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Nation: Opinion: Prishtina Vucic reassures We need to Kosovo Serbs talk about Insight during visit. Charlie. page 4 page 14

High-risk,from high-paying jobs in warzones offer escape

kosovofrom economic stagnation at home. Page 6 to Kabul 2 n January 16-29, 2015 n Prishtina Insight

PageTwoKosovo-Serbia Relations in 2015

Dialogue will con- tinue in Brussels in from the editor February: Serbian PM Aleksandar Vucic visited Kosovo this week but The forgotten Christmas did not meet with his Serbia’s 2015 OSCE counterparts, saying he Chairmanship: Serbia bomber story would see Kosovo Prime assumed the chairman- Minister Isa Mustafa ship of the OSCE at the Some three weeks have passed, finally taking a more constructive in Brussels when the beginning of the year and we still know little about why approach to its former province. Kosovo-Serbia dialogue from Switzerland. The a man from Belgrade, Slobodan But with Belgrade’s people in- resumes in February. organization, composed Gavric — reportedly an employee stalled in parliament and the gov- There are some rumors of 57 states, has its of Serbia’s Ministry of Agricul- ernment via Srpska List, Serbia’s that it may be handled biggest field mission ture — was arrested in Prishtina motives still must be looked with at the Foreign Minister in Kosovo. Serbia’s while police say he was prepar- a certain degree of suspicion. level, so that original leadership role could ing to commit an act of terrorism Still, it seems doubtful that Ser- high-level dealmakers bring downsizing in the that could have easily eclipsed bia had any role in this case. Serbia Hashim Thaci and Ivica Kosovo mission as the the attacks in would have little to gain and a lot to Dacic, former prime organization increases Paris in scale. lose from a bombing in Prishtina, ministers turned foreign its presence in Ukraine. Strangely, the and probably would be far more ministers, could back at media, the interested in thwarting such an at- the helm once more. Serbia’s EU accession government tack. Nevertheless, that itself isn’t negotiations: Opening and the public enough to allay suspicion. Formation of the As- Chapter 35 of Serbia’s seem to have Nate I suspect that had Gavric been sociation of Serbian- EU accession package moved onto Tabak a Muslim, but the circumstances majority municipali- deals primarily with other things. Editor-in-Chief identical, the response would have ties: On April 19, 2013, its relationship with Had a Koso- been far different, given how eager Kosovo and Serbia both Kosovo. Usually reserved var – especially the government has been to show agreed to establish a for “other issues,” and one employed itself clamping down on Islamic body for Kosovo munici- dealt with at the end of by the Kosovo government — been terrorism. This shows a serious palities whose residents the accession process, arrested in Belgrade with a car full mismatch in how Kosovo is per- are predominantly this chapter is to be of explosives it’s hard to imagine ceiving threats to national security. Serb that would have one of the first Serbia there not being a more different The story could easily turn oversight over educa- opens, Brussels has response. out to be a nonevent. Serbian me- tion, culture, health mandated. But how it In some ways it’s a positive sign dia have reported that Gavric has and urban planning will be implemented re- that there hasn’t been a more seri- claimed he was going to sell the for the majority-Serb mains unclear. “Nobody ous backlash, which potentially explosives in Albania. Given the community, and an knows exactly what that could have led to violence against lack of evidence thus far showing unspecified degree of means,” Serbian foreign the Serb community in Kosovo. why he’d want to set off a bomb in autonomy. More than minister Ivica Dacic said But there’s also a danger in the ap- Prishtina, that explanation certain- one and a half years in December. “Given parent indifference that a reported ly seems within the realm of pos- later, the association has that there are different employee of a formerly hostile gov- sibility. If that is the case, Kosovo not been formed and approaches on Kosovo’s ernment is being accused of plot- authorities owe an explanation there is a disagreement status in the EU, at this ting an act of terrorism in Kosovo. for why they quickly declared that over the nature of the moment there is no While Serbia does not represent they’d thwarted an act of terror. association. Both Serbia intention to include a the threat that it once did, for most Unfortunately a gag order in and Kosovo are produc- change of our position of the post-war period the country the case has kept the public in the ing drafts of a statute on the status of Kosovo.” has been a more destructive influ- dark. While there certainly need to defining its purview, and ence than not in Kosovo, particu- be considerations for the integrity despite disagreement larly in the north. of the judicial process and national between Kosovo and The EU-brokered talks in Brus- security, three weeks in, Kosovars Serbia, the Brussels has sels have clearly changed Kosovo- deserve to know the real story here made it clear that estab- Serbia relations for the better, and and the nature of the threat to their lishing the association is there are real signs that Belgrade is country. a key priority for 2015.

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20,000 The number Kosovars who left the the country in 2014 with the aim of crossing into the EU il- legally via Hungary, according National Council for European Integration. Serbian Prime Minister Alek- Campaign against BIRN sandar Vucic told Kosovo culminates in Serbia Serbs that he hasn’t forgot- An almost year-long cam- ter’s claim that Brussels ten them. paign aimed at marking funds BIRN to spread BIRN as a “spy” organi- falsehoods about his ad- sation and its members ministration, describing as foreign mercenaries them as “baseless”. culminated on January “The EU stands 9 when Serbian Prime by independent and In Strpce, Vucic Minister Aleksandar courageous journal- Vucic called BIRN “liars”. ism and freedom of The statement came speech across Europe after BIRN published and beyond. Freedom an investigation, which of expression is a basic is still ‘their’ PM said Serbia's state-owned principle of democracy,” Serbian premier urges Serbs to stay during visit to power company, EPS, Maja Kocijancic, spokes- had awarded a contract person for the European Kosovo town, vowing to support them. to de-water the Tamnava Commission for neigh- mine to a consortium of bourhood policy and en- two companies with no largement negotiations, relevant experience, one said. By Una Hajdari Minister of Kosovo - is "their" Prime of whose management Vucic then respond- Minister, and this visit represented members is involved in ed by accusing Kocija- Kosovo Serb children in the village a top honor. court proceeding. ncic of trying to silence Strpce of Strpce on Wednesday donned In the event, Vucic tried not to The following day, him on behalf of the EU. Serbian traditional dress before disappoint. “The government of speaking at a press con- “Serbia supports in- Pasjane gathering at the local hall of culture Serbia, and Serbia itself, has not and ference at the headquar- dependent and daring to welcome their guest of honor, will not forget the people in Strpce ters of his party, Vucic de- journalism, and freedom Gracanica the Prime Minister of Serbia. and the rest in Kosovo and Metohi- nounced the BIRN report of speech throughout Strpce was Two days earlier they heard ja,” Vucic said in his speech in front of as the work of liars. Europe and beyond, and one of three that Aleksandar Vucic was com- the Dom Kulture and after being of- “Tell those liars that that freedom of expres- towns, ing to visit their town and that fered the customary pogaca bread. they have lied again. sion is a fundamental including they would be the ones to welcome “The government of Serbia will That’s all I have to say,” democratic principle,” Pasjane and him. With the Prime Minister being offer much greater support. We will the Prime Minister said. he said. Gracanica, more than an hour late, some chil- invest in your road infrastructure. “It’s important for “That is why I am as- that Vucic dren were itching to get out of their We will invest in the food and food people to know [who tonished by the fact that visited on outfits. They waited another 40 processing industry, so that you published the investiga- Maja Kocijancic is trying Wednesday minutes in the freezing cold, with will know how to better sell and tion],” he added. “They to shut me up on behalf of in honor of a couple hundred other residents profit from the goods you produce,” got the money from [Mi- the EU, to forbid me even Serbian Or- of Strpce carrying Serbian flags. Vucic continued, generating a chael] Davenport [head to reply to journalists’ thodox New Strpce was one of three towns, round of applause. of the EU delegation in questions,” Vucic added. Year’s. including Pasjane and Gracanica, Vucic also urged Serbs to stay Belgrade] and the EU to Many pro-govern- that Vucic visited on Wednesday in Kosovo and not sell up. “I know speak against the Serbi- ment media in the coun- in honor of Serbian Orthodox New Albanians will offer a lot of money an government,” Vucic try have joined the Prime Year’s. for your houses. I ask you not to sell continued. Minister’s attack on BIRN, For most of the remaining your houses. You are the ones who The EU has since re- with their tendentious re- Serbs in Kosovo, who cherish ties protect and build our country,” he jected the Prime Minis- porting on the issue. to Serbia, Vucic - not the Prime said. Prishtina Insight nJanuary 16-29, 2015 n 5

travels around with her parents. Vucic’s visit also had a more specifically political purpose, be- yond reassuring Kosovo Serbs that Briefly Serbia had not forgotten its former province. It was also designed to under- Spike in illegal migration line Belgrade's continuing support “damaging Kosovo’s EU for the Serbian List for Kosovo and Hopes.” Kosovo's National Metohija, a party which won eight Council for European Integra- of the 120 seats in the Kosovo as- tion has warned that illegal sembly in Kosovo's last elections. migration of Kosovars to the EU “I told my people who joined rose steeply last year. Around the Prishtina government: You did 20,000 Kosovars are thought not go in there to become richer. A to have left Kosovo in 2014 with You did it so that our people in Ko- the aim of illegally crossing the sovo and Metohija become richer Serbian-Hungarian border to than they are today. You will fight reach the EU. Most travel by or- for them,” Vucic noted. ganized buses from to Suboti- The Serbian List is a crucial ca, a town in Serbia close to the factor in the implementation of border of EU member Hungary, the Brussels agreement, which is and then attempt to cross the aimed at "normalising" relations border by foot or through illegal between Kosovo and Serbia - channels. “Other than the dam- which does not recognise Kosovo's age this phenomenon has done independence. to Kosovo’s image within the Locals seemed cheered by the An important component EU, it could have a direct impact oration. “I think it’s very nice that of the EU-led deal concerns the on the visa liberalization pro- he came. Our hopes lie with Serbia creation of the Association of Ser- cess,” EU Integration Minister and we’re hoping they don’t betray bian Municipalities in Kosovo with Bekim Collaku said. us,” Marica Pesic, 65, who works at broad powers of self-rule. the refugee center in Strpce, said. However, many Kosovo Serbs Minister urged to quit for “Vucic said he’d be investing say the Brussels agreement and ‘savages’ statement. Calls in Strpce. The ski center is the only the Serbian List MPs, which now have increased for the res- thing people live off of since the has two ministers and a deputy ignation of Kosovo minister factories closed - and there is no ag- PM in the Kosovo government, be- Aleksandar Jablanovic after he riculture,” she added. Her recently trayed them. BACKING described Albanian protest- married daughter is not employed Strpce, like Pasjane and Gra- PARALLEL ers who rallied against Serb and is considering moving away. canica, all have mayors from the pilgrims at Orthodox Christmas Situated on the side of a moun- Serbian list. Officially, these may- B STRUCTURES as ‘savages.’ Jablanovic made tain in the Sharr range, the Serbi- ors are part of the Kosovo system Confusingly, his comment on the eve of an-majority community mainly – but the fact that Belgrade backs Vucic’s gov- Orthodox Christmas, January 6, serves as stopping point for peo- the List makes it easier for staunch ernment has after about 100 Kosovo Alba- ple traveling to the Brezovica ski opponents of the independence of undermined nian protesters rallied against resort, Kosovo’s top winter desti- Kosovo to accept them. the Brussels Serb pilgrims from Belgrade nation. Confusingly, Vucic’s govern- agreement who tried to visit an Orthodox It is home to 7,000 inhabitants ment has undermined the Brussels by continu- church in Gjakova. according to the 2011 Kosovo cen- agreement by continuing to back ing to back sus. However, the majority of Serbs so-called "parallel structures" in so-called War court remains under in Kosovo boycotted the census. Kosovo, responsible only to Serbia. “parallel wraps. Kosovo’s parliament is Some claim that around 13,000 Thus, mayor Bratislav Nikolic, structures” due to pass legislation setting live in the Strpce zupa, or region. after being elected mayor in local in Kosovo, up a new EU-backed special A couple of people in the crowd elections in Kosovo, was also cho- responsible court to try war crimes, but had come all the way from Serbia. sen to be mayor of the Serbian-run only to Ser- exact details about the nature “I live in Belgrade. I came here to parallel structures. bia. of the court are still unknown. my grandma and grandpa for the Currently he is mayor accord- Prime Minister Isa Mustafa’s holidays. I like it more here than in ing to both systems, both of which C recently-formed government Belgrade – I wouldn’t mind living maintain offices in the same build- has vowed to expedite a vote here,” said Anja Seslija, 14, whose ing in the municipality of Strpce. in parliament on new legisla- parents were born and raised in Meanwhile, not all Serbs were tion that would set in motion Ferizaj - Urosevac to the Serbs. wowed by the Serbian Prime Min- the creation of the special However, her friend who lives ister's promises. Some say they court which is expected to try in Strpce says that she doesn’t feel have heard it all before. former Kosovo Liberation Army at ease living in Albanian-majority “I don’t expect anything to officials for war crimes. The Kosovo. change after the visit. Vucic should voting is expected to take place “There are places we can go out come and spend 24 hours with us, in February, although three op- to, but Albanians are there, too, so I see what it’s really like,” Randjel Fil- position parties in parliament don’t feel very comfortable,” Boja- ipovic, 22, said. “My goal is to find a have already made clear they na Geric, aged 15, said. She usually way to move to the West.” will vote against it. 6 n January 16-29, 2015 n Prishtina Insight Cover

Kosovars follow the money to warzones By Valerie Plesch in Gjilan Ismaili’s compound. Contractors increasingly seek “At that moment, I thought I It was barely 4:30am one early July was in a dream,” Ismaili recalled. high-paying jobs in Africa as US pulls day in 2013 in Afghanistan’s dusty “When I woke up I heard the capital, Kabul, and almost every- sounds, ‘Go out, go out, we’re under out from Afghanistan. body was still asleep when a thun- attack, we’re under attack, we’re derous noise jolted everyone from under attack!’ ” their beds: a truck packed with The attack ended up killing explosives had managed to blast at least eight foreigners and two through the front gates of Orhan Afghan civilians. The remaining Prishtina Insight nJanuary 16-29, 2015 n 7

Fiona Sahiti talks to her father, Ylber, on Skype. He has been working at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan as a mechanic since July 2012. photos/valerie plesch Kosovars follow the money to warzones four armed attackers who entered mortar fire was frequent, but the as he could. peak of the US Army’s presence in the compound were soon killed by attack in Kabul was the biggest and He is not alone. Ismaili is one Kosovo. Located on the outskirts of security personnel, mostly Ameri- most frightening. “I knew this was of a wave of Kosovars who have Ferizaj, it helped sustain the town’s can civilian contractors. Ismaili, 28, Afghanistan, a danger zone. Any- gone off to distant and sometimes economy. survived the assault by Taliban in- time something could happen,” he dangerous lands to work on behalf Many Kosovars working at surgents on his compound, Camp recalled. of the US government and military, Bondsteel from the Ferizaj region Pinnacle. Despite the daily security risks mainly in support jobs for the US went on to work with large US He had already become ac- that came with working in a hostile Army. Many already worked at contractors like DynCorp Interna- customed to attacks elsewhere environment like Afghanistan, he Camp Bondsteel, which employed tional, KBR, Fluor, and AECOM in in Afghanistan, where incoming was determined to stay on as long more than 6,000 Kosovars at the Afghanistan and Iraq. Most of the 8 n January 16-29, 2015 n Prishtina Insight Cover

work comes under the US Army’s checking the websites of various Logistics Civil Augmentation Pro- companies for job openings in Af- gram IV, LOGCAP, which provides ghanistan and elsewhere. “I want support and logistics for the US to go again to make money and to troops stationed in Afghanistan, think of the future,” he said. Iraq, and Kuwait and now large Besides the everyday security swathes of Africa, including the risks faced in Afghanistan, other Central African Republic, Uganda, hazards exist on military bases. Chad, and Djibouti, which come Fatmir Ferati, 47, a plumber from under US Africa Command. Ferizaj, left Kosovo in November Most contractors require their 2006 to work with KBR and then employees to sign documents in for Fluor in Afghanistan. He stayed which they acknowledge the risks on for six years until an accident associated with working in a hos- occurred while working at Bagram tile environment. Some contracts Airfield. say that in the event of death, there “I was waiting in front of the is no guarantee that the employee’s gate in a parking zone, and he just body will be brought home. De- came from behind. He almost spite these risks, many Kosovars killed me,” Ferati said, describing are desperate to go and sign up. the accident apparently caused At least one Kosovar contrac- by a 20-year-old American soldier tor, a woman from Ferizaj, was driving a forklift. The accident killed in Afghanistan in 2011, while seriously injured his lower spine. another Kosovar woman was re- In the end, he was forced to come portedly abducted some years back to Kosovo to deal with law- before that but later released. One suits and start physical therapy. “I Kosovar who was also with Ismaili never was thinking about leaving in Kabul returned to Kosovo short- Afghanistan,” he said. ly after the Taliban attack. He was Others still working in Afghani- left traumatized by the events and stan hope they can stay as long as unable to continue living in a war they can. Ylber Sahiti became a taxi zone. driver in his hometown of Ferizaj Hailing from Gjilan, a town in shortly after returning to Kosovo in eastern Kosovo that has also sent 1999 as a refugee from Austria. He many Kosovars to Afghanistan acquired a steady stream of clients Fiona and Bleona Sahiti’s father, Ylber, is unsure about his future work- over the years, Ismaili was earn- but it was not enough to support a ing in Afghanistan as US forces pull out. ing around $70,000, (60,000 eu- growing family. In the summer of ros) a year, an unheard-of salary 2012, he sold his car for 800 euros. back home, where wages average He didn’t need it any longer as he less than 400 euros per month. He was preparing to leave for Afghani- worked as a quality assurance and stan. logistics supervisor for DynCorp Sahiti, 47, is confined to Bagram under their multimillion dollar Af- Airfield, the largest US base in Af- ghan police training program. Dyn- ghanistan, set against the tower- Corp received 69 per cent of State ing Hindu Kush mountains, about Department funds for reconstruc- 40 kilometers north of the capital. tion in Afghanistan, a total of $2.8 Sahiti works seven-day weeks as billion, making them the top recipi- a mechanic in a garage repairing ent of reconstruction funding. armored MaxxPro Mine Resistant DynCorp had also implement- Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehi- ed a similar program in Kosovo cles and other military trucks. He after the war. Ismaili flew on heli- works with ten other men, six of copters throughout Afghanistan to whom are Kosovars, all from Feri- inspect DynCorp’s multiple train- zaj. ing bases and oversaw their clo- It is estimated that contrac- sure after the bases were handed tors like AECOM and Fluor have over to the Afghan National Police. employed more than 8,000 Koso- “I was preparing myself [to go vars since the beginning of the war home] because all the camps were in Afghanistan. They bring in 50 to closing,” Ismaili said. In the end, 55 million euros annually, accord- he was given two weeks’ notice ing to a 2011 report prepared by the and returned to Gjilan at the end GAP Institute for Advanced Stud- of 2013. He now spends his days ies, a think tank in Pristina. Prishtina Insight nJanuary 16-29, 2015 n 9

Valmir Gashi has been working in Kandahar, Afghanistan with different contractors since 2010. He visited his hometown of Ferizaj during the holidays and is plan- ning on moving from Afghanistan to the Central African Republic later this year to work with Ecolog.

But, as the drawdown of US troops continues in Afghanistan, the number of people losing their jobs rises. Sahiti, whose American friends at the base call him “Rain- bow” - the English translation of his Albanian name - is aware that this year, many soldiers will be go- ing home. “They finished the job here,” he said. On December 28, 2014 Presi- dent Barack Obama announced the official end of America’s long- est war and introduced its new mission in Afghanistan, Resolute Support, a NATO-led mission that will consist more than 12,500 troops whose main goal will be to advise and train the Afghan secu- rity forces. Most of the troops will be stationed at Bagram as most of the other bases have been handed over to the Afghan security forces. In the last few weeks alone, Sahiti said that around six people had been sent back to Kosovo from Bagram. Around the same time, another 15 people were notified that they would be laid off in one month’s time, including 10 Indians and five Kosovars. Non-American contractors, also known as “Third Country Nationals,” TCNs, say they are paid significantly less than their American counterparts, and that Orhan Ismaili, left, holds a photo Fatmir Ferati, above, sits in his new home, which the terms of their employment taken in Afghanistan when he he built with money saved from working six years contracts can be easily violated. worked with DynCorp Internation- in Afghanistan. In 2012, he was badly injured in an “For those of us from Kosovo and al. He was one of the few interna- accident while working at Bagram Airfield when an India, it’s not important whether tional employees authorized to American soldier crashed into him on a forklift. He you sign a contract or not,” Sahiti carry guns for protection. returned to Kosovo and had to undergo months of physical therapy. noted in a Skype interview from Bagram. 10 n January 16-29, 2015 n Prishtina Insight Cover

He is worried about his own job miliar territory, Africa, which has tracting work that we do for the are going down, people are being security and hopes that he can stay a growing US military presence. US Army,” said a spokesperson for released from their contracts,” he on in Afghanistan until at least next LOGCAP has now extended Texas-based Fluor, about plans to said in an interview in Ferizaj dur- July, but nothing is certain on these operations there. Fluor, the same continue hiring Kosovars and oth- ing a recent trip back home in De- contracts, he said. company that operated out of er people from the Balkans for new cember. Sahiti has a large family to sup- Camp Bondsteel, Afghanistan and projects in Africa. “We had this new His manager told him they will port, including six children aged Iraq, has multiple projects across opportunity and that’s why we did start to demobilize people from five to 19. He said one can earn up West Africa, supporting US Africa the recruiting for the West African Kandahar and is recommending to ten times more in Afghanistan Command’s mission to “protect work.” sending him to the Central Afri- than back at home. He is already American interests and strength- Valmir Gashi, 27, has worked can Republic, CAR, to do the same planning to go back to Afghani- en Africa’s defense capabilities in at various bases in Kandahar, in job. Gashi is certain that he will go stan, or even Iraq, if he is sent home the region,” according to a Fluor southern Afghanistan, since 2010. to CAR once the work dries up in before his contract ends. “I will go press release. Tasks now include Currently employed by Ecolog as Afghanistan. He plans on going again if I can. One year, two years,” humanitarian work dealing with a warehouse supervisor at Kanda- straight to CAR from Afghanistan he said. the Ebola outbreak. har Airfield, one of the few remain- in a few months, despite the risks Sahiti may be compelled to join “The people that we’ve recruit- ing US military bases in Afghani- of working in a fragile country that his countrymen looking for new ed there [in Kosovo] had a good stan, he is also wondering how long has experienced civil war during opportunities in a new and unfa- background in the kind of con- he will be able to stay. “The projects the last year. The salary will be bet- Prishtina Insight nJanuary 16-29, 2015 n 11

ter for him there, as he will be paid “I don’t want to put myself at risk,” in euros, he remarked. he said, when asked about the risk If all works out for Gashi, he will of getting Ebola. He maintains join a growing flow of Kosovars that he keeps safe and takes daily trying to make their way to the precautions, such as not touch- African continent. One is Adnan ing colleagues’ hands and taking Dermaku. Speaking from inside a daily temperature checks, moni- tent in Gbediah, a remote town in tored by the project’s international Liberia, he recalls his 15-year od- medical staff. yssey working with Americans, As the economic situation in from being a security guard at Kosovo remains dire, others are Camp Monteith in 1999 to a trans- hoping to follow Dermaku on the lator with UNIMIK, a stint at Camp trail to Africa, or to another war Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo – En- trance to Camp Bondsteel near Bondsteel, a three-year tour with zone. Ferizaj. Many Kosovars worked Fluor in Afghanistan and two sep- “Kosovars are looking for sim- here before traveling to Afghani- arate assignments in Iraq, the last ilar opportunities to work in the stan, Iraq, and now various coun- ending in December 2014. Middle East, in Syria, or in other tries throughout Africa to work “For 15 years, all my meals for countries, as they are willing to go with U.S. government contractors. my kids and our income is from there just to find a job,” said Agron A mer ica . I n Demi, executive director of the one word, GAP Institute for Advanced Stud- America kept ies in Pristina, the same organiza- us alive,” his tion that conducted the 2011 report wife, Lira, said, on remittances from Afghanistan describing her and Iraq. husband’s con- Ilir Marveci, 34, spent two tinuous work years in Bondsteel before going with American to Iraq for five years and Afghani- companies. stan for two years. He recalls how However, contractors like KBR were recruit- the duration ing Kosovars to go to Iraq back in of Dermaku’s 2005. Marveci was among the last contracts was group of international staff to stay never guaran- in Iraq until the end of that mis- Adnan Demarku, below, has teed as the US started to pull out sion in 2011. He remembers see- supported his family in Kosovo its troops from Afghanistan. “We ing thousands of people waiting in including his mother, Adile, above, knew that one day we would go line at the airport during the final by working in Afghanistan, Iraq home because of the downsizing days of the US presence. and in Liberia, where he is em- of the troops,” he said. When he With the savings he accumu- ployed as part of a USAID-funded came back to Kosovo in 2013, he lated abroad, he was able to buy project to fight Ebola. “Compared was eager to go back abroad be- an apartment and a shop in Feri- to the rockets in Iraq and Afghani- cause of the deteriorating econo- zaj, spending close to $200,000. stan, it’s better here,” he says. Dardan Marevci, left, looks my in Kosovo. He found a job as a He and his family now live off his at photos from Afghanistan waiter, earning around 200 euros savings and the rent from the shop, with his cousin, Ilir. They both a month. But that was not enough. earning about 400 euros a month. worked at Bagram Airfield at “If I live with five, six, seven But he needs more money. the same time. members of my family, it’s not so “I’m trying to go back, if I can easy with 200, 300, or 500 euros, go back … somewhere, Afghani- so we have to think about the next stan, or Africa or wherever,” he mission, the next thing, the next said, adding: “Everybody is talk- steps to get something more and ing about it [Africa].” He’s already more and more,” Dermaku, 41, applied for a few jobs in Senegal said. with Fluor, and like many others, After nine months in Gjilan, is waiting for a call back. he applied for a job with Ecolog in With the economy in Kosovo Iraq. It would be his second time looking unpromising, jobless Ko- in Iraq, after spending 2006-2008 sovars understand that they will in Baghdad with KBR, the same have difficulty in finding work in contractor that was operating out Western Europe, which is why of Camp Bondsteel. When the op- they are willing to go to Africa or portunity to work in West Africa the Middle East if they can find the opened up, which his wife found way, with America’s help. for him, he grabbed it. According to Demi, many Ko- “Compared to the rockets in sovars “are just asking if the US Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s better will go to Syria or to Libya or other here,” he said of his new life in countries, and if there will be the Liberia, where he works on a US- same work that they did in Af- AID-funded project to fight Ebola. ghanistan or Iraq.” 12 n January 16-29, 2015 n Prishtina Insight Opinion Send us your thoughts to [email protected]. Kosovo needs to talk about Charlie While condemning the killers in Paris, we must resist the tendency to simplify and become fundamentalists of a sort ourselves.

As events unfolded in Paris, I was of Muslim communities that are pretation of events came from reminded of Rushdie’s Satanic perceived as “fundamentalist” or the Islamic Youth Forum, which Verses. The transformation of pro- “radical”. released a statement blaming the tagonist Saladin Chamcha from an Although I, too, condemn the French state for oppressing its Indian British-educated voice-ac- murders and was glued to my com- minorities and asking the French tor to a creature resembling Satan puter as the tragedy unfolded, I did embassy in Kosovo to “democra- who has to be hidden in London at- not want to use the hashtag “Je suis tize France.” tics and cellars can be easily read Charlie” because, as many rightly The media frenzy incited an as an analogy to the perception noted, we are not all Charlie. Unlike emotional response from some and life of an illegal and racialized the media worldwide, the Koso- Kosovar people who were com- immigrant in the West - scared and var media did not discuss in great pletely nonchalant, just a few marked, fleeing and in hiding. length what Charlie Hebdo actu- weeks back, when an alleged ter- If funda- ally does. Besides depicting the rorist attack was prevented in Lura mentalists prophet, in the past the magazine Prishtina on Christmas Eve. Buy- Limani would read has posted racist and anti-Semitic ing into the prevalent discourse t h i s b o o k , cartoons. In 2009, one of its staff of the “war on terror”, people were they’d prob- was fired for producing anti-Semit- quick to align themselves with the ably have a lot to identify with. Yet ic content. Yet, it was not deemed French and to blame the Muslims fundamentalists of any kind do not necessary (especially so after the (whoever, and wherever they are), read these sorts of unholy books magazine office was bombed in reaffirming a discourse that insists and like interpretations to be clear 2011) to hold anyone accountable on reducing the interpretation of and simple. However, issues are for offending Muslim sensibili- the matter into a symptom of ‘‘a rarely clear and simple. We must ties. As others have noted, satire’s clash of civilizations”. That Alba- resist the tendency to simplify and strength stems from its capacity nians themselves are proof that become fundamentalists of a sort to mock the powerful, not to reaf- such a binary division between ourselves, and we must start doing firm racialized stereotypes of the the Western and Eastern civiliza- so with the Paris attack. oppressed. Yet, to criticize Charlie tions is impossible, nay, simply er- The attack on Charlie Hebdo Hebdo is not to blame its staff for roneous, escapes most Albanians. Lura Limani is was a terrible reminder of how di- their death, or justify this tragedy. That they themselves are Muslims, a writer and vided the world is, and how those Unfortunately, there are no issues practicing, or non-practicing, and researcher divisions are being reinforced as that can or should be framed as “ei- as such are proof that Islam comes based in we hide behind our trenches. The ther/or” - one is not either Charlie or in various shapes and that its be- Prishtina. She word “terrible” lacks the neces- against it. lievers can even be pro-American has published articles in sary depth to describe the shock President Atifete Jahjaga and and freedom-loving, seems lost on Koha Ditore, that went through people around the Foreign Minister, Hashim Tha- those who comment. Gazeta the world — we must not forget ci, joined the unity rally in Paris, It is also ironic that these Alba- Express, that the threat from the ideology while the Islamic communities in nians, be they Muslim or simply Prishtina In- behind this attack remains global. Kosovo and Albania were quick to bear Muslim names and as a con- sight, Gazeta Kosovars, too, feel partly affected condemn the attacks, drawing a sequence randomly discriminated Jeta ne by this threat, as the country is pre- distinction between the terrorists against because post-9/11 rhetoric Kosove and dominantly Muslim and there is a and the “real Islam”. has labelled all Muslims as a pos- elsewhere. noticeable rise in the organization One exception to this inter- sible threat, seem to be unable to Prishtina Insight nJanuary 16-29, 2015 n 13

unresponsive to “provocations” since neither the translation of The Satanic Verses or of Dawkins’ The God Delusion, sparked riots or book-burnings, let alone killings. There is a discrepancy be- tween the importance given to the perceived Islamic threat, and other possible threats to national security. This is a result of vari- ous political agendas, but also be- cause it is easier to join the A-Team against “the Axis of Evil”. This is also a side effect of orientalist dis- course regurgitated all over the world, which enforces the idea of a common, foreign enemy - radi- cal Islam. That the war on terror has had a Hydra-like effect, creat- ing many violent factions that are at odds with each other, is not a simplistic narrative and as such, is inconvenient. Even President Obama does not distinguish between Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, although the two are in a power struggle for do- minion of “the holy war.” The two terrorist groups differ: Al Qaeda relies on high-profile attacks in the West, such as the Paris attack, while the Islamic State has estab- lished a caliphate in Iraq through brutal means. Both recruit in the West but the Islamic State has been aggressively recruiting people all over Europe to fight in its holy war. Dozens of Kosovars have already left to fight in Syria, and they are in the good company of other Euro- peans, making Europe an exporter of terrorists, rather than the other way round. These people cannot be seen as outliers but as products of these societies, including ours, stop themselves from the futile Thaci made clear in a comment and it becomes our duty to inspect attempt to prove to the world that published in the UK Guardian last their appearance. we, too, are “European” and share year. Yet, as a society we never dis- Before we round up imams and their values (which is impossible cussed this war on terror and who radical Islamists (and then quickly in itself since a European identity it targets, and we accepted at face release them, because there was does not exist). value that America’s war on terror, no evidence to arrest them in the The futility of this exercise which was used to justify the Iraq first place) and before we “mark” a is irrelevant, since even though and Afghanistan invasions, seems minority community of Muslims the message does not reach the to be our own. Yet, unlike in the US as dangerous, we need to have a French, or “the West”, it does speak and even France, where public talk. That talk will and should be volumes to the people in Kosovo. dissent with such wars is possible uncomfortable, because before To these people, the message is to express, to question the war on we disenfranchise fundamental- twofold: it affirms Kosovo’s as- terror in Kosovo is impossible. It is ist Muslims from our secular soci- pirations to be “fully European”, impossible to argue against racist ety and disown all those who are democratic and secular; but it also descriptions of Muslims or their fighting in Syria, we should ana- signals to practicing Muslims that actual discrimination without be- lyze how this came to be. Whether their position is precarious and ing branded as a fundamentalist the answer is the economy, global their rights negligible. (as Vetevendosje found out). jihad, or something else, is irrel- There is a war on terror in Ko- If we do have a fundamentalist evant, as long as that question is sovo, as former Prime Minister problem in Kosovo, it seems to be actually, for once, asked. 14 n January 16-29, 2015 n Prishtina Insight

Four stars: Perfection Three stars: Superb Two Stars: Good One Star: Just OK No Star: Don’t Bother GOOD piguide « « « « Cleo’s carries pub torch

By Jack Robinson

The pub, a British institution that has long passed its 1000th birth- day, has found itself travelling fur- ther and further afield in the 21st century. Few modern capital cities are without one, and EAT amongst the cafes, cajtores, bars and tavernas, Prishtina is now no exception. The latest is Cleo's, a new watering hole keep- ing the pub tradition alive on Fehmi Agani following the sad demise of its premises' previous incumbent, the Ninety One. the prism of this bastion of British- also definitely had more of the Mid- A public house, to use the name ness. Drinks are served, in the typi- west than Milan about it, but is no a pub's mother would call it when cal Kosovar way, via a waiter with worse off for that. The penne and Cleo’s 29 Fehmi she's angry, can have a multitude impeccable manners, as opposed vegetables were soaked in a rich Agani (For- of functions from dining to debate to the frantic jostling at the bar so and oily tomato sauce that was merly The to darts playing. The core purpose typical of most pubs. Initially this high in both fat and flavor. Some Ninety-One). of each is the same though, to pro- felt like an improvement, although of my co-drinkers also elected to Open 7am to vide anyone who needs it with a the brief moments sitting with an eat, ordering a vegetable risotto midnight daily. welcoming oasis that shelters and empty glass later caused some (€3.60) and a burger and fries Phone: 049 provides respite from the hard- mild consternation. Photos of early (€2.60), which they reviewed as 446 111. ships of the outside world. Entering 20th century New York adorn the being much more than adequate Cleo's for the first time on a freez- walls as does a chalkboard draw- stomach lining. Basking in the after ing Friday night in January, the ing of Homer Simpson making a effects of the food and a few more main thing I needed solace from toast to alcohol, which he suggests drinks, the idea of leaving our brief is sub zero temperatures which, as being both the cause of, and so- home to return to our cold reality fortunately, is provided in droves. lution to, all of life's problems. A becomes more and more difficult A roaring stove and warm orange good point, well made. Mounted to contemplate, which is an admi- lighting provided the perfect wel- televisions have become a stand- rable reflection on any pub. come, dissolving the biting Koso- ard embellishment in pubs across var winter into a distant icy glow the world, helpfully providing a outside the front window. Drink- conversation booster or distrac- ing draught beer from a traditional tion from a terrible date. Uniquely, pint glass beside a fire in winter is Cleo's has chosen to eschew the one of the great traditional joys of a ubiquitous live football and muted pub and one which Cleo's provides music videos replacing them with to perfection, offering a wide range coverage of monster-truck racing of European beers on tap, includ- and hot-dog-eating contests, which ing Kosovar, German and Irish provide an entertainingly brash brands at between €2-4. spectacle. Globalisation and the modern Food is another common addi- world have contorted the pub into tion to the modern pub that Cleo's interesting new shapes on its trav- has embraced and the American els abroad though, and Cleo's is influence also permeates the a particularly novel incarnation. menu, which features an array The very notion of a pub in Kosovo of burgers, chillies and hot dogs owned by Americans is enough to alongside more typical items on send a pub-purists brain inside a menu in Prishtina such as sal- out and the idiosyncrasies of both ads, pasta and sandwiches. The nations are expressed through vegetarian pasta (€3.80) I ordered Prishtina Insight nJanuary 16-29, 2015 n 15

A EULEX memo shows that advisors of President Atifete Jahjaga had reservations about extending the mandates of three interna- tional members of the Constitutional Court without going through Parliament. 16 n January 16-29, 2015 n Prishtina Insight