DOCSLIB.ORG

Europeanization of the Rule of Law in Western Balkans – the Peculiar Case of the EU’S Transformative Power Failure in Kosovo

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Europeanization of the Rule of Law in Western Balkans – the Peculiar Case of the EU’S Transformative Power Failure in Kosovo Europeanization of the Rule of Law in Western Balkans – the peculiar case of the EU’s transformative power failure in Kosovo Doctoral (Ph.D.) Dissertation written by: Lorik Pustina Supervisor: Dr. habil. Soós Edit University of Szeged Doctoral School of Law and Political Sciences Szeged, March 2021 Table of Contents Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................................... 5 Tables............................................................................................................................................................ 7 Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................................... 8 I. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 9 I.1. Europeanization of the rule of law in the context of the Western Balkans – what is known so far?........ ............................................................................................................................................ 12 I.2. Historical facts (ending of World War 2 – 1999) ......................................................................... 14 I. 3. The Kosovo – Serbia conflict and the international presence .................................................... 15 1.4. The independence of Kosovo (17 February 2008) ....................................................................... 19 I.5. The impact of Europeanization on the Western Balkans (2008-2019) ....................................... 24 II. Literature review – The theoretical concept of Europeanization ................................................. 26 II.1. Research aims and expected outcome ......................................................................................... 34 II. 2. Contribution to the scientific field ............................................................................................. 35 II.3. Hypothesis and Research Questions ............................................................................................ 36 III. Methodology....................................................................................................................................... 38 III.1. Specific research questions and approach ................................................................................. 38 III.2. Basic approach of data collection ............................................................................................... 39 III.3. Potential Limitations and Contribution of Research ............................................................... 41 IV. The (un)constitutional Constitution of Kosovo: The path toward a modern Constitution? ........ 42 IV.1. Historic development of constitutional changes across the years ............................................ 45 IV.1.1. Constitution of 1974 ................................................................................................................. 46 IV.1.2. Constitutional amendments of 1989 ....................................................................................... 47 IV.1.3. The Constitution of Kaçanik 1990 .......................................................................................... 48 IV.2. The Ahtisaari Constitution – the not well thought provision of minority protection ............ 49 IV.2.1. The drafting and the adoption of the 2008 Constitution ...................................................... 51 IV. 2.2. International and Kosovo’s legal framework for minority’s protection ............................ 53 IV.3. Overlooking the Western Balkans .............................................................................................. 58 IV.3.1. Minorities in Croatia ............................................................................................................... 59 IV.3.2. Minorities in Montenegro ........................................................................................................ 61 IV.3.3. Minorities in North Macedonia .............................................................................................. 62 V. The Milestone – how towards Public Administration and modernization of the public sector institutions in Kosovo ................................................................................................................................ 67 V.1. Developments of the Public Administration (1974-1989)........................................................... 67 V. 2. The UN efficiency – they gave Kosovo freedom but no future? ............................................... 70 V.3. The handover of the “reform and development” baton from UNMIK to the European Union ...................................................................................................................................................... 73 2 V.4. Brief overview on the Administration legal framework of Kosovo........................................... 76 VI. The Europeanization and the Rule of Law in Kosovo – empirical findings .................................. 79 VI.1. The (UN)forgettable Mission in Kosovo .................................................................................... 80 VI. 2. The establishment of International Civilian Office and the EU Rule of Law Mission ......... 85 VI.3. The grim side of the rainbow - cases of Nuhi Uka and Ramadan Muja ................................. 98 VI.3.1. The case of Ramadan Muja ..................................................................................................... 98 VI.3.2. The case of Nuhi Uka ............................................................................................................. 100 VI.4. From EU progress reports to EC country reports: the case of Kosovo (2008 – 2019) ......... 104 VI. 5. Impact of EU instruments and mechanisms on Kosovo ........................................................ 107 VI.5.1. The Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) .................................................. 110 VI.5.2. National Plan for the Implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (NPISAA) ......................................................................................................................... 110 VI.5.3. The European Reform Agenda (ERA) ................................................................................. 112 VI. 5.4. The Economic Reform Program (ERP) .............................................................................. 112 VI.5.5. The annual EU country report ....................................................................................... 113 VI.5.6. Visa liberalization ............................................................................................................ 113 VI.5.7. Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA II) 2014-2020 financial perspective .......................... 114 VII. Challenges of Improving Anti-Corruption Institutional Framework in Kosovo (2008 - 2019)...................................................................................................................................................... 116 VII.1. Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) of Kosovo ........................................................................... 121 VII.2. Kosovo Police: Special Anti-corruption Department ........................................................... 124 VII.3. Kosovo Police: Directorate against Economic Crime and Corruption Investigation (DECCI) 127 VII.4. Police Inspectorate of Kosovo ................................................................................................. 128 VII.5. State Prosecutor, National Coordinator for Combating Economic Crimes, appointed by the State Chief Prosecutor’s Office ................................................................................................... 129 VII.6. Basic Prosecution Office of Pristina: Anti-corruption and Economic Crime Units .......... 131 VII.6. 1. Special Prosecution Office of the Republic of Kosovo (SPRK) ....................................... 131 VII.7. Kosovo Prosecutorial Council (KPC) .................................................................................... 133 VII.8. Financial Intelligent Unit (FIU) ............................................................................................. 134 VII.9. The Agency for Managing Seized and Confiscated Assets (AMSCA) ................................ 137 VII.10. The role/impact of the European Union in increasing the oversight and advocacy role of the civil society organizations ............................................................................................................. 142 VIII. The legality of the Pristina - Belgrade political dialogue: the queer case of Kosovo’s Historic Agreement ................................................................................................................................................ 146 VIII.1. From UN to EU – the dialogue endeavors of Kosovo and Serbia (2013-still ongoing) ..... 149 VIII.2. Agreements reached so far between Pristina and Belgrade and their state of implementation .................................................................................................................................... 152 3 VIII.3. The Association of Serb Municipalities (ASM) an NGO or executive body? Its Legal and Constitutional impact within the Europeanization
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Student Movements: 1968, 1981 and 1997 the Impact Of
    Student Movements: 1968, 1981 and 1997 The impact of students in mobilizing society to chant for the Republic of Kosovo Atdhe Hetemi Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of East European Languages and Cultures Supervisor Prof. dr. Rozita Dimova Department of East European Languages and Cultures Dean Prof. dr. Gita Deneckere Rector Prof. dr. Rik Van de Walle October 2019 i English Summary This dissertation examines the motives and central visions of three student demonstrations, each taking place within different historical and political contexts and each organized by a different generation of Kosovo Albanian students. The years 1968, 1981 and 1997 witnessed a proliferation of student mobilizations as collective responses demanding more national rights for Albanians in Kosovo. I argue that the students' main vision in all three movements was the political independence of Kosovo. Given the complexity of the students' goal, my analysis focuses on the influence and reactions of domestic and foreign powers vis-à-vis the University of Prishtina (hereafter UP), the students and their movements. Fueled by their desire for freedom from Serbian hegemony, the students played a central role in "preserving" and passing from one generation to the next the vision of "Republic" status for Kosovo. Kosova Republikë or the Republic of Kosovo (hereafter RK) status was a demand of all three student demonstrations, but the students' impact on state creation has generally been underestimated by politicians and public figures. Thus, the primary purpose of this study is to unearth the various and hitherto unknown or hidden roles of higher education – then the UP – and its students in shaping Kosovo's recent history.
    [Show full text]
  • Party Attitudes Towards the Society : Values, Religion, State and Individuality
    FES Policy Analysis Series 3 Party Attitudes Towards the Society: Values, Religion, State and Individuality EBERT May 2009, Prishtina FES Policy Analysis Series Policy Analysis Report #3: Party Attitudes Towards the Society: Values, Religion, State and Individuality Report Prepared by: Kushtrim Shaipi Agon Maliqi May, 2009, Prishtina TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. PROJECT BACKGROUND........................................................................................................................4 1.1. Rationale ................................................................................................................................................4 2. METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................................6 3. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK .....................................................................................................................7 3.1. Theoretical Overview: Values and the Sources of Their Development .............................................7 3.2. Values and Politics .............................................................................................................................9 3.3. Contemporary Debates on Values and Politics in the West ............................................................12 3.4. Values in the Context of Kosovo Politics..........................................................................................14 4. KOSOVO PARTIES AND VALUES...............................................................................................................17
    [Show full text]
  • Diplomarbeit
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by OTHES DIPLOMARBEIT Titel der Diplomarbeit „Die Rolle der Medien in post-Konflikt Gesellschaften“ Eine Analyse der Berichterstattung der März-Unruhen 2004 im Kosovo Verfasserin Bytyci Afrodita Angestrebter akademischer Grad: Magistra der Philosophie (Mag. phil.) Wien, 2009 Studienkennzahl lt. Studienblatt: A 301 297 Studienrichtung lt. Studienblatt: Publizistik- und Kommunikationswissenschaft Betreuer: Ao.Univ.-Prof. Dr. Fritz (Friedrich) Hausjell II „Der höchste Lohn für unsere Bemühungen ist nicht das, was wir dafür bekommen, sondern das, was wir dadurch werden.“ John Ruskin (1819-1900) III IV Danksagung Dankbar bin ich dafür, dass ich dankbar sein kann! In vorliegender Arbeit sind viele Augenblicke der Dankbarkeit und schöne Erinnerungen eingewebt, die diese Zeit und diesen Prozess begleitet haben. Dankbarkeit zeigen, geschieht als Reaktion – „danke“ sagen, ist meist anerzogen und folgt Automatismen. Wenn aber „danke“ in Worte gefasst und öffentlich zelebriert werden soll, dann wird das „Danke-sagen“ ein Augenblick des Innehaltens und ein besonderes Erlebnis, zumindest für den Verfasser. Meinen Eltern, die mir und meinen Geschwistern, in schweren Zeiten, nach ihren Möglichkeiten, eine Zukunft ermöglicht haben, die nicht selbstverständlich war, möchte ich besonders danken und Respekt zollen. Bedanken will ich mich bei meinen lieben Geschwistern, dafür dass sie mein Leben bereichern und mich während dieser Arbeit unterstützt haben, jede/r auf ihre/seiner Weise. Namentlich möchte ich mich noch bei Fr. Ilse Brunnauer-Schürl, für ihre nette und herzliche Fürsorge, bedanken! Meinen Freunden, hier namentlich unsichtbar, gebührt ebenfalls meine tiefe Dankbarkeit! Ein ganz besonderer Dank gilt meinem Betreuer - Ao.Univ.Prof.
    [Show full text]
  • Two Months Until Montenegro's Final Deadline to Fulfil EC's Seven
    ISSN 1800-7678 EuropeanElectronic monthly magazine pulse for European Integration – No 68, May 2011 FOCUS OF THIS ISSUE Two months until Montenegro’s final deadline to fulfil EC’s seven conditions interview Executive director of LGBT Forum Progress Zdravko Cimbaljević analysis Will Podgorica lose the status of the EU's regional favourite after Mladić's arrest research How far is the region from the EU’s target to lift the renewable energy share to 20% by 2020 European pulse Foreword / Calendar Foreword: Vote After three years of writing the new election law and six years of postponing its adoption, things Vladan Žugić seem fairly clear. Montenegro will not get the date for the opening of accession negotiations with EU unless it adopts the election law by 31 July, because this is the first, and perhaps the most im- portant, condition set by the European Commission. The culprit will be the opposition, but also the government and its unwillingness to tackle corruption and organised crime. The draft Law on Elections incorporates most of the suggestions of the opposition, the Venetian Commission and OSCE, and the only reason it cannot garner the support of the two-thirds of MPs in the Monte- negrin Parliament is a kind of whim more typical of pre-school children: I don’t want to play with (vote for) this! To make the paradox greater, the opposition parties don’t seem to realise that the Government could also call for another election under the current law and thus buy itself another few years in power. The leaders of the opposition, unless they want to keep that title for eternity, must enter the game with the government this time.
    [Show full text]
  • Report on War Crimes Trials in Serbia in 2012 Humanitarian Law Center January 2013
    Report on war crimes trials in Serbia in 2012 Humanitarian Law Center January 2013 1 Acronyms and Abbreviations BIA – Security Intelligence Agency BiH – Bosnia and Herzegovina CC – Criminal Code ECHR – European Convention on Human Rights FRY – Federal Republic of Yugoslavia HLC – Humanitarian Law Center ICTR – International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda ICTY – International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia JNA – Yugoslav People’s Army KLA – Kosovo Liberation Army KZJ – Criminal Code of Yugoslavia LAPBM – Liberation Army of Preševo, Bujanovac and Medveđa MUP – Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia PJP – Special Police Units RTS – Radio-Television Serbia SAO Krajina – Serbian Autonomous Region of Krajina SJB – Police station SUP – Secretariat for Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia TO – Territorial Defence Force TRZ – Office of the War Crimes Prosecutor VBA – Military Intelligence Agency 2 VJ – Yugoslav Army VRS – Army of Republika Srpska VSS – Supreme Court of Serbia VTO – Military Territorial Detachment CPC – Criminal Procedure Code 3 Introduction The Belgrade High Court (War Crimes Chamber) heard 13 cases of war crimes in 2012 and delivered judgements in seven1, convicting 37 and acquitting eight of the accused persons. The remaining six cases are ongoing.2 During 2012, the Belgrade Court of Appeals (War Crimes Department) delivered four judgements on appeals against decisions of the High Court in Belgrade, confirming the conviction of four defendants3, and finally clearing two accused individuals of criminal charges.4 In 2012, the courts of general jurisdiction heard two cases involving war crimes against the civilian population - the Orahovac/Rahovec case, tried in the High Court in Požarevac and the Kušnin/Kushnin case, tried in the High Court in Niš.
    [Show full text]
  • Xhafer Peci ENG
    INTERVIEW WITH XHAFER PECI Stari Trg | Date: October 21, 2020 Duration: 72 minutes Present: 1. Xhafer Peci (Speaker) 2. Anita Susuri (Interviewer) 3. Korab Krasniqi (Interviewer) 4. Renea Begolli (Camera) Transcription notation symbols of non-verbal communication: () – emotional communication {} – the speaker explains something using gestures. Other transcription conventions: [ ] - addition to the text to facilitate comprehension Footnotes are editorial additions to provide information on localities, names or expressions. Part One Anita Susuri: Mister Xhafer, please introduce yourself, tell us something about your origin, your family. Xhafer Peci: Yes, I am Xhafer Peci. I was born on 12.5.1958 in the village Boletin, in a poor family, like all the other families there. I finished elementary school in Boletin. I finished the first four years in Isa Boletini’s tower. It was a school, then they worked in a school aslo, but I finished all eight years in Boletin. I went to high school in Mitrovica and the Technical Faculty, mining branch… I finished it in Mitrovica and graduated in Mitrovica. As I said we were a poor family. My grandfather back then didn’t have work or a pension, my father had a small pension. We were educated in hard conditions. At that time my grandfather didn’t work much at home, but in war, where there was a need to go to war for Kosova, he did. He was Bajram Curri’s soldier, then with Azem Bejta. When Azem Bejta’s song is sung, they also sing of my grandfather. Then he fought with Ahmet Selaci, Boletin and Zharzha were the first who started the war against Draza Mihailović1 in Žirovnica and in Vllaq, and from there, they liberated the New Bazaar and continued to Xherxhovi Stuba, they went to Raška.
    [Show full text]
  • THE DISSOLUTION of YUGOSLAVIA (1990) Chaired by Jake Morris
    THE DISSOLUTION OF YUGOSLAVIA (1990) Chaired by Jake Morris Session XXII The Dissolution of Yugoslavia (1990) Topic A: The End of Communism in Yugoslavia Topic B: E thnic Conflict in the Balkans Committee Overview Parliamentary Procedure As Yugoslavia enters the 1990s, The Parliamentary Procedure used communism is collapsing across Eastern in this committee will be uniform Europe and by January 1990, the throughout the entire conference, although Communist Party of Yugoslavia ceases to because it is a crisis committee, sometimes exist. It is up to you the determine the parliamentary procedure may be future of Yugoslavia, a federal republic that overlooked to keep the fast pace of the has just lost the only party that has led it committee. In the event of crises, delegates since World War II. Will you usher in a new may change Parliamentary Procedure to era of liberal democracy or will you attempt reflect the urgency of said crisis. to bring back the Communist party? Especially if democracy is the goal, how will you reconcile the different hopes and dreams of the many ethnic and religious groups within Yugoslavia? Sensing a looming crisis in the Balkans, the Americans and Soviets have invited you to a special summit to determine the future of Yugoslavia on February 1st, 1990. Besides the tensions surrounding the collapse of the Communist party, many are worried about ethnic and religious conflict destroying the fragile state. Your job is to work diligently to preserve peace while also protecting your political ideology and ethnic/religious group. Delegates should prepare for foreign interference, economic calamity, and other unforeseen challenges.
    [Show full text]
  • History&Future Tarih&Gelecek
    Tarih ve Gelecek Dergisi, Haziran 2021, Cilt 7, Sayı 2 e-ISSN 2458-7672 691 https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/jhf Journal of History and Future, June 2021, Volume 7, Issue 2 Indexed by Tarih&GelecekDergisi HistoryJournal of &Future Institute of History “Ali Hadri” Prishtinë, Sreet “Arbnor and Astrit Dehari”, no.25, Prof. Ass. Dr. Lagja e Spitalit no.3, 10 000, Prishtina, Skender ZHITIA Republic of Kosovo [email protected] ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1684-9899 Başvuruda bulundu. Kabul edildi. Applied Accepted Eser Geçmişi / Article Past: 22/05/2021 30/05/2021 Araştırma Makalesi DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21551/jhf.939845 Research Paper Orjinal Makale / Orginal Paper The Anti-Albanian Policy of the Serbian State, Programs and Methods (XIX-XX) Sırp Devleti’nin Arnavut Karşıtı Politikaları, Programları ve Yöntemleri (XIX. ve XX. yüzyıllarda) Abstract From the beginnings of the independence of the Serbian state (at the beginning of the XIX century), its leaders showed expansionist interests in the (occupied) territories and people living within the Ottoman Empire. This case includes territories inhabited by Albanians (who, being the majority of the Islamic faith, were considered part of the Muslim population in the Balkan Peninsula). These anti-Albanian interests, initially through policies, programs and methods, prepared the national and the international opinion about the annihilation and colonization intentions on the territories inhabited by Albanians, especially in Kosovo. In addition to this, in the historical retrospect, Albanians during the XIX-XX centuries faced orthodox political calls for the creation of a state with Serbian orientation in the territories of the former Serbian king Car Dushani (1331-1355), with clear intentions for a Great Serbia to be formed (all Slavs in one state) for all South Slavs, where Serbia would have the leading role.
    [Show full text]
  • Shkëlzen Maliqi - Shembja E Jugosllavisë, Kosova Dhe Rrëfime Të Tjera Baton Haxhiu SHKËLZEN MALIQI - SHEMBJA E JUGOSLLAVISË, KOSOVA DHE RRËFIME TË TJERA Botimi I Dytë
    Baton Haxhiu Shkëlzen Maliqi - Shembja e Jugosllavisë, Kosova dhe rrëfime të tjera Baton Haxhiu SHKËLZEN MALIQI - SHEMBJA E JUGOSLLAVISË, KOSOVA DHE RRËFIME TË TJERA Botimi i dytë (Botimi i parë: UET Press, 2011) Copyright © autori Kolona: Biograf Design & Layout: ORBIS, Prizren Ky libër është i formatit eBook. Botimet Filozofa Urbane ISBN: 978-9951-641-18-0 Prishtinë, 2013 www.flozofaurbane.com Shkëlzen Maliqi - Shembja e Jugosllavisë, Kosova dhe rrëfime të tjera Hyrje Si u bëra i famshëm “brenda natës” Baton Haxhiu: Para vitit 1982 Shkëlzen Maliqin në Kosovë pak kush e ka njohur si njeri të shkrimit. Në jetën e shkronjave dhe debateve por edhe të politikës thuhet se ju ka futur një letër e hapur e botuar në Revistën Nin të Beogradit. Letra e hapur dre- jtuar akademikut serb Pavle Iviç ju bëri që të dilni nga gëzhoja e anonimitetit. Pse në të vërtetë e shkruat letrën? Shkëlzen Maliqi: është e vërtetë se në kohën që shkrova atë letër reagim në Kosovë nuk më njihnin... Posa isha kthyer nga Beogradi, ku pata kaluar një periudhë bukur të gjatë të jetës, 16 vjet. As në Beograd nuk kam pas krijuar emër publik. Atëherë isha 35 vjeç dhe nuk kisha asgjë pos bibliotekës personale, nja tre- katër mijë librave, që i kisha sjell nga Beogradi. Që nga shtatori i vitit 1982 po prisja të gjeja ndonjë punë. Kjo nuk shkonte aq lehtë edhe pse “lidhjet” i kam pasur shumë të forta. Babai im, Mehmet Maliqi, ishte atëherë ministër i rendit në Kosovë, post shumë i fuqishëm dhe i frikshëm. Njerëzit sot do të men- donin, si edhe atëherë, se ka mjafuar një falë e tij për të më gjetur punë çfarë dëshiroja.
    [Show full text]
  • Europe Report, Nr. 32: Kosovo Spring
    KOSOVO SPRING 20 March 1998 ICG Report Pristina- Sarajevo Table of Contents I. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................1 II. KOSOVO SITUATION ........................................................................................................................2 A. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ..................................................................................................................2 1. Importance of Kosovo for Serbs .....................................................................................................2 2. Importance of Kosovo for Kosovars ...............................................................................................3 B. SOCIOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ..............................................................................................................3 1. Albanians in the Region..................................................................................................................3 2. Language and Religion...................................................................................................................4 3. Demographics .................................................................................................................................4 4. Diaspora ..........................................................................................................................................5 C. THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION...........................................................................................................6
    [Show full text]
  • Orahovac/Rahovec
    Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe MISSION IN KOSOVO Democratisation Municipal Profile: Orahovac/Rahovec 1 April 2000 Leposavic Leposaviq Kosovska Mitrovica Zvecan Mitrovice Zubin Potok Zvecan Zubin Potok Podujevo Podujeve Vucitrn Istok Vushtrri Istog Srbica Skenderaj Obilic Pristina Pec Obiliq Prishtine Peje Glogovac Kosovska Klina Kosovo Polje Gllogoc Novo Brdo Kamenica Kline Fushe Kosove Novo Berde Kamenica Decani Lipljan Decan Lipjan ORAHOVAC Stimlje RAHOVEC Shtime Gnjilane Djakovica Suva Reka Gjilani Gjakove Urosevac Suhareke Ferizaj Vitina Viti Strpce Kacanik Shterpce Prizren Kacaniku Prizren Gora Dragashi Map of Kosovo, produced by the HCIC GIS Unit March 2000. Boundaries or place names do not imply official recognition by UNMIK or the OSCE. Table of Contents 1. Introduction..........................................................................................................3 Table 2.1: Ethnic Composition, Including IDPs......................................................3 2. Civil Administration ............................................................................................3 Table 3.1: UN-Appointed Municipal Council .........................................................4 Table 3.2: UN-Appointed Municipal Administrative Board...................................5 3. Political Parties.....................................................................................................5 Table 4.1: Political Parties......................................................................................5
    [Show full text]
  • Interview with Albertina Ajeti-Binaku
    INTERVIEW WITH ALBERTINA AJETI-BINAKU Pristina | Date: April 6, 2018 Duration: 54 minutes Present: 1. Albertina Ajeti-Binaku (Speaker) 2. Jeta Rexha (Interviewer) 3. Donjetë Berisha (Camera) Transcription notation symbols of non-verbal communication: () – emotional communication {} – the speaker explains something using gestures. Other transcription conventions: [ ] - addition to the text to facilitate comprehension Footnotes are editorial additions to provide information on localities, names or expressions. Part One Jeta Rexha: Can you please introduce yourself, describe yourself briefly? ​ Albertina Ajeti-Binaku: Okay, I am Albertina Ajeti-Binaku. I am 47 years old, a mother of three. I am ​ the director of the Sekretariati i Përbashkët Teknik [Common Technical Secretariat] within the ​ cross-border partnership between Kosovo and Macedonia. This is a little bit about myself. Jeta Rexha: Now, please tell me, what do you remember from the protests of March ’89, from ’80 to ​ ’89? Albertina Ajeti-Binaku: That was the time when it just started…We are speaking about the ‘80s. From ​ a good childhood, so to say, from a space that we had as children at that time and in high school. The situation started getting worse, considering the situation in the entire former Yugoslavia, of course it also affected Kosovo. And to be honest, I remember it was I think the fourth year of high school when the miners isolated themselves in Mitrovica at that time. I remember we were in the fourth year of high school and the students were protesting in solidarity with the miners. They didn’t let us enter because we weren’t students, and we did whatever we could in order to enter the 25 May hall, the current 1 October, of that time.
    [Show full text]