Opinion: Dragan and Agnesa don’t get Edita and Borko

January 13 - 19, 2012 Issue No. 79 www.prishtinainsight.com Price € 1

NEWS Hidden Fears for Life of Yugoslav Kosovo's Flying Lobbyist Technology > page 3 'Sent America NEWS to Space' Albanians Urged to According Join Kosovo to Film Border Protest New documentary claims > page 4 that late Yugoslav presi- dent Josip Broz Tito built NEIGHBOURHOOD ‘Sanaderization’ the biggest secret under- Spreads to ground space centre in Montenegro Europe. See Page 3 > page 8 FEATURE Kosovo Landmark Privatisation Kosovo Turns Under Investigation Back the A widely praised sale in 2010 of a cement factory is now under the spotlight following auditors’ complaints over the sale Clocks price and allegations of favouritism. > page 11 Kosovo’s privatisation agency, PAK directly negotiated with Titan explained that this was impossible By Lulzim Ahmeti PAK, sold SharrCem, based in Hani was well below the market value of while the current investigation was FEATURE i Elezit, on the border with the cement factory. in progress. he sale in 2010 of Kosovo’s Macedonia, to the Greek firm Titan Prishtina Insight has also discov- “The overall documentation sup- state-owned cement factory, The Changing Face of Cement for 30 million euros in ered that Titan immediately dis- porting the findings presented in the Tlauded as a great success December 2010 missed 80 employees who were not audit report of the Privatization Yugoslav Journalism story for Kosovo, is under investiga- In February that year Titan took working, claiming disability, and Fund for the privatization of the tion by prosecutors, it has emerged. over the lease from a Swiss company, who were then receiving 60 per cent SharrCem plant is currently at the > page 15 Auditors claim that the cement Holcim, which had been operating of their salary. disposal of the State Prosecutor in factory, SharrCem, was sold for the plant since 2000. The company argues that these an investigation on the matter,” below its market value in a process In December, PAK then decided to individuals were no longer employ- Olofsson wrote. that was biased and opaque. sell the facility. At the same time it ees of the plant. “Potential access to such docu- The Auditor General confirmed to invoked a clause in the lease, which it Prishtina Insight had requested mentation before the completion Kosovo’s only English-language Prishtina Insight that it had passed had refused to use for Holcim, allow- access to the Auditor General’s doc- of the investigation may have an newspaper is available: its evidence to the State Prosecutor, ing the new lessee, Titan, to buy the uments on the sale of SharrCem. impact on the proceedings of the who said the case was being investi- plant without it going to tender. But in a letter to this newspaper, investigation,” he added. Delivered to gated. Auditors believe the price that Auditor General Lage Olofsson continues page 2 Your Door

Happy New Year Thousands of Peja Beers From Newsstands across Kosovo Prishtina Insight wishes you all a Confiscated in UK happy New Year! We’re starting 2012 Germany-based Kelmendi GmbH has Sent To lost its battle with British customs to Your Inbox with two issues in quick succession: retrieve 13,000 litres of Kosovo’s best- this one, and one next week, before known beer that were seized in October 2009, Prishtina Insight has discovered. From returning to our usual fortnightly The company took their appeal to a tri- our partners timetable in February. bunal in London to have the confiscation business overturned in the summer... page 7 see page 16 for more info

is supported by: 2 January 13 - 19, 2012 news Kosovo Landmark Privatisation Faces Probe from page 1 tract,” Capussela wrote in a letter to mentation was available to the the Auditor General seen by this news- Auditor general.” Liridona Kozmaqi, spokesperson paper. He also dismissed the claim of for the State Prosecutor, confirmed In response, Capussela writes, PAK the Mayor of Hani i Elezit that that the case is being looked at but told Holcim that the “right-to-buy” SharrCem was generating around declined to say more. clause did not imply the lessee would 20 million euro profit a year. The mayor of Hani i Elezit, Rufki be allowed to negotiate a price directly “For the previous five or six years Suma, an opponent of the sale, con- with the agency but that it would be in a row the company had operated firmed that he had been contacted allowed to match the best offer in an with a deficit because it was then in by law enforcement investigators open tender. the process of revitalization,” said regarding the privatisation. This position, however, changed Mitsou. “In the last two years it Emmanuel Mitsou, SharrCem’s abruptly following Titan’s acquisition made a profit, but it was less than 20 general manager, said he was not of the lease. million a year.” aware that SharrCem was under Capussela also argued that PAK investigation. Transparency questioned: was right to offer Titan the “right to “It seems strange because the The Auditor General’s report on buy”, guaranteed by its contract. prosecutor is supposed to the Privatisation Agency, published announce such a fact,” Mitsou told in the summer of 2011, suggested Doubts in the municipality: try experts appointed by the issued on December 9, 2010, seen by Prishtina Insight. that PAK had been biased in its Mayor of Hanit i Elezit Rufki European Commission, representa- this newspaper: “Termination of “I don’t know when the investi- award of the contract to a team of Suma recalled to Prishtina Insight tives of SharrCem and senior offi- employment is a result of the sales of gations started and why. I will ask experts to negotiate the sale – the that the municipality had objected to cials of the PAK. assets. This letter is a formal notice our lawyers to look into this.” transaction advisors – and showed the sale of SharrCem from the start. “Taking into account economic that your employment is terminated bias once again during the actual He added that he agreed with the realities… PAK reached the conclu- with immediate effect. Sale lauded: sale to Titan. auditor that the sale price offered by sion that the sale through this “Claims including unsettled pay- Holcim leased SharrCem factory in PAK cancelled a competitive ten- Titan was not a fair one. method to the lessee would create ments due according to the employ- 2000 for ten years but six months before der for the post of transaction advi- “The municipality has filed a law- more opportunities to reach a price ment contract shall remain the its contract expired, the lease of the sors. Instead it invited five compa- suit against PAK in the Supreme reflecting a fair market value and employer’s liabilities,” the letter company was bought by Titan. nies to bid for the job and finally Court. It has been there a year but would also enable negotiations in reads. The Greek cement giant that took selected Raiffeisen Investment, we haven’t received any opinion other areas, such as the number of “Such claims shall be reviewed over the final months of the lease then with a price of 580,000 euro. other than that the lawsuit has been retained employees, investments, according to the liquidation proce- bought the plant for 30.1 million euro in “We conclude that the transac- received,” he added. and environment protection,” said dures and you will be contacted when December 2010. tion advisor selection procedures He said Hani i Elezit was not Kaloshi. such procedures shall commence,” it According to mayor Suma, this fig- were not transparent,” said the against the buyer, Titan, but was “PAK’s board of directors, in line continues. ure was suspect as the company was auditor. “We noticed that PAK pre- against the form and the manner in with the international best prac- The letter was signed by Muharrem generating an annual profit in excess ferred the winning company from which the company was sold. tices, contracted a transaction advi- Arifi, director of the Liquidation of 20 million euro. the beginning.” “We objected and still object to sor to make an evaluation of the Department at PAK, and by Zeqirja The chair of the board of PAK, Dino The auditor also suggested that this form of privatisation because enterprise, always having in mind Morina, head of the regional office of Asanaj, at the time described the sale PAK had not respected the proce- SharrCem was sold without a ten- the protection of assets and increas- the agency in Gjilan. as the “largest and most successful pri- dures for the privatisation of der,” he explained. ing their value.” Mayor Rufki Suma said that only a vatization in Kosovo. SharrCem when it negotiated “The price it was sold for is too Kaloshi said that when analysing few days after arriving, Titan termi- “The new buyer has also assumed a directly with the buyer, Titan. low and doesn’t correspond with the the parameters of the sales price, nated contracts of more than 80 commitment to pay present value com- “Based on what was seen, we can value of the company,” he added. the subjects taken into account employees who were not then work- pensation for employees under the say the PAK did not ensure an open According to him, preliminary included employment, productivity ing but receiving 60 per cent of their social scheme,” he noted. market price in the sale of the evaluations suggest that the value of development and environmental salaries. “Long-term employment and pros- enterprise,” the auditor wrote. SharrCem is between 80 and 110 protection. But Mitsou says Titan did not fire perity are already guaranteed for the “Irregularities identified from million euro. “The globally renowned company anyone. “What happened is that the region of Hani i Elezit and Titan the contracting of the advisory PAK, however, has argued that provided an opinion on the fair mar- company which held the enterprise assures that business will be expanded services to the sale of SharrCem before privatisation, the buyer, ket price after multiple calcula- before us had an agreement with a in the coming years and that it will lead us to conclude that the buyer of Titan, then acting as the lessee, tions,” he said referring to number of employees who took early strive to protect national and interna- the company was favoured,” the invested 22.5 million euros in the Raiffeisen Investment. retirements for various reasons to pay tional environment standards and cri- auditor said. plant and committed itself to invest Kaloshi said that PAK was moni- around 60 per cent of their regular teria.” It has now passed on its informa- another 35 million euro. toring whether the contractual incomes until their contracts The International Civilian tion to the prosecutor for investiga- Including the sale price, it says requirements were now being met, expired,” said Mitsou. Representative, Pieter Feith, also laud- tion. this brings the total value of the based on the contract signed “They were not in the PAK employ- ed the sale, saying it was an indicator SharrCem’s manager, Emmanuel company’s investments in between the agency and the buyer. ee’s lists and we haven’t dismissed that foreign investors’ interest in Mitsou, however, maintains the SharrCem to 87.6 million euro. According to him, the buyer is anyone who was on those lists.” Kosovo was growing. deal was good for taxpayers. PAK spokesperson Ylli Kaloshi required to report annually on the The representative of Kosovo work- “I commend the sale of SharrCem “Titan is a powerful actor with a said the sale of SharrCem required fulfilment of contractual obliga- ers on the PAK board, Haxhi Arifi, by the Privatization Agency of strong position in the region and we careful examination of a combina- tions and early in 2012 the buyer will said he hadn’t received any complaint Kosovo,” he said. didn’t reach an agreement only for tion of social, economic, and com- report on the value of capital invest- from employees against Titan and “I am happy to see that the PAK is six months,” he said, referring to mercial interests. ments. according to him, the Greeks had kept going through with the most extensive the time that the company leased He said the agency had managed their promises. transaction thus far. This is also the the plant before purchasing it. the privatisation of the enterprise Jobs lost: The chairman of the Constructors’ biggest direct foreign investment in the “We had a clear idea that we in an open and transparent manner, Many employees lost their jobs fol- Union, Avni Hajdini, also said that no industrial sector in Kosovo.” would be involved with the privati- informing local and international lowing the sale, according to evidence complaints were submitted against Andrea Capussela, former head of sation of SharrCem,” Mitsou said. institutions operating in Kosovo of uncovered by Prishtina Insight. Titan. SharrCem Cement Factory the International Civilian Office’s eco- He said that according to the initiation of the privatisation According to a decision terminat- now employs 490 people, down from nomic department and member of the Kosovo’s Law on Foreign process and of the manner in which ing the contract of one employee, 730 at its peak. Privatisation Agency’s board, which Investments, passed in 2005, the the company was privatised. agreed the sale, disputes the auditors’ company, as lessee of the site, had a “PAK has reviewed the issue of assertion that the sale was below mar- right to directly negotiate with the SharrCem privatisation careful- ket value. PAK. “Everything was done in line ly, taking into account the current EULEX Raids Health Ministry But he did reveal that the earlier with the law,” he said. economic challenges of operations Swiss lessee, Holcim, was not offered “SharrCem needed a strong com- with a special emphasis on the our senior officials at Kosovo’s Ministry of Health have been the “right to buy” the plant, as was stip- pany as it required further invest- absence of raw materials - lime- arrested on suspicion of corruption during a raid on the insti- ulated in the contract, while Titan was. ments and there was no land from stone - in the land owned by the Ftution’s headquarters. “In late 2009, when it was still owned where to extract the resources [that company,” he said. Those arrested included ministry permanent secretary, Ilir Tolaj, by Holcim, Sharr GmbH had inquired were needed],” added Mitsou. Kaloshi said that PAK had estab- the EU rule-of-law mission, EULEX, said. of PAK’s intention to sell SOE “Therefore, the purchase of land, lished a committee to oversee the The ministry was sealed off as investigators removed documents SharrCem at the end of the lease and raw materials and investments all privatisation of the enterprise com- on Thursday. indicated its intention to exercise the formed part of the price negotia- prised of representatives of the ‘right to buy’, written in the lease con- tions with PAK. The relevant docu- International Civilian Office, indus-

Y M C +381 38 602042, +377 44 243367, +386 49 243367 K news January 13 - 19, 2012 3 Fears for Life of Kosovo's Editor’s Word Flying Lobbyist The Wrong Protests Five months after James Berisha disappeared in Eritrea, East Africa, during his lobbying mission to encourage recognitions of Kosovo’s independence, it is still not know whether he is alive. in the Wrong Place despite many meetings with many offi- cials over the past five months, his fam- ily have received no concrete informa- By Lawrence Marzouk tion. “We have been told many, many sto- By Lawrence Marzouk ries, yet the fact still remains that not even his family has been allowed con- he family and friends of James tact with James,” the statement contin- Berisha, who is flying across ued. know that many in Vetevendosje will justify TAfrica to lobby for the recogni- “It is very important to remind you breaking the law this Saturday by pointing out tion of Kosovo's independence, do not that James Berisha is a man that we all know whether he is still alive, accord- Ithat the government is hardly a safe-keeper of love and respect. Further, Flying for ing to a statement released on legal standards. They would be correct in their Kosovo is a mission that we all believe Wednesday. assessment, but not in their judgment. in. It has been rumoured that he is being asking African states to recognise When supporters of Vetevendosje attempt to set up “It is imperative that we all continue held in an Eritrean prison since they Kosovo’s independence, declared in their own checkpoints near the border with Serbia to do what we can to raise awareness in lost contact with him on August 15. 2008. on Saturday, they will not just be protesting, they the world about Kosovo's independ- But in a statement issued by Flying At the end of May, Berisha crash- will illegally usurping a key state power. ence.” for Kosovo, the website set up to pro- landed in Sudan, after a cylinder of the Filtering people based on ethnicity is dangerous James Berisha’s relatives and col- mote his trip, it has now emerged that Cessna 172 4-seater plane broke and mob rule, which will be terrifying to swathes of law- leagues in Prishtina say he last contact- there has still been no confirmation of blocked the supply of fuel to the engine. abiding members of the public. The risks of the situ- ed them on Monday, August 15, from his whereabouts. He was unharmed. ation escalating are real and the consequences poten- Asmara, in Eritrea, where he planned to “It is with a deep and saddened heart Berisha, 39, flew all over Latin and tially disastrous for fragile relations in the region. meet with officials in the state, which that we still do not have any confirma- Central America in 2009, visiting 34 borders Ethiopia in the Horn of Africa. Civil disobedience – and sometimes violence – is tion as to whether James is truly alive countries and four territories to thank Lumnije Gashi, who is based in the public’s most powerful tool in support of a just or not. states that had recognised Kosovo’s cause. The events of 2011 in Arab town squares have Prishtina and has been tracking independence and lobby others that “Although it is rumoured that James shown this clearly. Berisha's moves in Africa, said he was have not. is alive, and being held by Eritrean offi- But those who risked their lives in the streets of supposed to return to Sudan after two He was planning to continue his lob- cials - in reality, there is absolutely no Cairo and Tripoli were doing so to overthrow despot- days. bying mission in Asia. Berisha spent his way to confirm that as fact, since his ic regimes and establish new democracies. A resident of the US state of Texas childhood in Kosovo and then left for family has consistently been denied The bar for justifying breaking the law, and the who grew up in Kosovo, Berisha started Western Europe to fulfil his dream of even telephone access to him.” violence that can entail, must be set high if demon- flying across Africa in November 2010, becoming a pilot. The statement went on to say that strators are to retain the moral high ground. Vetevendosje says it will blockade two of Kosovo’s border points with Serbia for three reasons: The first Hidden Yugoslav Technology 'Sent is because it claims the government has ignored the call of parliament at the end of 2011 to institute “rec- iprocity measures” against Serbia. America to Space' According to Film I understand Vetevendosje’s frustration. The gov- New documentary claims that late Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito built the biggest secret ernment’s failure to take this democratic vote seri- ously is deserved of protest. But state institutions underground space centre in Europe. and the streets of Prishtina should be the target and that America would go to the Moon. ment with generous American finan- location for such a demonstration; it is the Kosovo According to the documentary, cial aid. government which has ignored parliament, not Yugoslavia's space programme all start- The most surprising revelation in the Serbia (this time). By Bojana Barlovac ed with the writings and work of documentary is the claim that Tito So together with the damage that blocking the bor- Herman Potocnik, whose 1929 book built the biggest secret underground ders will do to businesses and individuals going Problem Voznje po Vesolju (The Problem space centre in Europe at the army base about their lives, and the potential for violence, this of Space Travel) inspired ex-Nazi and Zeljava, under the code name "Object makes this the wrong protest in the wrong place. ore than fifty years after architect of the American space pro- 505". America announced its The second argument, that the blockade will sup- gramme Wernher von Braun. Tito's The underground centre was for Mintention to go to the Moon port local producers, is risible. If Kosovo wants to in May 1961, a new docudrama pres- secret service found Potocnik's unpub- decades a strictly guarded military base adopt protectionist economic policies and boost local ents a rather unusual twist to the lished writings and drawings in 1947. in Yugoslavia, situated on the border production with various incentives and investments Cold War space story. "Yugoslavs made rapid development between Croatia and Bosnia. An air so be it, but encouraging the boycott of goods from The documentary, entitled "Houston, based on the unknown diaries of base was located in the underground one country is hardly a coherent economic plan. We Have a Problem" and directed by Yugoslav space pioneer Herman mountain Pljesevica, with a radar set The third is best not paraphrased. “This blockade Slovenian Ziga Virc, shows that the CIA Potocnik-Noordung after the Second on top. Construction of the site began will stop Serbia passing the border with Kosova. Our discovered in 1960 that Yugoslavia had a World War," it says below the movie's in 1954, and cost some $90 billion. action transforms the border from a crossing point secret operational space-flight technolo- trailer, released on YouTube. After the breakup of Yugoslavia and on an administrative line, as Serbia treats it, into a gy. A year later, following the Tito–Stalin the dissolution of the JNA, the under- state border, and it will make it impossible for Serbia In the space race with the Soviet split, a Yugoslav space programme was ground base was taken over by the to enter our territory. We must block Serbia because Union, America purchased the entire launched. Serbian Army. In August 1995, the air- it is blocking us and is fighting against us every day. programme from Yugoslav President The movie trailer goes on to show port was mined and almost completely “We cannot normalize relations with a state that is Tito in March 1961, the documentary how Yugoslavia's shift to the West fol- destroyed. not normal and Serbia does not behave like a normal claims. Only two months later, US lowing the sale of its space programme The documentary is set to be released state toward us.” President John F Kennedy announced resulted in rapid economic develop- next year. This sounds horribly like protest for protest’s sake. Vetevendosje does not even make explicit its – pre- sumed – ambition to force Serbia to recognise Kosovo PRISTINA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT “ADEM JASHARI” as a state. Its canny politicians and activists know, or surely should do, that such protests will not lead to a change in Belgrade’s position, nor will they assist the European Union in squeezing more reasonable policies out of the Serbian government. Realistically, all they can achieve through these protests is the perpetuation of nationalist rhetoric on both sides of the border and a continuation of the phony war between Kosovo and Serbia. Is that what Vetevendosje want? If so, I think they should say. This is a dangerous protest without clear, achiev- able goals. If you are thinking about attending, my advice WE ARE OPEN FOR ALL DEPARTING FLIGHTS • CALL US ON 038 594422 would be to stay at home on Saturday. 4 January 13 - 19, 2012 news Albanians Urged to Join Peter Gerasch Kosovo Border Protest GIZ senior advisor

Kosovo’s Self-Determination Movement says it expects mass support from Albanians on What surprised January 14 for its planned action on border crossings with Serbia. you most about Prishtina? A lot of new and very expensive cars. The people By Besar Likmeta are very friendly.

What's your peaking in Tirana on favorite hangout? Wednesday, the Vetevendosje Amadeus, a nice S(Self-Determination) leader restaurant with a Albin Kurti said the border protest great food and Prishtina through the Eyes of: the Eyes through Prishtina would be peaceful, while defend- atmosphere ing the planned blockade as an act of reciprocity toward Serbia. Do you do any- “On January 14 we will block thing cultural? the border crossings in support of I visited several the resolution of Kosovo’s parlia- Vetevendosje posters call on protesters to block border crossings times the Kosovo ment demanding complete politi- Museum; a good € cal and economical reciprocity the country. has exported to Serbia only 92 place to learn about toward Serbia,” Kurti said. “The government says we are million in goods. the Kosovo History. already in conditions of reciproci- “Kosovo’s exports to Serbia have The Self-Determination leader ty,” Ymeri said. “Its refusal [to ban had 1,000 barriers imposed on told Balkan Insight that he expect- What is the most annoying thing about Serbian goods] is destroying the them and in the last three years ed hundreds if not thousands of Prishtina? republic from the inside,” he added. [there has been] a total ban,” activists from Tirana to join the The traffic at rush hour. Serbia has not allowed products Ahmeti said. “Because Kosovo’s rally. marked “Made in Kosovo” to enter government has bowed to Serbia “Serbia is neither a normal state If you were mayor of Prishtina for the day Serbia since the war of 1999 and we have an unequal trade relation- nor an ordinary neighbour what would you change? economist Shpend Ahmeti says ship with a country that does not because its constitution does not Sidewalks without cars that the end result of this embargo even recognise us,” he added. recognize the existence of Kosovo has been an abnormal trade rela- Kosovo’s government, led by and every day they repeat that How many macchiatos do you drink a day? tionship. Hashim Thaci, has made it clear Kosovo’s statehood will never be At least two According to Ahmeti Kosovo that it will not allow activists to accepted,” Kurti said. has imported €2.1 billion worth of block the border or otherwise dis- “We believe that reciprocity is What's the tastiest Kosovar food? goods from Serbia since 1999. If rupt the traffic flow. the essence of equality and only Burek contraband is included, which Interior Minister Bajram equality can bring dignity and good often accounts for up to 60 per cent Rexhepi has said that police have and lasting relations,” Kurti added. What landmark do you use to tell taxi drivers of the trade flow, the value of received advice permitting them On December 7 Kosovo's parlia- where you live? imports rise to 5 billion euro. to use proportional force if the ment adopted a motion calling on Afa Hotel During the same period Kosovo borders are blocked by protesters. the government to introduce a trade ban with Serbia. Visar Ymeri, head of Self- Determination’s parliamentary group, noted that despite the vote, Serbia Denies Entry to Kosovo Minister Kosovo’s government has refused to ban the import of Serbian Kosovo’s Minister of Diaspora has been denied entry into Serbia, where he was headed to meet local Albanian leaders. goods, disregarding the decision of the highest political authority in the only Albanian lawmaker in Kosovo driving licenses. worked and lived for decades in Serbia’s Parliament, what had The agreement came into force Western Europe and whom we happened. on December 26, making it possi- should approach," he said before By Fatmir Aliu “Riza Halimi explained to me ble for Kosovo citizens to freely leaving for Serbia. that Serbia’s Interior Ministry enter Serbia for the first time "We must not divide Kosovo www.prishtinainsight.com told him that Ibrahim Makolli can- since 1999, when the UN took over Albanians and Albanians from inister Ibrahim Makolli, not enter Serbia as a citizen nor as administering the former Serbian Albania from those in Macedonia Publisher: who was heading to the a minister.” province. or the Presevo Valley. All speak mainly ethnic Albanian Before leaving for the visit- the Kosovo’s Diaspora Minister said the same language and need to BIRN M Presevo Valley area of southern first of its kind by a Kosovo leader- that Serbia's refusal to let him learn from common history and Balkan Investigative Reporting Network Serbia on Thursday, was turned Makolli told Prishtina Insight he enter the country represents a culture books,” Makolli told Mensa e Studenteve, first floor back by the Serbian authorities at was not sure Serbia's authorities breach of the agreement Prishtina Balkan Insight on Thursday. the Konculj border crossing. would let him into the country, as 10000, Prishtina and Belgrade reached. The South Serbia region lies Makolli, who had not sought any he is an official representative of a “Serbia’s move shows how this some 350 kilometres south of Kosovo permission from the authorities in country that Serbia has sworn country can’t get rid of its mental- Belgrade. Not a defined adminis- Phone: +381 (0) 38 24 33 58 Belgrade, told Prishtina Insight never to recognise. ity from the past. With such a trative unit, in contemporary Fax: +381 (0) 38 22 44 98 that he was not given any reason Belgrade and Prishtina reached refusal, Belgrade continues to send political language the term why he was refused entry. [email protected] an agreement on freedom of move- signs that it is not ready to respect “South Serbia” refers to the terri- “They didn’t let me in. Nor did ment in July. The deal in theory any agreement it makes with tory of three municipalities - they give me any reason why I’m Editor-in-Chief: allows Kosovo citizens to cross Kosovo, and have real cooperation Presevo, Bujanovac and not allowed to enter Serbia,” the Lawrence Marzouk into Serbia with ID cards and on the ground, by acting towards Medvedja. minister explained, adding that he while drivers can enter Serbia [email protected] the others as equal partners,” South Serbia Albanians held an later found out from Riza Halimi, with Kosovo license places and Editorial Team: Makolli told Prishtina Insight unofficial referendum in 1992 in after being sent back by the which most voted for territorial Ana Petruseva, Gordana Igric, Serbian authorities in Konculj. and cultural autonomy and the Jeta Xharra, Marcus Tanner, The Kosovo minister was sched- opportunity to eventually join Petrit Collaku, Shengjyl Osmani, uled to meet MP Riza Halimi, local neighbouring Kosovo. Neither Artan Mustafa, Florina Hajdini, and Albanian mayors and political Belgrade, nor the international Donjeta Demolli. party leaders in southern Serbia. community, nor even Kosovo, has Makolli’s visit was aimed at since recognised, or taken much Marketing, Sales & Distribution: coordinating educational and cul- notice of, the referendum result. tural programmes and activities Kosovo declared independence [email protected] among ethnic Albanians from the from Serbia in February 2008 and Design & Layout: “Rrjeti” Presevo Valley and linking them has been recognized by 81 coun- Arben Grajqevci to up to the resources of the much tries including 22 of the 27 EU Y larger, 500,000-strong Albanian states and the US. But Belgrade M Printing: Lindi Printing Center diaspora in Western Europe. has pledged never to recognise it, C “We have a strong power beyond insisting that Kosovo remains a Copyright © BIRN K Makolli, Minister for Diaspora, was stopped at the Serbian border. our borders - emigrants who've province of Serbia. news January 13 - 19, 2012 5

The Year Ahead Happy 2012 from the state's Father Christmas Kosovo: Yet More Barricades in Sight Continuing Serb barricades, new opposition border blockades, corruption issues and the question of visa liberalization are just some of the issues facing the country in the coming year. Kosovo in a very unstable position and fac- ing an unpredictable path in 2012,” Ahmeti continues. By Fatmir Aliu “The year 2012 is going to be crucial for Kosovo and it could go both ways, good or bad,” he maintains. “It can go terribly wrong if the current osovo’s nationalist opposition have government continues to rule, the econo- announced that they may erect some my worsens and the north goes in the Kroad blockades of their own in the wrong direction.. at the same time it could first weeks of 2012. be a good time for new elections,” he sug- In northern, Serb-run Kosovo roads gests. have been blocked for several months now Kosovo’s parliament adopted a motion Kosovo has a difficult year ahead of it. by local Serbs protesting over the presence in December calling on the government to Limited progress on fighting organ- before Kosovo’s Courts. of Kosovo government police and customs re-introduce a trade ban with Serbia. ised crime, corruption, drug trafficking, The European Union is expected to on the contested border with Serbia. The Vetevendosje-sponsored motion and money laundering are other major help address the weak state of the rule of The opposition Vetevendosje [Self- urged the government to “undertake full challenges in the months to come. law in the country and has proposed a Determination] movement now says it political, economical and trade measures” Kosovo’s anti-corruption agency says structured dialogue with the authorities may start blocking vehicles coming from against Serbia. the authorities continue to remain large- concerning support for the judiciary. Serbia at the northeast Merdare border But Hashim Thaci’s government has ly unaccountable for the taxpayers’ This weakness, according to Hasan crossing and on the southeast Dheu i since downplayed the motion and called it money that they spend, as there is still Preteni, is reflected in slow progress in Bardhe border. an opinion of parliament rather than an little transparency in the field of public the fight against corruption. The potential blockades will be aimed at order. procurement. “We need to press further the issue and upholding a recent parliamentary motion In fact Thaci’s government did impose The Anti-Corruption Agency director, do the homework as there’s no more time advocating a trade ban with Serbia. trade sanctions on Serbia on July 20 but Hasan Preteni, says many public offi- to lose,” he said. Shpend Ahmeti, vice-president of then removed them on September 2 once cials fail to set a good example when it “Look at our neighbours, all of whom Vetevendosje, said it is the fault of the gov- the two sides had reached an agreement comes to transparency. have now achieved visa liberalization ernment’s failure to deal with deal with a on Kosovo custom stamps. “Every fifth of the 1,860 forms that we with the EU. Our judiciary needs to wake range of serious problems. In theory the deal allows Kosovo to have processed concerning the origin of up and match the anti-corruption fight These vary from growing poverty and export goods to Serbia for the first time politicians’ wealth, compared to the rev- with concrete results.” unemployment to the continued existence since it declared independence in enues they have declared, do not match,” of Serb-run so-called “parallel structures” February 2008. he noted. in the north of the country. Northern Serbs, meanwhile, have erect- Visa liberalization: He noted also the continuing lack of EU and US unwillingness to resolve the ed dozens of barricades since July 25, tough anti-corruption legislation The government is fully aware of the problem of the breakaway Serb-run north blocking roads in reaction to a govern- empowering police to confiscate proper- need to press for visa liberalization with leaves little hope of change, he adds. ment police operation aimed at seizing ty and assets whose origins cannot be the EU so that citizens of Kosovo can trav- “The financial crisis in the EU leaves border crossings in the north with Serbia. verified. el to Europe for business or tourist pur- Corruption: The state of the courts in general con- poses without needing to apply for visas. “Look at our neighbours, all of whom tinues to be troubling. There are around In 2012 Kosovo hopes to open dialogue 150,000 unresolved or pending cases with the European Commission on the have now achieved visa liberalization Problems in the north are not the only country’s entry into the passport-free issue facing the government in 2012 with the EU. Our judiciary needs to Schengen zone of the EU. The country enters the year with an “The year 2012 is going to be crucial Kosovo was left isolated in the region wake up and match the anti-corrup- approved budget that is 7.7 per cent larg- after Europe scrapped visa requirements tion fight with concrete results,” said er than that of 2011, costed at 1.5 billion for Kosovo and it could go both for citizens of Serbia, Macedonia and euro with revenues estimated at 1.36 bil- Hasan Preteni, Anticorruption ways, good or bad,” said Shpend Montenegro in December 2009 and then lion euro. The deficit is equivalent to for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania Agency. about 3 per cent of GDP. Ahmeti, Vetevendosje. in 2010. Press Freedom Violations on the Rise, A media watchdog recorded more than 500 press freedom violations over the past year Watchdog Says in southeast and central Europe, an increase over 2010 figures.

media or through our large net- isations and business groups, work of 1000 members,” said Oliver which are often linked to mafia- By Marija Ristic Vujovic, secretary general of style dealings. SEEMO. “The situation is improving in Vujovic said that press freedom larger cities, but unfortunately we he survey, which included all was the weakest in Turkey and still have major issues in small the Western Balkans coun- Belarus, while in the Balkans the areas. Local journalists who cover Ttries as well as central subjects related to corruption or most troubling situation was in European countries and Ukraine Bosnia and Herzegovina, followed other irregularities are faced with and Turkey, recorded 684 violations constant threats, especially from ranging from imprisonment to phys- by Kosovo and Macedonia. Serbia politicians and economic actors,” ical assaults, political pressure, and was ranked fourth in the region. Vujovic told Prishtina Insight. threats. "Press freedom is also in danger In addition, economic issues fur- The South East Europe Media in EU states such as Bulgaria, where we had bomb attacks on ther complicated journalists’ activ- Organization, SEEMO, which con- media outlets, and in Hungary, ities: obscure media ownership ducted the study, recorded 406 vio- where we have a restrictive media structures and hidden interests, lations in 2010. law,“ he explained. problems with collective contracts “Data we collected were either Y The source of threats and pres- or the lack of any contracts, and M directly reported to us or obtained sures varies and may come from poor salaries were all cited as through other associations and politicians, actors, religious organ- threats to media freedom. C K 6 January 13 - 19, 2012 news Kosovo Excluded from Balkan Extradition Deal Serbia’s initiative to establish a pan-Balkan extradition treaty may see lift-off next year - but Kosovo’s exclusion from the scheme looks like another politically driven error. gration,” Homen explained. governments, are expected to send politics from decision-making and issues between Balkan states could Legal experts from Serbia, official confirmation soon. converting the process into a sys- not be timelier. Albania and the EU say the treaty European Commission Progress tem run entirely by the judiciary. According to EUROPOL, Balkan By Marija Ristic will speed up tardy extradition pro- Reports on Western Balkans coun- Professor Goran Ilic, of Belgrade countries are being targeted as cedures, close glaring loopholes tries, including Serbia, routinely University, said the current system transitional countries for arms and and cut political influence over the complain that criminal investiga- was too complex and subject to drugs smuggling from Central and judiciary. tions related to organized crime political influence. South Asia to Western Europe as erbia’s Justice Ministry But experts say the outcome rarely end in indictments and jail “If you now want to extradite well as from the Eastern expects official confirmation would be stronger if Kosovo was sentences. someone [from Serbia] to Croatia, Mediterranean and Middle East to Sfrom partner ministries in not left out. Prishtina has not been The Commission reports urged you need a signature from the Central, Northern and Western Croatia and Slovenia that they are invited to sign the deal, mainly countries in the region to improve Minister of Justice. This initiative Europe. ready to sign a Convention on because Serbia does not recognise their legal capacities and boost will restore decision-making to the Regional Arrest Warrants. Kosovo’s independence and dis- regional cooperation between courts and will be a step forward in Kosovo in the cold: If they do so, the deal should be putes its presence in regional bod- national courts. eliminating politics from justice,” signed by almost all countries in ies. As of now, criminals regularly he said. One omission in the plan is Southeast Europe, Serbia’s State evade justice by jumping the bor- The new system will greatly Kosovo, however. This country has Secretary for Justice Slobodan Too few sentences: ders, as not all countries currently improve efficiency in dealing with not been invited to join the scheme. Homen told Prishtina Insight. have extradition treaties with one criminals, Slobodan Homen main- “The organised crime rate in the A working group of regional The initiative for the regional another. tained. Balkans could be reduced with this legal experts could be formed and arrest warrants came from the The collapse of the former “Countries will agree where agreement, but better results could the Balkan Arrest Warrant deal Serbian Justice Ministry and was Yugoslav federation resulted in someone will be judged… and most be achieved if Kosovo was involved signed as soon as January. presented to neighbouring states at millions of people holding two or importantly the joint warrant will in this process,” Pirdeni told The arrest warrant will be iden- a regional ministerial conference even three local passports. prevent crimes from becoming Balkan Insight. tical to the European Arrest in Slovenia in April. It is estimated that Croatia and obsolescent. Extraditions today “Now we will have one state that Warrant, EAW, used in the Montenegro, Bosnia, Romania, Serbia have issued in total more between states can take too much will remain a safe haven for the European Union, “as all Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania than a million citizenships for time,” he said. perpetrators [of cross-border the signatory coun- have already con- refuges coming from other parts of According to the European crime],” he added. tries are either firmed agree- the former federation. Liberal citi- Commission’s latest data, the EAW Serbia’s Justice Ministry says members of the ment while zenship procedures have proved a has sped up extraditions within Kosovo was not included in the ini- EU or in the Slovenia and boon to criminals. member states to an average of 48 tiative because Kosovo does not process of EU Croatia, which Demands for a stronger regional days. have contractual relations with the inte- recently elected cooperation in the field of justice Albanian legal expert Enis EU. new and police came from the Pirdeni told Prishtina Insight: “All “There is also no reciprocity in European Commissioner for countries have agreed that coopera- legal issues between Serbia and Internal Affairs in her tion is crucial when it comes to the [the EU law mission in Kosovo] first visit to Belgrade in fight against organized crime, so EULEX, which is in charge of November. the borders should not matter. cooperation [in justice] between Cecilia Malstrom said “With the regional warrant we Belgrade and Prishtina,” Homen one solution to the cur- want to show that we are willing to added. rent problems lay in a cooperate in ‘our’ smaller area.” Whatever Belgrade’s official Regional Arrest “Establishing better confidence explanation for the decision to Warrant, empowering between countries of the region leave Kosovo outside the door, most each country to prose- and between member states of the observers have no doubt that cute offenders from EU and countries of the region is Serbia’s internal politics have dic- the others, regardless one of our main objectives,” tated this decision. of nationality, as is Serbia’s draft initiative for the Sasa Djordjevic, from the done within the EU. Regional Arrest Warrant says. Belgrade Centre for Security The Balkan Arrest “As a country, you will renounce Policy, says it is not unusual for Warrant will be identical to a part of your sovereignty, because political interests in one or other EAW and can be issued for the you believe that the signatory coun- country to impede moves towards purposes of conducting a crim- tries will also guarantee [your citi- regional cooperation. inal prosecution or enforcing a zens] a fair trial,” explained “We had similar situation when custodial sentence, though Homen. Croatia did not sign a major conven- only for offences carrying a Professor Ilic agreed that a pan- tion on regional police cooperation maximum penalty of 12 months Balkan justice treaty will help build in South-east Europe as their gov- or more. up broader trust and solidarity. ernment maintained that Croatia The Balkan warrant would “The idea is that the public pros- was not a part of the Western replace the existing European ecutor from Sarajevo should be able Balkans,” Djordjevic recalled. Convention on Extradition of to use evidence collected in “Leaving Kosovo out of this ini- 1957, which has proved complex Belgrade or Skopje with the same tiative is without doubt a political and vulnerable to political influ- confidence that he uses evidence decision,” he added. ence. obtained in his own country,” he “We are all witnesses to the fact The EAW by contrast has already noted. that sometimes politics does not proved efficient in removing the Closer cooperation on justice take us in the right direction.” Belgrade 'Won't Respond' to Kosovo Extradition Request A top Serbian Justice Ministry official has said that Belgrade won't respond to extradition requests from Kosovo.

rule of law mission EULEX, we will send the file to Interpol, and [Kosovo] police officials, assault on Homen explained. If Belgrade the Ministry of Justice will request UN and NATO personnel, smug- By Bojana Barlovac receives a request from EULEX, their extradition to Kosovo,” gling, criminal union, illegal Serbian judicial institutions will Mitrovica Chief Prosecutor Shyqri weapons possession, causing gen- consider it and respond within the Syla told Prishtina Insight on eral danger, calls for resistance and statutory deadline, he added. December 28. obstructing officials on duty,” Syla Any request for extradition or Homen was responding to a “I don’t want to set any date, but explained. for cooperation with the recent announcement by justice I think that the extradition request The two men were arrested on Zvonko Veselinovic, a wanted man in Kosovo. "Republic of Kosovo and its officials in Kosovo, who said that will be made in January,” Syla said. December 20 in Serbia, under sus- Ministry of Justice is not some- they would seek the extradition of The Veselinovic brothers are picion that they were involved in Kosovo, German Major-General thing to which we will respond, two Kosovo Serbs to face charges wanted in Kosovo on nine criminal producing and transporting Erhard Drews, earlier named because that state does not exist including an attack on UN and charges, including the murder of a weapons and explosive devices. for us," Slobodan Homen, State Zvonko Veselinovic as the chief NATO personnel. police officer and an attack on UN They will be held in custody at Secretary in the Serbian Justice organiser of an attack in late “We are in the process of com- and NATO personnel. least until January 22, a court in Y Ministry, told reporters last November on NATO peacekeepers M Wednesday. pleting the documentation to prove “They [Zvonko and Zarko Kraljevo ruled following their trying to remove roadblocks. C The only possible means of coop- that Zvonko and Zarko Veselinovic Veselinovic] are suspected of mur- arrest. Around 50 soldiers were injured K eration would be through the EU are citizens of Kosovo. After that der and attempted murder of NATO's top commander in during the riots. business January 13 - 19, 2012 7 MacedoniaMacedonia RethinksRethinks HighwayHighway ConstructionConstruction PlanPlan

Macedonia plans to build most of its highway towards Albania and Bulgaria on its own, after efforts to find private investors failed.

Transport Minister Mile finance the new roads, instead of Corridor 8 may cost as much as 1 route, the almost completed Janakieski said this week. seeking loans. billion. north-south highway running By Sinisa Jakov Marusic The announcement came after Janakieski explained this Macedonia has yet to complete from Serbia to Greece, which the tender for the project ended in week, however, that “significant- major parts of the highway. Only forms part of European Corridor fiasco last October, without a sin- ly fewer stretches will be offered the section of Corridor 8 around 10, was attractive enough for con- gle bid arriving at the address of for concession in the future”, Skopje and another linking the cession. he Macedonia Transport the Transport Ministry following arguing that the roads that were capital to the western towns of The government last year Ministry has said that parts four years of preparation. initially offered were simply not Tetovo and Gostivar are finished signed a loan agreement with the Tof the east-west route The government in Skopje had attractive due to the low traffic and functioning as highways. European Bank for Recons- stretching from Bulgaria to hoped that a private company expectations. The country offered its roads truction and Development and Albania, which forms part of the would take on the project in He was unable to provide up for concession in August 2008 the European Investment Bank European Corridor 8, will be exchange for the right to collect details about how much money and by November 2010, five inter- for the financing of the last 28 financed through loans raised by tolls on the finished highway. the government would need in national consortia pre-qualified kilometer stretch of Corridor 10 the government. Previously the centre-right gov- order to begin construction on for the bidding. However, after from Demir Kapija to Smokvica. “One thing is clear, we will have ernment of VMRO DPMNE the east-west route. many postponements, no one sub- The works there, estimated to to build parts of the highway on believed that concessions were Previous estimates showed that mitted a bid. cost over 200 million euro, are set our own by raising loans,” the most cost-effective way to the entire Macedonian section of Not even Macedonia’s busiest to begin this year. Thousands of Peja Beers Confiscated in UK UK customs have confiscated 13,000 litres of Peja beer from Kelmendi GmbH, a major exporter of Kosovo goods to the Albanian diaspora. GmbH and its directors and he said he suspected the cargo was GbmH] is complicit in the illegal- the GmbH Kelmendi, which has a was the intended recipient of the “intended to be slaughtered”, ities”. turnover of 13 million euro a delivery, but he could offer no which means distributed illegally This was rejected by the tribu- year, because the “consignment By Petrit Collaku explanation why the paperwork without the payment of UK nal, however. “The Tribunal does and importation appeared to be was incorrect. Excise Duty, some £9,000, accord- not believe there is sufficient evi- irregular and suspicious”, The paperwork stated that the ing to the documents from dence to clearly establish this according to the tribunal’s find- ermany-based Kelmendi delivery address was 109, Dudden Kelmendi GbmH’s appeal to the probability and therefore does ings: “The Appellant had not con- GmbH has lost its battle Hill Lane. Investigators found High Court in London to have the not agree this finding. Given this ducted proper checking of the rel- Gwith British customs to that residents of this address confiscation overturned. finding, it makes no difference to evant information given in the retrieve 13,000 litres of Kosovo’s knew nothing of Birra Peja UK. Brenton added that he believed the outcome of the appeal.” paperwork.” best-known beer that were seized Raymond Brenton, from Her that on “the balance of probabili- The court decision, dated June Kelmendi GmbH had claimed in October 2009, Prishtina Insight Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, ties, the Appellant [Kelmendi 8, 2011, dismissed the appeal of that they had been tricked by has discovered. Birra Peja (UK). The company took their Peja Beer told Prishtina Insight appeal to a tribunal in London that it was not familiar with the to have the confiscation over- case and only heard from repre- turned in the summer of 2011, sentatives of Kelmendi GmbH but failed to convince the judge, that the “distributor had a prob- according to documents lem with a firm in England”. obtained by Prishtina Insight. Riad Morina, marketing direc- The 40 pallets of beer were tor of the Peja brewery, said the confiscated in Purfleet, Essex, company is also unaware of the east of London, because UK existence of Birra Peja (UK). duty on alcohol had not been “Kelmendi GmbH has been our paid and because of irregulari- distributor for the EU and the ties in the paperwork. United Kingdom. However, after The alcohol was bound the payment made to us, the for a company called goods are their property,” Morina Birra Peja (UK) Ltd, added. owned by Arsim "We are sorry for the loss Llapashtica of 4, caused to Kelmendi but we will Glengall Road, London, see who are the owners of this which has no connec- company using our company tions to the official name and why they used the company. name without previous discus- When the UK sion.” Border Agency visited Blerim Dreshaj, a Kelmendi Birra Peja’s address GmbH official who represented Y they found an internet the company in its legal proceed- M café. Llapashtica said ings in England, declined to com- C he knew of Kelmendi ment. K 8 January 13 - 19, 2012 neighbourhood news ‘Sanaderization’ Spreads to Montenegro Echoing events in Croatia, corruption clean-ups conducted in response to the pressure of EU accession process are gaining strength in many parts of the Balkans. Europeanization, meaning that if decades demonstrate remarkable This summer the brother and EU norms and values are properly similarities. spouse of Safet Kalic, an alleged implemented, corrupt officials, no First, the long rule of the single drug smuggler and current fugi- By Milena Milosevic matter what their rank, will be leading party: the Democratic tive, were also arrested, and Kalic’s sooner or later be exposed and face Party of Socialists, DPS, in assets were temporarily frozen. justice. Montenegro and the Croatian Montenegro has also joined a Democratic Union, HDZ, in regional hunt for Darko Saric, nternational anti-corruption Croatia is the model: Croatia. another alleged drug smuggler who day was marked with an Before it lost power in general though a Serbian citizen comes Iunusual performance in from Montenegro. As the second former Yugoslav elections on December 4, the HDZ Podgorica, capital of Montenegro. republic to [almost certainly] enter ruled Croatia for 17 years with only It was largely as a result of these Activists from MANS, a popular the EU - it is expected to join in 2013 a brief interruption from 2000 to actions that the EU on December 9 non-governmental organization, - it is no surprise that Croatia is a 2003. unveiled June 2012 as a conditional gathered on December 9 in front of Second, throughout the Nineties, date for the start of membership the government building in black source of inspiration both for its both parties delayed reforms and talks. masks, acting if they were corrupt neighbours and for Brussels. Still, the EU warned that the officials and criminals. At the end As the EU’s most recent meaningful democratization. number of final court convictions of the show, these actors were then Enlargement strategy stated, Third, though both the HDZ and over corruption, especially high- “Sanaderized”, or put behind bars. Brussels has been guided by the the DPS have reformed themselves, level corruption cases, remains too The use of this term in this pic- experience of dealing with Croatia neither carried out a consistent low. Montenegro will have to catch turesque scene from Montenegro in setting new benchmarks for can- lustration of the old structures Corrupt or not? more “big fish” before Brussels illustrates its newfound populari- didate countries, especially in from the Communist era and the Ivo Sanader, ex Croatian PM. officially starts EU membership ty. “Sanaderization” might not terms of an emphasis on the rule of time of Yugoslavia’s disintegra- talks. most distant from EU membership, have made it into dictionaries or law. tion. It needs a couple of “Sanaders”. firstly have to establish fully func- political encyclopaedias, but in the Many of the media in Montene - Finally, the EU announced that The Sanaderization of Montenegro tioning state institutions before region the meaning is well under- gro have drawn parallels between the same team in Brussels that con- will further require the establish- they can even think of stood by almost everyone. Montenegro and Croatia. ducted negotiations with Croatia ment of a truly independent judici- “Sanaderization”. Especially in What it means is corrupt politi- Montenegro is not only next up will start talks with Montenegro. ary that does not spare top state Bosnia, what “Sanaderization” has cians being forced to face up to on the EU enlargement agenda but officials from prosecution. taken place has so far been imple- their past misdeeds largely as a also faces the same internal prob- Rule of law as key mented by international organiza- result of their countries imple- lems as Croatia concerning organ- criterion: tions. menting EU membership criteria, ized crime and corruption. Beyond Montenegro: By contrast, in Croatia, domestic primarily regarding establish- On the other hand, it does not When Montenegro obtained EU institutions, namely the state prose- ment of rule of law. have the same “identity” issues as Further afield in the Balkans candidate status in December 2010, cutor’s office, triggered the trial Needless to say the term comes does Macedonia with Greece, or the Montenegro is not the only candi- the EU at the time outlined seven against Sanader. from Ivo Sanader, former Croatian same border and jurisdictional date for Sanaderization. key areas that Montenegro had to Two scenarios could endanger prime minister and leader of the problems as does Serbia with Although the Kosovo issue is cur- tackle. the expected spillover of Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, Kosovo. rently the biggest obstacle imped- Among them the rule of law and Sanaderization to the rest of the who now faces trial in Croatia for Other reasons justify drawing ing Serbia’s European integration, fight against organized crime and region. corruption. parallels between Croatia and once that is settled or at least con- corruption were deemed crucial. The first is a rising level of Euro- “Sanaderization” is thus a term Montenegro in terms of trolled, the rule of law and fight In the EU’s approach, establish- scepticism among domestic elites. freighted with implicit faith in the “Sanaderization”. against corruption will emerge as ing the “rule of law” presupposes a Serbia’s key problem on the path to Djukanovic, still the leader of European Union. It is understood The political histories of Croatia genuine fight against organized Europe. Montenegro’s ruling party, said in as a necessary ingredient of and Montenegro over the two past crime and corruption, especially Corruption in Serbia’s health- July his party will not deliver any by ensuring the independence of care system has already been high- “big or small fish” from its ranks the judiciary. lighted as alarming. The same cor- [as scapegoats] in order to show the There has been progress. ruption issues will resurface in EU it is tackling corruption. At end of the 2010, Montenegro’s Macedonia once it finally settles its On the other hand, the EU, deeply long-term leader, Milo Djukanovic, prolonged dispute with Greece over troubled by the debt crisis and the resigned as prime minister and its name or at least reduces the crisis of the eurozone, is less com- handed over to Igor Luksic, a young prominence of the issue. mitted than it was to the further politician whose carrier, unlike Unlike Serbia and Macedonia, enlargement. The carrot and stick Djukanovic’s, does not stretch back Albania not burdened by such tactics applied to the Western to the turbulent Nineties. external issues. But Albania’s trou- Balkans can only work only if the A few senior DPS officials were bled political system and strong sacrifices made by the countries arrested. They included Rajko societal divide between supporters concerned result in appropriate Kuljaca, mayor of the coastal town of the ruling Democrats and the rewarded. of Budva, and Dragan Marovic, opposition Socialists have for now Hence, true commitment on both brother of Svetozar Marovic, for- marginalized the prospect of the sides – the EU and domestic elites – mer president of the State Union of “Sanaderization” of that country. is crucial for the pro-reform appeal Serbia and Montenegro and a DPS Finally, Kosovo and Bosnia and of the EU to truly resonate within veteran. Herzegovina, the Balkan states the Western Balkans. Montenegro's Djukanovic Opts for Business Career Longtime Montenegrin leader Milo Djukanovic has said that he doesn't intend to return to his country's political scene in an executive role. He will continue to practice 1998. He was then president of own problems, rather than be politics through his chairman- Montenegro from 1998 to 2002 trapped by the animosity it feels ship of the ruling Democratic and prime minister again from toward the governing party. By Milena Milosevic Party of Socialists, DPS, but the 2002 to 2006, when he decided to Although he was recently crit- rest of his time he plans to step down. He returned as icised for Euro-scepticism, a devote to business. Prime Minister in February pro-European tone prevailed in As the longest standing 2008, remaining in office until the interview. He also expressed I've achieved all the political Montenegrin leader in recent December 21, 2010. support for the EU candidate goals I had," Djukanovic said history, Djukanovic held execu- Reflecting on Montenegrin status that Serbia hopes to "in an interview for Al Jazeera tive power in the country for politics today, Djukanovic said obtain shortly, arguing that any Y Balkans on Friday, admitting that almost two decades. Djukanovic that it would be beneficial for delay in Serbia's European inte- M after years of political activity, served three consecutive terms both Montenegro and the DPS if gration is negative for the whole Milo Djukanovic plans to concentrate on C he had become a professional as prime minister from 1991 to the opposition tried to solve its region. K politician. business, not politics. neighbourhood news January 13 - 19, 2012 9 New Party Challenges South Serbia’s Tribal Politics Nagip Arifi’s Democratic Party seeks to break tradition of elections as ethnic headcounts - but whether voters in the polarised border region are ready remains open to question. “there are only two multiethnic areas. “We don’t expect anyone in a By Nikola Lazic village with solely Serb popula- tion to vote for an Albanian party and the same goes when it comes to purely Albanian villages,” he agip Arifi, president of the added. Democratic Party, the Skender Destani, leader of the Nnewest party on the scene Democratic Union of the Valley, in ethnically mixed southern another local ethnic Albanian Serbia, is making waves. party, agrees. The first local Albanian leader The people of this region, and to call on local Serbs to vote for of the whole of Serbia, remain him, he is also the local Albanian polarised on the basis of nation- politician to have distanced him- ality, he maintains. self from traditional Albanian “There are still frustrations nationalism, saying that econom- left over from the armed conflicts ic development and investment in the former Yugoslavia and are his priorities. each side still blames the other Looking ahead to the local elec- and avoids responsibility,” he tions expected in spring 2012, he said. said recently: “We expect enough “Until responsibility [for the votes to have a main say in former bloodshed] is established, Bujanovac after the elections, any party would have difficulty and to achieve that goal we expect profiling itself as a civil party,” votes from local Serbs as well.” Destani said. Arifi was the first-ever ethnic Recent surveys and straw polls Albanian mayor of Bujanovac, back this assertion. One conduct- Attempts to encourage Serbs to vote for Albanian candidates in South Serbia is doomed to fail, many fear. the main town in South Serbia, ed by the Albanian-language from 2002 and 2008. Internet agency Presheva.com parties took another 17. One went Albanian vote. strengthening the economy and He founded the Democratic from Presevo on its Facebook to the Roma community. On the other side, there is no attracting investment,” Arifi Party last summer together with page in December showed that 85 In September 2010, after a peri- autochthonous Serb party, beside said. other dissatisfied members of the per cent of the 300 visitors who od of political stalemate and con- several citizens groups. Serbs in Nedxat Behluli, head of the Party for Democratic Action. voted said they thought people in frontation on the town council, South Serbia vote for national party’s PR, says the party would The dominant party in the southern Serbia would still vote the governing Albanian parties parties headquartered in be ready to leave some ethnic region, it is led by Riza Halimi, on the basis of nationality. agreed to share power with rep- Belgrade. Albanian parties sitting in the the only ethnic Albanian MP in “Big national topics are still resentatives of Serbian parties. While the dice seem loaded opposition, which would be a the Serbian parliament. the main arguments for the According to data from elec- against Nagip Arifi, he believes precedent in Bujanovac. However, while Arifi espouses a majority of politicians when tion rolls in previous elections, that his party is gaining momen- The party would work actively new brand of politics based on they address citizens. Everyone 35,670 citizens have the right to tum, noting that 1,500 people to stop the political domination economics rather than ethnic prefers to deal with high politics vote in Bujanovac, of whom have joined his party since the of the town by the Party for identity, most other Albanian and instead of taking care of the 19,500 are Albanians and 12,600 summer. Democratic Action, led by Serbian politicians believe local everyday, existential problems of are Serbs. “If we know the Albanian men- Halimi, he added. voters will vote in the next elec- the people,” Driton Saliu, the But a large number of local tality, which is that the family “Our goal is, beside economic tions as they did in the last one - agency owner, said. Albanian residents now live and votes the way its patriarch votes, progress, to remove Halimi from on the basis of nationality. In southern Serbia, which is work far away in Western we can expect around 6,000 votes the scene after two decades of Boban Pavlovic, head of the still recovering from an armed Europe, so on the average only at the next elections, which being in power or close to it,” Bujanovac branch of Serbia’s conflict in 2000 and 2001 between about 12,000 people vote in elec- would secure us the deciding say Behljulji, owner of the local ruling Democratic Party, led by the security forces and Albanian tions. in forming the authority [in Spektri television station, said. Serbian President Boris Tadic, insurgents in the Liberation In Presevo, where ethnic Bujanovac],” Arifi predicted. “We’re not interested in high sees Arifi’s goal of appealing to Army of Presevo, Medvedja and Albanians make up 95 per cent of He believes no single party in politics and we leave this to voters on both sides of the ethnic Bujanovac, voters have so far the population, and in Medvedja, Bujanovac will be able to form Belgrade and Pristina,” he divide as unrealistic. always balloted on the basis of where the majority are Serbs, the the local authority by itself, and added. “Although there is no ethnic ethnic allegiance. situation is more clear-cut when says his party will not be guided “We will work on improving tension today [in the region], it is In the local assembly of it comes to elections. by ethnic considerations when it local economic conditions and we unrealistic to expect Serbs to Bujanovac, which has 41 seats, In the three multiethnic comes to seeking potential part- are ready to cooperate with vote for Albanians and vice the last elections in 2008 saw municipalities as a whole, no less ners. everyone, including Serbs, versa,” he said, noting that in the three Albanian parties win 23 than 12 parties and groups of cit- “We will only cooperate with Belgrade and the international territory of the municipality, mandates, while nine Serbian izens compete for the ethnic parties that want to work on community,” Behluli continued. Historic Bosnian Census Scheduled for 2013 Bosnia's first census in 20 years is slated to take place in 2013, after political parties reached an agreement following years of negotiations.

survey of Bosnia’s population said, “and the census will most Other disputed issues also Most other countries in the since 1991. likely be in April next year.” slowed the census effort. region completed their census-tak- Although political parties are Bosnia's six main political par- For years Bosniaks, Croats and ing over the past year, partly in an By Elvira Jukic ready to adopt the law next month, ties reached the agreement on Serbs could not agree on provi- effort to meet expectations in the country will need at least one December 28, after resolving the sions in the census law concerning Brussels. The recent agreement year to finish technical prepara- contentious issue of whether resi- refugees and displaced persons. reached in Bosnia is largely attrib- tions, according to Halid Genjac, a dents must indicate their ethnic The law now says that power shar- uted to a strong EU push to carry fter a long stalemate in high-ranking member of the Party identity and religious orientation. ing in Bosnia will eventually be out the population count. Bosnia’s state parliament, of Democratic Action, SDA. Stating these on the census will based on the results of the fresh Since the last census in 1991, Athe much-disputed census “Even though it was planned now be optional. census, but only after refugees and Bosnia’s demographics have been is one step closer to taking place in that we would hold it in the fall, we Until now, passage of the law displaced persons are counted and based on estimations. According 2013. Lawmakers agreed this week cannot complete all the necessary was stalled due to negotiations are provided the rights they were to UN figures, the country has to pass a critical law in February preparations by then,” Genjac over this issue, Genjac said. guaranteed after the war. around 3.8 million people. that will make way for the first 10 January 13 - 19, 2012 guide

Forget Skadarlija, Feast at Belgrade’s Real Taverns Tourists may flock to the much touted ‘Bohemian’ Skadarlija, but real Belgraders get their traditional, giant portions from restaurants such as Cubura, Daco, Prolece and Vuk. the inner edge – also a relic of socialist times. The dishes look simple, but taste good. In the winter time, they let By Andrej Klemencic you experiment with sauerkraut. You can combine it with any type of meat cooked in any kind of nce you’ve learned to look style. beyond the touristy They call it podvarak and you OSkadarska Street, you’ll find should not miss ordering it. Daco restaurant - a place to savour traditional fare the choice of traditional Serbian But Prolece is best known for its cuisine in Belgrade rather limited. Their stewed veal with haricot The bill cares not for the local fairytale. low prices, which seem to be also But if you know where to root beans is delicious. tavern atmosphere. They give you Were it not for discreet music firmly anchored in socialist times, them out, there remain excellent Vuk is pricier than Prolece, with big portions, but they also charge coming from the outdoor speakers, and its resistance to fancy-looking purveyors of top quality domace, some dishes costing on average a for them. Reservations are a must you could also think you were in dishes and fancily dressed people. meaning homemade, products third more than across the street. (+381 11 2440756). You’ll find it just an ethnography museum. Prolece is located on the corner tucked away across the city. While 1,000 dinars (10 euro) will off Macvanska Street. Nothing is left to chance inside of Vuka Karadzica and Cara Here are the top four for you to easily feed one person in Prolece, either. From plentiful and meticu- Lazara. Go casual and don’t bother sample on your next trip to expect to pay around 1,500 dinars Daco lous ceiling decorations to a tooth- reserving. The place can be Serbia’s capital courtesy of our (15 euro) for the same menu in Vuk. brush in the toilet, Daco staff want packed, but they always manage to sister newspaper, Belgrade The restaurant is located at Of all the restaurants in Belgrade you to feel at home, literally. make space for hungry Insight. Vuka Karadzica that serve traditional food, Daco is Here you can eat many tradi- Belgraders. The restaurant is well divided perhaps best-known among foreign- tional dishes that are cooked in Prolece – A Taste of between smoking and non-smok- ers. It is a place of contrasts. milk, a rarity in these parts. The Vuk - Wolf Down Quality ing sections and all major credit The well decorated, upmarket daily menu features stewed food Socialism Meat cards are accepted. Make sure you restaurant is hidden in a tiny cot- and an interesting selection of book ahead on weekends (+381 11 tage, half of which is under- meat and homemade pastry. Before fancy menus, home deliv- Just a few steps away is an 2629761). ground. Another peculiarity is I recently ate an excellent lamb eries and internet ordering, there upmarket version of Prolece that it is located in the heart of the soup there, which is offered widely was Prolece. called Vuk. Belgraders who live Cubura – Neighbourhood Karaburma district, which has not around town, but only a few places A restaurant tailored to the abroad like to dine here during got the best reputation. get it right. needs of the working class, it still Food visits home. The reason is the If that makes you uncomfort- They also served a chicken liver has an unmistakable socialist tav- spectacular barbecued meat of a Cubura, the name of a Belgrade able, go there by day. This will give goulash with rice and barbecued ern look. quality that can rarely be found neighbourhood, has aged graceful- you the chance to admire the oyster mushrooms, both of which It has dark brown tables with outside some of the street grill ly. It is constantly full and best unique architecture of Patrisa were excellent. thin round legs, red and white stands in the city, or some of known for gargantuan portions, Lumumbe Street, which looks like The goulash in particular was checked tablecloths and walls southern Serbia’s rural restau- brisk service and fresh food. it crawled out of one of Dali’s interesting, with the nuanced liver which look like they have fake par- rants. Their ajvar is the star of the nightmares. flavour counterbalanced by the quet on them. Waiters are used to My favourite is Leskovacki starters list, while meat is more or You will also be able to see the strong and salty bacon in the rice. serving people from nearby hous- cevap on kajmak (milk curd). less your only option for mains. I entire grounds of the restaurant Daco is also known for its exu- es and firms, as well as the few for- Large meat balls are delicately have to warn you in advance that which, once you have forgotten berant vanilla slices. eigners who are tipped-off about spiced and barbecued in a way that the amount of food on the plate where you are, look like a peaceful Prices are not tailored to the the place. prevents the juices from evaporat- will be an instant put-off. You will farm. average domestic pocket, so expect Prolece offers an incredibly long ing. be full enough if you share one Pieces of traditional furniture to pay at least 2,000 dinars per menu of daily fresh food, which is Those juices mixed with quality portion between three adults. set around wooden benches, along head (20 euro) for food alone. They a combination of barbecue dishes Y kajmak make it virtually impossi- You can’t spot the restaurant with wooden water buckets, care- have a good wine list and recom- and food “for the spoon”. M ble to not to finish the huge por- from the street but follow the bar- fully woven tablecloths and a duck mend you reserve in advance The food is served on plain C tions. becue-flavoured smoke and you’ll walking in the background make (Patrisa Lumumbe, 49, 011 2781009, white plates with a blue ribbon on K Vuk also offers stewed food. be fine. you feel like you have entered a closed on Mondays). feature January 13 - 19, 2012 11 Kosovo Turns Back the Clocks Clock towers, a central feature of Kosovo’s Ottoman cities, are making a comeback, with three built in the last three years, but these latter-day replicas are not to everyone’s taste.

By Donjeta Demolli

ix elegant clock towers once graced Kosovo’s city centres as communal Swristwatches for the people of the Ottoman Empire. Just two survived the 20th Century and only one still tells the correct time – but a new trend has seen three built, or rebuilt, in as many years, often to different, and some say kitsch, designs. Clock towers, Sahat Kulla in Albanian, still stand in Prishtina, which shows the wrong time – and in Rahovec, in southern Kosovo. Vushtrri, Gjilan, Peja and Gjakova have lost these quintessential Ottoman struc- tures for a variety of reasons. But the clock Gjakove's clocktower, built to replace the one tower in Gjakova was rebuilt in time for the Ferizaj's clock tower is far from traditional, according to experts. destroyed a century ago. 100th anniversary of its destruction three Following its construction of an underpass any time of this [project] and we saw it only “To build a new clock tower, with no taste, years ago, the reconstruction of Gjilan’s for the town, the firm behind the project, when it was finished.” no function, no layout and no need, is a Sahat Kulla is underway, and Ferizaj, which Drenica Company, decided to gift it with a Professor Shemsi Krasniqi, sociologist at waste of money,” he added. “It shows a com- became a town long after the Ottomans clock tower despite not receiving permis- the University of Prishtina, describes plete lack of artistic taste concerning the departed, unveiled its own in 2009. sion to do so from the town hall. Ferizaj’s clock tower as “anachronistic” and public space.” Poor replicas: The company’s owner told Prishtina “kitsch.” Nixha says more attention should be Insight that he built the clock tower to serve He says there were more pressing issues directed towards existing buildings that are as extra evidence that the country of Kosovo for towns and cities to deal with in terms of in danger of being destroyed. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and was also being built. the built environment. “We need to invest in the conservation, Sports, decided to rebuild the clock tower of “The clock tower in Ferizaj has two main “A city’s beauty does not depend on verti- restoration and the re-functionalisation of Gjakova three years ago. symbols,” Ismet Shamolli said, “five cal piles, whether they are clock towers or heritage buildings and architectural com- Bu not everyone is pleased. Architect Albanian territories and the plis [tradition- other monuments,” he said. “What is plexes to save them from further destruc- Shqipe Nixha says that while reconstruc- al Albanian hat] on top.” required is on the horizontal plane – in tion,” he said. “Nothing more than good will tion of the tower was a justifiable proposi- But some Ferizaj citizens say the results squares, parks, green areas and other aes- and professional expertise is needed for tion, the new edifice is not close to being a send the wrong message. “I think the clock thetic objects of earthly, not heavenly, pro- this.” replica of the original. tower has harmed the city’s image,” portions. “Despite moving the site by several Kushtrim Palushi of the non-governmental metres, the tower was rebuilt inside the organization, INPO, said. He said the tower marketing bazaar, which in a way has saved the compo- “looks like a spaceship waiting to be sitional integrity,” she noted. “The problem launched into space”. is the architecture of the rebuilt tower.” Naim Ferati, director of culture for One difference is that while the original Ferizaj municipality, said he knew nothing tower had exposed brickwork, the new ver- about the tower’s construction in advance. sion is plastered and whitewashed. “I wasn’t informed that there was a public In Gjilan, a new tower is being erected debate on this issue and I’m sure there was- next to the town’s central park but, accord- n’t one,” he said. “We were not informed at ing to Nixha, the design pays little heed to the appearance of the original. “As far as I know, none of these construc- Out of time: tions are based on accurate and sufficient or centuries, citizens of Prishtina documentation, which is the essential prin- turned to their grand Ottoman ciple for the reconstruction of cultural mon- Fclock tower to tell the time. But fol- uments,” she said. lowing the replacement of the mecha- In Ferizaj the situation is even stranger. nism by electric components in 2006, the tower has been misleading those unaware of its lack of punctuality, despite two bouts of restoration works. Currently the time is around one hour fast, and the custodians of this structure have yet to discover why the clock tower is not telling the correct time. The bell tower was erected in the late 19th Century with the original bell dating back to 1764, when it was brought from Moldova as war loot, first to Vushtrri and then to Prishtina. The hexagon-shaped tower is 26 metres tall and is made of red bricks. The original mechanism of the clock was replaced in the 1960s and the bell set to ring every half an hour. But in 2002 the original bell was stolen. Despite its replacement, interior renova- tion work, the switch from cogs and wheels to electrics in 2006 and last year’s exterior renovation work, the clock tower continues to tell the wrong time. French troops from KFOR took over safeguarding of the tower after the war, changed the mechanism in 2006 and retain the key to set it. A 26,000 euro, six-month renovation of the bell tower in 2009 dealt only with the façade, not the mechanism. The clock tower in Gjilan. By Donjeta Demolli 12 Dec. 23, 2011 - Jan. 12, 2012 Timeout Contact Prishtina Insight if you would like your event to feature or to advertise your venue. Email [email protected]

PRISHTINA DIARY Oda Theatre Dodona Theatre Friday, January 13, 2012 Every Tuesday at 8 pm Every Thursday 7.30pm Hamam Jazz Bar, 9pm Tre Gjermanët e Trashë II Çifti i Hapur (The Open Couple) Ethnic Jazz Ardit Stafai, Festim Fanaj, Adrian Qehaja, Ertan (Three Fat Germans II) “Çifti i Hapur” is being staged Ilyaz with the text of Italian authors For reservation call +377 (0) 44 222 289 or +381 (0) 38 Thanks to this play you will Dario Fo and Franca Rame, directed 222 289 understand “What did Brigel say by Kushtrim Koliqi when he asked for a drink?”; A man proposes to his wife of Peppermint Club, 9pm “Why Hans didn’t let him drink eliminating the concept of martial Skillz(Babastars) plays rap, hip hop, R&B Mojito?”; “How did Gani experi- loyalty and creating an “open rela- ence his 21st snow?”; “Is tionship” in their lives. The woman For reservations contact + 377 (0) 44 234 367 or visit Vukashin really Ukshin?”; “Does rejects this and after several their web: www.peppermint-ks.com KFOR-ja still work for KFOR or attempts of suicide, she decides to she just loves him?”; “How did accept her husband’s offer because HD Club, 9.30pm Hekuran boil eggs in the middle of the North Pole?”; These in fact it’s the only way to remain Albi Xhepa, Live music and other events you can see in the play “Tre Gjermanët e married. The man is happy. He, no Trashë II”. Andërr longer needs to hide his girlfriends and is released from Author: Lirak Celaj; Producer: Florent Mehmeti; Roles: Dagg and Dj Jimi Aka “The terrorist”, Dubstep/ feelings of guilt. Now everything is democratic and open. Naser Rafuna, Adrian Morina, Kushtrim Sheremeti, Lirak Breakbeat Everything goes well until the day when the woman finds Celaj, Fisnik Ademi, Ard Islami, Arta Selimi, Florent For reservation contact +377 (0) 44 607 899 the love of her life, which is what her “modern” husband Mehmeti. cannot accept. Saturday, January 14, 2012 Cast: Edona Reshitaj and Besart Sllamniku; Costumes Every Friday at 7pm and the setting: Njomza Luci. Composer: Trimor Dhomi; Ilir Ferizi will entertain your children with his magic Andërr Choreographer: Bruno Saqipi; Light; Designer: Skender tricks and a lot of surprises that make the programme fun Photography exhibition, 7 pm Latifi; Stage manager: Bedri Maloku, Albert Bekteshi and and interesting. For reservation contact +377 (0) 44 607 899 Fadil Gashi, Photographer: Arton Humolli. 1 Tetori Hall, For more information call +381 (0)38 246 555 or write For more details email [email protected]; DMX rebirth tour 2012. [email protected]. [email protected] Gallery of Arts

The international exhibition “The Biennial Goes Graphic” curated by Rene Block remains open until January 22, 2012.

A photo exhibition “Anthology of Hope” by Jutta Benzenberg, a German artist living in Albania, is also open until January 22, 2012.

Mission impossible – Ghost Protocol The Darkest Hour Alvin and the Chipmunks The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo Every day at 10 pm Every day at 5pm Every day at 7pm and 10 pm Every day at 6pm and 8 pm Kino ABC The director of On an assign- Two young screens the pre- the movie is David ment in American miere of the movie Fischner. Cast Budapest to men travel to “Alvin and the includes Daniel intercept a couri- Moscow to Chipmunks” by the Craig, Rooney er working for a sell their director Tim Hill. Mara and person of inter- social net- The premiere is on Christopher est code-named work- Friday at 3 pm. Plummer etc. “Cobalt”, agent ing/party In a tree farm, Trevor Hanaway finding soft- three musically This English-lan- is killed by an ware only to inclined chip- guage adaptation assassin named find their munks, Alvin, of the Swedish Moreau. software is Simon and novel by Stieg Hanaway’s team already being Theodore, find Larsson follows a leader, Jane sold by the their tree cut down and sent to Los Angeles. disgraced journal- Carter, and newly promoted field agent Russian man they were to sell it to. Once there, they meet the frustrated song- ist, Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), as he Benji Dunn extract Ethan Hunt and While commiserating in the compa- writer David Seville, and despite a poor investigates the disappearance of a wealthy Hunt's source Bogdan from a Moscow ny of attractive women they and house wrecking first impression, they patriarch's niece from 40 years ago. prison. Hunt is recruited to lead Carter many other people see an aurora- impress him with their singing talent. He is aided by the pierced, tattooed, punk and Dunn to infiltrate the secret Moscow like apparition in the sky. Some of Seeing the opportunity for success, both computer hacker named Lisbeth Salander Kremlin archives and locate files identi- this light breaks off and lands near- human and chipmunks make a pact for them (Rooney Mara). fying Cobalt. Half ways through the mis- by and when approached it disinte- to sing his songs. While that ambition proves As they work together in the investiga- sion, someone alerts the Russians to grates the human who approached a frustrating struggle with the difficult trio, tion, Blomkvist and Salander uncover Hunt's team. Although Hunt, Dunn and it. More lights fall and aliens pro- the dream does come true after all. immense corruption beyond anything they Carter escape, a bomb destroys the tected by force fields start attacking. However, that success presents its own have ever imagined. Kremlin and Russian agent Sidirov The two Americans, the Russian trials as their unscrupulous record execu- accuses Hunt of masterminding the and two women hide for several tive, Ian Hawke, plans to break up this fami- For any further questions or reser- attack. days. When they leave their hideout, ly to exploit the boys. Y Cast: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, they notice a dog barking at some- Can Dave and the Chipmunks discover vations call at 038 243 238 or visit M Simon Pegg, Paula Patton. thing they cannot see and so learn what they really value amid the superficial them at www.kinoabc.com C that the aliens are invisible. glamor around them? K 13 Prishtina Insight January 13 - 19, 2012

Where to pick up Prishtina Insight? Hotel AFA Prishtina Insight has teamed up with these excellent venues to offer a limited number of complimentary copies of Kosovo’s only Located in a quiet neighbourhood just outside the city centre, Hotel English-language newspaper. Grab a copy of the publication and settle down with a drink or a meal to read it. Afa can guarantee guests a peaceful night while being within walking Te Komiteti distance of all the action. The venue Hotel Victory has won a host of awards for its excellent service to customers and But Victory is more than a place to meet and do business. Its doors Te Komiteti’s large trees and a beautifully garden, which offers a good range of facilities, are always open for guests to enjoy the tranquility of our guest surround the small outdoor terrace, give you an impression from an exclusive restaurant and rooms and lobbies, and the finest cuisine in the region. The only of an exclusive place for ordinary people. And this is exactly VIP bar to pretty, tranquil garden. hotel in the region where real plants, original art and fine solid fur- what it is. From brunch to lunch-time snacks and special Rooms start at 45 euro for a single, niture decorate the space and turn it into a homelike environment. evening meals, this and luxury rooms and apartments Hotel Victory is established to offer travelers the most complete, com- restaurant offers dishes are available. The hotel’s rooms are fortable accommodation available in Kosovo and the region. Our pro- comprising quality, varied well appointed and comfortable. fessional staff will offer guests the highest standard of service and ingredients, combined to support, and we will use perfection. Alongside one 15, Rr Ali our resources to greater of Prishtina’s best ‘mod- Kelmendi, lengths to make your stay ern European’ style Sunny as complete as possible. menus, you’ll also find a Hill, Hotel Victory good selection of wine, Prishtina Mother Teresa and great sangria and +381 Prishtina, Kosovo cocktails . 38/225 226 Tel: +381 38 543 277 Te Komiteti www. hote- +381 38 543 267 Qamil Hoxha Street lafa. com Email: Prishtina [email protected] +381 38 24 96 63 http://www.hotel-victo- ry.com/

Hotel Prishtina A taste of Napoli in Prishtina. Jinglebells Hotel Prishtina’s 43 charming guest rooms After ten years of making pizza in Napoli, and only with love If your soul is affected by the grey season then pay a and suites are reminiscent of a small hotel in to blame, Fatmir the chef returned to Prishtina. His pizzas, visit to Jinglebells, where you will find all the colours the European tradi- made in a woodburn stove, are definitely genuine napolitanas. that you’ve been missing. tion. You'll immedi- For those who consider pizza to be boring, Fatmir has several Jinglebells is a perfect one-stop-shop for internation- ately feel at home pastas on offer, also a true joy for the taste buds. Napoli has an als offering a selection of books in various languages in our living room, excellent selection of red and white wines or, for the more ambi- and the quickest supply of international newspapers in sipping a glass of tious, one of the town. It also offers souvenirs and gifts, such as local wine in our fine region's best Quint's handicrafts. restaurant sur- raki. Napoli makes rounded by a for delicious lunch, Jinglebells. gallery of paintings dinner or even after- Bookstore by local artists. theatre time out in and more. The hotel offers the centre of Ernest free, fast wifi inter- Prishtina. Koliqi 12, net, complimentary opposite breakfast, confer- Pizzeria Napoli EULEX HQ ence room, swim- off Luan +386(0)49 741 ming pool, sauna Haradinaj, opposite 170 and laundry service. Newborn 044/409-402402

Restorant Brasserie Lura Paddy O’Brien’s CHURCHILL’S PUB

At 450-square-metres Restaurant Lura is as spacious The staff at Paddy O’Brien’s have a saying: “It’s easy to Churchill’s Pub is a plase where you can as you get in Prishtina. It’s also surrounded by the tow- walk in, but very hard to leave.” associate with its unique, casual, cozy and ering trees of Germia and offers a pleasant garden And with its warm atmosphere, fantastic range of friendly atmosphere where you can enjoy an where, in the summer, this eatery prepares food al fres- drinks and excellent food, it is easy to see why. affordable pub style.... That comfortable co. It’s large meeting room is also ideal for that private There have been many attempts to establish a proper atmosphere combined with that special lunch or dinner. Irish pub in Prishtina, but this is the only one to hit the music, the greate range of drinks and the The combined style classical and modern interior spot. chance to get to play a game of pool and dart leaves you with an impression of refined taste. From classic coffees to cocktails, via, of course, board on the second floor. The newly opened restaurant is already famous for its Guinness, you really wont find it difficult to select the A pub where you can go and enjoy Mediterranean specialties, exquisite seafood and fine perfect drink. everynight live music, different ones like selections of Italian, French and Local wines. But that’s A mouth-watering menu of Irish specialties is also on evergreen, tradicional, uplugged and rock. not all, for music lovers, Wednesday, Thursday and offer, spanning from all-day breakfasts to Irish stews at You can also enjoy the happy hour wich Friday night dinners are accompanied by jazz, whereas night. starts ar 20:00-21:00 everynight. on Saturdays local patriots can enjoy live traditional Options include shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, fish Beers (Peja and Skopje) for only 0,99 Euros, Albanian music. ‘n chips, and whop- Gin Mix and Vodka Mix for only 1,50 Euros. Lura Restaurant ping great burgers. Churchill’s Pub is located in the heart of Str. Nazmi Gaffuri • 10 000 Prishtina • +381 (0)38 763 Thursday is pub Prishtina. 763 ; +386 (0)49 763 763 • www.lurarestaurant.com quiz night, but there Str: Johan V. Hahn, Peyton, Prishtine [email protected] is always something +377 44 728 750 going on at the pub, whether it is sport screenings or just a good shindig. Paddy O’Brien’s Tringe Smajli Street, by the Illyria Hotel Prishtina: 045- Y 420900 M C K 14 January 13 - 19, 2012 opinion Ecosovo Outside In Dragan and Agnesa don’t Getting Bus Busy in get Edita and Borko Prishtina By Kreshnik Hoxha has their own view on what can be done to solve Prishtina’s growing traffic problem. It’s a problem for the already grim air quality (next time someone com- he fact that Kosovo and Serbia had to be glued to the negotiating By Elizabeth Gowing plains to you about the city’s pollution, ask them table is something that anyone embracing progressive values when was the last time they took a bus) and for the Tshould support. Reconciliation, truth telling and normalisation of frustration caused by snarled-up traffic (one of the relations are the fundamental tools for both parties to deconstruct their things I used to love about Prishtina was that when dangerous national myths, which legitimised oppression, war and retal- t wasn’t the incessant questions (where do you iation. you heard frantic honking of horns and looked round work? How much rent do you pay? Are you mar- But, neither the Harvard degree of Edita Taihri nor the Western to see what fight was about to break out between driv- Iried? Why don’t you have children?) that got me in mindset of Borko Stefanovic has had the necessary influence on their ers, you usually discovered it was either a wedding or the end, nor even the sense of my city clogging up respective nations. two guys grinning at each other through their wind- around me in the taxi; it was when I saw the bus go by, This is because the format of these negotiations has long proven that carrying 40 people to its one exhaust pipe, while I sat screens gesturing ‘haven’t seen you in ages. How are they are organised to tick boxes rather than address tangible solutions all alone in my cab burning up those fossil fuels just you doing? Say hi to your family’. That is not always to real problems. No matter how much Robert Cooper and Catherine for me. I knew I needed to use Prishtina’s buses more true now). Ashton grin in front of cameras yelling that the region is moving – they’re cheap (40 cents) and frequent and efficient. Of course it’s also a problem for the carbon being towards reconciliation and mutual understanding, the fact of the matter But how to find out which bus to take me where? unnecessarily used up in all those car journeys with is that their optimistic claims have little grasp of the reality. Everyone seems to have learned one route (I knew the single occupants – and proportionally more fuel is Associated with lack of a clear agenda, lack of transparency, lack of number and the stops between my house and Germia) used in stop-start city driving, when cars are less effi- accountability and vague EU aims, the negotiations led by Edita Tahri but that’s no good as you navigate the city on journeys cient. The big international offices contribute to the and Borko Stefanovic have been utterly personalised by the head nego- to multiple destinations, jumping in and out of your problem with their policies on official car use which tiators for their own political gain. But, what Mr Stefanovic and Ms own car or of a cab. So thank goodness for the online mean that transport by car is a free option (and no Tahiri fail to realise is that the dialogue, aimed at improving the lives of map, launched this week at prishtinabuses.info. support or requirement for carpooling – I’d love to citizens of both entitites, has de facto only improved the image of How many bus routes are there in your city? I bet hear of an office in Kosovo doing something system- Baroness Ashton and Mr Cooper in the corridors of power in Brussels, you didn’t know there are 16, marked on the interac- atic about that alternative for their staff). while serving as a political suicide for Ms Tahiri and Mr Stefanovic. tive map in colour, giving Prishtina the beginnings of To examine the extent to which these negotiations are detached from what could become an iconic image for the city’s iden- My personal preference, as Prishtina’s taxi drivers the thought process of the masses one need not to be a rocket scientist. tity like the London Underground. It was produced on well know, is for a park-and-ride system set up at the Just try to recap the tomato-welcome Ms Tahiri received at the Prishtina Open Street Map (the online ‘collaborative project to city’s boundaries. It would be far cheaper and more International Airport upon arrival from Brussels or the death threats create a free editable map of the world’. Oh, we’d all practical than building new or wider roads. I am issued to Mr Stefanovic in the event of stepping foot in the chaotic north- love to edit the world, It’s just the collaboration that’s eying the edges of the prishtinabuses.info map and ern Kosovo. Or even more shockingly, reflect back to the nasty events in hard…). The website and map, available in English hoping that one day a new coloured strip can be inked the wake of Mr Stefanovic’s sly visit to Prishtina in spring last year. and Albanian, was produced by a team of volunteers on there showing the park and ride route. That’s how So, who is demonstrating this apparent “constructive approach to with 500 euros funding from the Unicef Innovations I’d edit the world – anyone up for collaboration? negotiations”, which is the message of every official document issued Lab. Their website throws down a challenge now to from Mr Cooper’s office? other municipalities to produce a similar user-friend- Elizabeth Gowing is a founder of The Ideas The answer is no one! ly map, to encourage residents and visitors to use Partnership, a Kosovan NGO working on educational, On the surface it might appear that there is progress in reaching buses and thus to reduce the impact on the environ- cultural and environmental projects. She is also the agreements. Of course, this seems a success considering you are talking ment in travels around the city. author of the recently-published, Travels in Blood and about agreements reached between two parties that were in a war twelve Every resident (oh, and believe me, every taxi driv- Honey; becoming a beekeeper in Kosovo. She can be years ago and share a bitter past before that. er – I seem to have taken quite a survey) in Prishtina reached at [email protected] However, the reality is much more skewed than the fairy tales whis- pered by Brussels. We are talking about a process that the support only of governing parties in both Kosovo and Serbia. Therefore, it would be fair In the meantime, Prishtina hospital patients continue to presume that these parties would adhere to the agreements reached and would swiftly move onto implementing them accordingly. Reality has to have difficulties passing through airports. it that this is definitely not the case. Every agreement reached so far was implemented only upon Brussels exerting some pressure on Serbia to actually take concrete steps in implementing them. A classic example is the very recent shocking queues of Kosovar trav- ellers at Merdare and Dheu i Bardhe waiting to transit through Serbia. Thank God for that candidacy status bid. It really works a magic on the Serbs! On the other hand, the hypocrisy associated with head negotiators’ media appearances and the way they so blatantly offend the intelligence of their masses by sending distorted messages makes the whole process even more unbearable. When referring to the agreement of mutual recognition of ID cards but not passports, Mr Stefanovic appeared to be protecting Serbia’s sov- ereignty. But, he might have to remember that the Kosovar IDs he accept- ed are issued by the same institutions that also issue the Kosovar pass- ports he refused. In doing so, he essentially accepted that the Kosovo institutions have the right to issue documents within the territory of Kosovo – which really tells a lot about his efforts in preserving Serbia’s sovereignty. Things for Kosovo are gloomy too! Its weak international position and damaged reputation has made Ms Tahiri nod to pretty much everything in these negotiations. The recent agreement on the car registration plates is the biggest fiasco she could have ever signed. The lady that brags about her knowledge of international law has obviously missed lectures on statehood, considering she agreed to have RKS registration plates covered upon entering Serbia with trial temporary plates bearing Serb state symbols. What transpires in the end is the picture that Albanians and Serbs revolve around their nationalistic sentiments and seem unprepared to move on. A lesson to be learned from this Brussels adventure is that con- centrating on the root of the problem, which lies in the ordinary citi- zens, would best serve the purpose of negotiations rather than making Y short-lived and window-dressing agreements. M We have a very long way to go. And these negotiations are doomed to C fail if Edita and Borko in Brussels fail to take into account the problems K of Dragan from Cacak and Agnesa from Ferizaj. interview January 13 - 19, 2012 15 The Changing Face of Yugoslav Journalism Journalist Jurij Gustincic reflects on the changing world of journalism in the Balkans in an interview for Prishtina Insight.

let out of sight any of the parts of their assessment of the situation former Yugoslavia. Not at all. They and saw that they should not are simply far less afraid to make invest time in saving something By Andrej Klemencic mistakes in their political moves that was falling apart. But despite towards these countries. that they were very reluctant to let go their view of Yugoslavia as a Did you feel limited in any country important to American aised in pre-Second World way when you worked as a politics in Central and Southern War Vienna and Moscow, Yugoslav journalist in the UK Europe. RJurij Gustincic incorporat- and the US? All this happened very fast. In ed his worldly views and sharp Yugoslav journalists were no that regard, I must say the follow- thinking into reporting, making doubt privileged. In those coun- ing. We frequently attribute too him a phenomenon of the then tries Yugoslavia was perceived dif- much attention to the decision- Yugoslavia's journalistic world. ferently than the rest of the making processes of superpowers. He was one of the youngest cor- Eastern Europe. The Yugoslav But sometimes, those processes respondents of Yugoslavia’s main passport, for example, was incredi- are less profound than we may daily Politika to report from bly respected throughout the world think. Even great powers can London and New York. at the time. People had different change their opinion out of the Now aged 90, Gustincic, who Jurij Gustincic, a veteran Yugoslav journalist. opinions as to how much blue. Their politics towards still writes opinion pieces for Yugoslavia was different from Yugoslavia were not cement-solid. articles for Slovenian publications What did the transition bring Slovenian weekly Mladina, other countries of Eastern Europe, In the years before the break-up in Serbian and they were then to reporting? remembers the days when but we did have a different status. they frequently warned that the translated. My only previous con- It is my impression that when Yugoslav journalists had the best We had easier access to every- country was about to dissolve and nection to Slovenian media was my Slovenian media report on seats at tables in London and thing compared to our colleagues many of them saw that this would decision, upon arrival in the US in Western matters there is good dose Washington. He reflects on how from Hungary, Czechoslovakia, inevitably happen. Still, the offi- the 70s that I would also report for of healthy liberalism. Also, report- journalists perceive reality in the even Poland, although Poland cial policies of those countries TV Ljubljana. ing from Asia and Africa is very post-war Balkans and also about always had a special status were that Yugoslavia should stay liberal. Slovenian media outlets where Slovenia and the region because of the vast Polish popula- whole. Great Britain and the US If you take a detailed look write about Russia with some might be heading politically. tion in US. played no destructive role in the into journalism of the former reservation. There is no great I would even go as far as to say break-up of Yugoslavia. They sim- Yugoslav republics, what do exhilaration over Russia, includ- During the 25 years of your that we were more interesting to ply accepted the events as they you see? ing reports on Putin. Slovenian work as foreign correspondent Western powers. This trend con- unfolded. That is all. Before reviewing the present sit- media is critical of the West not you observed the relationship of tinued until the break-up of uation, please allow me to go back for ideological reasons, but two leading Western powers, the Yugoslavia - the break-up, which, Before and after the break-up a bit in the recent past. It is true because they see things in US and UK, towards Yugoslavia. by the way, was never in the inter- of Yugoslavia you worked as a that Serbia under Milosevic was a America and Europe moving Now these powers have relation- est of Western powers. They want- journalist. What is the differ- horrible place, but it is also true slightly too far towards the right. ships with the republics created ed to see Yugoslavia survive. ence between you as a Yugoslav that he focused his pressure on the Generally, the reporting of after the break-up of In 1991 I was invited on a state journalist and now, when you media only on the national TV and Yugoslavia. Do you feel Britain Slovenian media is liberal. visit to Germany and spoke to a are a Slovenian journalist? Politika daily. He left the other and the United States are capa- very high ranking official close to I was already retired during the magazines alone. Vreme, among ble of having a unified relation- With Al Jazeera in Sarajevo the Chancellor. I was attacked as a last years of Yugoslavia, but I still whose founders you will also find ship towards these countries and other media houses which Slovenian and asked what on earth worked as a journalist in Belgrade. my name, was one such publica- and do you think that would be a have bureaus throughout the we were doing with this independ- During that time, I wrote for tion. But what Milosevic touched, good idea at all? former Yugoslavia we see com- ence thing. That was in March Serbian, Slovenian and even he destroyed. Politika daily was I believe the countries in ques- mon media space being created 1991. Two months later, the Croatian publications, where I never able to recover. tion had very clearly outlined poli- here. How do you see this? Germans changed their attitude wrote daily opinion pieces for tics towards Yugoslavia, much I believe that each of the coun- completely and were among the Slobodna Dalmacija for five years. What does the Slovenian jour- more then now, when they are tries has even more media prod- first to recognize Slovenia's inde- I stopped writing that when nalism scene look like today? dealing with the new countries. ucts than it can consume. pendence. Tudjman came to power as it was I believe that Slovenian journal- Their focus is dispersed and I no longer possible to write nor- ism shows good quality when it believe they are far less interested Let me rephrase my question. Why do you think that hap- mally. The mentality of the three comes to covering Western Europe in the [countries born from the col- In Yugoslav times, Slovenian pened? nations changed fast with the and the US. But Slovenia has had lapse of] Yugoslavia than they journalists worked for large That remains a mystery to me to events leading to the break up. As I tough times. The former govern- were interested in Yugoslavia. Yugoslav media agencies. You date. But that support was not syn- could no longer satisfy the needs of ment of Janez Jansa tried to cre- Yugoslavia was a strategically are one such example. Do you chronized among the Western the three very different reader- ate a coup within the main important country particularly believe that Slovenian journal- countries. When I asked the ships, I had to decide to choose one Slovenian daily Delo. But they during and immediately after the ists would want to take part in American Secretary of State in of them. I then decided I would only succeeded partially. Delo is Cold War. Whatever happens in a regional media project or is Belgrade in 1991if the US would write only for the Slovenian recovering, Dnevnik daily is get- politics of the new countries is Slovenian journalism self-suffi- recognise Slovenia's independ- media. ting better and Mladina weekly is treated by Western countries with cient? ence, he said: “We will not!” The Serbian language has stayed as good and as revolutionary as it much less anxiety than was the It is more the latter. I am not America changed that position at with me for some time. I wrote my was in the Yugoslav times. case in days of Yugoslavia. In sure if this self-sufficient attitude the end of 1991. those days, Western countries sent will be permanent. their best diplomats to Belgrade. “I believe that the story of rapprochement of the Southern I do not see Slovenian journal- What do you think made That is not the case anymore. ists wanting to see regionalism them change their position? Slavs is not yet finished.” All of this does not mean they revived. On the other hand, I see I believe they were realistic in young Slovenian actors who want to have a larger audience. I believe that the story of rapprochement of Easy Medium Hard the Southern Slavs is not yet fin- y| y |y | ished. 19 2 7 34782 64 3 It has experienced an immense blow. We are still living with the 835 8638 consequences of that blow. But this will change. Young Slovenes 724 8 53 8 62go to Serbia to party, they don't go to Austria or Italy or other neigh- 597 85 52 7 bouring countries. One must be cautious when addressing these 3971697issues. There has been much 236anger. I believe these are still tran- 12 8 17 sitional times and we must be 6 791 598 91careful when we speak of the future. 94 3 83 93 Y This article is funded under the M 39 78 74 2 83564BICCED project, supported by the C Swiss Cultural Programme. K 16 January 13 - 19, 2012 marketing

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