Inside Prishtina: History of the OSCE building October 30 - November 12, 2009 Issue No. 26 www.prishtinainsight.com Free copy Kosovo’s New Image OPINION to Attract Prishtina Investment and Candidates in Recognitions Election Debate Spain and The Hague to be targeted as part of 6million euro campaign > page 6 An international campaign to transform Kosovo’s image ARTE was launched on Monday with Jazzing up the slogan “Kosovo – The Prishtina Young Europeans”. > page 9 Turn to page 5 for the full story GUIDE Coastal Montenegro: Archaeological Oasis Serbia to Ease Travel for Foreigners of the eastern Coming From Kosovo Adriatic Interior minister will lift restrictions on foreign nationals crossing from Kosovo into Serbia - but no change in sight for > page 8 Kosovo passport holders. one can cross over without a prob- porarily administered by the UN Kosovo-Serbia border for hours FOOD & DRINK By Lawrence Marzouk lem,” the Interior Minister said. under UN Resolution 1244. As such, because some members of the con- No Revolution at “There will be stamps annulling all although it does not control voy, trying to return to the UK, had erbia is to lift restrictions on Kosovo visas or stamps from the so- Kosovo’s land and air borders, it flown into Pristina. foreign passport-holders trav- Prishtina’s Favourite called Republic of Kosovo.” considers those entering the coun- From January 1, Serbia expects to Selling from Kosovo to Serbia, Chinese Dacic, who comes from Prizren, try through these ports ‘illegally join the European Union’s so-called the Serbian Interior Minister has refused to provide a date for the lift- present’ in Serbia. white Schengen list, which will told BIRN Kosovo. ing of the restrictions but said the This has meant that travellers fly- mean Serbian citizens can travel to > page 10 Until now, foreigners living in ministry was discussing how to ing into Pristina, or entering and through most of the EU without Kosovo have been barred from entering Serbia if they do not pos- avoid foreigners “paying unneces- Kosovo by land from Macedonia, a visa. The EU has not extended the NEIGHBOURHOOD sess a valid Serbian entry stamp. sary costs”. Albania or Montenegro, have had to right to residents of Kosovo, These can only be obtained at “offi- In the same interview, the exit Kosovo through one of these whether or not they are Serbs. Concerns Grow as cial” international border points, Interior Minister ruled out extend- countries before crossing into Dacic said this had not been “a not on crossings between Serbia and ing the same privilege to travellers Serbia. good decision but is a unilateral Bosnians Reject Kosovo or between Kosovo and the holding Kosovo passports. “All those Foreign nationals with Kosovo decision by the EC [European Reform Package other neighbouring countries. who want to go to Serbia have stamps in their passport have also Commission], which means that Ivica Dacic told BIRN’s Life in Serbian documents,” he said. been turned back at Serbian border people in Kosovo in a way are not > page 12 Kosovo TV show that the situation “Dozens of Albanians are seeking crossings, according to the British included in the visa liberalisation was about to change. Serbian passports,” he added. foreign office. A recent case saw and will [still] need Schengen “We will solve these practical Serbia considers Kosovo an inte- more than a dozen lorries carrying visas”. FEATURE problems, which will mean every- gral part of its territory, albeit tem- aid from Britain blocked on the continues on page 3 Political News Business Developments Spark The Serbian or Kosovar Political Interference Kosovo Identity Passport Conundrum ‘Damaging’ Kosovo Public Firms Debate Only two months remain before the cit- Political interference in the running of > page 7 izens of Serbia will be using their new major public companies in Kosovo is biometric passports to travel without resulting in overstaffing and inefficien- visas across the EU. But the fate of Serbs cy, economic experts have told Prishtina and Albanians living in Kosovo remains Insight. unclear. Kosovars see key public enterprises, Kosovo Albanians are ... such as Post and ... page 3 page 5 is supported by: 2 • October 30 - November 12, 2009 marketing news • October 30 - November 12, 2009 3 The Passport Conundrum Editor’s word As Serbia prepares to join the EU’s visa-free travel scheme, Kosovo Kufiri Serbs and Albanians are being given conflicting messages over which passports to apply for. By Lawrence Marzouk orders points in the Balkans, or By Besiana Xharra Kufiri in Albanian, are a nightmare, Bbut the Kosovo-Serbia crossings are bordering on madness. My last trip to Belgrade, via Macedonia to nly two months remain before the citi- collect the correct stamps, is a case in point. zens of Serbia will be using their new An hour-long wait on the Kosovo- Obiometric passports to travel without Macedonia border was a small irritation; visas across the EU. But the fate of Serbs and my extra special treatment by the Serbian Albanians living in Kosovo remains unclear. border guards was something else. Kosovo Albanians are, and have been, Maybe it was a mistake to explain I had applying for Serbian passports and Kosovo Photo byPhoto FoNet come from Kosovo, maybe I should have Serbs have been opting for documents from More than 1,500 Kosovo Albanians have secured Serbian biometric passports cleaned my car, or removed the map with the Republic of Kosovo. Both are gambling on they are citizens of Serbia. The reason for the Trajkovic, a senior official of the Serb ‘Kosova’ emblazoned across the top, or what will serve them best, as Belgrade, closure of offices in Kosovo is for security rea- National Council in Gracanica. She said: “I maybe it was my Arabic surname, which I Prishtina and Brussels provide different, and sons, as the checks in Belgrade will be know that this is bad news for Serbs living in happen to share with a high-ranking Hamas sometimes conflicting, messages. stricter,” said Ivanovic. Kosovo, but in question are 6 million Serbian official. Lima, not his real name, is an Albanian res- “Until now, Serbian passports for citizens of residents who are to benefit, therefore I wel- Whatever the reason, the border guards ident of Kosovo. He has taken advantage of Kosovo had the area where it was issued writ- come this decision,” she said. quickly set about taking my Clio to pieces, the option of dual citizenship and has ten on them, such as Pec, Prishtina, Gjakova Hajredin Kuqi, Kosovo’s deputy prime min- inserting various hi-tech cameras into its received a biometric passport from Serbia. etc. Now, in the biometric passports for ister, says that the European Commission’s every orifice, with a diligence rarely seen in “Before, I had a Yugoslav passport so it was Kosovo ‘Belgrade for Kosovo and Metohija’ decision indicates that Kosovo’s government low-ranking state employees. easier for me to apply for a Serbian biometric will be written.” is the only authority in the country. He called After what seemed to be the average lifes- passport, which I received a few months ago,” Passports issued with ‘Belgrade for Kosovo on Kosovo citizens not to be fooled into going pan of a border guard had elapsed, the men in said Lima. and Metohija’ will not be valid for visa-free to Belgrade to apply for Serbian passports. uniform finally cracked and demanded: “Just Lima lives in Prishtina and applied for his travel, the European Commission has said. “I call on the citizens of Kosovo, Albanians tell us where the drugs are!” Serbian Passport in Kosovo Polje/Fushe But it remains unclear how border guards and the Serbs, to apply for passports of the I politely informed them that I was a jour- Kosove, which is located only three miles from across the 27 countries will administer this Republic of Kosovo as Kosovo will very soon nalist who did not have a habit of transport- the capital. This is where, since the end of the and what will happen to the 1,500 Kosovo be included in visa liberalisation,” said Kuqi. ing large quantities of narcotics across Kosovo conflict, Serbia’s Interior Ministry has Albanians who received biometric passports He added that his government is in frequent international boundaries. issued Serbian passports to Prishtina residents. before the EC’s decision. contact with the European Commission, The jobs-worth then followed my out- “Kosovo’s constitution allows me to have The European Commission told Prishtina which is jointly preparing feasibility reports stretched finger towards a pile of personal two citizenships, so I applied for a Serbian Insight that it would not comment on the issue on the problem of Serbian passports for affects spread across a table and picked out passport because, with their passport, it will until the final meeting on visa-free travel for Kosovars and a way forward for Kosovo my press card. be easier for me to travel, especially now Serbs Serbia on November 30 which may, it said, towards visa liberalisation, which will be pub- Blushing, he blurted out some apologies. will not need visas to travel,” Lima said. include measures to stop Kosovars travelling lished in November. And, as he handed back my passport and car Hoping to take advantage of visa-free trav- freely with Serbian passports. Uncertainty over the future and conflicting papers with a courtesy hitherto unseen, he el, more than 1,500 Albanian citizens of As a result of the EC policy, many Kosovars messages has led the Serbs of Kosovo to begin offered an explanation: “I’m sorry. We Kosovo have secured Serbian biometric pass- have been seeking new addresses across the applying for passports of the Republic of thought you were Al Qaeda.” ports, Ivica Dacic, Minister of Internal border in Serbia to ensure that they are part of Kosovo.