind the Pro Credit Bank the usual stews (tave) and grilled meat. It’s being entertained by hirsute musicians . Ask for a “komplet” to get the classic doner HQ), tel. +377 (0)44 118 796. Renaissance not the best place in town to sample local packed with salad and sauces and wrapped offers arguably the best overall dining expe- delicacies, but a good choice given the set- The Cuban in tin foil. Monday-Friday 9 am - 7.30 pm; rience in Prishtina. It's quite an experience ting. Open 8 am - 11 pm Road Luan Haradinaj Tel: +377(0) 45 620 620. Saturday 9 am - 8 pm. just to find the place. Tucked away along a This is a decent addition to the city's drink- tiny alleyway, you enter the homely, stone Country House ing scene, even if the place can be full of building through heavy wooden doors. It's Clubs: Off road to Podujevo from Pristina, right spivs and tarts who aren't going to a fancy- 15 euro per head, and for that you will be after the Muciqi Mercedes-Benz garage, tel. dress party. The Cuban-themed décor is kept fed, watered and supplied with booze P1 +377 (0)44 656 054. This rustic restaurant is decadent Havana, the food is average, and for at least a three course meal, including a Fehmi Agani, +377 (0)44 608 669. If you’re a 15-minute drive outside Pristina (on a not very Caribbean, but the cocktails are wonderful meze starter and a delicious looking for cool, then P1 is probably not good day) and provides glorious views good. 8 am - 1 am. main course cooked on embers. Open 11 am the spot for you. The decor is pretty unin- across rolling, verdant hills and is especial- spiring, the music is bog standard and the - 11 pm. Xhoni’s Bar ly pleasant place in the summer to watch atmosphere reminiscent of a cattle mar- Rexhep Mala, Pristina, tel. +377 (0)44 750 720. the sunset. The overall food quality is ket. But if your thing is scantily clad Bars: Xhoni’s is, without doubt, a Prishtina insti- decent, with special marks for the fresh young women or packs of amorous boys, tution. It’s small, friendly and smoky, plays bread, straight from the wood stove, and than it’s an excellent choice. And, in the excellent soul, disco and classic rock music speca me maze (peppers in cream). 10 am - Tapë venue’s defence, it does have a pleasant from vinyl and is open until the last man or 11 pm. Hajdar Dushi Street Nr. 2 (next to Zani Bar, outdoor area for summer dancing. woman staggers out. Arrive by 11pm at the Kada Books, in front of the Radio Working hours Wednesday, Friday, weekend to secure a corner, or even better a Princesha Gresa Dukagjini). Tapë — which means “cork” in Saturday from 9 pm to 3 am. 23 Rr. Fehmi Agani, tel. +381 (0) 38 24 58 41. If Albanian but is often used to denote you have a horse-size hole in your stomach extreme drunkenness — is a bar with a to fill, this is the place to come. The meal warm atmosphere in Prishtina’s centre. It starts with some free bread and dips and is serves homemade rakia, as well as a variety followed by gargantuan portions of salad, of beers and other liquors, and, of course, meat, fish, or anything else on this varied Stone Castle wine - all at reasonable prices. menu. The food is sometimes great, some- times average but always served in massive Crème de la Crème portions. Open 10 am - 11 pm. Rr Robert Doll, tel. +377(0)44259912. Crème is probably the best all-round bar in the city. Hemingway It's run for the amusement of the young, Rr Ilaz Kodra, tel. +386 (0)49 145 637. Yes, you arty owners and not for profit, which can get fresh sea fish in landlocked Kosovo. explains the more-than-generous pricing Hemingway is tucked away in an unappeal- arrangements, especially for the perfectly ing end of the city but worth a trip if you executed cocktails. Its five tiny floors heave are craving food of the piscine variety. It's a on Fridays and Sundays with Pristina's cool pretty basic sort of set-up and relatively to the variety of beats. Every Wednesday, expensive for the setting, but undoubtedly Friday and Saturday from 8pm to 3am. one of the best places in town for fish. Open 9 am - 11 pm Filikaqa Rr Mujo Ulqinaku BL 4/1, Pejton, website Le Siam Thai www.filikaqa.com; 038 244 288. Whistle, as it Rr Fehmi Agani, tel. +377 (0)45 243 588. translates from Albanian, offers a dizzying Stylishly designed and smoke-free, Le Siam array of televisions on which to watch your has become a real hit for the international sport of choice and eat the best burgers in Hot Food: VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT (ABOVE), Rruga Garibaldi, Behind Metro Caffe. Tingell-Tengell’s short-lived but much loved vegetarian menu gets a restaurant of its own. It doesn’t have a name, and it’s delicious. There’s falafel, hummus, baba ghanouj and more. The stew is also luxurious. All the food is under 5 euro. The bar also fea- tures a few whiskies you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere in Prishtina, as well as an allegedly 36-year-old rakia. The space also feels like home, in that down-to-earth hipster sort of way. The only quibble is the bread, which is a rather basic white bread that’s toasted and garnished with herbs. It doesn’t do justice to the otherwise spectac- ular fare. Don’t miss the poppyseed cake, either. - Gravlax

FRESCO (LEFT). Rr. Fehmi Agani. The newest eatery to hit Prishtina’s fine-dining scene, Fresco has designs on being one of its best. Forgive the excessive interior design - the food is is elegant and simple, with a gastronomic sense that in-step with the times. The salmon filet (11.50 euro) is a standout: succulent and flavorful, appear- ing alongside a sweet potato puree and tempura-fried zucchini. The steaks are perfect, too. +377 (0) 44 333 772.

PAPIRUN Tel. 045 26 23 23. Papirun has seating at two perpendicular counters 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 sandwiches are Y the stars, though. Every component is handled with care. The bread alone is good M enough to make just about any sandwich into a glorious feast. It’s freshly baked and seasoned with rosemary. C K March 15 - 28, 2013 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 March 15 - 28, 2013 timeout

Theatre

“Zero Dark “The last station” “As if this was a show” Every Thursday at 8pm Every Wednesday at 8pm Thirty” The story is situated in the "In the bus no. 4...during year 2015. Nowadays and past the war in Prishtina ...a Every day at 10pm Maya is a CIA opera- problems are carried in the 26 years old - young tive whose first experi- year of 2015. Burim is the man...is wearing jeans ence is in the interro- main character who is looking and a black T-shirt... At gation of prisoners fol- for the truth, for his family "Union" hotel...sniper lowing the Al Qaeda and his fiancé, which are still breaks a window... and attacks against the U.S. missing since the war of KLA the youngster is shot in on the 11th September ended. After many attempts he the neck... A lady dressed 2001. She is a reluctant finds out that his neighbour is in white, who was stand- participant in extreme still alive and that he knows ing near him starts to duress applied to the more about his family. Burim scream. When she sees detainees, but believes that the truth may only be obtained through such tactics. can’t live in the present; he is always going back to the the blood in her shirt she Director: Kathryn Bigelow past, in the memories of his family and Behare, his faints... two hours Writer: Mark Boal fiancé. Halfway he meets a young girl called Shpresa later...she is seen at the Big Mosque...near café Starring: Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Chris Patt. who reminds him of Behare and finally gets part of "Romantika", but this time accompanied by a friend Burim’s life. younger than her... Based on the novel “Birds fly on their own” by Ibrahim Based on the drama by: Almir Imshireviq “Hitchcock” Kadriu. Directed by Agon Myftari Every day at 8pm Directed by Lirak Celaj and Florent Mehmeti Cast: Rebeka Qena, Ardian Morina, Armend Ismajli, In 1959, Alfred Hitchcock and his wife, Cast: Besnik Krapi, Liridona Shehu, Ilire Celaj, Adrian Besnik Krapi Alma, are at the top of Morina, Eshref Durmishi and Kushtrim Sheremeti. their creative game as filmmakers amid dis- quieting insinuations about it being time to National Theatre of Kosovo retire. To recapture his youth's artistic daring, Alfred decides his next 8pm Friday, 15 March film will adapt the lurid “Auction House” horror novel, Psycho, By Fadil Hysaj over everyone's misgivings. Unfortunately, as Alfred self-finances and labors on this film, Alma 8pm Saturday, 16 March finally loses patience with his roving eye and con- “Auction House” trolling habits with his actresses. By Fadil Hysaj Director: Sacha Gervasi 8pm Monday, 18 March Writers: John J. McLaughlin, Stephen Rebello The Hounds Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, By Avni Shkodra Scarlet Johansson. Director Fatos Berisha Professional Theatre of Mitrovica

“Zambezia” 8pm Tuesday, 19 March Every day at 1pm “A tomb for the King’s Major” and 3pm By Haqif Mulliqi Set in a bustling bird city on the edge of the majestic Victoria Falls, 8pm Wednesday, 20 March "Zambezia" is the story “A tomb for the King’s Major” of Kai - a naïve, but By Haqif Mulliqi high-spirited young fal- con who travels to the 8pm Thursday, 21 March bird city of "Zambezia" “Love that kills” ballet where he discovers the Choreograph Ilir Kerni 8pm Tuesday, 26 March truth about his origins By Patrick Marber and, in defending the city, learns how to be part of “The murder of the mosquito” 8pm Friday, 22 March Director: Kushtrim Koliqi a community. By Xhevdet Bajraj “After Miss Julie” Director: Wayne Thornley Director: Donard Hasani Writers: Camilla By Patrick Marber 8pm Monday, 25 March Director: Kushtrim Koliqi “The murder of the mosquito” Bubna-Kasteliz, Andrew 8pm Thursday, 28 March Cook... By Xhevdet Bajraj “Flying towards the light” ballet Starring: Leonard 8pm Saturday, 23 March Director: Donard Hasani Choreograph Silvia Tomova Nimoy, Jeremy Suarez, “After Miss Julie” Abigail Breslin “Lincoln” Every day at 7pm FLAT FOR RENT Prishtina Diary As the Civil War con- Shuala Bar Prishtinë tinues to rage, America's The flat is located at Muharrem Fejza Vj mum episode - president struggles with Bodroom Prishtinë continuing carnage on Street, 500 m far from EULEX HQ. It is Friday, 15 March Art work, besa mati & the battlefield and as he on the IVth floor and it has 63m2. It has Progressive Psytrance project graphics fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves. a kitchen, dining and living room, one Punkt Director: Steven Spielberg bedroom, bathroom, balcony. The flat is Writers: Tony Kushner (screenplay), Doris Friday, 15 March Kearns Goodwin (book) well furnished and has elevator. It is Gipsy Groove Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David located in a very quiet and safe area. Starthaim. Saturday, 16 March Contact phone no.: Y Leo Cik&Tatu - M For any further questions or reservations call at 038 243 Lokonajsat, Tiranê C 238 or visit them at www.kinoabc.com 044 431 242 Likatek episode - K inside prishtina March 15 - 28, 2013 19

David Prishtina through the Eyes of: the Eyes through Prishtina Jackson The Rugby club draws a mix of men and women from Kosovo and abroad. Doctoral candidate, Berlin Graduate School for Transnational Studies Rugby Club Kicks Off 1.What surprised you most about Prishtina? That it is a small town with the chaos of a big city. And then finding there was some charm to the ruggedness. New Season 2. What's your favorite hangout? Tirona. Kosovo Roosters opens the new season as it attracts more Kosovars to sport. 3. Do you do anything cultural? Sometimes I overhear my flatmate singing Belgian ballads in the shower, does that count? Apart from that, I go to some exhibitions from time to time and the film festivals are a lot of fun. By Petrit Collaku 4. What is the most annoying thing about Prishtina? At the moment, it has to be the great Smoke. Smoke from n a football pitch on the out- cars, first hand smoke, second hand smoke, smoke from bars, skirts of Prishtina, a mix of dry smoke, smelly smoke, dodgy smoke, pavement smoke, Imen and women from Kosovo building smoke, shouty smoke. Folks in smoky bars resemble and abroad opened a new season of those contestants on Japanese endurance game shows, eyes rugby. watering, wincing with pain, no one ready to give up. Denis Dautaj, a Kosovar who has long played rugby, explains the 5. If you were mayor of Prishtina for the day what rules of the game and trains would you change? Kosovars who are new to the sport. Bring back the old NEWBORN. Obviously. "Rugby is a combative sport and The Kosovo Roosters get in an evening game. Kosovars are well-talented for 6. How many macchiatos do you drink a day? est. small for this game," he said. such sports,” Dautaj said after a I have gone off macchiatos, I’m afraid. I drink espresso and "Recently, we registered the Still, the Roosters have ambi- one-hour training sessions. Russian tea, when I can. club as a non-governmental tions to expand beyond Prishtina. The Kosovo Roosters were organisation in order to achieve "We are working to have other founded by internationals that 7. What's the tastiest Kosovar food? financial sustainability," said clubs in other cities of Kosovo came to work in Kosovo after the Peppers. Dautaj, explaining that finances and in this way we would be able war. would enable the team to train to create a Kosovo federation and These days, Dautaj said, fewer 8. What landmark do you use to tell taxi drivers where and play properly at the city stadi- in the future become part of the internationals play, but more you live? um. International Rugby Board," young Kosovars are taking inter- I am not part of the international bourgeoisie. I do not take "This football pitch is very Dautaj said. taxis. Photo News: Dangerous Dead End in Dragodan

Two roads in a new development in Dragodan remain discon- nected with the main road due to a property issue. Prishtina Municipality is in talks with Kosovo’s Railways, which owns the property where the roads are to join. In the mean time, there are no signs warn- ing of the dead end. (Photo/Petrit Collaku) 20 March 15 - 28, 2013 opinion Ecosovo Outside In Green Lessons from The Battered Prime Ministers Young Kosovars By Kreshnik Hoxha

By Elizabeth Gowing rime Ministers Hashim Thaci and Ivica Dacic Pcan’t be enjoying having hat happens if you unleash young Kosovars on the country’s envi- to deal with each other in ronmental problems? In September last year, the Centre for Green Brussels while they pretend to WTechnologies, with the support of the German Society for show mutual courtesy. But, apart from their troubled past International Cooperation, GIZ, opened a competition for schoolchildren in haunting them to this day, they Kosovo to share the steps they’d taken to improve their environments. seem to have much more in com- The prizewinners were announced recently and have some lessons for us mon than they initially thought. all. Five schools were given recognition for the work they’d done on a range The battering they keep receiv- A non-parallel structure in northern Kosovo. of projects including waste separation for recycling, greening of the school ing by Catherine Ashton proves existence of Serbia in Kosovo. one. grounds, improving the natural habitat offered in the playground, and meas- that they have something more With it being a very sensitive As a result, Kosovo faces a sit- urement of energy consumption by electrical devices. How are you doing in in common: They are both first- issue, both centres of decision- uation where it is required to keeping up with the younger generation? class hypocrites in their respec- Do you separate out your cans and your plastic bottles, ensuring that they tive countries. making in Prishtina and in allow the creation of the Serb are recycled efficiently, as the students at Gjon Nikol Kazazi school in Gjakova The ever-growing marathons Belgrade have turned this topic Association of Municipalities do? toward Brussels have also been into the face-saving tool in front with executive powers. And it is What planting have you done recently, whether in containers on a balcony associated with the highest of their respective citizens. precisely the executive powers or outside your office, or in a garden? Ibrahim Mazreku school in Suhareka pressure being exerted on both While Dacic is portraying that go well beyond the planted 100 trees in their grounds and at the prizegiving ceremony Perparimi the Kosovar and Serbian leader- himself as the saviour of Serbs Constitution of Kosovo and the Special School talked passionately about the ways that the trees planted in ship to finally tie the knot once from the “apartheid” instigated internal order in the country by Albanians and the strong- and are in line with the their grounds will need to be supported by ongoing care and maintenance, and for all. The diplomatic bat- man that is decomposing Platform for Kosovo adopted by where each class will ‘adopt’ a group of trees. It’s a good reminder to all those tering executed by Ashton Kosovo’s statehood, his counter- Serbia. politicians who’ve posed for the camera during tree planting, and have then seems to have been successful in part, Thaci, is trying to portray Both protagonists involved in walked away to let their trees wilt; a caution to any fair weather gardener stripping both prime ministers himself as the “regional peace- this drama have started to who’s bought bulbs in a flash of spring sunshine and enthusiasm and not of their traditional Balkan keeper” and the guarantor of sweat. It is no surprise that made the nurture of them part of the rest of their year. spite, stubbornness and arro- Kosovo’s Constitution, that very Thaci is against the executive Are there ways that you could improve the habitat for birds or other wildlife gance. It has become evident document that he and his gov- powers of the association. in the outside space of your workplace or home? Pupils at Selman Riza pri- that the EU, which is fed up with ernment tear to shreds day in However, his only mechanism mary school in Fushe Kosove proudly showed off to me the birdboxes they’d this saga, wants it over and done and day out. in order to not allow this to hap- made from wood to encourage more biodiversity into their school grounds. with - but at the cost of what? The week of March 4 sig- The main point in all this pen is to hide behind Brussels Do you know the relative energy consumption of all your appliances? Have malarkey is the fact that we are and Washington and seek help. you changed all your lightbulbs to energy-saving models? Do you take the plug nalised new hopes for an agree- ment between Kosovo and negotiating about the topic. On the other hand, Dacic seems out from the socket when your mobile stops charging, to save electricity? Turn German Prime Minister Angela to be determined to continue off lights when you leave a room? Students from the Electro-technical school, Serbia. The statements coming from Brussels, Prishtina and Merkel very clearly presented confusing the public opinion in Gjin Gazulli, in Prishtina shared a thought-provoking presentation about the to Serbia during her visit in Kosovo and Serbia by making findings of the measuring they had done of electrical consumption in differ- Belgrade indicated that the solu- tion had to be found in that Belgrade in 2011 that parallel contradictory statements about ent homes, which they used to raise awareness amongst their peers. institutions in northern Kosovo Kosovo. Wolfgang Mitternacht and Naim Berisha, the organizers of the project, said meeting. However, in the after- math, it became clear that Thaci are unacceptable. The upcoming weeks will this was just the beginning, and that prizes were awarded bearing in mind the and Dacic shared common So, we are debating about the show what the powers of the extent to which projects were seen to be sustainable and where pupils and thoughts only on one thing: that topic, which if treated seriously Serb Association will be. A teachers showed an interest and capacity to do more. The winning schools they agree to disagree. and strategically by Kosovo’s result that favours the Kosovar were presented by GIZ with resources they had identified as being useful to The notorious topic of discus- government back then, the like- side in relation to the Serb them in continuing their work, such as saplings for further planting, more sion relates to the dismantling lihood is that today it wouldn’t Association of Municipalities sophisticated electrical measuring equipment, and - for the school working on of Serbia’s parallel structures even be a discussion point in does not allude to a triumph of waste separation - bins to be placed strategically around the school and in northern Kosovo. Serbia con- the agenda. The failure in act- the Kosovar government poli- grounds. tinues to persistently embrace ing strategically is enhancing cies. It just simply demonstrates The schools were also offered consultancy to help them develop their envi- these structures because it is the Serbian position and in how desperate Serbia is for the ronmental teaching and activism. Some have taken the ideas forward on their the only way it can prove the return weakening the Kosovar magic date from the EU. own – like the school in Gjakova who have formed an NGO and set up the “Think Green and Create” Facebook page. In Fushe Kosove’s Selman Riza school the children who are members of a “Green Club,” which meets during International Women’s Day - March 8 breaktime, are planning to start up ‘Green patrols’ watching for their class- mates throwing litter in the grounds. They also want to introduce a points system for public praise for students seen picking up litter. Can you imagine how Prishtina, and the surrounding countryside, could be transformed if a policy like that were introduced in society more widely? The kids also talk about the presentation they’re plan- ning which they want to use to start their campaign, educating their friends about why litter is bad for the environment, not only from an aesthetic point of view. It reminds me of an incident in a village I was visiting recently where, as she walked through the quaint streets along the river, a little girl dropped her crisp packet on the ground. I caught up with her and told her to pick up the packet, to keep her village beautiful. She looked suitably embarrassed and apologized sweetly, and carefully picked up the piece of rubbish and dropped it in the river. I’d love some of the children and young people from the five schools I met at the environmental competition prizegiving to go to that little girl’s village. In the face of their enthusiasm, equipped with Powerpoint presentations, arm- fuls of saplings, measuring devices and recycling bins, I know she would be instantly transformed into an environmental protector, and the village river would start flowing more freely. In fact, I’d love some of these pupils to visit policy makers and politicians too so that more of Kosovo’s environment could benefit from the inspiration of youth. What are you inspired to do?

Y Elizabeth Gowing is a founder of The Ideas Partnership, a Kosovan NGO M working on educational, cultural and environmental projects. She is also the C author of “Travels in Blood and Honey; becoming a beekeeper in Kosovo” K (Signal Books, 2011). She can be reached at [email protected] opinion March 15 - 28, 2013 21 Britain’s Mindless New ‘Bulgarian Agitation’ The media campaign against Bulgarian and Romanian immigrants plumbs new depths each week. Who would have guessed this country once put Bulgaria on a pedestal? en shacks in the rain. a nationwide campaign known as to Britain. Britain has seen nothing like it “The Bulgarian agitation” swept The change of heart is also since the scaremongering about the country, and lasted for years. down to the fact that, although few By Marcus Tanner Asian immigrants in the 1970s, but Vast crowds attended monster of the media say this directly, that campaign was model of meetings at Blackheath in London (though there are exceptions) restraint compared to this bare- and elsewhere to hear orators what we are now talking about are knuckled vendetta. thunder on the subject. Feeling not any old Bulgarians and f anyone ever thought the cur- And while the left then savaged was so strong that in 1880, voters Romanians but Bulgarian and rent anti-Bulgarian agitation the right-wing media for pander- kicked out Prime Minister Romanian Roma. Iin the UK media was a flash in ing to racism, this time there is Disraeli virtually on the issue of In fact, the modern Bulgarian- the pan, think again. For weeks barely a squeak of complaint from Bulgaria; most agreeing with the Romanian agitation - the anti- ver- and months now a steady drum- that political corner. No votes are Liberals that Disraeli had agreed sion - is all about the Roma. Why? beat has rolled on. to be had in questioning, let alone to borders for the new state of Because, as everybody knows, all In the last few days readers of combating, this kind of group vili- Bulgaria at the Berlin Congress the Balkan Roma without excep- the tabloid UK media have been fication, it seems. that were far too small. tion don’t want to work, love beg- treated to such headlines as: When Britain’s Work and In Bulgaria, people were appre- ging and opt for lives of petty “We’re on our way to Britain - up Pensions Minster Ian Duncan ciative; Gladstone received 27 crime from choice. to 29 million could come”; Smith last week melodramatically addresses from different parts of Of course, some Roma confirm “Begging in Bulgaria - or benefits described the threatened invasion Bulgaria after winning the elec- to this stereotype, and anyone who in Britain?”; “Bulgarians and as a “crisis”, Labour’s Yvette tion. has been to a big city rail or bus Romanians plan ‘to flood UK’ in Cooper countered only with a From then at least until the out- terminal, in Romania especially, is 2014”; and, “We want to get into claim that Labour would be just as break of World War One, support likely to have suffered from their your country before someone tough - or tougher - on the immi- for a “free” - i.e. enlarged - unwanted attention. But all Throw in the extra fact that they locks the door”. grant question than the ruling Bulgaria was one of the defining Balkan Roma? seem to have zero intolerance These grim stories all follow the Conservatives. causes of British Liberalism. The ones I remember in Serbia towards other faith and racial same form and trajectory: feature- To anyone with a sense of histo- Championing a big Bulgaria was mostly kept themselves busy recy- groups, and aren’t they just the interviews with generic-sounding ry, the new hostility to Bulgarians part of what made you a British cling, running market stalls, driv- kind of adaptable incomers our Balkan types who can’t wait to in particular is a classic case of Liberal. ing taxis, and shuttle trading government is always telling us we come to the UK, grab onto the wel- amnesia. Who would have guessed These days, not only does the old between Serbia and Bulgaria. need more of ? fare state and suck out all they that just over a century ago, love of Bulgaria, big or small, Most people who hosed down the Logically, one might have can. The pictures are much the Bulgaria was the idol of England, clearly not survive – no one even city in the dead of night for the thought so, but no. Roma are Roma same, too: scowling, headscarved or part of England, at any rate? remembers it. Partly, one suspects, city sanitation department were and not only does Britain not want women with arms full of babies; After the great Liberal leader this is because love is always easy also Roma, and it didn’t look like a them but there seems to be an toothless, shambolic-looking men; William Gladstone took up the to maintain at a distance. The job for the work-shy. open season in saying so in the children giving the finger to the cause of Bulgarian freedom from Bulgarians that the British ide- They also play at weddings in loudest, most offensive terms pos- camera – all shot against a back- Ottoman rule in the 1870s with his alised in the 19th century were not their spare time. Quite versatile sible. Gladstone would be spin- drop of garbage dumps and wood- bestseller, The Bulgarian Horrors, about to move anywhere, let alone entrepreneurs, in some ways. ning in his grave – but who cares? Kosovo Lies and Dacic’s Good Cop/Bad Cop Routine Dacic's contradictory statements suggest that he understands public opinion better than any of his predecessors.

the will for a compromise in the if a return of Kosovo to Serbian choice of Kosovo. The opportunity for making talks with Priština authorities. rule were possible (28% take the This is even more so as choos- such an argument was missed We don`t have anything else to opposite view), reflecting ing Kosovo in an opinion poll first by Djindjic and then his propose except the Kosovo inde- Dacic's second position. has no practical costs or conse- successors. Of course it take a By Florian Bieber pendence and we will never do Of course, the latter options quences. As a consequence, I considerable Chutzpah to make it. Everyone must know one seem like a misleading choice: would consider the poll as a this statement, considering that thing: we won`t give up on our While EU membership is realis- reflection of pragmaticism Dacic has not only been in gov- legitimate interests just to get a tic, if far off, a return of Kosovo backed up with a bit of hypo- ernment since 2008, but also n my home country date for the start of EU member- under Serbian rule sounds com- thetical nationalist self-sacri- supported Kostunica’s minority Luxembourg, there is a tradi- ship. Don`t count on it” pletely impossible. fice. government 2004-7, but Dacic tional hopping procession I Of course, such contradictory Thus, the choice given is Citizens can live with Kosovo has managed to steer clear of (Sprangprëssioun) in the town of statements did evoke some com- between a far off goal and as an independent country, but Kosovo to have sufficient credi- Echternach Tuesdays after ments and questions about what impossibility. So does this mean appear not willing to give up the bility in making such a state- Pentecost. It involves more than 10,000 people in a slow proces- Dacic really meant. that Serbs prefer Kosovo over symbol of the possible return of ment. sion with that takes two steps It mostly means that Dacic the EU? Not exactly, there is a Kosovo to Serbia, i.e. full recog- This leaves Serbia in a more forward and one back. Ivica seems to be well in tune with different meaning to this num- nition. pragmatic and realistic position Dacic's statements in recent public opinion or at least is fol- ber. So what does this mean for than any time in the last decade. weeks about about Kosovo lowing them closely. Just as he First, EU and Kosovo have Serbian government policy? Dacic's good cop/bad cop rou- remind a lot of this dance–Two made is flip-flopping statements, been discussed as a pair for the Dacic's contradictory state- tine is clearly intended to satis- step forward, one back. B92 published a new survey that past six years: first as parallel ments suggest that he under- fy public opinion, but also to Last week, Dacic stated that suggest that his position is a tracks and more recently stands public opinion better move Serbia towards living with “[f]or 10 years, Kosovo was good reflection of popular opin- increasingly as alternatives. than any of his predecessors. this new reality. taboo. No one could officially tell ion. Not only does a majority The numbers suggest that citi- Opinion polls over the past This does not mean that he the truth… Tales were told; lies consider him to be the best zens do not like to be forced to decade in Serbia have often will not bargain hard and that were told that Kosovo is negotiator (61% approve and make a choice or if they do, they pointed to similar conclusion as finding a modus vivendi for ours…the Serbian president can- only 26% think a different nego- might choose Kosovo. the latest poll. However, his Serbia and Kosovo will be diffi- not go to Kosovo, nor the prime tiator would do a better job. Second, if the alternative is predecessors were unwilling or cult, but his statements suggest minister, nor ministers, nor the Among the alternatives only between material benefits (the unable to pick up on the prag- that the optimism of EU diplo- police or army. Serbs can only Vucic is able to have some sup- primary association with EU maticism and emphasized the mats over the Serbia-Kosovo leave Kosovo. That’s how much port), they also seem to share membership) and “patriotic desired and unrealist goal of negotiations might be justified. Kosovo is ours and what our con- his views. duty”, Kosovo wins as a hypo- keeping Kosovo part of Serbia. Florian Bieber is a Professor stitution and laws mean there.” A clear majority of 63% think thetical patriotic-political cor- When Dacic called the Serbian and Director of the Centre for Just later the same day he Kosovo is independent, mirror- rect answer. It would be hard to government policies a lie, he Southeast European Studies at noted that Serbia would not give ing Dacic first statement. At the opt for the EU, as long as it is also clearly shifted the blame for the University of Graz . This up Kosovo for a date to begin EU same time, most (65%) would be framed as a ‘selfish’ economic loosing Kosovo to his predeces- post was originally published on accession talks: “Serbia showed willing to forgo EU membership choice over the self-sacrifice sors. Florian Bieber's blog.

If you would like your NGO to appear in our Making a Difference feature, please email [email protected] 22 March 15 - 28, 2013 Life in Focus

A Call for the Living on Day of the Dead

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Slobodan Petrovic, joined a memorial service in in Prishtina to commemorate the Serbian Orthodox All Saint’s Day on March 9. He called on displaced Serbs to return to their homes in Kosovo. (Beta Photo/Armenija Zajmi Besevic)

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