Prishtina Insight: “It Is Not the Government That We Are Aiming For

Business: Rise in Bad Debts Worries Kosovo Economists

June 18 - July 1, 2010 Issue No. 42 www.prishtinainsight.com Price € 1 ‘Brotherhood NEWS Macedonia to and Unity’ Probe Mass Grave Monument to Allegations be Pulled Down > page 3 CITY Experts are divided on Blair to Visit the merits of the latest Kosovo Next Month monument to join > page 6 Prishtina Muncipality’s ‘demolition list’. The structure will make way for a new Adem Jashari square and statue. BUSINESS See Pages 6 Police Seizures of Forged Banknotes Vetevendosje Takes Gamble By Up in Kosovo > page 5 Contesting Kosovo Polls GUIDE The movement’s decision to run in the next election has disappointed some supporters, but leader Albin Kurti is con- Montenegro’s vinced the move could pay off, telling Prishtina Insight: “It is not the government that we are aiming for. It is the state” Magical Canyon movement’s fifth anniversary to The charges, first initiated by process and wants to see an end to By Jasper Tjaden announce that they intended to the UN mission in Kosovo, EULEX. It called on people not to > page 8-9 contest upcoming general elections UNMIK, concerned his involve- vote in the local elections last ith the air still thick from in 2011, police arrested ment in a 2007 protest in Prishtina November and opposed the inter- NEIGHBOURHOOD pepper spray and broken Vetvendosje’s head, Albin Kurti, 35. during which two of his move- nationally supported decentralisa- Wglass crunching under The arrest left several injured ment’s activists died. tion process, which has resulted in Economy Minister: foot, Vetevendosje activists sat on both sides and has led to calls Despite being found guilty, Kurti the creation of new, Serb-run calmly watching themselves on by Human Rights Watch for an was freed immediately as he had municipalities. ‘Albania could be Kosovo TV news. investigation into whether Kosovo already served more than enough Their slogans, sprayed on walls Through the broken front win- Police used excessive force. time under house arrest. At liber- across Kosovo, draw begrudging the next China’ dow of their headquarters in the A few days later, on Monday, ty again, he used the opportunity respect even from staunch critics central Pejton district of Prishtina Kurti was sentenced to nine to condemn what he and his move- for their wit and imagination. > page 12 one member could be seen, head months’ imprisonment after his ment see as the international com- Some grassroots supporters feel swathed in a bandage, worn with long-delayed trial finally took munity’s colonialist attitude that a step into established politics a sense of visible pride. place. He had been on the run for towards Kosovo. risks damaging the organisation’s It was 7pm on Saturday, June 12, months, after the EU mission in The nationalist movement bit- values and reputation. and calm had returned to the area. Kosovo, EULEX, restarted a trial terly opposed Kosovo’s interna- A few hours earlier, after using the against him. tionally supervised independence continues page 2

Accuracy of Kosovo Asset Kosovo’s Autistic Children Declarations Queried Suffer in Silence Many hoped that the publication on June Only six people are officially registered NGO FOCUS 1 of the assets declared by Kosovo politi- as autistic in Kosovo and receiving some cians would shed light on the wealth accu- help. Out there, another 16,000 may be suf- Lulebora: Leading mulated by senior figures and aid the fight fering in isolation from the same cruel dis- against corruption. order. the Recycling Forms submitted by almost 1,500 senior At the age of six, Ilias is tall for his age. officials and politicians con- Dressed in jeans and a T-shirt Revolution news tained data on all... page 4 feature he looks much like... page 7 > page 14

Y M is supported by: C K 2 June 18 - July 1, 2010 news Vetevendosje Takes Gamble By Contesting Kosovo Polls

from page 1

Kreshnik Ahmeti, a Vetevendosje activist, disagrees. He was still at the office at 7pm on Saturday, handing out flyers and explaining its exhibition of photo- graphs, marking the movement’s five years, to visitors. The movement took about five months to decide on the election issue internally, Ahmeti said: “I believe we made the right decision. We are not transforming our- selves into a political party. We are still the same.” Knocking over two EULEX cars right after the announcement and the arrests went some way to prove his point. But others are more sceptical, saying the decision to take on the established parties will result in Vetevendosje losing touch with its grassroots. Arta Berisha, 32, once an ardent supporter, suspects Kurti will lose his standing as a mouthpiece of popular frustration. “Kurti is more limited now than he was back in prison,” she said. Albin Kurti and his supporters clashed at the Vetevendosje offices on Saturday “Inevitably, they will adapt to the system. They used to be differ- activists are clean. Their status to rage against the system.” mixed. There is a negative exam- Mufail Limani, a political com- ent. Up to now I did not question would be wasted by getting Kurti denies selling out. “There ple from Albania, where the move- mentator, said Vetevendosje could their intentions… but now they involved with party politics.” is no risk of us losing our sup- ment MJAFT, meaning “enough”, make significant electoral risk losing my trust completely,” Blerim Selimi, 41, a passer-by port,” he said. “We won’t change has failed to become a stable polit- inroads. “Around 20 per cent of she added. met walking past the Vetevendosje our programme or our methods – ical force after entering conven- the electorate in Kosovo feels Berisha said many supporters office, agreed. “The decision to we will enhance them. tional politics, following years of unrepresented,” Limani told felt the leap into power politics take part in election was a mis- “It is not the government that successful activism. Prishtina Insight. Such a large was badly timed. “The govern- take,” he told Prishtina Insight. we are aiming for. It is the state”, But there are more positive body of people could easily vote ment is accused of corruption and “If Vetevendosje fails to claim says Kurti. examples. Starting as a purely for the movement. The step into the papers are filled with stories enough seats in parliament they Following his conviction, he is environmental movement in the conventional politics was “a logi- about organised crime… will have a tough time retrieving banned from standing in elections 1960s, the Greens have evolved cal progression since they have Vetevendosje will legitimise the their prior fame as a movement,” for three years. But he says he into powerful players in become a political factor in government by running for elec- he added. “Once they are part of does not recognise the court, how- Germany’s political landscape. Kosovo,” he added. tions,” she continued. “Their the game, it will be more difficult ever, and will try to stand. Vetevendosje’s political oppo- In the evening at the “I can’t really say whether this nents are certainly treating the Vetevendosje office on the day of will have an impact,” Kurti told movement’s decision with respect. Kurti’s arrest, Kreshnik was Prishtina Insight. “Maybe we will Ramush Haradinaj, leader of sweeping away the splinters from even get more votes if I do not run. the Alliance for the Future of the broken window. Who knows?” Kosovo, AAK, said it was a legiti- In the coming months There seems little doubt that mate move, to take part in the elec- Vetevendosje will conduct inter- the movement’s campaign meth- tions - but Kurti would have to nal restructuring, work on pro- ods and radical activism will change his ways. “The movement grammes and kick off internal alienate some voters, looking for has to find a path towards the elections in order to prepare the responsible political leaders. A law,” he said, mentioning Kurti’s movement for national polls. movement can get away with arrest. Kreshnik feels confident. “I more. “We are tired of aggres- The New Kosovo Alliance, AKR, believe we could even win a major- sion,” Blerim Selimi said. “We also said the movement had every ity next year,” he said. “Some 60 don’t want to endanger our EU right to participate in elections. “I per cent of people in Kosovo do future.” welcome them and wish them suc- not vote because they are frustrat- The precedents set by similar cess,” Ibrahim Makolli, AKR vice- ed with the current parties. We Kreshnik Ahmeti, a Vetevendosje activist movements in other countries are president, said. have huge potential.” News in Brief EULEX to Remain in Kosovo for Two PTK to be Privatised OSCE in Kosovo: War Crimes Cases Must More Years ost Telecommunications of Kosovo will be sold, with the government retaining a 25 per cent stake. Be Priority he European PThe decision was approved on Wednesday by the gov- he OSCE mission in Kosovo Union has ernment, although it still requires ratification by the assem- published its report on war Textended the bly. mandate of its rule Tcrimes trials in Kosovo on This followed the recommendation of the inter-ministeri- of law mission in Tuesday, revealing that there has al group which has been considering whether to privatise Kosovo, EULEX, been a systematic failure to adjudi- one of Kosovo’s most lucrative assets. for another two cate war crimes cases. Prime Minister Thaci promised an ‘open and transparent years. “All communities in Kosovo have process’. The decision was been affected and none will be able taken at the meet- to close this difficult chapter in ing of EU financial ministers in Luxembourg, and allows their lives until the remaining war EULEX to be active in Kosovo until June 2012. crimes cases have been properly After the decision, chief of mission Yves de Kermabon addressed by the justice system,” and EU Special Representative Pieter Feith addressed the Ambassador Werner Almhofer, the EU’s Political and Security Committee and stressed that the head of the OSCE Mission in priority of the mission remains the establishment of rule of Kosovo, said in the press release announcing the report. law. “This is one of the most critical tests that a judicial sys- The European Union deployed its Kosovo civilian mission tem can face,” he added. in 2008. It has a mandate to advise and help local authorities The report of the Organisation for Security and Y in building and strengthening the rule of law in Kosovo. Cooperation in Europe assessed the period from 1999 to 2009. M Yves de Kermabon is the mission’s first chief, and he con- It is emphatic in stressing that war crimes cases should C firmed on Tuesday he would leave Kosovo this year. become the priority of the EU rule of law mission, EULEX, K and the Kosovo judicial system in both word and action. news June 18 - July 1, 2010 3

Editor’s Word European Perspective

By Lawrence Marzouk

egular readers may have noticed that this week’s editor’s Rword isn’t in Albanian, and isn’t a word. I apologise for the unplanned change in policy, but the stupidity of the expression ‘European perspective’ has been delighting and angering me in equal measures recently. And it is a phrase in a foreign tongue, only fath- omable by those well versed in the language of the Eurocrat, and therefore worthy of explanation to us mere mortals. The deconstruction of the meaning of ‘European perspective’ is also imperative given the regularity with which it is unfurled by European dignitaries, An area around the Macedonian border will be explored after it was suggested it could hold a mass grave visiting Kosovo, as a metaphorical gift to our leaders. “Kosovo’s European Perspective” has almost 30,000 hits on Google, which is ten times more than Macedonia to Probe Mass “Palawan Stink Badger”, which actually exists and means something. So with this strange image in my head, I set about trying to discover what these messengers from Grave Allegations Brussels mean by “European perspective” through a series of simple experiments. Macedonia will probe allegations of possible mass graves on its territory containing civilian victims from First, I opened the window of my Prishtina flat the 1998-1999 conflict in Kosovo, Macedonia’s Foreign Ministry told Prishtina Insight on Thursday. and saw Europe. Is that what all these bureaucrats He added: “We have to have in mind Missing Persons. mean when they talks about Kosovo having a ‘European perspective’? also that during the war in Kosovo, many Frangu said that she had provided If so, from what I could see from my window, refugees died in Blace refugee camp.” information to Kosovo’s government By Petrit Collaku and Kosovo is already there, or here. It’s in Europe. Macedonian media earlier speculated based on statements from witnesses and Sinisa Jakov-Marusic Europe isn’t so much in the perspective, but all that one of the possible places where her trips to Macedonia. “Our government around. there might be graves containing the was not able to raise this issue because of Maybe that’s what Catherine Ashton, EU high remains of Kosovo civilians is along the the lack of a clear status,” she said. representative for foreign affairs, was trying to get acedonia’s Foreign Ministry has- banks of the river Lepenec, which enters “But now Kosovo is independent and through to us when on her first visit to country she revealed that Kosovo authorities Macedonian territory from Kosovo. They the government has to move forward with said that ‘Kosovo belongs in Europe’. Mhanded them information in say that bodies of people killed in Kosovo this matter,” she explained. I couldn’t agree more, it doesn’t just ‘belong in May on the possible existence of several might have floated along the river and Prenk Gjetaj confirmed that informa- Europe’, it is in Europe according to my map. sites where bodies of Kosovo civilians ended up on Macedonian soil. tion gathered by Frangu was used by the Geography is, perhaps more importantly, joined by a may have been buried. Another possible location mentioned government’s commission for missing shared history to reinforce the argument that “We will act upon this information in media reports is the area around the persons. Kosovo is in/belongs to Europe. It says that in my with utmost care. We have already con- Blace border crossing. Frangu said that Kaqanik municipality encyclopaedia. veyed this information to the Ministry of “This is a very serious issue and we are had 149 missing persons as a result of the Of course, there is a possibility that what these Justice and they will handle the case already examining the information that wandering minstrels are singing is in fact a song of from now on,” the spokesman for the we received. At the moment it is too early Kosovo conflict, of which 142 have so far hope: that Kosovo has a ‘European Union perspec- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Petar Culev, to give any more specific details about the been identified. tive’ and that Kosovo ‘belongs in the European said. future moves of the ministry,” the The Macedonian interior minister at Union’. But if so, why don’t they just say so? Ehat Miftari, head of the department spokesperson of the Justice Ministry, the time of the Kosovo conflict, Pavle Well, there is the problem of the EU’s split over for international judicial cooperation in Mirjana Ilijeva, told Prishtina Insight. Trajanov, said in an interview for today’s Kosovo’s independence, 22 in favour and 5 against, Kosovo’s Ministry of Justice, said that In 1998 and 1999 Serb forces cracked Utrinski Vesnik daily that during his but even the naysayers think the area known as the government had sent a request to the down on the ethnic Albanian insurgency term in office “we had no information Kosovo should get into the EU somehow. Macedonia government on May 7 regard- fighting in Kosovo, which was a province about mass graves nor intelligence data No, my explanation, call it a hunch if you will, is ing the possible existence of mass graves of Serbia. Soon after, in March 1999 suggesting that the Serbian forces made that there is a growing sense among Eurocrats, in Macedonia. NATO launched its bombing campaign mass graves in the border region”. which is unfortunately rubbing off on people across “We have information on two possible against Serbia and drove away Serbian However, Trajanov did not exclude the this fine continent, that the European Union is mass graves that may contain some 40 forces from Kosovo, which was then pro- possibility of the existence of mass Europe. But it’s not and I find the argument offen- victims of war or maybe less,” Miftari claimed an international protectorate. graves in the border region, noting that sive in its arrogance. It gives weight to the often told Prishtina Insight. Kosovo declared its independence in the border at the time was porous and not patronising words emitted by internationals in pri- “We have information that they are 2008, backed by many western countries. 100 per cent under the control of vate about how ‘primitive’ Kosovo is. buried in Butel cemetery in Skopje and Serbia has bitterly opposed the declara- Macedonian or NATO forces. He supports “See that pile of rubbish smoking over there, this near the border,” Miftari said. tion, claiming that Kosovo is still Serbian the effort to examine the allegations. isn’t Europe,” you hear them exclaim. Macedonia’s Foreign Ministry territory. “At the time Macedonia was clearly on It also fits into the pattern of arguing that spokesman explained that, if necessary, During the NATO bombing campaign the side of NATO and we had no contacts Europe’s Muslim population and majority states are “Macedonia will form special teams of Macedonia, along with Albania, received whatsoever with the Serbian side,” he somehow an aberration. Europe’s history has experts and invite experts from Kosovo to the bulk of Kosovo’s refugees. Some said in the interview. unquestionably been influenced most by Christian join in”. 500.000 Kosovo residents are believed to Trajanov recalled one case of the bod- traditions in the past millennia, but this in no way Meanwhile Prenk Gjetaj, the head of have stayed in refugee camps or with relies of two Kosovo citizens that were dis- means that Islam and Judaism have not also played the Kosovo’s government commission for atives in Macedonia during the conflict. covered in the river Lepenec by the an important role, or that its faithful are any less missing persons, told Prishtina Insight: Sevdije Frangu, president of “Tear and Macedonian authorities, but he said they Europeans. “We are working to create a body from Hope”, the Missing Persons Association I’m not saying that when the latest enlargement Kosovo’s side to investigate the allega- from Kaqanik in Kosovo, told Prishtina were properly identified and returned to commissioner talks of Kosovo’s European perspec- tions.” Insight that she has been working on this their relatives. tive, he or she is advocating a mono-faith Europe or He said that investigations would take issue since the end of the conflict in As for the refugee camps on suggesting that Kosovo isn’t really European. But place in Blace, near the border with Kosovo. Macedonian territory Trajanov noted they are helping to create an atmosphere in which Kosovo and Butel cemetery in Skopje, and that there were cases of natural deaths “As head of this association, I was look- these views flourish and reinforcing the idea that to noted that there had been various reports but that there was a proper registry run ing for information on missing persons be part of the continent you have to join the club. in the media about the existence of the by the Macedonian authorities for that Y from Kacanik municipality,” Frangu Words matter. So please Mr Bureaucrat, mind graves, but that the commission wouldn’t matter. The bodies of the deceased were M said. your language. speculate until the facts had been estab- returned to their relatives when possible, C She is a member of the Coordination When you mean European Union, just say it. lished. Council of Associations of Families of Trajanov said. K 4 June 18 - July 1, 2010 news

Terrorism Arrest in Accuracy of Kosovo Asset Mitrovica osovo Police’s anti-terrorism unit, under the Ksupervision of a Declarations Queried EULEX prosecutor, has arrested a Kosovo Albanian man in Mitrovica on suspi-

Questions have arisen over the veracity of information on politicians’ and officials’ assets that the Anti-Corruption in Brief News cion of terrorism. Agency revealed this month, prompting calls for the Agency to receive more powers. The action followed a request for extradition made by the USA to Kosovo. “The Agency has the The United States By Shengjyl Osmani Attorney for the Eastern authority to verify that the District of North Carolina stated assets are present- has charged the defendant any hoped that the publi- with two counts: the provi- cation on June 1 of the ed truly but the law needs sion of material support or Massets declared by Kosovo further upgrading to resources to terrorists, sup- politicians would shed light on the include penalties when it’s port for terrorism and con- wealth accumulated by senior fig- spiracy to kill, kidnap, maim, ures and aid the fight against cor- found that assets are not or injure persons or damage ruption. presented correctly,” property in a foreign country. Forms submitted by almost The order for the arrest 1,500 senior officials and politi- Hasan Preteni, head of the and the house search were cians contained data on all their Anti-Corruption authorized by a EULEX pre- possessions, from land to cash trial Judge of the Mitrovica deposits held in banks. Only 69 District Court. senior public officials failed to “But although the law obliges meet this legal obligation. President Fatmir Sejdiu officials to declare their assets, Prizren to Host Armend Mazreku, of FOL08, many have only partly complet- assets are presented truly but an organisation that focuses on ed it [their declaration] or did President’s the law needs further upgrad- issues of public accountability, not complete it at all.” ing to include penalties when maintained that publication of Asked about whether Meeting it’s found that assets are not the information had been a suc- Kosovo’s anti-corruption laws presented correctly,” he said. rizren will host a meet- cess. were tough enough, Makolli Ismet Kryeziu, from the NGO ing between the presi- “In the view of FOL08, the dec- said the Assembly needed to set Kosova Democratic Institute, Pdents of Albania, larations of assets submitted by up investigative commissions said: “It is very important to Macedonia, Montenegro and senior officials represent three to investigate cases of corrup- Kosovo on June 26 and 27. mention the fact that the politi- positive steps and is very impor- tion. Fatmir Sejdiu’s spokesper- cians are not interested much tant for the overall development But, he went on: “Last year, son Xhavit Beqiri said in fighting corruption, thus we of the country,” he told Prishtina just such a commission was Albanian President Bamir it is still present in our society.” Insight. formed, but due to lack of moti- Topi, Macedonian President Lorik Bajrami, from COHU, “First, it shows openness and groups are far less impressed. vation on the part of many par- Gjorge Ivanov and their an NGO that has been promi- transparency of institutions in They question the accuracy of liamentarians, it didn’t get any- nent in the fight against cor- Montenegrin counterpart relation to the citizens of Kosovo. the declarations and say the where.” ruption, said civil society Filip Vujanovic confirmed Secondly, it demonstrates institu- Meanwhile, some wealthy fig- Anti-Corruption Agency needs groups were not in a strong their attendance, but that tional accountability to the Anti- ures have asked for, and to be given more teeth to do the enough position to verify the Serbian President, Boris corruption Agency, as the disclo- appeared to have received, job properly and tackle offend- declarations of assets. “We Tadic, had not been invited. sure of assets is a legal duty. exemption. ers. can’t prove where corruption “Thirdly, it reduces the possi- The leader of his party, the The declarations of Kosovo’s has occurred,” he said, “We can Fourth Victim Dies bility of public institutions, state two most senior officials, Prime New Kosovo Alliance, Behgjet or senior officials, corrupting or Minister Hashim Thaci and of Crimean Congo infiltrating organized crime.” President Fatmir Sejdiu, which Fever But some anti-corruption Prishtina Insight has analysed, both raise questions. patient suffering from Thaci’s form notes that he the Crimean Congo has recently taken out a loan of Ahaemorrhagic fever 100,000 euro from a commercial died last Tuesday evening at bank to build a new home in the the infectious disease clinic www.prishtinainsight.com suburbs of Prishtina, while he in Prishtina hospital, the also has 224,000 euro in his fourth person in Kosovo to Publisher: bank account, raising ques- succumb to the disease this BIRN tions about why he decided to year. The patient, aged 50, was Balkan Investigative Reporting Network take out a commercial loan rather than use money he from the Gjakova municipality. Mensa e Studenteve, first floor already had in the bank. Sejdiu’s form fails to disclose The clinic has registered 10000, Prishtina the value of his property. Nor some 357 patients this year Kosovo has he declared the business who complained of tick Phone: +381 (0) 38 24 33 58 interests or assets of his sons, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci bites, but only 72 of them required further treatment Fax: +381 (0) 38 22 44 98 Bardhyl and Shqipo Sejdiu, in hospital. The Crimean which is required by law. only make predictions, based [email protected] Congo haemorrhagic fever, Bardhyl, who works for PTK, is on what goes on in [the rest of] CCHF, is a tick-born disease. joint owner of a cinema firm, society.” Editor-in-Chief: “The patients come from a according to his own declara- He added: “Despite the fact region in Kosovo where there Lawrence Marzouk tion of assests, and Shqipo is that parliament has ratified the is evidence of the haemor- [email protected] listed as an ‘authorised person’ anti-corruption law and rhagic fever,” prof. dr. Editorial Team: for a taxi firm, according to the although the President has per- business register. sonally signed it, he, above all, Shemsedin Dreshaj, the Ana Petruseva, Gordana Igric, Hasan Preteni, head of the doesn’t respect it.” director of the infectious dis- Jeta Xharra, Marcus Tanner, Anti-Corruption Agency, said Ibrahim Makolli, parliamen- ease clinic, told Balkan Insight. Petrit Collaku, Shengjyl Osmani and the law clearly stated how all tarian from the opposition New The affected region covers Belinda Vrapi questions should be answered Kosovo Alliance and a member and a report was being com- of the assembly’s committee for Pacolli, one of the country’s Suhareke municipality, piled on failures to meet the legislation and judiciary, richest men, said he had Podrime region, Malisevo Marketing, Sales & Distribution: guidelines. He added that agreed that the current situa- declared his wealth to the municipality, and reaches to [email protected] while the Agency could check tion was not satisfactory. Agency but had asked for the Istog municipality. the data provided, it had no The Agency was obliged “to data to remain unpublished, as The youngest victim to Design & Layout: “Rrjeti” penalties against those who verify each and every stated fig- publication of the information succumb to the disease this Y submitted inaccurate informa- ure of the assets of officials could jeopardise his security. So year was an 11-year-old boy far the Agency has complied, from Malisevo municipality M Printing: Lindi Printing Center tion. and verify whether any don’t C “The Agency has the authori- match the real financial situa- not releasing any details on his who passed away on May Copyright © BIRN K ty to verify that the stated tion,” he said. financial situation. 21st. business June 18 - July 1, 2010 5

Local Road Firms Join Police Seizures of Forged Highway Construction en Kosovo-based road firms have been appointed to work on the Banknotes Up in Kosovo T700million euro, Merdare to Vermice highway. Police uncovered 134,000 euro in counterfeit notes in May, the largest bust in years. But while statistics appear The announcement was made by the Ministry of Transport at an event to point to a rise in fake euros, Kosovo banks say the situation is under control. organised last week with road construc- In 2009, 730 cases of counter- tion companies and Bechtel-Enka, the feit money were reported to US Turkish consortium charged with police while by the end of May, building the highway some 421 incidents had already Daren Mort, director of Bechtel-Enka, By Besiana Xharra been logged, which represents in brief Business news called on the companies to meet high a significant increase. standards. Beka said the economic The new road will link up with osovo Police record- crime unit did not know Albania’s ‘Patriotic Highway’, between ed 421 discoveries of whether the notes were being the Kosovo border and Durres, and the Kcounterfeit cash in printed in Kosovo or abroad. Serbian border. the first five months of The apparent increase in the Construction began in April and is 2010, a rise of 33 per cent number of fake euro ban- expected to last two years. on last year. The largest knotes in circulation in bust came on May 23, when Kosovo is in line with a rise British Investors Visit 134,000 euro were found in throughout the euro-zone Kosovo fake 50-euro notes in countries. Mitrovica. According to the European group of British investors, includ- According to police Central Bank, the number of Kosovo Police has uncovered large quantities of forged notes in recent months ing Prince Michael of Kent, visited spokesman Arber Beka, five fake notes seized in the second AKosovo earlier this month in creation of the committee. the first four months of this people were arrested on May half of 2009 was 8 per cent search of business opportunities. “The CBK cooperates with year, the bank had seized 3,500 23 when a black bag containing higher than in the first six The trip included stops at the Trepca police authorities on false worth of fake euros. the cash was thrown from a months, a trend that began in mines near Mitrovica, which is due for reporting of counterfeit notes He said the most commonly moving car near the northern late 2007. privatisation next year and the wine town. Across Europe, faked 20- and training to identify fakes,” faked denominations were 100- producer Stone Castle in Rahovec, Earlier that day, in the west- euro bills are the most preva- Bajramaj said. But he added euro, 50-euro and 5-euro notes which sells it bottles in the British ern town of Gjakova, police lent, representing 47 per cent that more vigilance was need- but the bank had also been supermarket Waitrose. found five fake 50-euro notes of the total. But Kosovo Police ed on behalf of the public and handed forged 2-euro and 50- Prince Michael of Kent, who was lead- and a gun in a car. A search of told Prishtina Insight that the businesses. cent coins. ing the delegation of British investors, one of the suspects’ homes led 50-euro note is the most com- “In the fight against coun- Rrahmani added that cus- said he was impressed with the achieve- to the discovery of a further monly counterfeited note in terfeit money, the CBK also tomers could not receive coun- ments in Kosovo and that he was opti- three notes. The incidents are Kosovo. urges the general public to be terfeit notes through an ATM mistic about the future of the country. believed to be connected. The Balkans is seen as a key more vigilant when handling as the currency is taken direct- Beka added that a sixth per- priority for the European money and not to fall victim to ly from the CBK and put Albania Remittances son has since been detained Union’s antifraud unit, OLAF, counterfeiting. through several tests. Continue Free Fall in 2010 and investigations were ongo- in terms of tackling counter- “Companies and wholesale Kosovo’s largest bank, ing. feit cash. and retail traders that receive ProCredit Bank, said it had ata published by Albania’s In another incident in the The Central Bank of cash must also invest in tech- seen a fall in the number of Central Bank show that the previous week, two men were Kosovo, CBK, in 2009, estab- nologies that detect counter- cases of counterfeit notes. Dmoney that Albanians working arrested with 50-euro notes at lished a committee to analyse feit money.” Spokeswoman Fitore Sinani abroad send back home to support their a post office in Peja while one the situation over counterfeit Asdren Rrahmani, said: “ProCredit Bank regular- families continued to fall in the first of the men was working at the notes. Jeton Bajramaj, the spokesman for Raiffaisen ly reports counterfeit ban- quarter 2010. branch. The police’s economic CBK’s director of operations Bank in Kosovo, said they had knotes. It should be noted that Remittances were down by 7.1 per crime unit is investigating this for cash payments, said mat- noticed “sporadic” appear- this year there has been a cent to 170 million in the three month case. ters had improved since the ances of counterfeit notes. In decline in confiscation.” period ending on March 31. This is the lowest flow in remittances registered for a first quarter since 2005 and is attributed to increased difficul- Rise in Bad Debts Worries ties Albanian immigrants in Italy and Greece face in finding stable employ- ment. These two countries, both of which Kosovo Economists have introduced extensive austerity measures to tackle debt crises, are home The proportion of people and firms defaulting on loans may be lower in Kosovo than the rest of the region but to roughly one million Albanian immi- the upward trend is prompting concern. grants whose remittances are consid- ered a lifeline for Albania’s impover- ished economy.

By Lavdim Hamidi Balkans ‘Vulnerable To Sovereign Debt Crisis’ ad debts have started to hit the bank- lbania, Bulgaria, Romania, and ing system in Kosovo, which until last Serbia are among the countries that year had been characterised by a low B Aare vulnerable to the sovereign debt and stable number of defaulters. In April, crisis in Europe because their financial sec- the Central Bank of Kosovo recorded a fig- tors are closely linked to highly indebted ure of 4.6 per cent, up from 3.4 per cent in states on the continent, reads a recent report April 2009. from the World Bank. Economic experts told Prishtina Insight Though the delicate situation in the that the rise was due to the poor perform- eurozone area is likely to see a gradual ance of Kosovo firms and the increasing and “smooth” resolution, the World impact of the global financial crisis on the Bank doesn’t rule out a “disorderly” country. Kosovo’s Central Bank (above) says bad debt is rising but still low adjustment, which could have a serious But officials at the Central Bank of many businesses were having now to refi- risen, all of which had impacted on the abil- impact on both high-income and devel- Kosovo insisted that despite the increase in nance their loans in order to avoid bank- ity of businesses to repay their debts, he oping countries. bad debts, the banking system remained in ruptcy. He accepted that the percentage of explained. “Also at risk are countries whose good order. Besnik Kada, spokesperson of bad debts in Kosovo was not high but said Abdixhiku said that although Kosovo still financial sectors are closely linked to the Central Bank, told Prishtina Insight the growing trend was worrying. had the lowest percentage of bad debts in these highly indebted countries. that a default rate of 4.6 per cent was a Lumir Abdixhiku, executive director of the region, half the level in Albania and Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia “very good performance”. the Riinvest Institute, blamed the poor per- Serbia, banks were nonetheless reducing are economies that have benefited in the Economic expert Muhamet Sakiku attrib- formance of Kosovo businesses on an the number of loans they were offering. past from heavy capital inflows from Y uted the rise in bad debts to the global finan- unfavourable economic climate. According to the bank, around 249,000 loans Greek financial institutions,” the World M cial crisis whose impact is increasingly While Kosovars’ purchasing power had are active in Kosovo’s banking system at Bank said in its summer 2010 Global C noticeable in Kosovo’s economy. Sadiku said fallen, unemployment and poverty had present. Economic Prospects report. K 6 June 18 - July 1, 2010 CITY

South African Johann ‘Brotherhood and Unity’ Smith is owner of the Monument to be Pulled Down security firm Omega Experts are divided on the latest monument to join Prishtina Muncipality’s ‘demolition list’ the Youth and Sports Palace but the square has become tatty in recent years and is daubed with graffiti. By Belinda Vrapi Sali Shoshi, head of Cultural Heritage Without Borders, told Prishtina Insight: “I think this is an aggressive campaign rishtina’s strange monument to against monuments in Prishtina. ‘Brotherhood and Unity’ is to be “From the list of cultural heritage mon- Pdemolished as part of the redesign of uments, around 25 per cent do not exist the area into a new ‘Adem Jashari Square’. anymore, and 40 per cent of the buildings The new piazza, which will include a with the potential of being declared monu- Prishtina through the Eyes of: the Eyes through Prishtina statue of the KLA hero and the entrance to ments have been knocked down. a new underground car park, will mean “I think that as it is a monument, it that the monument to Brotherhood and should stay because it tells the story of Unity will be knocked down. Kosovo. The decision by Prishtina Municipality “It is a witness for the future genera- What surprised you most about follows hot on the heels of its ruling on the tions which will tell that Kosovo has been Prishtina? Union Hotel, on Mother Teresa Boulevard, under communism in the past.” The number of small businesses, espe- which will be torn down to make way for But Haxhi Mehmetja, head of the cially mini markets, pharmacies, gas sta- the ‘Ibrahim Rugova Square’. Institute for the Protection of Monuments tions and motels. The Brotherhood and Unity monument in Prishtina, said that no one wants the was inaugurated in 1961, while Josep Broz symbol of ‘Brotherhood and Unity’ any- What’s your favourite hangout? Tito was the leader of the still intact more. It’s a toss-up between 91 Shi, Paddy Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. According to Mehmetaj this object has O’Brians, Home, Bistro, Greca, Basillico, Rooted in the centre of the square are never been declared a cultural heritage Pinocchio, De Rada, Paper, Lips, Maroon, the three sky-high pillars, which join and doesn’t have any historic value what- Komiteti, Pjata, Pishat. together at the peak, each pillar symbolis- soever. ing a member of the brotherhood of “It’s only a political monument, of the Do you do anything cultural? Yugoslavia within Kosovo - Albanians, time of Brotherhood and Unity, in social- I love the local art and film festivals as Serbs, and Montenegrins. ism. Moreover, even those who built it well as the exhibitions that are taking The Brotherhood and Unity monument don’t want it anymore,” he told the place in Prishtina lately. became a key tourist destination alongside Express newspaper. What is the most annoying thing about Prishtina? Traffic and total disregard of parking rules, including the abuse of the few dis- abled parking bays.

If you were mayor of Prishtina for the day what would you change? Introduce a city cleanup campaign including a ban on the use of any private vehicles in the city.

How many macchiatos do you drink a day? I do not drink coffee at all, I prefer Raki!

What’s the tastiest Kosovar food? Tave Kosi, Kofte Te Ferguara and Trofta

What landmark do you use to tell taxi drivers where you live? Hotel DEA.

Blair’s Kosovo Legacy Blair to Visit Kosovo Next Month ony Blair is held as a hero for No statue or road naming for the former British PM, but Blair will receive an honorary degree for Prishtina University his role in NATO’s interven- Ttion in Kosovo. statue of the kind which greeted This has led to a number of roads Clinton on his visit to Kosovo’s capi- being named after the now Middle tal. East Peace Envoy including in major By Lawrence Marzouk The statue was placed along Bill cities such as Prishtina, Prizren and Clinton Boulevard in November 2009 Peja. and unveiled by the former President But his name also lives on in the in front of large crowds. name of at least one child. Tonibler ormer British Prime Minister Memli Krasniqi, Kosovo govern- Dajaku was named after the former Tony Blair will visit Kosovo next ment’s spokesman, said that, contrary PM in 2001. Fmonth – but unlike his to rumours, there was no plan to American counterpart Bill Clinton, rename a large Prishtina thorough- many leaders of the country. It will be there will no statue unveiled in his fare after the former British PM. a busy and interesting agenda. honour. Krasniqi told Prishtina Insight that “The University of Prishtina has Blair is seen, alongside Clinton, as he could not yet make public the exact given him the title of Honoris Causa one of the main architects of NATO’s dates of the visit but that it would be which we are waiting for him to intervention in Kosovo 11 years ago. next month. accept and receive once he arrives. But the Brit will have to make do Y He said: “He is coming on an invita- Tony Blair will also give a speech to with a Honoris Causa, or honorary M tion from the prime minister of the Assembly of Kosovo.” degree, from the University of C Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, and during his A number of smaller roads across Prishtina, instead of a large bronze K stay in Kosovo he will visit and meet the country already bear Blair’s name. 7 Feature June 18 - July 1, 2010 Kosovo’s Autistic Children Suffer in Silence Only six people are officially registered as autistic in Kosovo and receiving some help. Out there, another 16,000 may be suffering in isolation from the same cruel disorder. There are also wrong diagnoses. Fitim, aged seven, seems to be one of them. At the age of three, By Nora Nimani Musa he was diagnosed with autism. “He was one-and-a-half when we became concerned about his behaviour and delayed speech,” t the age of six, Ilias is says Fexhrije, Fitim’s mother. tall for his age. Dressed in After his third birthday, his Ajeans and a T-shirt he parents took him to a doctor looks much like his other class- who diagnosed him with mates. But the constant fidget- autism. For the last three years ing and restlessness hint at a he has been treated as a child childhood far from ordinary. with autism. He has shown He barely speaks, and when he great progress. He can use a does, his sentences consist of no more than three words. He is computer and knows the impatient and hates any devia- Albanian and English alpha- tion from his routine. Summer bets. However, recently he has for him is one of the most frus- undergone tests by a foreign trating periods, and he becomes doctor who doubts Fitim has increasingly aggressive. autism. “To show his anger, Ilias grabs Fitim is a calm boy but has something to hit somewhere, behavioural problems. He and repeats this again and again remembers things and learns for a long time. He grabs me very quickly. His favourite game hard or clenches his teeth,” his is forming words with magnetic mother, Violeta, explains. letters. After spending two For all his struggles, Illias is hours in school Fitim’s mother one of the lucky few. He is one of opens the classroom door. He a handful of children to have collects his belonging and walks been diagnosed with autism in Autistic children often find it difficult to socialise with their peers and can approach games differently toward the door. He knows the class has ended. “Fitim, come Kosovo. With this information life he showed no signs of men- school. I was ill treated by is experiencing can also bring a back, I think you forgot some- his parents have at least been tal disorder. At two, he started to school colleagues, and teachers sense of relief for families,” she thing,” the teacher says, point- able to try and find help. walk and utters his first words. would give me detention or adds. ing at her cheeks. He goes back, But the reality of Kosovo’s Ilias’s parents were enjoying extra work because they were Ilias and two other children kisses her on both cheeks and, poor education and health care their second child’s growth. But annoyed with me, and I was just with autism go to the SOS after being reminded to do so, system means that thousands of at two-and-a half, it seemed as if a slow learner. kindergarten in Prishtina says goodbye. others with similar problems a clock suddenly stopped tick- “I found it very hard to relate where they stay from morning The three psychologists at may never be diagnosed – a situ- ing. He ceased to learn new to my family, teachers or until noon. They leave at noon Ismail Qemali work closely to ation that will have a profound words and began to act differ- friends,” Steven adds. His diag- because their hyperactivity make the education of children impact on their lives as well as ently. His parents decided he nosis gave him and his family means they cannot rest like the on those who care for them. with special needs as good as needed a psychological exami- the tools to find a solution. He other children. Autism is a mental health con- possible. nation. was given special schooling and Ilias attends regular classes dition characterised by three “After receiving notice from a “Having a child diagnosed help at home, and now lives but with the assistance of a spe- main problem areas: social com- teacher that a child is showing with autism was a shock for us, alone. cial teacher. “Children with munication; social interaction learning difficulties, I observe and the fact that we had never However, Steven enjoys signif- autism in our institution attend and social imagination. People that child for two weeks, and heard of autism made it even icant support from the state. A regular classes but have special with autism find it very hard to then I call the parents,” says more difficult,” Ilias’s mother team of social workers takes psychologists who assist them speak and often prefer sign lan- Saranda Shatri, a teacher for says. turns to help him cook, take his in their daily activities and are guage or visual symbols. They children with special needs at Although he has a sister aged medication, visit doctors, go paid for by their parents,” find it hard to form friendships, Ismail Qemali. “There are cases 13 and a four-month-old brother, swimming, walking, cleaning Remzie Krasniqi, head of the preferring to spend time alone, when parents do not want to talk Ilias doesn’t play with them, or the house and more. He is on SOS Kindergarten in Prishtina, and they do not seek comfort to me; in this way they harm with other children. “He thinks benefits. says. from other people. their own children,” Shatri adds. of his little brother as a toy,” Emma Delaney, manager of The contrast with Kosovo is The financial cost that par- According to Emma Delaney, the National Autistic Society says Violeta. stark, where there are no spe- ents of autistic children must living with a complex disability Helpline, in the UK, explains The fact that there is no cialised doctors who can diag- bear is considerable. They have such as autism can bring high that without the right support, known cure for autism leads nose autism. Children must go to pay for the kindergarten, for levels of stress and place many autism can have a profound, some to believe that treatment is out of the country if they want a special teacher and also for the demands on the family; it is vital sometimes devastating, effect on useless. But if it is diagnosed at to get a proper diagnosis for afternoon sessions. One of the that there are a wide range of individuals and families. an early age, the chances their mental health problems. parents usually has to leave support services for people with According to Kosovo’s official improve of ensuring a better life For those fortunate enough to work to help with the child, and autism and their families: “The figures, autism is virtually non- for the family. find out what is wrong with in most cases this is the mother. right help at the right time can existent, with just six cases reg- It took 25 years for Steven and their children, Kosovo only has The only school in Kosovo that make an enormous difference to istered by the Ministry of his family to finally discover one school that is able to sup- offers education to children people’s lives and children with Health. Hatixhe Zogaj, one of why his life was so difficult. port them. with autism is an elementary autism can progress and go on to the few educational experts Steven, who is now 34, lives Not being able to diagnose school, Ismail Qemali, in fulfill their potential”. trained to deal with autism, esti- independently today and has autism in early ages can have Prishtina, which has a class of The only institution in Kosovo mates the true number could be worked for a charity in Kosovo terrible consequences for chil- six children diagnosed with that took part on World Autism around 400. But comparisons for people and children with dis- dren because the right environ- autism. Awareness Day on April 2 was with figures from Western coun- abilities, Smile International. ment, education and support “Five of the six children were the American University in tries suggest the number could “I never heard of autism maximizes their development. diagnosed abroad,” explains Kosovo, which was lit up with a be many times larger. before so I found it very hard “Families affected by autism Hatixhe Zogaj, who teaches this blue light on the night of April 1, The United States Centre for when I was diagnosed; I was often say how much they have class. “In Kosovo there is no spe- and remained blue for one week. Disease Control and Prevention nervous, scared and confused. It benefited from an official diag- cialised team of psychologists The situation in neighbouring believes that one in every 110 seemed that my life was turned nosis,” Delaney, the UK National who can diagnose autism, so Albania is little brighter. Ilgen children in the US suffers from upside down,” says Steven, Autistic Society Helpline man- children have to go abroad in Cela, president of the NGO autism. If those figures were clearly but very slowly. ager, says. “It can help those liv- order to get the right diag- “Parents against Autism”, told applied in Kosovo, at least 16,000 Although it was difficult for ing and working with a child noses,” Zogaj adds. the newspaper Panorama in people potentially suffer from Steven to understand autism, he with autism to understand their Vedat Bajrami, a specialist Albania: “Public mental health this disorder. was nonetheless pleased to dis- needs better, so they are able to teacher for children with spe- institutions offer one hour a Y Ilias’s case developed like cover the reasons behind his provide more specific support. cial needs at the Ministry of week for the treatment of people M many other children with attitude and poor social interac- “Having an explanation for Education, accepts that many with autism, which is ridicu- C autism. In his first two years of tion. “I always had problems at the difficulties that their child children are going undiagnosed. lous”. K 8 June 18 - July 1, 2010 Guide and Culture Montenegro’s Magical Whether you are peacefully floating or fighting the white water, rafting along the Tara River is an awe inspiring experience which should not be missed

‘base camp’ in the small town of river with our three guides, who prison sentence, time floats by and Europe’s longest and deepest Kolasin, but I was not disappoint- had helpfully brought along a full incredibly quickly as you take in canyon is disputed, but it’s not an By Lawrence Marzouk ed. hipflask of raki. one of the world’s deepest canyon. argument that will trouble you for The log cabins were large, com- Although six hours on a small Montenegro’s claims that the long as you gasp at the towering fortable and included all the mod- inflatable boat may sound like a Tara is the globe’s second deepest karst cliffs. cons, from wifi to power showers. Flanked by meadows of flowers have always been amazed at and a charming viaduct, carrying how much beauty Montenegro trains from Belgrade to Bar, the Ipacks into such a small sur- home would have been a pleasant face. spot to spend a weekend relaxing, Any visit to this mountainous even without the excitement of land from Kosovo starts with a rafting. frustratingly slow, but stunning After a quiet Thursday evening drive across the high peaks. I’ve around the fire in the cabin, we taken this serpentine route many awoke to a cloudy day and a deli- times, across the Rozaje pass to ciously heavy breakfast of fried Kolasin and down to the coast, bread, omelet, homemade cheese without stopping in the country’s and cured meat – the perfect fuel rugged interior. for six hours on a raft. The lure of the sea had always Our eight-man team boarded been too much for me to stop and the minibus for the one-hour trip delve into the Alpine scenery and to the rafting starting point at the cold, clear waters. 10am. Intent on setting right this At Splaviste, a collection of wrong, in early June, I booked a benches by the side of the Tara, two-day rafting trip with a small we clambered into our water- group of friends. proofs and set off on the 100km I wasn’t sure what to expect journey along the fast running from the promise of a four-star

Rafts next to the river Tara

The river Tara presents moments of tranquility as well as moments of sheer adrenaline Tito’s Bunker Open For Art

Museum of Contemporary Art of and 1979, was made to accomodate Republic of Srpska, with the part- around 350 people who in the nership of the Centre for Cultural event of a nuclear attack could By Aida Sunje Decontamination from Belgrade, live up to six months without the Biennale was named the cul- needing to step into the outside tural event of the year 2009/2010 world. Camouflaged by three by the Council of Europe. houses that are connected to the uilt to withstand a 20 kilo- Due to financial difficulties, the facility via long corridors, the ton nuclear explosion, the official date of the opening of the bunker is located within a 280 Bbunker of the late Yugoslav Biennale has been postponed sev- metre high hill. leader Josip Broz Tito, located near the Bosnian town of Konjic, eral times, leaving May 27, 2011 as It is expected that 30-40 artists has found quite a different role the latest arrangement. from the region and the world will more than thirty years after it “Our plan is to transform this take part in the first exhibition at was built - as host to the Biennale atomic shelter into a museum of the Biennale. Those responsible of Contemporary Art, D-O ARK art in the next ten years with the for selecting the pieces for the Underground. basic assumption that the atomic Biennale are Branislav Y Organised by the Association shelter is kept in the condition it Dimitrijevic (Serbia), Jusuf M for the promotion of Visual Arts is in now,” says Edin Hozic, the Hadzifejzovic (Bosnia and C “Kult Zone” Sarajevo, Collegium director of the Biennale. Herzegovina) and Petar Cukovic K Artisticum from Sarajevo and the The bunker, built between 1953 (Montenegro). 9 Guide and Culture June 18 - July 1, 2010 Canyon

The first day’s rafting is not and the mountains appeared to be tion. demanding, despite the odd white seeping out water into the ever A hearty meal and a few drinks water section, allowing you to growing Tara. around the camp fire provided the enjoy the views of high moun- As the sun was setting on an perfect prelude to a heavy sleep in tains and waterfalls. exhilarating day, we arrived at a the basic wood huts. It was, and had been, relatively small camp on the Bosnian side of The second day’s rafting was cold and wet throughout the trip, the river, set amid lush vegeta- very different to the first, composed mostly of raging rapids. But our skilled helmsman guid- ed the team through the white water as we paddled away. Two hours of adrenalin ensued before we arrived at our final destination, the Sastavci camp. It was then a four-hour return drive to Kolasin across the Durmitor mountain range, which would have been an exciting end to the trip but was mostly spent in low cloud. Our last night was back at the log cabins. For food, we popped out to the traditional Restoran Savardak, which was a few min- utes drive away. Housed in a bizarre wooden tepee style building, the restaurant looks every bit the tourist trap. But the food was delicious and service fast and polite. We shared a mountain of kaca- The course of the river Tara through Durmitor National Park mak, a traditional Balkan dish made of cornmeal, potato and excellent and the people welcom- and drink, was 210euro per person cheese, tender stewed meat and ing. So much so, in fact, that I with Eco-tours. Eco-tours provide some tasty salads, all washed might find it difficult to make it a range of other trips and servic- down by homemade Rakija. down to the coast next time. es, from fly-fishing to hiking. For The mountains of Montenegro Information: Two days rafting, more information visit eco- are truly spectacular, the food including three nights and food tours.co.me Tara Facts The Tara is a river in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It emerges from the con- fluence of the Opasnica and Verusa Rivers in the Prokletije mountain, part of Dinaric Alps of Montenegro. The total length is 144 km, of which 110 km are in Montenegro, while the final 34 km are in Bosnia and Herzegovina; it also forms the border between the two countries in several places. The Tara River cuts through the Tara River gorge, the longest canyon in Montenegro and, some claim, in Europe and second longest in the world after Grand Canyon, at 78 kilome- ters in length and 1,300 meters at its deepest. The canyon is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as is part of the surrounding Durmitor national park. Movie Star’s Ashes to be Scattered in Prizren

shot in his apartment in Belgrade today. John Huston, Olivia de Hevilend, Ava It is assumed that Fehmiu committed Gardner, Dirk Bogart, Charles Aznavour suicide, Dacic said, because the shots and other world stars. By Bojana Barlovac were fired from a gun which is registered In late 1980s Fehmiu, who was also con- to Fehmiu’s name. sidered one of the most handsome actors Born in Sarajevo in 1936, the ethnic in the region, announced he was retiring ne of the most famous actors in the Albanian gained popularity in from public life after roles in some 45 former Yugoslavia, Bekim Fehmiu, Yugoslavia in his role of handsome Bora films. Ohas died in Belgrade at 74. His long in the movie Skupljaci Perja, directed by The Fehmiu family comes from standing friend Milazim Salihu has Aleksandar Sasa Petrovic in 1967. Gjakova, Kosovo, however they have also revealed that the star’s ashes will be scat- Soon afterward Fehmiu began an lived in Sarajevo, Shkodër, and Prizren. tered in Prizren, the city where he international career, starring mostly in Fehmiu graduated at the Faculty of attended primary school. Y European productions, particularly in Drama Arts. Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic M Italy and also in the US, collaborating He was married to Serbian actress confirmed the death of the star this C with director Dean de Laurentiis and Branka Petric. They have two sons. week, saying that the actor was found K 10 June 18 - July 1, 2010 Food & Drink Pandora Tower: An appetite for a Great View? soups, salads, and the usual antipasta, pasta, seafood options, steaks and pizzas. While the inclusion of certain ingredients, such as walnut, pomegranate and fresh dill, does lift By Maneater the offering slightly, the overall feel of the cuisine is passé and unexciting. On a starry evening spent basking at the ometimes, it’s not just about the food. In city lights, my dining partner and I went fact, those who do not dine out regularly with a spring salad, cheese antipasta, verde Sare often drawn to venues with either dis- tinctive interiors or striking social surround- lasagne, and Gjakova tava, a national dish of ings. The Pandora Tower Restaurant, located at Kosovo. the top of one of Kosovo’s tallest buildings, isn’t The waiters at Pandora possess an ele- celebrated for its inimitable menu, but for its gance not often seen at other city venues. We unrivalled setting. didn’t get the impression of being rushed The restaurant plays host to a string of and informative recommendations were pro- international residents, and restless locals, vided. seeking a trip away from the sometimes The spring salad, intended for one person, Pandora’s food is not as inspiring at the views from the terrace oppressive streets of the city. A seat at the top was exceedingly large, and can best be olives and minimarket pink-coloured meat strips. The dish was again generous to say of the building not only provides breathing enjoyed by two. Oversized green lettuce cheapened the dish. the least. space and exclusion, but also a calming view leaves formed a large mound on a simple The tava, which normally consists of The fine execution of the lasagne gave of an ever-evolving urban space. porcelain plate, which was then garnished fresh portions of beef entangled in a gravy- hope that the other Italian dishes would also The first level of Pandora Restaurant with walnut, fresh pomegranate seeds and like sauce, was aromatic, but lacking in rise above the bog standards offered around encompasses a somewhat lavish lobby, corn. character. A chopped onion and shredded this city. reached only by a glass encased elevator. Although the garnish didn’t match the parmesan cheese topping was lacklustre, But even without a perfectly composed The dining area is then separated into three prominence of the lettuce, an accompanying which was disappointing given the fresh cut pasta dish, the view will certainly leave you areas – a dimly lit main room, bursting with dill and yogurt dressing assisted in adding a of meat. feeling full. I can comfortably say that if the heavily dressed tables, a second level which touch of much needed tang. However, the verde lasagne seized the experience is what you are after rather than rotates, and the terrace area with a full- The cheese antipasta was the usual missing spirit of the previous main, with a an innovative meal, Pandora will deliver. frontal view of Prishtina’s sky-line and Prishtina fair – feta cheese, local kackavall cremy béchamel sauce entangled in a web of neighbouring boroughs, which is my and mozzarella, joined by black olives and melted cheese, zucchini, eggplant and Rr. Zagrebi 19 favourite. beef prosciutto. While the cheese was unde- spinach, gently layered between al dante +377 44 18 25 58 Pandora’s menu includes a selection of niably fresh and appetizing, the low quality cooked pieces of spinach flavoured pasta ining Kosovo Economy e Cronyism is Underm News: Firms Alleg st Expensive in Region? News: Kosovo’s New Highway – The Mo ers on Kosovo Border erbia Villag nnerve South S ws: Tensions U Ne t.com Free c opy No.33 www.prishtinainsigh ary12 - 25,2010 Issue y Febru t.com Free cop w.prishtinainsigh GUIDE sue No.32 ww ebruary11,2010 Is Kosovo’s January29 - F FEATURE s ative’ Ski Season Free copy Kosovo Become ‘Altern .com ants ort Gets off Home to Migr Outdoor Sp . 31 www.prishtinainsightFinally oge 2010 Issue No TURE sylum- Destination - B January 15 - 28, to FlyingFEA Start s and A p Ten Prishtina orstInsight’ Seekers > page 7 To After one of the w e Year s Review ofs, th Destination starts in 30 year Brezovica's ski season > page 7 010 ed off. for 2 has finally kick wboarders ARTE With your diaries look- Skiers and sno ’s New or orce last Tim Judah ing decidedly empty f were out in f end, enjoying the Book the next 12 months, week s. > pagew and blue 7 skie Prishtina Insight has fresh sno > page 9 FEATURE ormation on compiled its top ten For m oINSIDEre inf PRISHTINA arch For d events in E Son’s Se destinations for 2010 inthe weatherThe Ancientan City ofGUID vers the region, ranging visit Father Unco

ishtina Insight ishtina Brezonvica, Kosovo’s Railways, r Ulpiana ass r P r from must-see cultural w. w lbanian M

o sno A

Where to pick up Prishtina Insight? i njeri.net/ a Safe but Slo

jer events to culinary > page 11 Grave

wN t Collaku f Collaku t

no extravaganzas. way to Travel

yS NEIGHBOURHOOD > page 9 b 8-9 o age t rn to p

o Tu page 8 o by o Petri

h Politicians>

P ot . for full story ‘Cynical’ Ph ania Floods RINK use Alb FOOD & D CULTURE to Score Points Enjoy Far-Flung ical Brothers nder Chem thorities’ app arent surre en Kosovo Rockedomists warnbya thgeat th12Strikese au Food in a Homely to Perform in Prizr New RTK Chief Prepareses, econ p off with thumping pay ris > e and health workers walk s sphere at As polic ture. ter’s board tells it alth iAtmonsurance law. > page 10 ore strikes in fu oadcas ged to end the he t, ly encouraging m the public brenun Pajaziti, mana lt of an agreemanten Prishtina Insight has teamed up with these five excellent venues to offer a limited number of complimentary copies of tactics are mere ed oRf TKind,ependence Z FOOD & DRINKlary As a resu estaur nnitarvversary -per-cent sa atHome R 30- orsec ocash-snd a strike by offering a 30 isthrtleee- rs also obtained a gency fund f ppeared to have n urafte Wr ah health worke o emer on February 17 a iri’s positioo . for Pressure.3mPeilliontrit C eurollaku eriod rs to teinstcreaSshe.aq Wet y -cent salary increase By orke la per page 10 oves a 5 onth trial p many dissatisfied awrd by his l pe rhieoadl.th workers > ister ment appr ee-m roused aught offgu Morme otnhtahn t r2ia,000 point- the turn of the Min As parlia al he is on a thr were c ector and aqa Sha qisrhit’sin aap Now it is ector gener police officuebrlsi,dsho ict-.” protest. general dir to stthiFilikoe nsst raebeotsu tof Pri prison guards w dir isgruntleden we will p romotion to are the ei tnhgen tookQue d by mem-Justice to deal with Road Goesoversial ne Nowheresources,th courrti, who p ins agree the strikese ded in morterven o ibnege nou rtasisdee the of 00 i t r s r 5 contr s,prison guaerndts oafnSdhaq Exper ally conside on Wedneenstd ahy,a gve a t ahl e his CITYmployees.Up to zouk tor e appointm haouldd init ibe complet of broken prom- m > page 10o p otihnet to and court e wrence Mar Th to the osbtr etheits wepeaidrkodu wct of decades Hceiavlitlh s oacniedt yf,whorcing esting since By Petrit Collaku & La employees tRoTokK’s top jfficials s he process. ent’s Milnistbreyr sso- fof story onrds have been prot Dwas handed rs sur- in t t say the governbmassy officiawo pha hrei,aktino g gthraent gua f ds o,veha s on pay, b u g em n t h t Gina sb Staf ubrava vo in their tshteoru’s abnoard ise igh rankin ed to bpe i ministienrvo,Alvelumsen coali- EULEXf last week outside D ted direocf- Koso the broadca ty One h se in sa waintrednidng sh tahrat thereder was gaotverne meientg- the end o ewly appoi‘vital’n pavedby road that seniording b eogt tceirv pila y.sociead hoc responalway tina Insight itial ten leadelrlsa pCITasne iomYf mtheedi a pay rise, wh ile TK’s n qirhi,e past week, deme,ianncludin l wasstoe told Prish ghed tihcael isntaff porwotestthe co Partyp roifson, demanding From ylejman Sha t prised som unayli cciopma - isaels to poli,ace lathnodu m qiri wouldke n”. emocratic y aging Westernne ralKosovo, S rities hainvettoe rna lartmeioand pay r te. esern that Sha q to Sfer ing. on of the D s Comf tic ‘Banned’loyees have been st tor ge that autho thaed rou onc ha tdi in ocra urt emp es are still awaiting thetina Insight Theand somthe ei nro km-long waas cck of sbterlaetegy.d “Za dcasting m iinsuse EC Buythea nmd inDisetmer co ee ed villag s told Prish e 2008 e andi ngm ae d3.i3cal reveal a lin la olitical broaas been The unoiovo,nsP gaveDK , kes for the past theetr ha e‘p ionl icJtaiu-ven d into polioct, creat s issuedbring all p et ab ceegantn h their sed. try Kohass forDKw, oivnineel-hour stri Three isolat o. R ressurge tfhreo msit muun-ity.dep deiros muwrnaalisAt bout 500 p“oNlico n he dism misinis reviewf thKoeirs roevo,que Lst S Parking in Str expects lep tourin eed inaug mptci0no gny eda rctsre inotifcj e com- n accusatiohat thleice three dLayesa gtoue o eged he whi nd d owrogualndis bemployeehs,proaqiri Ah as e3 nnect th house .ATueosdjeacyt sa t tthe po r artiicnleds. Sofasroove randy aa lnseow all days. than 18 months ag sinesse tsh ea roa S 0t9h sitso c acrwoeielrl work-protest liathst pr to newspea mpeainta ry increasbees r.Thand aep pst try cians,buand said ’sr e.ditori- economistt,sso btaetrhrt ai2nt0 g hi w road w But contraryed sihnn,”iche,near saalal istrNyo veof m ameinisntary CITY Kosovo’s only English language newspaper. Grab a copy of the publication and settle down with a drink or a meal to read it. broaedeckas tlaerte from exiptherienOcce f the nre RTP,ining centrien veins tKi nter ntahtei omnin liginge netm apsnldo yefporarrsli tMo > page 6 e o o a b ime’ overe tdh two w e site w e speudcbtiloiio csn t atsieocnt ofr tr further g thact ial Ifrom of labour t latahw,te t ohe prCeshairid continues on page 2 cr rat isited th encourage n map oloercteadl ra ring a suggesAtifnteAr ne oigfhfit hours er IFReNith thath taflf,a acendd. a By Fatos Halili j, who v ajriendgin o qhutiina, befGorreacanica. ntativer Ptoieldt B more perotewcotiuolnd btoe srep SCE anle pcotlicy. Lima e nsiasitde r hHe s to struikte.osgiollna ve,of P reris lian Reprepsoerto rl aMteinister, givea,d tos ptehaker Serbia Puts O s to con w apipmoien tMe i employeRiaetdailo TeLlevi asphalt. edi-otiaCtivoni s,thtrea nInsteri ppoinhtem reont OCUS hat wa Bnut the pnuety Pr atodr ya,s “v of sn oeofwnKo ofsoavo’scting negrded for k Shaqtior i’dsi verta t e vil- page 6 NGO F road t wester De ll sdo utrhcee dr os Imminent ceo2l e.3tbhkream tpionsiti as awa was to bloeccision ofultdo, th > age 2 ale ages in ot dropd eas wcreibe egiorins ionfg t ntract w ue of d ith snasidte haed wo s ntinues on p Cold g Up For S ree vill ewod buyld nKuci, b oyf Ptrhiims er The RcToK. the val sman ffiolrl Fseite,i ferke, w a co Buildin th as prais sked atob idtoa nsots -in-chief for ll above ds a spoke land ved, arevnd iSBusinessew ‘A Soft Hand, nd w ng if he ri st hae inh a”. tor 0 euro, weunderstan e route RTLKu’st obgollaar Kosovo, a rt dueverin fo aci.ty of Pej 664a, 00Insight ract. Th line waigeths of pality. Transpo Hashimni Tcihpali tigativePrwishtin al cont lomats ifnerke l munici OCUS Warm A ster of Mplienti-sterthe mu yn i s bInasveIntervieeds he initni ational dip nd S e by Peja NGO F > page 6 ini n com he satlokra t r inter lave a mad Mind and the M s not bee iri saidt: “tIhf et B scoveredthat senio Lutogl time. KEK Slammed for Plansss to Up ction, ha gedS hitaq Bu omk hsaesc udrie between he mean ge 2 constru ster pled iased, Nanedtw fror sting aved in t Businessw es on pa ne he mini n rf.acts,unborting road, co ains unp intervie continu Igniting Busines – One2O after t t summo e Rep m-long Gracanica. rem MayorN i–n a n‘We Will Feed t, Advisor Heart’ ed – ed by las he 4.4k ompleted told BIR e was Electricitygus Prices er has applied e finish ded the that t s never c Limaj e schem byAu ARKovo’s energy provid would b imaj lau uros,wa cided that th old eas – SPKos g the NGO FOCUS Fatmir L ing 244,000 e pality de month Id Kosovatricity prices,leadin inister ute linNewsk munici Prishtina’f last PTK torish tibena, a pSrivate to increase elec M f the ro ed, Peja section o ill n the outskirts of P merce to severe- al uction o togllave Inde mpleted O Cyrillic vo lCeh- amber of Com ‘Swiss Cultur constr haq, Lu the co ree Travel W rked with a sign in postKo ansod te page 14on and s of Za lity to divert isa-F house is ma mmend blicly owned he> p rovider’s decisi e village unicipa Rehn: V Recol of Pristina munic- Kosovo’s pu lyte cdr ittoi cbiseed t aking th he Peja m Olli at reads: “Town hal K, is expec n. amme - M erke in t th few hun- ompany, P T used it of corruptio Progr and Sf iness ublic of Serbia”. A osovophone c year.acc EK, s Bus ’isp aLlitfye,Rep in g ugust this Energy Provider,K with BIRN er on, aallsfter pa sinsin K rivatised by A nKosacstoivoon Beat Follo wReform interview dreds omme-tres furentth F p t-hired tra as the Energy Your Art In an argement cvestm ry,stands a governmen aimesde dthat it w he EU enl ’s historic monaste The tenstclein-ba ndated to sovo show, t Ghrea coandicia- ly d by Lich Office,which is ma Ko Foreignn discusses t In house.Until recent dviseolrl sb,ly e Regble utloa ttohrey page 14 ner Olli Reh whites,twoovo -storey Kosaovo f d the timeta page 5 > missio tion for Ko Year transformenetd in AG,r reveo ale fix and a anpdprove... News s in a liberalisa el Dukat, it has been investm Teilllicoon eu nd Finance ions for vis econdstth we orkMot o n Foreign m 366 m Economy a vers Hole t foread eSrs mu ... 20p0a9 gefro 4 Ministry of ow Kosovo’s l into th aen ndew seat r cent in ay. robe Unco and h corrupition 22 pe lion euro. last hTehursd and tackle o 285 mil PriTbKut es t .. page 5 BIRN P rule ofoslapwi- towards the in 2008 t ent att ne of Kosovo’s. ervice state h to progress governm PTiKs,e isc o- Kosovo’s ised crime hile the ncial cris l staffin orghaenir own W bal fina is Medica ients to t nion... o the glo he drop Kosovo Health S ting pat Europ ewahne Un 4 decline t intain t re direc ent even page erts ma tals a r treatm ee ic exp linics fo ilable fr nom turbing. the private c d are ava eless dis rnor of page 14 they nee n inves- noneth vice-gove > services tutions,a erguri, ge 5 the blic insti ative ported by: Gani G pa rge in pu Investig is sup ... of cha Balkan . tral bank y the revealed cen Cavallero Mexican Restaurant tigation b IRN,has rk, B at g Netwo oblems th Filikaqa Sports Bar Reportin many pr st one of 3 This is ju page e... y: the prob is supported b

ed by: is support Prishtina’s best sports bar offers the perfect setting to watch a You can almost transport yourself to the Mexican coast, with game on over a dozen HDTV screens, guzzle down a metre of beer soaring palm trees and an immaculate five star resort, while dining and tuck in to some delicious food. There is enough space to at Cavallero Mexican Cantina. Mouth-watering appetizers and accommodate large crowds and still maintain enough legroom savoury main dishes are nicely washed down with countless cock- It could be you? and breathing space between rival supporters, or those wanting tail options and even imported Mexican beer. Gather you’re friends Prishtina Insight is looking to watch different games, whether it is a Liverpool match, NFL and bring on the fiesta. Cavallero has a great terrace where you can game, or cycling race. Filikaqa’s menu includes spicy chicken enjoy the summer breeze. For for a small number of addition- wings, beef nachos, cheese-stuffed pizza, fried chicken, burgers more information, visit their al partners to offer complimen- and fries. Every Friday, join facebook page, or contact them. tary copies of the newspaper. Filikaqa for Karaoke nights. Cavallero, And for a small fee, you will Filikaqa Located next to the ex-UNMIK also be included in our listings Rr. Mujo Ulqinaku BL 4/1 building ‘where to pick up Prishtina Pejton, Prishtina Prishtina Insight’. Contact Prishtina www.filikaqa.com +377 44 508 980 Insight on +381 38 24 33 58 for +381 38 244 288 Facebook page more information. Prishtina Insight

Cantina am-pm Restaurant Hotel AFA Te Komiteti Prishtina Insight is Kosovo’s only English language newspa- Cantina AM-PM, formerly known as Located in a quiet neighbourhood just Te Komiteti’s large trees and a beauti- per. It is available: Mexican Cantina, recently went through a outside the city centre, Hotel Afa can guar- fully garden, which surround the small transfer to new management, and although antee guests a peaceful night while being outdoor terrace, give you an impression On its publication date, hardly noticeable from a distance, the new within walking distance of all the action. of an exclusive place for ordinary peo- every other Friday, delivered to owners have transformed the venue into a The venue has won a host of awards for its ple. And this is exactly what it is. From your door or your inbox for as more grown-up affair with good, cheap food. excellent service to customers and offers a brunch to lunch-time snacks and special little as 10euro for six months. Cantina offers Mexican dishes at reasonable good range of facilities, from an exclusive evening meals, this restaurant offers Visit www. prishtinain- prices, starting from less than 5 euro. Although restaurant and VIP dishes comprising quality, varied ingre- sight.com for more details. the majority of the food is Mexican-influenced, bar to pretty, tranquil dients, combined to perfection. Cesar salad and pizza have been included too. garden. Rooms start at Alongside one of Prishtina’s best ‘mod- From newsstands in Mexican favourites 45 euro for a single, ern European’ Prishtina, Prizren, Peja, served up at Cantina and luxury rooms and style menus, Mitrovica, Gjakova, Gjilan and include tortilla, thicker apartments are avail- you’ll also find a Ferizaj on Saturdays for just pan-friend tortilla, able. The hotel’s rooms good selection of one euro. nacho chips and burri- are well appointed and wine, and great to. Cantina’s also offers comfortable. sangria and cock- From one of our partner a very pleasant area for 15, Rr Ali Kelmendi, tails . organisations (see above). al fresco dining. Sunny Hill, Te Komiteti Grab a drink, meal or a bed for Cantina AM-PM Prishtina Qamil Hoxha the night and enjoy a compli- Rr Qamil Hoxha +381 38/225 226 Street Y mentary copy from Mondays Prishtina www.hotelafa.com Prishtina after publication. M +377 49 710 710 +381 38 24 96 63 C K By Shega A’Mula 11 in Prishtina Inside Prishtina June 18 - July 1, 2010

Building Review: Gazimestan Tower osovo’s Ministry of Culture has opment in the Yugoslav Federation. decided to place a guide at the “The tower was used by the Serb author- KGazimestan Tower, a monument ities as a tool of propaganda, in order to dogged by nationalistic propaganda since cement Kosovo’s status as Serbian,” he its establishment in 1953 by the then said, adding that “this is a monument of Yugoslav Federation, for the first time the Balkan people’s fight against Ottoman since the Kosovo conflict. rule, not just the Serbs”. Since the end of the 1998-99 conflict, it Nevertheless, exactly 600 years later, has been guarded by KFOR troops and now notorious Serbian President Slobodan Kosovo Police, who have know little of its Milosevic chose Gazimestan as the venue actual historical relevance. for his infamous speech which played on Now, an office will be placed on the site of pretences of brotherhood and union, but the Battle of Kosovo for a multilingual more accurately foreshadowed his plans of guide, and an entrance fee imposed. Serbian domination within an already frag- The Gazimestan Tower commemorates ile Yugoslavia. those lost in the battle, which occurred in “In memory of the Serbian people, this the area in 1389. According to Kosovo’s disunity was decisive for the defeat of the Institute of History, 40,000 multiethnic battle, and the disaster Serbia experienced Balkan soldiers fought against an advanced during the next five centuries,” Milosevic army of 100,000 Ottoman men. Many influ- was quoted as saying in the 1989 edition of ential Balkan leaders such as Serbian daily, Albanian language Rilindja newspa- Prince Lazar Hreblanovic were killed in per. the battle, which paved the way for Over 1 million people gathered at the The tower at Gazimestan marks the site of the Battle of Kosovo Ottoman dominance throughout the whole tower that day, travelling from all over the Kosovo’s population was much different. and the Obilic power plant are visible from region. region and world. Although some ethnic “Thousands of people heading to the top. The tower was built in 1954, a year which Albanians under the influence of Serbian Gazimestan passed through Prishtina that Kosovo Police officers guarding the tower historian Fehmi Rexhepi told Prishtina politics were praising the celebration at day, carrying large signs projecting have been informed that the Ministry will Insight was one of the low points in terms Gazimestan, historian Fehmi Rexhepi Serbian nationalism and religious icons. be ushering in a guide with a new office in of Kosovo’s influence over political devel- recalls the disposition of the rest of Although we were disturbed by the events, order to better describe the history behind it was too dangerous for us to react,” he the Battle of Kosovo, and other incidents said. which have occurred at the site. Shop Review: Today, the tower, which mimics medieval Salih Morina, the permanent secretary of Serbian dynasty architecture can be visited the Ministry of Culture, told Prishtina by anyone with proper identification. Insight that a guide would be in place with- Although bullets shot during the 1998-99 in a month, and the site would begin to Sali Musliu Art Gallery conflict dented surrounding posts and floor- charge entrance fees for visitors. ali Musliu is a man of few words, but sparked interest in Kosovo as well. Musliu ing, the tower remains sturdily intact. “A strategy has been prepared in order to hundreds of paintings. The Gjilan tells Prishtina Insight that his ability to Serbian symbolism is present on every place a guide at the tower, because every Sborn artist has been painting for over mould client requests into pieces keeps facade, incorporating nationalistic poetry monument located in Kosovo is Kosovo’s two decades, and currently houses the them coming back for more. and other themes all in the Cyrillic alpha- and important to Kosovo’s history,” he said. majority of his art at home in Gjilan. A distinguished detail of Musliu’s style is bet. Various plaques guide visitors up the Morina added that the guide would be However, Musliu has recently established a his use of extra-large canvas sizes, reaching stairwell which leads to the top of the tower. multilingual, fluent in Albanian, Serbian, personal art studio in Prishtina, with pieces up to four metres in height. A starry view of the surrounded villages and other prominent languages. varying in size and emotion. He told Prishtina Insight that he doesn’t Musliu began painting as a child, and have a problem with inspiration, as he’s went on to study the art at the University of worked so long and has learned to find it Bar Review: Prishtina. He continued his studies at everywhere. Dusseldorf Art Academy. His Prishtina gallery may be small, but Due to his extensive stay in Germany, his works speak for themselves. Varying many of his works are displayed in muse- from abstract portraits to landscapes, his Purple ums around that country, which are home to use of texture brings life to every piece, and legendary art prodigies. He also regularly his hushed character adds interest to every terrace comprising a set of tables holds exhibitions in Germany, as he’s made piece. and chairs under an umbrella just a name for himself within the national art Rr. Meto Bajraktari 8 (Near Liburnia Adoesn’t cut it when faced with scene. Restaurant) Prishtina’s reproachable summer heat. His fame as a contemporary artist has 044 369 976 Wherever there’s the chance of a slight breeze, that’s where you’ll find the throng of day-time socialites and unproductive office staff, and this season it’s at Purple in, where else but, the Pejton neighbourhood. Although always home to a busy terrace, Purple’s initiative to change the look of its front garden emerged from its need to upgrade its clientele profile. Now that curtains have been attached along the surrounding gate, discretion-seeking guests get to enjoy their drinks and small-talk on the sly. Smoke machines add to the pre-club atmos But what makes Purple’s terrace a haven essential. for cooling off ? It’s a mixture of beach-style Purple’s concept slightly changes in the furnishings, overhead curtains and beams, evening, housing popular DJ guest sessions, large leafy trees, and sizable outdoor fans, extensive cocktail menus and a cohort of which keep the sun’s smouldering rays safe- usual club-goers. Fog machines and foaming ly away. ponds add to the pre-club atmosphere. Also, tables are smartly positions as to not A doorman guards the entrance, allowing be too close to anyone elses, allowing for familiar city faces to enter, while those with appropriate breathing and manoeuvring meagre social status get the boot. room not often seen on many other Nevertheless, the guys in charge are a crammed city terraces. young group of city dwellers, friendly Seating is available for larger parties in enough to accept group reservations from the form of white Victorian sofas, sectioned unknown residents in possession of a forev- off from the rest of the area by heavy cur- er-young attitude. tains. These are usually reserved every Purple, Perandori Justinian, Pejton, Sali Musliu’s actions speak loader than words evening, so an advanced reservation is Prishtin. Tel: 044 556 054 12 June 18 - July 1, 2010 neighbourhood

Serbian Officials Welcome EU Pre- Accession Green Light

erbian politicians have largely praised the decision of the EU Council of Ministers to sub- Smit the country’s Stabilisation and Association Agreement, SAA, to the parliaments of EU member states for ratification. The 27 EU foreign ministers took the decision at News in Brief News their meeting in Luxembourg on Monday after the chief prosecutor at the UN war crimes tribunal in the Hague, Serge Brammertz, delivered his biannu- al report on Belgrade’s cooperation with the ICTY, saying: “Serbia has maintained its cooperation with the Tribunal, with a view to deliver positive results.” Milica Delevic, head of Serbian office for EU integration, called the move an incentive for Serbia to continue reforms on its EU integration path. Meanwhile, some outside groups and individuals had urged the EU to insist that Serbia arrest war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic before being granted closer ties to the bloc in two open letters sent to the governments of the European Union earlier this week. Florence Hartmann, who was the spokesman for former ICTY prosecutor Carla Del Ponte, told Economy Minister: ‘Albania Prishtina Insight: “Serbia should access the EU but not at any cost. The EU decision is a major blow for Mladic’s victims, in Srebrenica and elsewhere in could be the next China’ Bosnia as for European core values.” A: Albania went from having a neg- in FDI in 2009, compared to 470 million Prosecution Calls New Witness at ative image to no image at all. We have euros in 2007. Overall, our FDI repre- Karadzic Trial discovered that even on the streets in sents a quarter of our GDP and it will By Julie Jammot Paris, they don’t know anything about increase a lot this year. Albania could he prosecution has Albania. Usually no news is good be the next China in terms of the tex- called its next wit- news, but in this case it’s bad news. tile industry; we have a well-qualified Tness at the trial of In the sixties, when the country was and cheap labour force and lower Bosnian Serb wartime lbania’s economy minister communist, we had only one relation- taxes than China – and bear in mind leader Radovan Karadzic, Dritan Prifti says a combina- ship: Russia. Then we had a strange that we are a lot closer [than China]. military analyst Richard Ation of fast growth rates, low relationship with the Chinese, but in We just have to improve our image; the Philips, to testify about labour costs and favourable tax rates 1978 we broke off with them and then textile industry has to know about our the Sarajevo Romanija could turn his small country into an we were cut off from the world, com- strengths. Corps of the Army of Asian-style economic tiger. pletely isolated. I remember a joke of Republika Srpska. the dean of my school in the United Q: The economy still relies on the Sarajevo Romanija Q: How would you qualify States: it’s easier to visit Albania than diaspora. How is this being affect- Corps, SRC, held the Albania’s economy? get admitted to the Harvard business ed by the Greek crisis? Bosnian capital under A: We’re the fastest growing country school, he said. A: Albania gets 1.5 billion euros a siege from 1992 to 1995. in Europe today. Our GDP was 8.6 bil- So, our lack of an image is a legacy year in remittances, which represents Karadzic, who is on trial at the International lion euros in 2009. Even if we are of our communist past. It’s also a con- 15 per cent of GDP. Right now, Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, is small, as far as performance is con- indicted, among other things, with the siege of sequence of our small budget: for two Albanian people working in Greece cerned, we’re the best in Europe; it’s Sarajevo during which the civilian population was decades it didn’t allow us to spend any- send all their money back home undisputed. In 2009, only two coun- exposed to a constant sniping and bombing cam- thing on our image. I recently asked instead of saving it in banks because tries were growing in Europe - us and paign. the Ministry of Finance for a million they don’t trust them. Of course, if the Poland. This year our growth rate is Philips was an intelligence officer with the euros for marketing abroad but I got situation doesn’t improve [in Greece], still going to be 3 per cent and I am British Army, and served as well as in the NATO-led only half a million because we have we can expect negative fallout, if they sure that we will remain the leading Stabilisation Force, SFOR, in Bosnia and other priorities: roads; the water sup- lose their jobs. But as they do the jobs economy in growth terms. Energy is Herzegovina. After the war, he worked for the pros- ply; health; education. that Greeks don’t want to do, it’s the fastest growing sector. Last year ecution in The Hague for whom he analysed, as it unlikely they’re going to lose them all. we made 70 million euros from elec- was explained in the courtroom, about 50 docu- Q: Isn’t the mafia fueling this tricity exports. Then we have mining, ments related to the SRC in order to explain the negative image? Q: Is the crisis in Greece making agriculture and tourism; 3 million structure of the Corps. A: The mafia issue is completely Albania less eager to enter the EU? people visited our country in 2009. Previously, Philips testified at the trial of exaggerated; there is no Albanian A: Some 96 per cent of Albanians Stanislav Galic, a former commander of the SRC, mafia in Albania, the mafia is made up want to be part of the EU, so we have Q: Yet, Albania hasn’t been able who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2006. to issue bonds in the Eurobond of foreigners, like Italians… Of no choice! Anyway, it’s always better market. course, there is a certain degree of to address problems together. It’s bet- crime in Albania, but our crime statis- ter to be part of the club than be out- Macedonia’s Ruling Party Leads A: It’s true that the rating agencies tics are below the European average, side. We applied last year for EU candi- haven’t rated Albania as the safest Opinion Poll so crime is not a real problem. date status and I hope that we will get country but if you look at our per- the full membership in five or six acedonia’s main ruling party, the centre- formance in 2009 Albania beat every- Q: What is Albania’s economic years. right VMRO DPMNE, still enjoys body else, because big countries are strategy? Munmatched popularity among voters, the falling apart, like Greece, or even the A: We want to create more opportu- Q: Are tensions between govern- latest survey conducted by the International United States. The rating agencies are nities for green field investment with ment and parliament hampering Republican Institute, IRI, shows. not being fair; they just get their infor- the help of favourable tax policies. Albania’s EU integration process? The poll shows that 29 per cent of respondents mation on the Internet and don’t pay We’re starting everything from the A: The opposition is trying to hurt would vote for the VMRO DPMNE if elections were close attention. They should spend beginning, from scratch: roads, air- the integration process in a very held right now. Only 12 percent would cast their vote more time investigating, and go to the ports and many hydropower plants are canny way; they claim they want for the main opposition party, the Social Democrats, country, before issuing ratings. in the process of privatization; we’re Albania to become a member of the SDSM, according to the survey. launching 70 new concessions in ener- EU but by their behaviour they show The previous poll conducted by the Washington Q: Can Albania balance its budg- gy. the contrary. They’re trying to create a D.C.-based IRI, which was carried out in December et without issuing the bonds? Albania already has the lowest tax crisis from which they can benefit, last year, showed that VMRO DPMNE would get 30 A: We haven’t been successful yet rates in Europe. Our business tax rate thinking more about themselves than percent of the vote while support for the SDSM remained unchanged. but we’re still hoping to raise money is 10 per cent and our VAT rate is mov- the country. This hurts the economy The ethnic Albanian Democratic Union for on the markets. We’ve had offers from ing towards 10 per cent. We want to because a lot of energy is being divert- Integration, which is the junior government party, individuals… Of course, if we can’t broaden the base of businesses paying ed by artificial questions. For exam- was third in the latest IRI poll, receiving endorse- find this money we will have to cut taxes: during the first four months of ple, we need to create an administra- ment by 8 per cent of respondents. down on spending, but I am confident this year alone, 4,000 new businesses tive corps that would help solving the The main ethnic Albanian opposition party, the that private markets will lend us the were created. business’s community problems but Democratic Party of Albanians, got 4 per cent while Y money. this law requires a qualified majority one percent of respondents would cast their vote for M Q: What is the role of the FDI in to vote it through and we don’t have the other ethnic Albanian opposition party, the New C Q: How do you explain the nega- Albania’s growth? that. Fortunately, we can pass most Democracy, ND. K tive image of Albania? A: We got almost 700 million euros laws without them. opinion June 18 - July 1, 2010 13 Mixed Messages Undermine Dear Teta Mia... War on Kosovo Corruption Teta Mia solves your problems plate in a Prishtina street, naming it after a cession blatantly harmed the interests of EULEX prosecutor. Kosovo. Since the end of May, however, these high The company that won the concession, a Why are we waiting? By Avni Zogiani hopes have fallen back. In a ceremonial sign- French-Turkish consortium, Aéroport de ing of a billion-dollar contract for a highway Lyon and Limak Holdings, will pay nothing Anne T. C. Pation, Prishtina to be built by the American company, into the Kosovo budget, while the obligation Bechtel, the main target of the EULEX raid, to invest some 40 to 70 million euros over a good question, Ms Pation. A friend said to me on ears are growing that powerful international Transport Minister Limaj, was shown on period of 10 years will easily be covered by Wednesday night, “It’s like they’re teasing us, actors in Kosovo do not fully support the bid national television, side by side with the key profits earned from the airport’s business. Awith all this waiting and no action...,” as he Fof the EU rule-of-law mission to tackle cor- international actor in Kosovo, the US ambas- This is not the first questionable deal of sipped another raki and watched the world go by. ruption in high places. sador, Christopher Dell. this sort in Kosovo’s publicly owned compa- Our ravenous appetites were abused with a At one point, May appeared likely to be a A few weeks after the contract was signed, nies. pathetic “amuse bouche” of three “corrup- milestone month for the rule of law in the US ambassador made it clear that he did After Kosovo suffered electricity short- tion” arrests on Wednesday, reported by Kosovo. Finally it seemed that long- not favour any significant arrests in a lecture ages and power cuts for almost 10 years, the Telegrafi as involving an official from Klina rumoured suspicions of corruption in the given at Kosovo American University. government decided to build a new thermo- from a microfinance organisation, an official highest levels of government would be tack- During his talk, he said that Kosovo need- plant, the Kosova e Re project, which would from the Shterpce branch of Ferizaj Municipal led by the EU’s rule-of-law mission, EULEX. ed to diminish the government’s access to exploit one of Kosovo’s key assets, its lignite Court, and an executive clerk from Ferizaj. In a spectacular action, EULEX police the economy, meaning that public companies coal. The new plant will have a production Oh my empty stomach! What food is this? raided the premises of the Ministry of should be handed over to the private sector. capacity of 1,000 MW. The old power plant Our glands are salivating, our tummies are Transport and Communications, Fatmir Less than a week later Dell wrote an arti- now in use, Kosova A, is likely to close once rumbling, and we have only a Brazilian chick- Limaj, acting on suspicions that top Kosovo cle, which all Kosovo newspapers published, the new one is built. en bone stuck through the cage of our democ- government officials had siphoned off mil- in which “in the name of American people” However, the government recently decided racy to gnaw on, as the Big Fish grow fat with lions of euros. he congratulated the government on the con- that the second existing plant, Kosova B, their scavenging. EULEX’s popularity revived sharply fol- cession for the airport. which has some 600 MW in capacity, will be I asked a well-placed friend why as we lis- lowing a protracted period of disappoint- This was his response to critics of the con- given for free to the company that wins the tened to Jericho raging against Europe at ment felt with the mission because of its fail- troversial contract signed by the Transport tender to build the new plant. Freedom Festival on Sunday. He answered: ure to extend control over the northern part Ministry, which practically handed over When parliament refused to back this pro- “We are waiting because we were told to of Kosovo that Serbia effectively controls. Prishtina International Airport to an inter- posal at the beginning of April, the motion wait by those who are waiting for the ICJ deci- Most experts rank official corruption as national consortium for free. was simply returned a few weeks later with sion, and who don’t want Kosovo to be seen as one of the principal obstacles to the rule of The opening of offers for the airport con- the same contents, and voted through. an unviable state beforehand.” law in Kosovo - and until May many people cession was yet another ceremony at which The head of parliament’s committee for Basically, the reason, you will hear, in the perceived EULEX as yet another internation- Ambassador Dell was seen warmly hugging Economy and Finances, Myzejine Selmani, pizzerias of Dragodan, shovelling Calzone into al failed mission that was fast going the way Minister Limaj. told Koha Ditore newspaper that the opinion the expense accounts of the world’s richest of the discredited UN mission, UNMIK. Answering complaints from other bidders of parliament changed on the advice by countries’ taxpayers, is Stability. For almost ten years the UN mission’s about the concession for Prishtina airport, USAID consultants. So, what does Stability look like? police and judiciary did not process a single Dell gave the USAID consultant’s word as Clearly, the advice of American experts Stability in Kosovo, it seems, looks like an significant case of corruption and organized guarantee that the concession had been open appears to be key when it comes to major all-time low of 15 per cent public satisfaction crime in Kosovo. After a decade of yearning and transparent. decisions by Kosovo institutions, especially with the courts system and a fall of 20 per cent for tougher action against corrupt politi- Nothing was said about the fact that the when it comes to the privatization of public to 36 per cent of satisfaction with the work of cians, therefore, Kosovars felt enthusiastic content of the various offers was not companies. the government (UNDP’s Early Warning about the EULEX raids and support for the revealed to the public when they were Public opinion is now definitely confused Report, March 2010). mission rose. opened some two weeks earlier. over the controversial statements made by Stability looks like 45 per cent of people liv- The Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci, imme- Relations between Prime Minister Thaci the representatives of two very significant ing in poverty, of which 15 per cent live in diately qualified the police actions as an and EULEX had clearly improved by the time countries in Kosovo, America and France. extreme poverty, or on less than a dollar a day attempt to humiliate Kosovo’s own institu- he met the French chief of EULEX, Yves de People in Kosovo know that both countries (World Bank, 2008). tions. That statement caught the internation- Kermabon, soon after the airport deal. have important leverage on the two main Stability looks like “a sharp increase of the al community in Kosovo by surprise, as they The French ambassador to Prishtina, international bodies in Kosovo, EULEX and backlog of cases of attempted murder, aggra- had become used to getting a smooth ride Jean-François Fitou, was the next to follow the International Civilian Office, ICO. vated murder, negligent murder, and grievous with Thaci. Dell’s assertion that the concession for Without support from these two countries, bodily harm” (EULEX Programme Report But, despite the aggressive reaction of the Prishtina Airport was correct and transpar- concerns are growing that EULEX’s efforts 2010). Prime Minister, EULEX and the internation- ent, calling criticism of the process “sense- to fight high-level corruption and organized Stability looks like strikes by public sector al community appeared determined to pur- less”. crime in Kosovo will inevitably falter. workers (January 2010), protests by war veter- sue their actions. This bolstered enthusiasm Neither Dell nor the French ambassador ans in Mitrovica (May 2010), Vetevendosje among Kosovo citizens for EULEX to such a supplied any additional answers to critics Avni Zogiani is a civil society activist in (June 2010)... degree that one night someone even put up who claimed the contract for the airport con- Kosovo with civil group Cohu. And our stomachs get hungrier and hungrier. The massive budget cuts to all ministries Outside In (including education and health) to fund the Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Patriotic Highway, which will garnish Kosovo’s landscape and beef up Albania’s economy, will not Fly that flag! satiate the craving for a Big Fish Barbecue these hot summer months. try so special. Only mad dogs were loiter- This means that many in England are A school in Gjilan teaches in four shifts – ing in town last Saturday as the Three reluctant to fly the flag outside their house kids benefit from two and a half hours of Lions kicked off their World Cup cam- in case it offends other ethnic groups. tuition a day – and we fire up the grill for our By Kreshnik Hoxha paign, certainly no Englishmen. How very English? How interesting? fish supper, but the fisherman is still in that The only plausible excuse to have been And how extremely unlikely that this phe- pizzeria in Dragodan, his tackle ready but his playing truant would have involved poor nomenon will ever arrive in Kosovo? permit not yet signed. planning and a last minute dash to top up Two years after independence, ipping a pint of beer and relishing Fortunately, we have the chewing gum of the beer stocks. And you’d have been Albanians in Kosovo celebrate the inde- some fish and chips while watch- World Cup frenzy to act as an appetite suppres- Sing the World Cup from the heart lucky if you found any alcohol left by pendence with a variety of flags including sant. We can cheer on England, the US, of northern England is a great experi- then. the national flag. If we go by the English Portugal, the Netherlands, Germany, France, ence. The united support for the national thinking then surely some Turkish, Italy (not Spain though) and remember how With the start of the World Cup in South team is an interesting kind of patriotism Bosniak and definitely Serb minority good the dinner served up by these countries Africa, the atmosphere in every corner of that you don’t see every day in England. groups would be very much offended by tasted ten years ago. the country is tied up with pride and sup- This is because English pride and patriot- our national flag. Do we, Albanians, care? But the problem is, three more weeks of port for the national team. ism is rather different from that of other Clearly not! chewing, and the acid in our stomachs will The flag of England, St George’s Cross, nations. While other nations can rip their But, both Albanians in Kosovo and the start to eat into the lining. We will become a has occupied nearly every corner of lungs out chanting about their country at English in Britain can learn one or two nation of stomach ulcers: sour, but of course, English cities, covering the Victorian win- every occasion and flying their flag non- things from each other. While Albanians stable. And our doctor will prescribe bed-rest dows of English pubs, the train stations, stop, the English are more measured and should explore the idea that little doses of and a simple diet of drowned, strangled, scaled, shopping centres, cabs and is even flap- careful. Flying the English flag is serious modesty don’t kill, the English should be humiliated, filleted fish for our recovery. ping outside the Prime Minister’s house matter here! Despite being perceived as an chanting “Come on England” proudly this So basically, Ms Anne T C Pation, I do not Y in Downing Street, London. act of patriotiotism, the national English summer in support of their team and know the answer to your question. Why are we M The fanatic obsession with football is emblem has unfortunately become associ- hanging that flag outside their home with- waiting? Why? C just another aspect that makes this coun- ated with racism and the extreme-right. out fear. K If you would like your NGO to appear in 14 June 18 - July 1, 2010 our Making a Difference feature, please NGO Focus email [email protected]

Embassies Lulebora: Leading and Liaison the Recycling Offices in Prishtina Revolution American Address: "Nazim Hikmet" no. 30 months,” noted Selvete Gashi, Arbëria/Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina Lulebora’s head. Phone: +381 (0) 38 549 516 “Now Lulebora is collecting Austrian and producing from Polyethylene Address: "Ahmet Krasniqi" no. 22 By Shengjyl Osmani terephthalate, PET, and has Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina employed around 20 people in the Phone: +381 (0) 38 249 284 process of recycling, the majori- Belgian ulebora may have spent most of ty of whom are social cases and Address: "Taslixhe" I, 23 A its nine years working in minorities,” she added. 10000 Pristina Lthe field of women and Gashi told Prishtina Insight Phone: +381 (0) 38 734 734 minority rights, but the that the NGO was looking for British Prishtina based NGO is now more funds to start a public Address: "Ismail Qemajli" no. 6 focusing much of its attention on awareness raising campaign Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 254 700 leading the recycling revolution about the benefits of recycling. building of the ministries started “We are expecting very soon to Bulgarian in Kosovo. “We are currently part of the waste separation, which was fol- receive a van, a donation from Address: "Ismail Qemajli" no. 12 Its first environmental project drafting committee on a law on lowed by the Government build- the Austrian Office in Prishtina, Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina was to set up five collection waste recycling, by the Ministry ing and the Assembly building, which will make it possible to Phone: +381 (0) 038 245 540 points for plastic to be collected of Environment, for their strate- and we expect the rest of the gov- pick up more plastic,” she said. Danish and recycled. gic plan until 2020 to have a pub- ernmental institutions to make Address: "Nene Teresa" no. 2 “Currently, only two collection lic waste recycling. the same steps, and after the law, For further information contact 10000 Prishtina points, in Prishtina and “The law will be ratified by the we hope households will take the Lulebora at Str. Mentor Retkoceri Phone: +381 (0) 38 249 995 Gllogovc, are functioning, Government and won’t go same steps.” 9/b’ Prishtina 10 000 Kosovo, Dutch because the other three points through the Assembly because of Gashi added that Lulebora is Tel. 044/049 110 970, E-mail: Address:" Xhemal Berisha" no. 12 are smaller areas, which do not its importance and the need to collecting plastic waste from gov- [email protected] Velania, 10000 Prishtina accumulate enough plastic to have such a law as soon as possi- ernment buildings, the American www.lulebora.org Phone: +381 (0) 38 224 61 function regularly, thus, they ble. University in Kosovo, USAID and www.recycling.lulebora.org or operate once in three or four “Only two weeks ago, the new Facebook site. Finnish think-tank IKS currently. Str. Perandori Justinian No. 19 Pejton 10 000 Pristina Phone: +386 43 737 000 NGO News: Travelling Europe with YIHR French Address: "Ismail Qemajli" no. 67 Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina outh Initiative for Human dents from Kosovar universities. applications and documents by Phone: +381 (0) 38 22 45 88 00 Rights is looking for young The chosen candidates will get June 28, 2010. Greek YKosovars who want to travel Schengen Visas, Inter-rail tickets, For more information please Address: "Ismail Qemajli" no. 68 through different European coun- EURO 26 or ISIC student cards, as call 038/248-509, write an e-mail to Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina tries and capitals with as part of well as the opportunity to travel [email protected] or Phone: +381 (0) 38 243 013 its scheme “Travel to Europe”. around Europe using the routes of visit the website German This year, YIHR will provide the their choice. www.travellingtoeurope.net Adress: "Azem Jashanica" no. 17 opportunity to 15 of the best stu- Candidates have to send their Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 254 500 Italian Easy Medium Hard Address: "Azem Jashanica" no.5 Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina | Phone: +381 (0) 38 244 925 Japanese 47 1 7539 48Address: "Rexhep Malaj" no. 43 10000 Prishtina 3949 7 89 7 Phone: +381 (0) 38 249 995 Luxemburg 487 46 3 285Address: "Metush Krasniqi" no. 14 Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina 68 3 4 853 86 Phone: +381 (0) 38 226 787 Malaysian 49 61 75 29 89Address: "Bedri Shala" no. 48 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 243 467 217991 2 42 Norwegian Address: "Sejdi Kryeziu" no. 6 71 8 821 673 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 232 111 00 38682186Saudia Arabian Address: Dardania SU 7, building 2, #1 84273 58 62 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 549 203 Slovenian Address: "Anton Ceta" no. 6 10000 Prishtina Rental of simultaneous Phone: +381 (0) 38 244 886 Swedish Str. Perandori Justinian No. 19 Pejton translation equipment. 10 000 Pristina Phone: +381 38 24 57 95 Swiss Address: "Adrian Krasniqi" no. 11 10000 Prishtina Services for conferences, presentations and trainings. Phone: +381 (0) 38 248 088 Y Turkish M For prices and booking call: +381 38 602042, [email protected] Address: "Ismail Qemajli" no. 59 C [email protected] Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina +377 44 243376 Phone: +381 (0) 38 226 044 K By Shengjyl Osmani June 18 - July 1, 2010 15 in Prishtina Timeout Contact Prishtina Insight if you would like your event to feature or to advertise your venue. Email [email protected]

Prishtina Diary FULL HOUSE, PRISHTINA,

MAROON Friday June 18 from 10pm Cinema Open Air Opening of the Summer Terrace Friday, June 18, 9pm-5pm Location: Across OSCE, in front of Amelie Bar

PLATON Hip Hop Night with DJ KONT Saturday, June 19, 3:30 am Location: On top of Boro Ramiz

GEGE Wednesday, June 24, Jazz Visar Kuqi (guitar and piano) Dukagjin Muhaxherri saxophone

Crème de la Crème Friday, June 18, 8.30pm – 9.30pm, Str. Mujo Ulqinaku, Prishtina. Rock and Roll night.

Duplex Friday, June 18 DJ Flow does it his way with Hip Hop and Rnb.

Saturday, June 19 Skopje's DJ Fici plays House to Retro.

National Theatre Besa - Time: 6pm and 8pm Comedy “Mashtruesi” – “The Deceiver”- Tuesday, June 29, 8pm For the two coming weeks, Cinema ABC Show “Me Afer”- “Nearer” - Wednesday, June 30, 8pm will be showing the movie “BESA” from the producer Srdan Karanovic. The movie is about Philip, a serb, who at the beginning of the first world gets called to work in Belgrade and leaves his Slovene wife Lea Aril Brikha in the custody of Azem, the guard of the Aril Brikha (1976) is a producer from Stockholm who initially school Philip was a director of. So, two discovered electronic music listening to the likes of Depeche Mode, Front 242 and Jean Michel Jarre before discovering the Europeans from different countries and more futuristic sounds of people like Robert Hood and cultures live together and get closer to Underground Resistance. After not getting any feedback in his native country he sent a each other. The romantic love between the demo to some of his favourite record labels stateside. Before he two and the class differences of that time knew it, Derrick May released "The Art Of Vengeance EP" fea- turing the track "Groove La Chord" on his Fragile record label are the themes of the movie. and was playing it all around the world. This was followed by the release of the "Deeparture In Time" album also on Transmat. His live sets have been highly appreciated all the way from DEMF in Detroit to Fabric in London, playing his take on Detroit techno with his special soul and funk to it. Troja at Germia Sunday, June 27, 2010, 8pm – 11.30pm, in Germia Park Pristina In Your Kosovo hard rock band performing alongside legends Blla Blla Blla and Jericho. Pocket city guide Three euro entry.

Robin Hood - Time: 10pm In the 13th century Robin Hood and his friends rise up against the injustice of the rule of that time. Robin Hood goes to New issue for sale at Nottingham to oppose the corrupt and Dukagjini and Dit e Nat abusive power there and he becomes the For more info tel. +38 649 173 447 symbol of freedom for his country. The http://pristina.inyourpocket.com film has received mixed reviews. Y Correction: In the last edition’s World Cup special Prishtina Insight incorrectly stated that John Atta Mills was the president of Nigeria. M C He is in fact the president of Ghana. We apologise for the error. K 16 June 18 - July 1, 2010 marketing

New!

Y M C K