February 13 - 26, 2009

Issue No. 9

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FEATURE Kosovo History Books Scrap Nationalist Myths

page 10

Business Kosovo Budget ‘Depends on 150 Businesses’ Photo by: Petrit Rrahmani for Prishtina Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit by: Photo First meeting of the newly established Kosovo Security Council.

Delays Over Key Posts Condemned page 5 Kosovo’s government accused of dragging out the selection of heads for important state institutions. ARTE By Shega A’Mula and the BIRN opposition Alliance for the Future the formal creation of the Security for Policy Research and team in Prishtina of Kosovo party, AAK, told Council, an advisory body tasked Development, KIPRED, says the Prishtina Insight. with safeguarding Kosovo’s nation- government is to blame. “The par- Clown’s Testament Last Wednesday saw the inaugu- al security and sovereignty. ties want to politicize the institu- n the threshold of the first ration of Kosovo’s first Intelligence The fragile and occasionally vio- tion; this was the case with the pre- anniversary of the declara- chief, former police lieutenant- lent situation in the north of vious government mandate, and it Otion of independence, colonel Bashkim Smakaj. Under the Kosovo remains the country’s is the same now,” he said. Kosovo’s government and parlia- constitution, the President and biggest security challenge. There has been similar criticism ment are racing to finalize work Prime Minister are responsible for Ibrahim Makolli, of the leading regarding delays over who is to run that has been delayed throughout selecting the post, a decision which opposition Alliance for a New the Central Electoral Commission, the year. was months overdue. Kosovo, AKR, said the time lag had CEC, an institution charged with In less than two weeks, the gov- Memli Krasniqi, government only increased the fragility of the organizing elections. This is the ernment finally recruited a chief spokesperson, said delays had situation in the northern Serb-dom- first time that Kosovars are fully in for the Kosovo Intelligence Agency, occurred because of the sensitivity inated half of Mitrovica. charge of organizing such polls. page 7 formed the Security Council and of the position. “It is more impor- “The delay in completing these Memli Krasniqi said the parlia- attempted to choose a guardian of tant to get the right person for the tasks conflicts with the constitution ment rather than the government the public interest, an job than to get someone quickly,” he we ratified nine months ago, and was responsible for selecting the GUIDE Ombudsperson. said. this reluctance to take charge is cre- Ombudsperson and the head of the The Haunting Charm of Authorities have also rushed to However, security expert ating a gap for more instability,” he CEC. fill other key public positions, such Ramadan Qehaja said the delays told Prishtina Insight. “The situa- However, critics of the govern- Artanë, or Novo Brdo as police commanders. held negative implications for tion in the north might have been ment say the two main ruling par- Opposition parties have relent- Kosovo, effecting stability and the [further] under control if these ties, the PDK and LDK, which hold lessly criticized the hastened com- overall image of the new country’s institutions had been created earli- most seats in the assembly, could pletion of these obligations, which institutions. er,” he added. have pushed for a decision on these they say should have been done “If it was formed six or seven Kosovo’s assembly failed today to institutions had they wanted to. months ago, not a few days before months ago, it would have planted vote for an Ombusperson, as nei- Ilir Deda, of KIPRED, said this Independence Day. its seeds throughout the whole ter- ther candidates received enough clearly was not their agenda. “They “The government has left many ritory of Kosovo, ensuring stability votes. have focused [instead] on getting tasks behind and now they are care- and becoming as effective as possi- The assembly has failed to vote in more and more party loyalists into lessly completing absolutely every- ble,” he said. an Ombudsperson three times in institutions that should be inde- page 8 thing before the first anniversary of The appointment of the head of the last two years. Policy analyst pendent and comprise professional independence”, Ardian Gjini, of the the intelligence agency allowed for Ilir Deda, of the Kosovar Institute people,” he says. FOOD & DRINK Politics City A Hint of Provence in EU Must Press Serbia To Independence Brings Only Prishtina Work With EULEX-Pack Disappointment to Mitrovica

The European Union must get Serbia to accept While most Kosovars will soon be celebrating the EU law and justice mission to Kosovo and in the first anniversary of Kosovo’s independence, turn also convince Kosovo Serbs to work with it, some people don’t feel much cause to celebrate. European Parliament deputy Doris Pack tells Ramadan Fejza, an Albanian from Mitrovica, Prishtina Insight. Pack told Prishtina Insight in an drives a blue “Nori” cab for eight hours a day, for interview that the EULEX law and justice mission which he earns about 90 to 100 euros a month. meant to help Kosovo ... In his four-member family... page 4 page 6 page 9

is supported by: 2 • February 13 - 26, 2009 marketing news • February 13 - 26, 2009 3 Haradinaj: Government Failing Editor’s word to Tackle Problems Fol! One year on after independence, the opposition leader claims Kosovo has a government that focuses more on its image than on addressing key issues. the government has been too slow “There is a package of nomina- By Vjosa Musliu and in setting up key institutions for tions that the government would By Krenar Gashi Jeta Abazi in Prishtina the country, stipulated in the con- have liked to see in these institu- stitution that entered into force on tions”, the AAK chief said; this osovo’s former prime minis- June 15, 2008. was especially true in the case of ter, Ramush Haradinaj, says The government has been very Kosovo’s head of Intelligence. he first year after a country Kthe current administration tardy in establishing the Kosovo Since Haradinaj’s acquittal from declares independence is cru- is governing without any plan and Security Force for example. The The Hague, relations between him Tcial. Either the country gains that political interference is delay- row over the selection process for and Thaci have been icy. While the momentum, and a clear course of ing the formation of the key state members is still ongoing. The former has asked to meet the how statehood will work is set, or institutions. authorities also waited nine Prime Minister, Thaci has appar- the opportunity is missed. The leader of the opposition months after the ratification of the ently refused to accept him. This past year will never come Alliance for Kosovo’s Future, AAK, constitution to appoint a head for During the funeral of Kosovo’s again. I can see the point of some told Prishtina Insight that the gov- the Intelligence Service. former president, Ibrahim Rugova, who boast about having built more ernment was not focusing on The Security Council was set up both Thaci and Haradinaj were schools and roads than ever before addressing essential problems but just six days before the first present but they did not shake and, most importantly of all, of hav- on public appearance. anniversary of state independ- hands with one another. ing successfully navigated a tricky Press freedom in Kosovo is con- ence. Similar delays have been Senior leaders of the AAK have year without seeing any violent inci- sidered low in the latest progress applied to the post of been hurling serious insults at dents against the Serbs in Kosovo. report of the European Ombudsperson and to the Thaci’s government, even compar- But I can’t help thinking about the Commission and in the findings of Constitutional Court. ing it to that of the Nazi German missed opportunities and about how Freedom House. While the government argues leader, Adolf Hitler. we never talk about them. “The government has [tried to] that it must not rush to create Haradinaj and Thaci are both We never talk about the 50 per ensure control over the media,” these posts and set up these insti- former members of Kosovo’s cent of our population who are Haradinaj said. By taking control tutions, the opposition camp holds Liberation Army, KLA, but went unemployed. We built schools but of the media, the government was that the reason for the delays is the their own ways politically when don’t do anything about the rigid

seeking to “polish up” its image. government’s desire to insert its they each founded their own politi- byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit academic environment that pro- The opposition leader adds that own people into these key bodies. cal parties. Ramush Haradinaj duces people who can’t even spell and speak correctly – a virtual army of 30,000 youngsters, each year entering a job market that can’t Kosovo: No Talks employ them. We hardly ever talk about the fact that even in the post-UNMIK era, public enterprises are still headed Before Serbia by directors who are stalwarts of the ruling parties. Clearly, their interest is for these companies to Recognition make money to serve those political parties rather than to better manage BALKAN INSIGHT,PRISHTINA Kosovo as an independent and and improve public services. osovo’s parliament speaker sovereign state. Therefore, these How about talking about my jour- said Prishtina was under negotiations are impossible; we nalist colleagues who have never Kno obligation to negotiate cannot negotiate on technical lent more support to the govern- with Serbia even on technical issues”. ment than they do now. Why, do you Photo byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit issues as long as Serbia had not United Nations Secretary think? It’s definitely not because the Peter Feith recognized Kosovo. General Ban Ki – Moon has government needs this support. International officials have authorized the chief of UNIMK, Rather, it is because the government long said that Belgrade and Lamberto Zannier, to act as medi- is still the number one employer in Feith Raps Kosovo Prishtina must hold so-called ator between the two parties. the country and the biggest business ‘technical talks’ to deal with Serbia does not recognise contractor as well as the greatest issues arising in Kosovo, especial- Kosovo’s government as equals advertiser. Government For ly regarding the Serb minority, and is fighting to keep UNMIK as Why don’t we talk more about but there has been no timetable the designated counterpart in any freedom of the media? A single sen- and no agenda. The United dealings with Kosovo. The gov- tence in the constitution regulates Reform Delays Nations mission in Kosovo invit- ernment in Prishtina on the other freedom of the media in Kosovo. It ed both sides to hold talks on cul- hand is trying to take its place as says: “Freedom of the media is guar- BALKAN INSIGHT,BRUSSELS the streets”. tural heritage earlier this week UNMIK’s formal successor in the anteed.” By whom, I ask? Who is eter Feith, the head of the He said that in past year the situ- but both Serbia and Kosovo international arena. guaranteeing it? How come that International Civilian Office ation on the ground was quiet but ignored the invitation. “Unfortunately, neither experts since independence, my colleagues Pin Kosovo and European warned that ethnic violence “We cannot negotiate on techni- from Prishtina nor those from have been receiving more and more Union Special Representative, criti- between Serbs and Albanians in cal issues with a country which Belgrade were part of the meeting threats and facing more and more cized Kosovo’s institutions for lag- Mitrovica as well as the reaction of has not recognized Kosovo”, for technical issues”, said direct censorship? When will we ging behind in key reforms needed Prishtina to the UN’s six-point plan Jakup Krasniqi said. UNMIK spokesman Russell start talking about this? to guarantee progress in the new demonstrate “the fragility of the “Serbia has not recognized Geekie. Why can’t we talk about bribery? country. situation”. Why do we never mention that over Feith spoke during a debate in the Furthermore, he said he was wor- 50 per cent of our businesses openly European Parliament’s foreign ried about the reaction of Kosovo admit having given bribes to get con- affairs committee on the occasion of Protection Corps in the process of tracts from the government? And the upcoming first anniversary of establishing Kosovo’s Security what about the 15 per cent of Kosovo’s declaration of independ- Force, a reaction that according to Kosovars who continue since inde- ence from Serbia. Feith can cause further tensions. pendence to live on less than the “The Assembly is still falling Feith said the EU should create a equivalent of a US dollar a day? short of fulfilling a key role in channel of communication between It is not enough that we have democracy: that of providing a Prishtina and Belgrade, as a con- refrained from killing each other, so main form for political debate and structive attitude by Belgrade let’s not debate this first anniver- parliamentary oversight and scruti- towards the EULEX mission is of sary with smirks of self-satisfaction ny”, Feith said. “Many decisions crucial importance. Some deputies and with a refusal to talk about are still taken by the government of the European Parliament went these problems. If we can’t improve without significant involvement of further and called on the EU to con- them instantly, we can at least start the assembly; much of the political dition Serbia’s process towards EU talking about them. So talk – fol, intercourse is still channeled membership with the country’s byPhoto FoNet that is. through the press and potentially in cooperation with the EU mission. Jakup Krasniqi 4 • February 13 - 26, 2009 politics EU Must Press Serbia To Work With EULEX-Pack I think we (the EU) should convince Belgrade to do so,” Pack said. “I hope that representatives of By Vjosa Musliu the EU have this question in their in Prishtina own daily agenda because this is important for the whole region and for the ongoing situation in Kosovo he European Union must get and Belgrade.” Serbia to accept the EU law She said that Belgrade’s contin- Tand justice mission to Kosovo ued financing of the divided flash- and in turn also convince Kosovo point city of Mitrovica was “worry- Serbs to work with it, European ing”, and unfair to Serbs living else- Parliament deputy Doris Pack tells where in Kosovo. Prishtina Insight. “Two-thirds of Serbs live in other Pack told Prishtina Insight in an parts of Kosovo and they will have interview that the EULEX law and to cooperate with the Kosovo gov- justice mission meant to help ernment,” she said. “They are citi- Kosovo in its first steps “is not zens of Kosovo and they should deployed as it should be” and is take part in the life in Kosovo. If “still not fully established in the they don’t do so, they are lost North”. She stressed that Kosovo’s because they cannot forever count Albanian leadership also has a lot on Belgrade.” of work ahead before the new state “There is a need to work with can start thinking seriously about Belgrade to have a compromise to FoNet by Photo Doris Pack EU accession. make EULEX accepted from the Belgrade has vowed to never locals in Mitrovica. We have still to country. You have to have a trans- Pack dismissed all notions that eration that the actual government recognise Kosovo’s declaration of convince Belgrade that EULEX parent government, well working Serbia was getting any sort of spe- in Serbia is inheriting the heritage independence and is keeping a firm deployment is in its own interest.” Parliament, fulfilling of the cial or ‘soft’ treatment from the EU. of Milosevic…and Kosovo’s inde- hold on the pockets of Serb minori- Kosovo for its part should not get Constitutional tasks, make use of “We take care of Serbia, because pendence is the end of its policy.” ty communities in Kosovo, setting ahead of itself with only one year of Ahtisaari’s plan in your at the end of the day, it should be a She said the EU was not going to up a network of parallel health, independence under its belt, Pack Constitution, and help the Serbs member of the European Union, speculate now about how Serbia education and social security struc- said, which still has a lot of work and all other minorities to feel like simply as others are, but we are not and Kosovo’s relations might affect tures. Its pull is strongest around ahead. equal citizens and work for the taking care of Serbia more than for both their EU paths, but would the divided city of Mitrovica, where “Kosovo will be a member of the future of the young generation.” others,” she said. cross that bridge when it got to it. Serb-inhabited land backs onto EU if it fulfills the conditions as all She said that instead of constant- “Sometimes people believe they One thing was for sure, she said, Serbia proper. In late December and other countries,” she said. “It is a ly asking when Kosovo is to become (Serbs) have not been punished that she felt that the current gener- early January, tensions in the town new state. Look how long this an EU member, Kosovo’s politicians enough for what has been done in ation of Serbs would not recognize spilled over to violent protests, process took for Croatia and how have to “do the work and fulfill the their name. I can understand the Kosovo. street fights and ambushes that long this will take for Serbia. Don’t conditions.” feelings but the fact is that we are “So why don’t we become realis- injured several people and caused ask me how long, but in principle it “We are not here to make it hap- working with them to fulfill the con- tic enough and clever enough to extensive damage, worrying diplo- is the same procedure for every pen for you,” she said. ditions. We have to take into consid- find a solution,” Pack concluded. mats about stability in the long- term. “I think we should ask Belgrade to do more to make the people in Comment Mitrovica understand that they should cooperate in their interest… Independence, One Year On Freedom has not solved all our difficulties, but it has allowed Kosovo to at last start concentrating on other issues. During this first year of its exis- become a source of instability but the international community. In www.prishtinainsight.com tence, the new state, among other independence has directly con- order to make its contribution things, has progressed in the estab- tributed to the pacification of the internationally and to strengthen Publisher: By Ilir Dugolli lishment of its security architec- whole region. friendly relations and cooperation BIRN in Brussels ture, starting with the creation of No wonder that all Kosovo’s with other states, the first ten Balkan Investigative Reporting Network the Kosovo Security Forces, Kosovo neighbours, except Serbia, have rec- embassies of the Republic of year ago Kosovo declared its Intelligence Agency and Kosovo ognized independence, primarily Kosovo have been established in Mensa e Studenteve, first floor independence. As many Security Council. because they realized its effects on late 2008 and the second wave of 10000, Prishtina Afriends warned us ahead of In order to measure how much regional stability. By the same embassies is in the process of being Kosovo the declaration, independence did has Kosovo achieved in its first year token, it is no surprise that set up. In its first year of statehood Phone: +381 (0) 38 24 33 58 not make all our problems disap- as an independent state, it is suffi- attempts to change Kosovo’s bor- Kosovo has demonstrated full Fax: +381 (0) 38 22 44 98 pear. Yet it has certainly made it cient to recall the dire warnings ders are objected to as vehemently acceptance of the duty of responsi- [email protected] easier to turn to other issues and made ahead of the declaration. by neighbouring countries as by ble membership of the internation- start paying them adequate atten- Only then we can truly appreciate Kosovo itself. al community. Editor-in-Chief: tion Kosovo’s confident first steps There was also some anxiety More than a year ago there were Following nine years under inter- towards the family of nations. about how this new country would Krenar Gashi many warnings that subsequently national administration on There were countless predictions act on the international scene and [email protected] did not materialize. During this February 17, 2008, Kosovo’s demo- that following the declaration of whether it would cause more trou- year Kosovars did everything to cratically elected leaders declared independence the new country ble than be a constructive factor. Managing Editor: prevent such dire scenarios from Kosovo an independent and sover- would produce waves of refugees. A year later, we can see Kosovo’s Vjosa Musliu becoming reality, often in spite of eign state. Parliament thereby Yet, a year later we have not wit- unambiguous desire and determi- [email protected] reconfirmed its commitment to the nessed even the earliest symptoms nation to seek membership of inter- serious provocations and direct challenges to its peace and security. Editorial Team: recommendations of UN Special of such predictions. On the con- national organisations, abide by the There was also an abundance of Ana Petruseva, Arif Muharremi, Ellie Envoy Martti Ahtisaari. In the light trary, in spite of all the difficulties international legal obligations and well-intended advice that independ- Tzortzi, Gordana Igric, Jeta Xharra, of the above, soon after followed accompanying such a delicate principles of international commu- ence alone would not cause all our Marcus Tanner and Shega A’Mula necessary legislation, completing process, Kosovo, both in legislation nity that mark the relations among the architecture of a full-fledged and in practice, has continued to states. difficulties to evaporate. It should Marketing, Sales & Distribution: state. work on creating conditions so that In this context, Kosovo has be clear by now that while not all our problems have disappeared, the [email protected] In the meantime, Kosovo has every Kosovar, regardless of ethnic- already applied for membership of adopted a constitution that ity, can freely exercise his or her the IMF and the World Bank and events of February 17 2008 have cer- Design & Layout: “Rrjeti” enshrines its profound commit- right to return. intends to apply in due course to tainly made it easier to focus more ment to respect the human rights There were also warnings that join other international organisa- on other issues. Printing: Interpress R. Company and fundamental freedoms of all its Kosovo would become a source of tions. At the international level, citizens, providing far-reaching instability for the region. In spite of Kosovo is strongly committed to Ilir Dugolli is Kosovo’s Charge Copyright © BIRN protection for ethnic minorities. this, not only has Kosovo not becoming a contributing member of d’affaires in Brussels business • February 13 - 26, 2009 5 Kosovo Budget ‘Depends Norway Finances Kosovo on 150 Businesses’ Agriculture Project BALKAN INSIGHT,PRISHTINA A disturbingly small number of firms are responsible for a disproportionate orway’s government is percentage of the country’s tax revenue. financing four milk Ncollecting points in dif- ferent cities around Kosovo, part of a drive to improve milk quality and help the country’s stagnating agricul- ture. This project is to start in the Shipashnice village in Kamenica, eastern Kosovo, where a business center will be built for farmers to collect their milk reserves. “Norway has implemented several projects in Kosovo,” said Oystein Haugen, from the Association of Municipalities in Norway, which is financing the project. “Good results made us come here again.” Kosovo’s agriculture is underdeveloped due to the lack of investment and dam- ages to infrastructure caused in the 1998-99 war with Serbia. Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has set agriculture as a key government priority for 2009, which has not encoun- byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Asdren tered any concrete develop- Milking the sheep gets underway on a remote mountain farm. ment until now. Shepherds stay here over the spring and summer. Kosovo Market Important, Lucrative For Serbia Photo byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit Kosovo's Customs remain the greatest contributor to country's budget

Kosovo Post and The head of the Chamber of Telecommunications, Prishtina Commerce suggested the budget International Airport, and would have been much larger if By Lavdim Hamidi Kosovo’s Energy Corporation. businesses were more efficiently in Prishtina In 2008, Post and monitored. Telecommunications paid 34.5 Gerxhaliu also said more tax million euro in taxes, its needed to be collected inside the osovo’s budget effectively spokesman, Menduh Abazi, said. country, from the Tax depends on customs Customs duties and taxes col- Administration, and less from Kduties paid by 150 big lected at municipal and central the collection of customs on the businesses, according to statis- levels secured a total national borders. tics provided by a customs budget of just over 1 billion euro. spokesman, Adriatik Stavileci. “The customs statistics show Photo byPhoto FoNet These firms paid around 410 that the stability of the country’s million euro in import duties in budget depends on 150 large busi- Five top businesses: Belgrade 2008, comprising 70 per cent of a nesses", the head of Kosovo’s BALKAN INSIGHT,BELGRADE $600 million are put on the province’s total of 604.8 million euro col- Chamber of Commerce, Safet Hib Petrol – imports t is in Serbia’s interest is to sell its market annually.” lected in customs that year. Gerxhaliu, said. around 34.6 million euro, and products in Kosovo since this trade Trade with Kosovo is not a classical The rest of the revenues from Gerxhaliu said this depend- paid 27.3 million euro in cus- brings Belgrade millions each year, export, Milosavljevic said, but “sale of customs, about 195 million euro, ence on the collection of duties toms. I Serbia’s Trade Minister Slobodan products on a part of our territory that was collected from all the other, from only a relatively small Ex Fis – imports worth 33.6 Milosavljevic said. is under a special UN custom protec- smaller businesses, Stavileci told number of big businesses was million euro; paid 13.8 million Belgrade is currently blocking goods torate.” Prishtina Insight. unsatisfactory. euro in customs that enter Serbia stamped with the seal Serbia has said it will continue to Customs duties in Kosovo The statistics pointed to the Mamidoil Kosovo – of the Kosovo Customs, despite block Kosovo-made goods until they cover about 70 per cent of the existence of A large “informal” imports worth 26.4 million Prishtina’s protestations that this goes revert to being stamped with the seal of national budget. The remaining economy, comprising companies euro; paid 22.7 million euro in against the CEFTA regional free trade the UNMIK customs authority, and portion of the budget comes that pay no tax at all, he added. taxes. deal. Milosavljevic did not comment on the from the Tax Administration, “Of 92,000 registered business- Elkos – imports 24.7 worth “Trade with Kosovo is going on with- possibility of an embargo. which collected around 224 mil- es in Kosovo, only half pay any million euro; paid 5.5 million out major problems,” Serbian Trade “If some other problems appear, we’ll lion euro in 2008. tax, while the main burden of euro in taxes. Minister Slobodan Milosavljevic told react on that,” he said, “but our interest The Tax Administration also the budget falls on these 150 Bucaj – imports worth 24 Serbia’s media. “That part of Serbia is is now to cover that part of the market collected money from the three solid, stable companies”, million euro; paid around 18 extremely important for the Serbian with good quality products from largest public enterprises, Gerxhaliu noted. million euro in taxes. economy, since goods worth more than Serbia.” 6 • February 13 - 26, 2009 city Independence Brings Only A Taste of Kosovo Hajvar Disappointment to Mitrovica ajvar is embedded into On both sides of the ethnic border in this divided northern city, people say that the last year has brought no Balkan cuisine, with H rights to its specific ori- positive changes to their lives. gins best described as a tug of war match between the Balkan states. Nevertheless, Hajvar is a staple spread present at usu- By Amra Zejneli ally every Kosovar family in Mitrovica breakfast. An abundant amount of vari- eties are available at grocery hile most Kosovars will stores across the country, but soon be celebrating the many families engage in tradi- Wfirst anniversary of tional homemade preparation Kosovo’s independence, some peo- every year when red peppers are ple don’t feel much cause to cele- in season. In fact, everyone brate. argues that their mother’s home- Ramadan Fejza, an Albanian made hajvar is the best tasting in from Mitrovica, drives a blue all of Kosovo! So call over a “Nori” cab for eight hours a day, friend, and enjoy this communal for which he earns about 90 to 100 tradition over a Turkish coffee euro a month. and some fresh lady gossip. In his four-member family, he is the only one to bring any income home, and he finds it hard to list any positive changes in Kosovo’s northern city since the declara- tion of independence. “There are just a few more new buildings around,” he said. Fejza is downbeat about the average Kosovar’s life. “Think of a dog.” he said. “It has a certain way of living. It is tied to the 15 kg red peppers Photo byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit 1 litre oil leash, eats what’s given, and gets The bridge of Mitrovica dividing the city in two parts used to that sort of life. That’s 2 tablespoons sugar how we have become. We just have administration, UNMIK. Community Building Mitrovica, But Arlov said the same politi- 2 teaspoons salt to accept the reality and try to On the municipal level, he said, spends a lot of her time talking to cians needed to acknowledge that 1 tablespoon vinegar live.” there have been improvements in both Albanians and Serbians and a land with the youngest popula- In ethnically divided infrastructure. The central gov- visiting ethnic enclaves, to find tion in Europe also had the high- Cut pepper in half, removing Mitrovica, where Serbs live in the ernment had donated more than out what these people need. est unemployment rate among all seeds and stems. north and Albanians in the south, 10 million euro to upgrade roads She, too, has seen few signs of youth. Roast pepper halves in a pan people south of river Ibar divid- in Mitrovica. The municipality change since the declaration of “Nobody has a right to take the until soft with a roasted skin. ing line did not expect rapid was also trying to fix the problem independence. chance of a better future away Remove from oven and peel the change. But many hoped the of water supply and rebuild the “Albanian people were in a from young people, no matter skins off. Prishtina government would at houses destroyed during the 1999 dream,” Idrizi said. “We were their ethnicity,” Arlov said. “But, Add peppers to a food proces- least have more of a plan for conflict. brought up with that idea of unfortunately, with our wrong sor and chop up into a smooth them. The municipality is currently being independent but since then actions and by choosing to remain mixture. waiting to hear from Prishtina nothing has changed in our lives weighed down with the ballast of Heat the litre of oil in a deep about whether they will provide and nothing has changed in the past, that’s what we are actual- pan. Add pepper mixture, sugar “Albanian people were in a the local authority with funds to Mitrovica either. ly doing.” and salt, and boil for at a consis- dream. We were brought up pay rents for about 300 families “Everyone is to blame: the Nedzad Ugljanin, an inhabitant tent medium heat for close to 5 international community, [the EU hours. with that idea of being inde- who migrated from north to south of Bosnjacka Mahala and a mem- and cannot return home. rule-of-law mission] EULEX, ber of Bosniak Party of When boiled, poor the hajvar pendent but since then noth- People in Mitrovica, like people which is still not in the north, and Democratic Action in Kosovo, mixture into glass jars, seal ing has changed in our lives throughout Kosovo, are also fac- our leaders, for not having a plan says seeing how little the town them accurately and place them ing the same old problems of job- for Mitrovica. has changed makes him very frus- in a cool place to rest. After 24 and nothing has changed in lessness and poverty that they “People are very tired of all trated. hours, you may enjoy your Mitrovica either", encountered before independ- this and this is why we have to “It’s getting even worse,” he homemade hajvar, and hand out jars of your personal creation to ence. use this momentum and do some- maintained. “We don’t feel the family and friends. Hajvar is Mayor Rexhepi used to meet thing,” she said. independence, or the constitution. usually spread on warm bread, Valdete Idrizi local citizens in his office every And the Bosnjacka Mahala is just but can be eaten based on indi- other Monday. He stopped, he “It’s getting even worse. We like an Indian reservation.” an Albanian from Mitrovica vidual preferences. said, because 97 per cent of the don’t feel the independence, He said many Albanians and visitors only came to ask for a job even some Bosniak families had In the Serb-run north, it is or a place to live. or the constitution. And the sold their homes and moved working at the Medical Center in much the same. As one local cab “I saw this being very contra- Bosnjacka Mahala is just like south, though he planned to stay Mitrovica, agrees independence driver said, there are more new productive because I wasn’t able an Indian reservation.” , together with other Bosniaks no has meant little to local people, in buildings around, especially in to help those people,” Rexhepi matter what. concrete terms. “How can we cele- Bosnjacka Mahala (Little Bosnia), said. “I am not the kind of person Maja Ficovic, a Serbian journal- brate something we don’t really one of the few multi-ethnic neigh- to try to please people, when I Nedzad Ugljanin ist living just outside of have?” he asked. bourhoods in the north, where know I can’t.” Mitrovica, believes both Albanian Fisnik might have a drink or the Belgrade government is The Mayor said there was little, an inhabitant of and Serbians in Kosovo are essen- two on the anniversary of Kosovo financing the erection of new if any, cooperation with the Bosnjacka Mahala. tially pawns in the hands of oth- Independence Day, but this would- apartments for Serbs – acts northern, Serbian municipality, ers. n’t necessarily mean he was really Prishtina view as illegal. which he insists is illegal. Momcilo Arlov, a Serbian col- “This is all a game for the great celebrating. The Albanian mayor, Bajram Apart from some round tables league who runs the Center for leaders and this generation is pay- Though he lives in the south Rexhepi, said he never expected organized by the International Civil Society Development, said ing for it,” she said. with a family of five, his apart- rapid change. But he had hoped Civilian Office, ICO, and several Mitrovica remains a symbol of “The two parts of the city func- ment is in the north, and is being the rule of law would be seen to NGOs, the two sides rarely meet. division in Kosovo. Changes are tion as two countries,” she added. used by a Serbian family. prevail more in the north than it However, those round tables had unnoticeable and disappointing. “And I’m sure this is how it’s “Everyone hoped for a better had done. Unfortunately, he said, helped bring people together and Politicians had for years men- going to remain for some time, life after the war, but nothing hap- things had moved slowly, possibly reduce tension. tioned the youth of Kosovo, 50 per except when it comes to business. pened,” he said. “Then everyone because of the delayed reconfigu- Valdete Idrizi, an Albanian cent of whom are below 25, as a People do work together then.” hoped for a better life after inde- ration of Kosovo’s former UN from Mitrovica and director of potential benefit. Fisnik Istrefi, 30, an Albanian pendence. Still nothing.” arte • February 13 - 26, 2009 7 Wild guesses of Mimoza Veliu Photographer Mimoza Veliu's photo exhibition 'Delirium' is now showing at the National Art Gallery in Prishtina. The importance of experiencing this artwork is high.

Pictured in a black and white ing and tell a story behind that his- pher, says that Mimoza’s exhibi- technique, faces in Mimoza’s pic- tory”. tion is a case to follow. tures contain a tense emotion in a On the other hand Shkwlzen “During all these years we had By Arif Muharremi frozen state, giving a deeper mean- Maliqi, an art critic, says that photo exhibitions, but there was in Prishtina ing to the concept of the exhibi- Mimoza’s pictures reflect the desir- something missing all the time. tion. er to courageously exit from the Now, we can see a complete art- rozen faces of everyday Afrim Spahiu, a photography vulgar balance of everyday life as work, starting from the very clear human moving moments professor says that the exhibition well as from gravity and the body. concept, until the finishing finess- Ftraveled across from Berlin reflects the courage to experiment. “She constructs images by ask- es. It is a brave decision to expose to be exposed at the National Art “Mimoza with this exhibition ing models to move or jump, aim- these pictures in public”, says Gallery hall in Prishtina. Mimoza had just opened to us the melting ing to detach them from the sur- Ramadani. Veliu’s photo exhibition ‘Delirium’ feeling of exploration which rounding reality of nature or During her time in Kosovo, developed after having lived in enriches the life and the soul”, said urban settings”, says Maliqi. Mimoza was engaged in print Berlin for a number of years, gain- Spahiu. “The black and white pho- “Mimoza manages to create images media, and was also known for her ing experience along the way. tos call for the history of happen- of individual delirium as the bod- poetry. She is currently studying

ies stand in a state of dichotomy”. media design in Berlin. byPhoto Veliu Mimoza One cannot clearly conclude whether Mimoza’s images are opti- mistic or sad. It’s a question of the glass being half full or half empty, and Mimoza states the existing condition. She leaves all the options open, gives no hint and appeals for wild guesses. Figures in her pictures are not passive, and she tends to use the light to reflect the dark side of humanity, capturing the very moment of the personal human mood and the way it is reflected. There is not a moment in her pic- tures where we can find a serene figure, and the dilemmas in their faces are replicated with their movements and mimics. In the pictures, the author care- fully measured the light and the space, aiming to create the best frame. Her pictures are also char- acteristic for having a certain deep perspective and the natural dis- tance between the object and the background.

Photo byPhoto Veliu Mimoza Alban Ramadani, a photogra- Photo byPhoto Veliu Mimoza Music Video Review: Clown’s Testament Metal band Troja released their new album last Monday. Earlier, they launched a video of the album’s most likely hit, Amaneti i Clownit - the Clown’s Testament. which is the only scene throughout the four- and-a-half minutes of the song. The sunset is in the background while the band performs By Krenar Gashi in rishtina in its own way, with energy and style. The first element one can immediately spot is the microphone of the vocalist. Instead of the usual cable that singers roll around their hey are hard enough and creative arms, this one has a thick chain, giving a enough at the same time. The four clear impression of the state the singer is in. TPrishtina men who rocked the town Lack of freedom is evidently the position back in the early 1990s are back on track. from which he is reaching out to the audi- Following a few changes that the band under- ence, as his hands remain chained through- went last year, Troja has returned with out. another music video, bringing the same old The song kicks off with a very short Troja Band in a show vibe, albeit in a different tune and with a dif- smooth sentence in a fairytale style, declar- ferent approach, and a definitely different ing that “a few years have passed”. But it Violand Shabani brings by hitting the drums from this song, especially in the conclusions feeling. immediately adopts a harsher tone, as the hard, compliment one another perfectly. that the singer makes regarding these peo- The lyrics for Clown’s Testament were writ- vocalist asks “who are these people that The song continues in the same context, ple, that “I cannot stop them myself.” Even ten by the band’s former drummer, now front- haven’t been educated to learn that they talking about “these people”, who cannot be the last sentence is quite revolutionary, say- man vocalist, Bujar Berisha, while the whole ought not to steal from their own home?” anyone other than the people in power. The ing that there are so many years, apparently band took care of the music. It took them The climax comes just after the first part song accuses them of “brainwashing us” of all the feelings expressed throughout the quite a lot of time to establish a perfect tune of the song, when the lyrics continue with: and for “taking away the sun”, concluding song, that he “can never forgive.” that could work with lyrics written in “There are some words I’m not able to say,” that “their lies have been costing us too Although the lyrics were written some Kosovo’s version of the gheg dialect of which coincidentally or not, rhymes perfect- much,” and that they have “taken our world three years ago, the story behind them cor- Albanian. Many ethno elements are included ly with a very common Albanian oath that away from us”. responds with the present day reality in in the song, starting with the singing style, could easily replace this line, without dis- The feeling of anger is present through- Kosovo, which is why it is already being though far fewer than in their previous rupting or distorting anything. out the story-telling process of the Clown’s played widely and commented on. recording, “Jena na” (We are), the song they The creative sound of Florent Bajrami’s Testament while the singing tone is charac- Interestingly, most music bloggers rate it as released last year. guitar, gently accompanied by Agron Ejupi’s terized by anger, too. great and they’re already quoting certain spe- The video is filmed in a desert-like scene, semi-high notes on bass, and the energy that Revolutionary elements are not absent cific lines from the brilliant lyrics. 8 • February 13 - 26, 2009 guide Photo byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Asdren The ancient city ruins, seen from a distance The Haunting Charm of Artanë, or Novo Brdo This famous hilltop metropolis, once famous for its silver production but long since fallen into ruins, makes for an atmospheric day out.

without stopping. After half an hour I reached a road sign telling me to turn left, and after another 8 km, a second By Asdren Rrahmani sign directed me to take another left. By now I could discern the ruins of the ancient city on top of t was a sunny day and I was the hill. I followed the road for 10 again getting one of those rush- minutes and when I reached a Ies in the middle of a working point that looked suitable for my day – a rush to be out in the open first photos, I stopped and took and taking photographs. Therefore, some wide shots of the ruins. I spent all afternoon deciding my An additional 10 minutes of driv- next destination. ing took me to the nearest point Then the ancient ruins of that could be reached by car, a 200 Artanë, or Novo Brdo, came to to 300 metre walk from my destina- mind, so as soon as I was done with tion. It was nothing, so potential my work, I went home, quickly visitors to this site should know changed, took my photo gear and they can reach it by car, whether or jumped into my car. not they are fond of long walks and

The afternoon weather was won- climbing. byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Asdren derful as I drove down the winding The Gumnishte fortress was Another shot of some of the ruins road by Badovci lake, an artificial built in the 14th century.With 15 ft- lake that used to be the main water high walls, it was part of a fortified As with many other historical Novo Brdo was once a metropolis, hoping those voices would materi- reservoir for Prishtina. Because of medieval city. Today, little of the sites in the Balkans, there are two with a huge medieval fortress built alize into the shape of people on the lack of rain and snow last year actual fortress remains, though sides to its history. Without going on the top of an extinct volcano top of the castle. the water levels had dropped sig- more than enough to give an into describing both, I will just cone, “the remains of which can be And I was right. Just before I nificantly,and it wasn’t much of an impression of how imposing it stick to an official one. visited today”. knew it, two persons, an adult and interesting sight, so I drove on once was. Thus, according to Wikipedia, The population at its height was a boy appeared, passing by quickly. estimated to exceed 10,000. “There I only had one chance to take a were mines and smelting furnaces shot, which I did. This photograph for iron, lead, gold and silver ores. is now one of my favourites in the Novo Brdo silver is known by its silhouettes category. I made it the argentum glame (an alloy of silver desktop photograph on my com- with 1/6-1/3 gold). In 1450, the puter and I am quite attached to it. mines of Novo Brdo were produc- I only realised how nice it was ing about 6,000 kg of silver per once I’d opened it full size on the year. The fortress came under siege computer screen as opposed to see- for forty days by the Ottomans, ing it on my camera display. It was capitulating and becoming occu- my last shot of the day – a happy pied by the Ottomans on June 1, ending. 1455”. The ruins overlook many vil- lages that lie in the valleys below. How to get there: You can also see the relics of an old mine in the distance, but I did- Take the road to Gjilani, which n’t approach the mines as I was means a right turn below the city waiting for the sunset in order to flyover. Drive through Gracanica take a few pictures inside the and Badovci Lake and some 15 ruins. km past the lake, a sign will There, I took a few good shots direct you to Klina on the left. before night closed in, and I start- After another 8 km or so, a sec- ed packing up my gear to make my way back. As I was going downhill ond sign directs you towards back to where I had parked my car, Novo Brdo, which should now be I heard voices behind me, so I visible. An additional 4-5 km takes you right to beneath the

Photo byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Asdren quickly turned on the camera and The entrance to the medieval castle with a view of the distant valleys below aimed it at the top of the castle, ruins. food & drink • February 13 - 26, 2009 9 Restaurant review: De Rada A Hint of Provence in Prishtina This French-inspired brasserie scores high marks for tasty meat dishes, an extensive wine list and oodles of Latin charm.

By Rose Whitmore in Prishtina

he view may not include the Eiffel Tower but the cozy Tinterior, extensive wine selection and camembert fritters of De Rada will take you to the heart of Provence without you ever having to leave Kosovo. Forget you’re in downtown Prishtina. Put on your beret, grab your cigarettes (well, maybe another pack), and bring your copy of Les Miserables down to Rr. UCK for the full bourgeois experience. Missing the French food that they enjoyed in London, Leonora Mehmeti and her husband Arian, opened De Rada three years ago, following the success of their wine bar, Bamboo. Named after the romantic Albanian-Italian Photo byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit writer Jeronim de Rada, their Dining area of De Rada overriding aim was to offer guests exceptional hospitality – ic glaze. The salads are fresh and “We change the menu seasonal- in which they have succeeded. varied but you have to enjoy ly,” says Leonora, “And although Since opening, De Rada has dressing them yourself. the chef has a French back- become a hot spot for locals and Entrées are on the more expen- ground, you can see Italian influ- internationals wanting to be sive side. Ranging from seven to ence as well.” Indeed, all the seen, or do some seeing them- 10 euro or more, there is no lack breads and pasta, except the selves. This is not a hard task, of variety; lamb, chicken, spaghetti, are made fresh daily. with a patio designed for voyeurs salmon, sea bass, dorado, beef – Beginning a new rotation in the and well-placed mirrors on styl- there are many cuts. Parma ham menu, more French-inspired cui- ish brick walls. Every detail makes an appearance. sine, such as chicken stuffed with speaks of comfort; the warm col- sausage and wrapped in bacon, ors of a country café fill the room will be reaching the dining room while leather chairs invite cigar Since opening, De Rada has over the next few months. smoking. French deco pieces and become a hot spot for locals The wine selection is unusual- old photographs adorn the walls. ly good for Prishtina. Chosen by Featuring, among other items, and internationals wanting to a local sommelier, the list con- leek terrine, house-made breads be seen, or do some seeing tains more than 20 reds from and kumquat marmalade, the themselves. Italy, Spain, France and menu at de Rada aims high and Australia. A comprehensive mostly hits the mark. For dinner, description of each wine, as well Photo byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit there are moderately priced Most of the meat dishes come as pairing selection, makes An evening atmosphere at De Rada warm and cold starters. Polenta, with the option of Béarnaise, choosing easy, and simply a ques- which comes with grilled vegeta- Peppercorn, Madeira, or Ruccola tion of how much damage you matter what, you’ll surely get the region has only one Kosovo bles, is topped with a fine balsam- and Parmesan sauces. want to inflict on your wallet. No something you like. “Supply is wine. the issue, we want something Where does De Rada fail? While that will be continuous and we the meat dishes generally live up don’t want to disappoint our cus- to French standards, the pastas tomers,” says Leonora. When are more hit-and-miss. My ten- asked why only a few (mostly derly cooked beef medallions white) French wines were on the were supposed to come with mar- menu, she explained that, “What inated Provencal vegetables. we have is mostly Italian reds What arrived were a few grilled because the supply is not avail- peppers, sprinkled with parsley, able from France.” A 117 euro which begged the question about bottle of Contrabbasso Barolo how “French” this really was. from Italy tops the list in terms On past menus, the grilled of price. prawns with spinach were a deli- cious combination and the calf livers were the best in town. So, “We change the menu sea- whether you want to blow your sonally, and although the chef palate or just have a warm meal, has a French background, come for the wine list, the décor and the friendly service of the you can see Italian influence multi-lingual, sometimes as well". singing, waiting staff, and leave all assumptions about French food behind. You’ll definitely feel Leonora Mehmeti, comfortable and taken care of. owner Whether sipping coffee on the covered patio, improving your wine vocabulary or just enjoying However, it is a slight disap- the atmosphere, De Rada offers a

Photo byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit pointment that one of the most touch of Latin charm and a taste Friendly De Rada waiters at the bar well crafted wine selections in of le vie a Prishtina. 10 • February 13 - 26, 2009 feature Kosovo History Books Scrap Nationalist Myths The new state is making its first attempt to de-nationalize its history books, deleting hate speech and toning down nationalism.

he said. The History Institute is proud to By Vjosa Musliu have expanded coverage of Ancient in Prishtina Greek civilisation “despite our tense relations with Greece”, for example. Asked whether primary schools n initiative of Kosovo’s would also learn about the Battle of Institute of History, to com- Apile new, more objective and Kosovo in 1389, Professor Veseli said more down to earth history books this was unlikely. “They are still for primary school children, has young”. been hailed as a milestone in an oth- In popular Serbian mythology, erwise tense Balkans, where coun- Prince, or Knez, Lazar chose to lose tries remain obsessed with glory, the battle to the Ottoman army, pre- myths and a sense of superiority. ferring to win “the heavenly king- While “objectivity” remains a mat- dom” over victory on earth. In ter of perception and the new books Kosovo’s new history books, the are far from shedding all sense of Christian army’s rage against the national pride, teachers in Kosovo Ottoman Turks in 1389 is described say they are a big improvement from as “a joint force of Balkans troops the books of 30 years ago. led by Knez Lazar.” The working group for the books Demaj said the legend of the heav- was composed of experts from the enly messenger visiting Prince History Institute, the University his- Lazar was a myth, and there was no tory faculty, high schools and pri- point in downplaying one’s own mary schools. myths in history books in order to “These books are much more replace them with others. objective and much better rather than history books of your time or A pace for traditional my era,” Sabri Veseli, a history values: teacher at the Ismail Qemajli pri- byPhoto Insight Prishtina Musliu for Vjosa New history textbooks for this year’s curriculum mary in Prishtina, told Balkan While aiming to get rid of die- Insight. Nationalists”, and “the ambitions of historians have recently suggested that the Sokoli myth had become a hard nationalism and hate speech, “They’re more relaxed, don’t the compilers of the new history foment hatred… and they don’t call the Slavs for Albanian land”, were that Scanderbeg was probably no prototype for future warriors fight- books are keen to stress support for for nationalist revival and war, when typical terms used. taller than 167 cm and that his glam- ing for the national cause. “strong and valuable” Albanian tra- wars have only led to tragedy.” And while the depiction of histo- orous image was embellished for “Looking at it from today’s per- ditional values. Veseli, a reviewer of the new ry can never be totally objective or nationalist purposes. spective, Mic Sokoli represents an “The issue of religious tolerance books, feels little regret for the old neutral, always being prone to inter- Asked what they know best about exaggeration of the brave warrior, is to be marked and stressed as a nationalist versions of history. pretation, the compilers of the new the history taught by their profes- and it is good that young genera- great feature of Albanians. We “When it came to history, we were books have made a clear decision to sors, most 12-year-olds at Ismajl tions are not imbued with these val- could give lessons to Western coun- told what the regime wanted us to be dispense with hate speech and bla- Qemajli primary school said they ues,” Gashi said. told.” tant discrimination. knew most about Skanderbeg and tries on their complexes about reli- While Serbs were formerly They have also tried to make his- the Ottoman occupation. Serbs are neighbours: gious intolerance,” Demaj said. described as “barbarians from the tory more comprehensible to young “Scanderbeg is credited with According to him, the fact that Carpathians Mountains who con- minds. “We’ve applied the idea of deterring the further expansion of The new books also offer more Albanians were neither expansion- quered Illyria between the 6th and telling history in the form of tales the Ottoman Empire into Western coverage of other nations’ histories, ist nor hegemonistic should also be 9th centuries,” for example, the in order for it to be more acceptable Europe”, Lis Sinani, aged 11, with special attention given to emphasized in history, not to pose arrival of the Slavs in the Balkans is to the brain of an average 11-year- explained. Chinese, Egyptian, Persian and as victims but simply to show the treated differently in the newer old,” says Demaj. While the tendency in older books Greek Civilisations. nation’s non-expansionist nature. accounts. “We have been looking at the was to embellish accounts of Professor Veseli told Prishtina “Serbian history mentions Frasher Demaj, 35, secretary of Western European and American national warriors and heroes, Adem Insight that if one did not know Albanians only to label them as neg- the History Institute and main model of simplifying history”, Jashari, the well-known command- one’s neighbour’s history, one could ative and destructive elements, but author of the new school books, has Demaj added. “We want to be a er of Kosovo Liberation Army,KLA, not know one’s own either. “Other we don’t want to imitiate this sense dispensed with terms such as “bar- model for the Balkans”. is portrayed in more normal terms people’s history and culture must be of superiority or insult other barian”. in the new books. learnt and studied; it’s a treasure,” nations,” Demaj said. “Books for children aged 12 should No more Heroes? “Jashari is not portrayed as a not be imbued with such terms,” he Every Kosovo Albanian has the superhuman but as one of the lead- said. “And we don’t give literary and image of the “great leviathan” ing commanders of the KLA. He is a poetic description of events.” Skanderbeg imprinted in their symbol of sacrifice because he sac- Benedict Anderson, a writer on minds. A popular Albanian film, in rificed his whole family and his chil- nationalism, recalls that nationalist which the 15th-century warrior was dren were massacred at the age of writers and historical accounts are played by a tall Georgian, has come two”, adds Demaj. usually “vague and ambiguous and to personify the Albanian who hero- Beside Skanderbeg, another have an inferred meaning of a com- ically delayed the Ottoman conquest national hero famous for his brav- ing march”. of the Balkans. ery is Mic Sokoli whose image, This was certainly the case with A copper carving of Skanderbeg, breast facing the enemy cannon, is the old history books and lectures. astride his horse, is a feature of all an exemplar of what Anderson calls “Serbian hordes”, “Greek ultra- Albanian houses. But new Albanian “banal nationalism”. This term refers to national symbols that become prominent household and institutional norm, that they end up becoming unoticed by society. Sokoli has been removed altogeth- er from the new history books pre- cisely because they want to get away from these types of glorifications. “Mic Sokoli is a typical glorifica- tion of a particular historical figure and these sorts of imbues are not necessary,” Demaj points out. The former emphasis on self-sac- rifice in Albanian history, with its emphasis on courage and altruism was also used to show the weak and inglorious nature of the enemy,who hid behind cannons and artillery.

Photo byPhoto Insight Prishtina Musliu for Vjosa Berat Gashi, 43, graduate in Photos in the new books illustrating the poisoning of 7000 Albanian students by Serbian History at the University of The Albanian hero, Mic Sokoli who showed his breast to the canon defending his friends has regime in 1990. Prishtina, told Prishtina Insight been removed from the new books. insight • February 13 - 26, 2009 11 Balkan Earthquake is Felt Far Away

them. But there is little evidence abolishing border controls and that Kosovo’s independence or granting many locals Russian pass- recognition has significantly boost- ports. Their currency is the rouble. ed their prospects of statehood. Vjacheslav Chirikba, a foreign poli- By Darko Duridanski cy adviser to the Abkhazian Pres- If Kosovo has it, why not ident, Sergey Bagapsh, says if Abkhazia? Kosovo is entitled to statehood, so is rom the Basque counry to the Abkhazia. During the early years of Caucasus, the implications of At the bridge over the river Ingur, the USSR it was a separate Soviet Fthe former Serbian province’s the only entry point to Abkhazia republic, he notes, and now it meets march to independence are being from Georgia, stands a monument all the criteria for a recognised followed - and debated. of a pistol with its barrel tied in a state. “Both main factors are met, As jubilant Kosovars danced in knot. Erected as a symbol of disar- political and state structure, plus front of the Newborn statue mament, it is a small version of the economic sustainability,so where is unveiled in the capital, Prishtina, to sculpture, Knotted Gun, by the the problem?” Chirikba asks. commemorate their long-awaited Swedish artist Carl Fredrik “Abkhazia will never be a part of independence on February 17, 2008, Reutersward. It expresses the aspi- Georgia,” concurs Maxim Gvind- many political leaders around the ration of all the residents of this zhia, Abkhazian Deputy Foreign world watched the events with dif- unrecognised country for peace. Minister. “Independence for us, as byPhoto FoNet ferent emotions. But real peace still eludes this trou- in the case of Kosovo, is an issue of coa, which form the Basque Auto- for other liberation movements. Their core concern was that bled land. The battered streets of self-preservation. Independence is nomous Country. “We have always stressed that granting independence to a former the capital, Sukhumi, evoke a coun- the only guarantee of the preserva- The autonomous Basque govern- Kosovo has special characteristics,” province could boost secessionist try that emerged from war yester- tion of our nation.” ment proposed a referendum that Kosovo’s President, Fatmir Sejdiu, movements the world over, and not day, though the fight against Tim Judah, an expert on both the would have paved the way for a ref- has said. “It is a case sui generis turn out to be a sui generis case, as Georgia ended in 1993. Balkans and the Caucasus, says the erendum on independence, planned and cannot be used as a precedent Kosovo’s European backers have With a population of around conflict was inevitable, regardless for 2010. However, the central gov- for other conflict zones, areas or insisted. 220,000, and recently recognised by of Kosovo’s declaration of inde- ernment in Madrid strongly regions.” The debate over the “Kosovo Russia, Abkhazia sees Kosovo as a pendence. opposed the plan and Spain’s high- Experts in Kosovo are more precedent” was revived in August possible role model, despite the fact “Even if Kosovo hadn’t existed, est court in mid-September ruled nuanced, saying it is hard to define 2008, when Russian forces poured that Russia, a staunch ally of the conflict in South Ossetia would the referendum unconstitutional. the standards by which a nation has into the breakaway Georgian Serbia, has bitterly opposed not have been avoided,” he says. The conflict between Madrid and a right to break away and start an regions of Abkhazia and South Kosovo`s independence, warning it “Russia is naturally very interested the Basques over the referendum independent existence. Ossetia. The conflict ended in could have a domino effect around in using Kosovo as an argument. coincides with a similar conflict One local NGO, the Kosovar Russia’s recognition of the But Russia is not really interested the world. over Kosovo: the Basque govern- Institute for Policy Research and enclaves’ independence, and the in South Ossetia or Abkhazia, it is The Abkhazians do not compare ment supports Kosovo’s independ- Development, KIPRED, in a study example of Kosovo as justification more interested in preventing their situation directly with Kosovo ence, while Madrid does not. released late last year, lists several for this. Georgia from joining NATO.” but use the “double-standards” According to the Basque President, criteria. These include borders argument to insist they are entitled Juan Jose Ibarretxe, events in established in the previous system A model for the Basques? before the dissolution of the state, “In an age of globalisation, to the same treatment. By this, they Kosovo show the right of nations’ to mean the Western claim that self-determination cannot now be the presence of an ethnic minority small nations must become While Abkhazians – and subjected to ethnic cleansing or Kosovo’s recognition is a sui gener- denied. “The 21st century is the cen- Armenians in Nagorny Karabakh – serious violation of minority independent in order to is case, which cannot be applied tury of identity and nations; it is mull the dilemma of enjoying de rights, and the existence of demo- elsewhere. the century of respect for the will of defend their sovereignty”. facto but not de jure independence, cratic structures recognised by the Kosovo was also an autonomous the people,” he said in February,fol- the Basques face a very different international community. province until the Serbian leader lowing Kosovo’s declaration of challenge: how to peacefully con- Since then, however, Macedonia Slobodan Milosevic stripped it of independence. Urko Aiartza Azurtza, a vert their existing regional autono- has moved back from the brink and its autonomous status and incorpo- A survey by the Basque govern- my to full statehood inside a devel- been praised for its management of lawyer for Batasuna, from rated it into Serbia in the early ment claims that 78 per cent of 1990s. oped Western democracy. minority issues. Following an inter- Basque nationalist party Despite the terrorist attacks Basques want the referendum to go nationally-brokered peace deal Georgians resent comparison ahead. They believe the process of between their struggle to regain launched by the Basque independ- signed in Ohrid in 2001, fighting has “We argued consistently that it self-determination has started, and control over their lost provinces ence movement, ETA, over the past ended, minority rights have would be impossible to tell the 40 years, most Basque people now that there is no turning back. improved, and the wind’s been Abkhazians and Ossetians that and Serbian tactics in Kosovo. “The “In an age of globalisation, small independence of Kosovo has wor- see peaceful talks as the only path taken out of the sails of the sepa- what was good for the Kosovo nations must become independent ratist campaign. ried us, although these conflicts are to independence. Albanians was not good for them,” in order to defend their sovereign- “In the short term, there is no different and the reasons behind the Russian President, Dmitry ty,” says Urko Aiartza Azurtza, a danger of instability spilling over them are different,” says Alexander “I don’t see similarities Medvedev, wrote on August 27, 2008, lawyer for Batasuna, a hardline from Kosovo into Macedonia,” Rondeli, of the Georgian Found- in the Financial Times. between Kosovo and Basque nationalist party that the Biljana Vankovska, professor of ation for Strategic and Interna- Advocates for the self-determina- Spanish government has banned. political science and defence at the tional Studies, in Tbilisi. “In Abkhazia, these are different tion of various regions and The Spanish government, on the Cyril and Methodius University in Kosovo we saw the extremist meas- provinces echo those sentiments. conflicts. The Kosovars were other hand, steadfastly refuses to Skopje, says. “But any continued ures of the Serbs towards the Some surveys estimate that there recognise Kosovo’s independence, regional fragmentation, such as the Albanians but in Abkhazia the subject to ethnic cleansing, are over 200 secessionist move- one of five remaining EU division of Kosovo, or the separa- Georgians have been the victims of ments worldwide. and here, this is the case with refuseniks – alongside Romania, tion of the Republika Srpska from ethnic cleansing,” he adds, refer- In the Caucasus, outside the the Georgians, which is a sig- Slovakia, Greece and Cyprus. The Bosnia, may shift the tectonic ring to the several hundred thou- aforementioned Georgian enclaves, government also denies most plates. Many things will depend on an unresolved conflict simmers sand Georgian refugees from Abk- nificant factor.” Basques support independence, the interests of the US and Russia over the ethnic Armenian province hazia in the 1990s. saying only 30 per cent want it. in the region.” of Nagorno Karabakh in Azerb- Temur Iakobashvili, Georgia’s Temur Iakobashvili, Georgia’s Professor Hewitt says in the final aijan, while secessionist move- Minister of Reintegration, makes The criteria for statehood is analysis such cases cannot be ments are active in the Russian the same point. “I don’t see similar- Minister of Reintegration. judged solely from the point of view republics of Chechnya and ities between Kosovo and Abkhazia, unclear of international law: the moral Dagestan. In China, there are the these are different conflicts,” he They welcome Kosovo’s independ- aspect of the case for independence Tibetan and Uygur (Xinjiang) inde- says. “The Kosovars were subject to Back in Kosovo, whose independ- ence. Iratze Urizar, who works in must be included. pendence movements and in Africa, ethnic cleansing, and here, this is ence had been recognised by 54 Bilbao for an organisation that helps “If a country by its actions loses conflicts continue over the Western the case with the Georgians, which states at the time of writing, ordi- Basques in Spanish jails, says the moral right to control this or Sahara in Morocco, and South is a significant factor.” nary people are aware their strug- Basque nationalists viewed the that region, which may or may not Sudan. Kurdish nationalism, mean- Diana Chachua, 22, a Georgian gle has stirred hopes among other events in Kosovo as affirmation of be populated by an ethnic minority, while, involves several states – refugee from Abkhazia, remembers small nations that feel occupied, the principle of self-determination. then that region or ethnic minority Turkey, Iraq and Syria. the day Kosovo proclaimed inde- repressed or enslaved. “I fully sup- “People here were happy for has the right to press its case for However, after travelling to two pendence with pain. “I knew it was port those initiatives for independ- Kosovo,” she says. “What connects self-determination,” he says. “Some very different lands in which there bound to happen but was still ence that look to Kosovo, those us is the right to self-determination.” laws are there to be broken.” are strong secessionist movements, shocked,” she recalls. Georgians nations striving for independence Historically, the Basque Country Abkhazia and the Basque Country, rarely travel to Abkhazia these that are truly repressed and seek comprises seven provinces, four in This article was produced as part it seems for the time being, at least, days, she adds. “It is only liberation,” says Agon Hamza, a law Spain and three in France. of the Balkan Fellowship for that international fears about the Abkhazians that travel across the Although the nationalist movement graduate in Pristina. Journalistic Excellence, an initia- impact of Kosovo’s independence bridge.” is spread over all seven, it is But while ordinary people sympa- tive of the Robert Bosch Stiftung are largely misplaced. Separatists Since Kosovo’s independence, stronger in the three provinces in thise with liberation movements, and ERSTE Foundation, in coopera- are certainly interested in events in Russia has strengthened its ties Spain, Alava, Biscay and Guipus- Kosovo leaders refuse to let their tion with the Balkan Investigative Kosovo and draw courage from with South Ossetia and Abkhazia, country become a standard-bearer Reporting Network 12 • February 13 - 26, 2009 neighbourhood Serbia Protests, Dinamo Cancels Kosovo Game BALKAN INSIGHT,BELGRADE national soccer competitions but its teams roatian soccer champions Dinamo have played several friendly matches, mostly Zagreb have called off their planned with clubs from countries which have recog- Cfriendly with Kosovo’s Trepca 89 on nized its independence. February 17, meant to mark the first anniver- Dinamo’s officials, who had earlier called sary of Kosovo’s declaration of independence the friendly “a perfect opportunity” to build from Serbia. up the team’s form ahead of a crunch Dinamo’s decision came after the Serbian Croatian league derby with traditional rivals Football Association (FSS) lodged a protest to Hajduk Split on Feb. 22, said they changed FIFA and UEFA, the world’s and Europe’s soc- their mind on reflection that making the trip cer governing bodies, calling the friendly “a to Kosovo’s capital would have made their fix- slap” to the FSS. ture list “too congested.” “We have notified FIFA and UEFA about the “Regrettably, we’ve had to cancel our trip situation, as no one asked the FSS permission after because we have assessed that our league

Photo by BIRN Albania BIRN by Photo to play this match, and that’s not in compli- match with Hajduk Split is too significant for Demolished houses in Jale ance with international rules,” FSS general the friendly match in Pristina to be played at secretary Zoran Lakovic was quoted as saying. this time, but we will be happy to rearrange “It’s also a slap in the eye to the Serbian the fixture for another date,” the Croatian club Football Association from the soccer authori- said. EXCLUSIVE- World Bank ties of the self-declared state of Kosovo and The match would have certainly infuriated Dinamo Zagreb,” he added, according to the Serbs, whose strained, competitive relation- Demolished Albania Village website of Serbian broadcaster B92. ship with Croatia since the 1991-95 war trans- Kosovo’s clubs and its national team have so lates into intense rivalry at sports events that Aiding and Abetting Destruction far been deemed ineligible for entry in inter- occasionally erupts into crowd violence.

By Besar Likmeta and The televised scenes of the demolition Gjergj Erebara in Tirana caused a fury. The head of the Union of Civil Liberties party, Vangjel Dule, who represents the area in parliament, slammed Prime Minister Sali Berisha, arguing that the demo- World Bank project meant to safe- lition was being done for business interests guard Albania’s coast was used to close to him. Ademolish parts of a village and leave “In the [demolition] process are illegally many families homeless, according to an hidden sinister interests linked to Berisha,” internal report, which also notes allegations said Dule at the time in parliament. of corruption and attempts at a cover up. Berisha denied any ulterior motive, and a The report of the International spokesperson said he “has only one interest, Development Association, IDA, obtained by the law and only the law, and any interpreta- Balkan Insight, shows that a World Bank proj- tion beyond the legal context is a speculation ect on coastal zones management in southern and untrue.” Albania aided the demolishment of informal The investigative panel found a direct con- settlements in the village of Jale, in disregard nection between the project and the demoli- to the Bank’s policies of forced displacement. tion of Jale, and described the project’s role The investigative panel also accused World as “paving the way” for the demolition. Bank management of misrepresenting facts In March 2007, some two weeks before the during the probe and hampering the investi- demolition order, the project coordinator, gation by withholding access to data, while it Jamarber Malltezi, who happens to be

notes the unusual lack of recollection of facts byPhoto FoNet Berisha's son-in-law, sent a letter to the head and crucial events by staff. Investigators say of the construction police asking the demoli- Dinamo Zagreb during a recent friendly that several WB staff members both in head- tion of the houses without a permit in Jale. quarters and on the field were “coached” to Attached to the letter were two CDs with the provide unusually consistent but factually aerial photography financed by the project, Macedonia Opens Mother Teresa incorrect or misleading information. indicating the houses to be demolished. “The World Bank is concerned about the “The articles were conned and paid for [by errors that were made by management and House someone],” said Malltezi for Balkan Insight, staff in the context of the project. In accor- BALKAN INSIGHT,SKOPJE tested by both Albania and Macedonia, with adding that he had denied any wrong doing on dance with our internal processes, the Bank acedonia is formally opening a both states rushing to consolidate their his part at the time as well, but the local press is reviewing actions of its staff, and, if war- Memorial House dedicated to the claim. had not published his reply. ranted, will take appropriate action,” the Mlate Mother Teresa, humanitarian Skopje has put up a statue of her in the cen- The Bank confirmed to Balkan Insight that statement said. and Nobel Peace Prize winner, to commemo- tre of the city, while Albania has named its its Board of Executive Directors will meet to rate her birth in the Macedonian capital international airport, a hospital, a square discuss the report of the investigative panel Bulldozed Lives Skopje. and a state medal after her. She is also a much as well as the management’s response. Mother Teresa was born as Agnes Gonxhe beloved figure in newly-independent Kosovo, It also concluded that the World Bank’s The village of Jale is situated on the coast Bojaxhiu in 1910 in Skopje to an ethnic where most towns have a square named after management response “was particularly of the Ionian Sea, on the road linking the port Albanian family. She founded the her, while a new cathedral is currently under unhelpful and non-informative and at times of Vlora with Saranda, and is considered by Missionaries of Charity in India, which she construction at Prishtina’s Mother Theresa in total conflict with factual information that many as one the most beautiful hamlets on ministered for over 40 years. In 1979, she was road. had been long known to management.” Albania’s Riviera. awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work The area was neglected by the Stalinist and that of her charity, which operated hun- regime of the late Enver Hoxha, its landscape Hiding the Truth dreds of hospices for the poor, orphans and spared the mass industrialisation that blighted people with leprosy, tuberculosis and AIDS In a memo send on November 24, 2008, with other parts of the country. When the regime The Memorial House, funded by the the report attached, the investigative panel imploded in 1991, the majority of the houses in Ministry of Culture, is part of a series of expressed its concern to the Bank’s Executive the village were little more than shacks, and events to mark the 100th anniversary of Board of Directors on what it calls “misrepre- most of the residents left for Greece and Mother Teresa’s birth. It was built a a site sentation of facts” by bank management and Western Europe to seek a better life. that is only a few hundred meters from her staff. By 2006, when Albania adopted a law for the actual birthplace, and which is where the “We are disturbed to report that during its legalization of illegal construction, the hous- Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church stood investigation the panel received certain docu- es in Jale were a fraction of the estimated before it was razed in the 1963 Skopje earth- mentation that misrepresented critical proj- 220,000 unauthorised buildings across the quake. ect facts,” reads the memo. country. The service consecrating the building will The investigative panel concludes that it “They [police] surrounded the village like be performed by the Bishop of Skopje and encountered unusual difficulties in having we were in a state of war”, recalls Vasilika Apostolic Exarch in Macedonia, Monsignor access to accurate and complete information. Koka, who saw her parents house in ruins. Kiro Stojanov. Mother Teresa’s spiritual “It may be an exceptional case, but the fact “All the police forces, snipers in watching father, Dr. Leo Maasburg, is arriving from that it happened is of great concern,” the positions... for three days the road was Vienna especially for the event, state news memo states. blocked and no one could bring even food.” agency MIA reported. As they proceeded over the pleas and curses Although her life was dedicated to helping Besar Likmeta is BIRN Albania editor.Gjergj of the villagers, the construction police would people irrespective of their national and reli-

Erebara is an editor for AlbanianEconomy.com. byPhoto FoNet tell the residents that they should not worry. gious affiliation, her heritage is hotly con- Balkan Insight is BIRN’s online publication. Mother Teresa Statue in Skopje op - ed • February 13 - 26, 2009 13 Key Political Figures of Kosovo’s Kosova’s Son-in-Law “The Birthday First Year of Independence Wish” Hashim Thaci Pieter Feith

ashim Thaci is cur- ieter Feith is a rently Kosovo’s Dutch Diplomat By Casey Cooper Johnson HPrime Minister, and Pand is currently the first to govern Kosovo the European Union as an independent Country. Special Representative, He was born in Drenica on EUSR, and head of the lose your eyes. Make a wish. Now April 24, 1968. After High International Civilian blow out the candle. On the first School, Thaci went on to Office, ICO, in Kosovo. study philosophy and his- Cbirthday of Kosova’s independence, Feith was born on there is certainly an awful lot to wish for. tory at the University of February 9, 1945 in Many people wish that there would be Prishtina, exemplifying Rotterdam, and studied Photo byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit electricity all day long. Plenty wish they leadership capabilities Hashim Thaci political science at the had jobs. Some wish for better education for through student presiden- University of Lausanne their children or a functional healthcare sys- cy,which organized the division of the Albanian segment of the university in Switzerland, and com- tem. Somebody wishes for a better govern- as protest to the Milosevic regime in 1989. Thaci continued his postgradu- pleted grad school at the ment and an end to corrupt institutions. ate studies in history and international relations at the University of Fletcher School of Law Someone else wishes for more countries to Zurich in 1993 and also became a high member of the Kosovo Liberation and Diplomacy in the Photo byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit recognize Kosova. Internationals wish that Army. His role included tasks such as financial accumulation and army United States. He com- the Kosovars would just hurry up and training, which pushed Serbian authorities to convict him of terrorism, of pleted a variety of Pieter Feith democratize and become more European, course tried in absentia. After participating as the leader of the Albanian United Nations and while the Kosovars wish the “internation- Kosovars in the Rambouillet negotiation, Thaci founded the Democratic NATO missions around the world, serving as a political advisor als” would leave them alone and just send Party of Kosovo and became Prime Minister of the provisional govern- in NATO’s mission in Bosnia. Feith became involved in Kosovo’s money. In general, we all wish that Kosova’s ment installed in 1999. He went on to win elections again in 2007, with a 34 political development in 2008, after approving the Constitution as first year of independence had turned out percent win at the polls. part of an EU team in April of last year. Feith’s role is to ensure just a little bit better. the implementation of status agreements which ensured But me, I’m a pragmatist. I take the candle Fatmir Sejdiu Kosovo’s declaration of independence, and advise governmental from the cake and save it for the next time decisions and procedures. the power cuts off. I don’t believe in wishes. atmir Sejdiu became Nobody ever made a revolution by wishing the first president of Yves De Kermabon it. The KLA and NATO didn’t liberate Fan independent Kosova shooting wish guns at Slobodan Kosovo after its declara- ves De Kermabon Milosevic. And nobody ever built a success- tion of independence in was born on ful country by just ratifying a 2008. Sej diu was born in YNovember 4, 1948 Wishonstitution in the Wisharliament. Pakastica, a small village in France, and attended What I believe in is something a bit more near Podujevo on October a Military Academy and substantial than mere wishes. I believe 23, 1951. He became a pro- college in his native in…magic tricks. Yeah, you heard me right. fessor at the University of country. He later joined

Photo byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit Magic tricks! Prishtina, and an early the French Army and Have you ever seen what a good magician protestor against the Fatmir Sejdiu became a commander of can do? Pull money from your ears. Guess Milosevic regime with fel- various missions in the card you picked. Saw a lady in half ! low political figure Veton Surroi. Sejdiu joined the Democratic League of places such as Africa That’s useful stuff, and that’s what Kosova Kosovo, LDK, becoming a prominent figure within the party, and succeed- and Bosnia. Kermabon needs. We need magicians, not wishers! ing former President Ibrahim Rugova after his death in 2006. Sejdiu went became the byPhoto FoNet Yves De Kermabon That is why on Kosova’s first birthday on to participating actively in Kosovo status talks in Vienna, gaining polit- Commander of the party, I am abandoning my long tradition of ical acclaim for his patient work from the international community.Sejdiu NATO force in Kosovo, KFOR, in 2005, and was made special goin g out for sushi and karaoke to cele- won elections in the third round of voting on January 9, 2008, after resign- advisor to Javier Solana, the European Union High brate, and instead have decided to bring one ing from his post in order to begin a presidential term. Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, hundred of my favorite magicians from which paved the road to his current position of the leading around the world to come and perform mira- Ramush Haradinaj the largest ever European Union mission, EULEX, in Kosovo, cles on our needy little nation. We’re gonna which is implementing the rule of law in the new country. pull electric bunny rabbits from KEK’s hard ormer Prime Minister Kermabon directly reports to Solana in Brussels, which then hats. We’re gonna turn corrupt officials into Ramush Haradinaj and reports to the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki- frogs. We’re gonna break human rights Ffounder of the current moon. loose from the chained underwater cage, and opposition party the Alliance for leap over the Mitrovica bridge on our motor- the Future of Kosovo, AAK, was Lamberto Zannier cycles. We’ll produce factories and farms born on July 3, 1968 in the village from our bags of tricks and pull good teach- of Gllogjan in Western Kosovo. talian Diplomat ers out of children’s noses. And as the big Haradinaj graduated from high Lamberto Zannier birthday surprise, we are going to hypnotize school in Gjakova, and went on to Iwas on June 15, Presidents Tadic and Putin and make them study law at the University of 1954 in the north irrevocably recognize Kosova’s independ- Prishtina. He moved to eastern municipality ence. It’s gonna be a real spectacular show, Switzerland in 1989, joining the of Fagagna in Italy. ladies and gentlemen. initiation of the Kosovo Zannier obtained a And to all you members of the interna- Liberation army, KLA, while law degree from the tional community, if you are truly commit- engaged in numerous jobs from University of Trieste, ted to helping Kosova develop into a healthy, construction to night club securi- and later began democratic nation, send home your experts, ty to secure an appropriate work at the Italian officers, diplomats… and bring in the magi- income. He returned to Kosovo in Foreign Ministry. He cians! That’s right, it’s time for magic, and

1998, and became the commander spent 30 years work- BIRN Kosovo by Photo we need all the help we can get. Anyone got of the Dukagjini (Western byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit ing for the ministry, Lamberto Zannier a direct line to David Copperfield’s office? Kosovo) zone for the KLA. After Ramush Haradinaj and contributed to He can be our new special envoy to Kosova. the end of the conflict in 1999, an array of European councils and negotiations such as the Really, this can work. Haradinaj became a deputy commander of the newly formed Kosovo Treaty on Conventional Armed Forced in Europe and the For the past several years, when we have Protection Corps, later moving on to become president of the AAK party.In Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The asked our elected officials and international 2004, he successfully formed a coalition with Ibrahim Rugova’s Democratic Hague. In 2006, Zannier became the Director of the Conflict administrators why more hasn’t been done League of Kosovo, LDK, party,and became Prime Minister of the Assembly. Prevention Centre of the OSCE, assuming responsibility of to stabilize and develop Kosova, they reply However, he was indicted for war crimes only 100 days into his term, and overlooking several missions throughout the Balkans. In June that they don’t have magic wands. Well, get was forced to resign and head to The International Criminal Tribunal for 2008, the United Nations Secretary General appointed Zannier one fast, or move over, because here comes the Former Yugoslavia at The Hague. Haradinaj was acquitted on April 3, as the United National Special Representative for Kosovo, and the People’s Birthday Brigade of Nation 2008, and returned to an independent Kosovo to a praising Albanian alle- head of the administrative mission, UNMIK. Zannier has stat- Building Magicians and we’re taking this giance. He has since gained leadership of the AAK party again, and ed that UNMIK will now play a more political role in the new country by storm. Puff ! (That was me disap- become persistent in requesting for early elections, as oppose to the intend- country, making way for the overall implementation of pearing.) ed date of 2011. EULEX. 14 • February 13 - 26, 2009 fun & directory

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Hard Embassies and Liaison Offices in Prishtina American Danish German Saudia Arabian Address: "Nazim Hikmet" no. 30 Address: "Nene Teresa" no. 2 Adress: "Azem Jashanica" no. 17 Address: Dardania SU 7, building 2, 49 Arbëria/Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina 10000 Prishtina Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina #1 Phone: +381 (0) 38 549 516 Phone: +381 (0) 38 249 995 Phone: +381 (0) 38 254 500 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 549 203 39 8 Austrian Dutch Italian Address: "Ahmet Krasniqi" no. 22 Address:" Xhemal Berisha" no. 12 Address: "Azem Jashanica" no.5 Slovenian Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Velania, 10000 Prishtina Address: "Anton Ceta" no. 6 Phone: +381 (0) 38 244 925 4235 6 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 224 61 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 249 284 Japanese Phone: +381 (0) 38 244 886 Finnish Address: "Rexhep Malaj" no. 43 97Belgian Address: "Eduard Lir" no. 50 10000 Prishtina Swedish Address: "Taslixhe" I, 23 A Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Phone: +381 (0) 38 249 995 Address: "Ekrem Rexha" no. 6 10000 Pristina Prishtina Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 831 Phone: +381 (0) 38 734 734 Phone: +381 (0) 38 223 775 Luxemburg Prishtina Address: "Metush Krasniqi" no. 14 Phone: +381 (0) 245 795 British French Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 226 787 17Address: "Ismail Qemajli" no. 6 Address: "Ismail Qemajli" no. 67 Swiss Address: "Adrian Krasniqi" no. 11 Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Malaysian 7 9648 Prishtina Prishtina Address: "Bedri Shala" no. 48 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 254 700 Phone: +381 (0) 38 22 45 88 00 10000 Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 38 248 088 Phone: +381 (0) 38 243 467 Bulgarian Greek Turkish 162Address: "Ismail Qemajli" no. 12 Address: "Ismail Qemajli" no. 68 Norwegian Address: "Ismail Qemajli" no. 59 Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 Address: "Sejdi Kryeziu" no. 6 Arbëria /Dragodan, 10000 67 Prishtina Prishtina 10000 Prishtina Prishtina Phone: +381 (0) 038 245 540 Phone: +381 (0) 38 243 013 Phone: +381 (0) 38 232 111 00 Phone: +381 (0) 38 226 044 Created by sudokunine.com

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719846523 518674293 246739185 marketing • February 13 - 26, 2009 15

Independence Day Celebrations

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Kosovo’s philharmonic orchestra will host a gala con- cert to mark the one year anniversary of Kosovo’s February 17 declaration of Independence. The concert by prepared will be held at the Prishtina’s Red Hall, at 6 pm. RTK concert at Mother Teresa Square

Radio Television Kosovo, in association with the Municipality of Prishtina are organizing an outdoor concert in front of Hotel Iliria on Mother Teresa Square to celebrate our country’s one year independ- ence. Over 30 popular artists will take part in the event, such as Alma Bektashi, Leonora Jakupi, Sabri Fejzullahu, Adelina Ismajli, AdelinaThaqi, Jehona Sopi, Nrg Band, Capital T, Rona Nishliu, Nysret e Merita Muçiqi, Nikollë Nikëprelaj, Lindita Hakaj, Mihrije Braha, and Naim Abazi. The one of a kind concert will begin at 21:00 and be transmitted live on RTK. Rock band Elita 5 at Illyrian Room

Legendary Kosovar rock band Elita 5 will be performing their hits at Illyrian Room, located at Hotel Iliria one the evening of Independence Day. Enjoy a vibrant atmosphere and extraordi- nary celebratory mood at this venue. Reservations can be made directly at Illyrian Room.

St.Valentine’s Day Event

Odyssea Bistro Bar is happy to offer you and your partner a unique evening with a live performance of Latino Band and a glass of cham- pagne from the house in Odyssea’s magical atmosphere. Entry price is 7 euro per person from 19:00. The Band performance begins at 20:00 pm.

Reservations should be made in advance at 044 556 444. Theatre National Theatre

Friday, February 13 – 20:00 Kino ABC Play “Martin Couple” by Eugéne Ionesco, directed by Bekim Lumi

Saturday, February 14 – 20:00 Play “Tartufi” by Molieri, Directed by Fool’s Gold Rahim Burhan Thursday, February 19 – 20:00 Benjamin Finnegan is a deep-sea treasure hunter Ballet “Sleeping Beauty” by P. I. Tchai- certain he’s onto the find of the century in waters kovsky, Directed and Choreographed by near an island close to Key West owned by a mur- Silvia Tomova derous rap star to whom Ben is in debt. Ben’s flat broke and recently divorced from Tess, his long- Saturday, February 21 - 20:00 time research and diving partner whom he still Performance “Man(n) Wird Mensch” by loves. She’s nearby, working as a steward aboard Philip and Stefan Lirsch from Austria the yacht of Nigel Honeycutt, a multimillionaire. For reservations call: The rapper has hired a rival treasurer hunter. Can Tuesday, February 24 to Saturday, Ben convince Nigel to bankroll his search, con- February 28 – 20:00 038 224 397 or 044 430 693 vince Tess to work with him, keep the rapper and Comedy “Dejziland” by Kristofer Durang. his thugs at bay, and find a Spanish treasure hid- Directed by Agon Myftari ticket price: 3 euro den for centuries and rich beyond imagination? Starring Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson. Showings at 18:00, 20:00 and 22.00. Dodona Theatre Directed By Sokol Plakolli Thursday, Febraury 26 - Thursday, February 19 – The stewardesses” by Marc Cameloti, “The stewardesses” by Marc Cameloti, Directed by Armond Morina Directed by Armond Morina Kosovo Art Gallery For times and reservations call 038 230 623 Monday, February 16 – The Kosovo Art Gallery will usher in the first “Ali Hoxha, Hoxh Alia” by Haqif Mulliqi, anniversary of Kosovo’s independence with Directed By Xhemajl Luta For reservations call: the opening of a collective exhibition to mark 30 years of the Gallery’s operations. Three 038 230 623 or 044 430 693 Wednesday, February 18 – works from every exhibited artist in the past “Zooligy Recital” by Eduar Allbe, all plays begin at 19:30 30 years will be presented at this exposition. Opening February 17, at 19:00 16 • February 13 - 26, 2009 marketing