News: Government Underspends by 165 Million Euro in 2009

December 24, 2009 - January 01, 2010 Issue No. 30 www.prishtinainsight.com Free copy

Uncontrolled FEATURE Construction Calls to Boom Leaves Comme- Buildings Empty morate the Prishtina’s post-war con- struction boom is showing Bard of now signs of slowing Prishtina despite the increasing num- ber of large office and resi- > page 7 dential blocks lying empty across the city. ARTE Safet Gerxhaliu, vice- president of the Kosova See in the New Year Chamber of Commerce, OEK, told Prishtina Insight in Style that there was an oversup- ply of new buildings in > page 10 Kosovo’s capital... GUIDE Turn to page 6 for full story. Skopje’s Beautiful Back Streets Anticorruption Agency: 150 Fraud > page 8 FOOD & DRINK Cases, 0 Trails Breathing Space and Kosovo’s Anticorruption Agency has sent 150 cases of fraud to the Prosecutor for trail, but not one of these has reached court. Chalet Comfort at resulting in 150 case files of data ruption. Therefore, we need the documents] to be translated, then Hani By Besiana Xharra and documents being submitted to strong support of the government.” they must examine our laws and so the Prosecutor. He said that the amount of infor- on.” he director of Kosovo’s > page 9 Of these, he said, 61 cases have mation being passed to his agency But Preteni stresses that it is not Anticorruption Agency has been reviewed and 7 indictments was increasing year on year, adding EULEX’s responsibility to eradi- CITY Tcalled on the government to issued, but none has resulted in a that the majority of the allegations cate corruption in Kosovo. help in the fight against fraud as court appearance. centre on the judiciary, public “We have delivered many cases Bells Toll Again at not one of the agency’s investiga- He also complains that in some enterprises, the government and to EULEX, but this doesn’t mean tions has resulted in a court case. cases, officials have been arrested local government. that we are expecting EULEX to Orthodox Church Hasan Preteni said he was unhap- or suspended from their job, before Frustrated with inaction and solve Kosovo’s problems,” he said. py with the support he was receiv- returning to work without facing refusals on the part of Kosovo “We need their support, but after Six Year ing from the government and the justice. institutions, the agency has begun Kosovo’s institutions must take performance of Kosovo’s judiciary, “I am not happy about this,” to send cases to the EU rule-of-law responsibility for corruption in Silence which he said was blocking the Preteni told Prishtina Insight. “We mission in Kosovo, EULEX. Kosovo. Therefore, we hope that work of his agency by not process- have established an institution Preteni said: “When cases have things will change, primarily > page 6 ing cases. which is respected by citizens who been rejected by the prosecution, through reforms to the judiciary,” The agency has received 400 com- contact us every day, but we are we have submitted them to said Preteni. plaints about corruption since it only a link in a chain of powerful EULEX. But procedures at EULEX NGO FOCUS was launched in February 2007, institutions which should fight cor- take time because they need [the Continues page 3 Sharpening Legal News Business Minds – Kosovo Law Returning to the Front Line in Agriculture Growth Strangled by Institute Kroi i Vitakut/Brdjani ‘Unaffordable’ Loans > page 14 Quiet has again descended on the con- Kadri Krasniqi hoped to build a farm troversial neighbourhood of Kroi i for himself and his ten family members Vitakut/Brdjani. in Lipjan, on the southern outskirts of The small village outside of Mitrovica Prishtina, to secure their financial was rarely out of the spotlight this sum- future. But after numerous attempts to mer as large and sometimes violent find an affordable loan, he gave up. protests were held by local Serbs, angry “I had planned to invest more than at attempts to reconstruct Kosovo 10,000 euro in the agricultural sector, but Albanian homes... page 4 the interest rates are... page 5

is supported by: 2 • December 24, 2009 - January 01, 2010 marketing news • December 24, 2009 - January 01, 2010 3 Government Underspends by Editor’s word 165 Million Euro in 2009 Befasi Ministry of Finance tells Prishtina Insight that other ministries were ‘out of ideas and project’ Shpend Ahmeti, head of the think- By Lawrence Marzouk tank Institute for Advanced Studies, said: “The situation has improved from year to year, but we still need to ZAP sounds like an organi- By Fatos Halili improve a lot. In a country with sation which means busi- alarming levels of unemployment, Kness. poverty, trade imbalance, it is irra- But the Election Commission on osovo’s government will fin- tional for the government to run a Appeals and Complaints, ECAC, as ish 2009 with a budget surplus surplus, and at the same time as ask- it is known under its slightly less Kof 165million euro, up from ing donors to give us even more punchy, English title, had failed to 74million euro in 2008. funds.” deliver on its aggressive sounding According to figures released by The Ministry of Trade and acronym – until last week. the Ministry of Finance, 85 per cent Industry used 65 per cent of the The organisation had a shambol- of the 1.1billion national budget has 9.2million euro allocated to it. Fatos ic run-up to Kosovo’s historic poll, been used so far this year. Sahiti, economic advisor to the min- only securing an office and website In 2008, the government said its ister, told Prishtina Insight: “We on the eve of the election. 74million euro surplus was down to decided to save some money this Even when it finally got going, its not completing some tenders it had year and that is the reason we have a website was crap and it just about planned to carry out. surplus of 3.5 million euro. This byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit Kosovo’s government building in central Prishtina managed to fumble its way through This year, with an underspend of money will help with next year’s pre-election complaints about pre- 165million euro, the Ministry of budget.” “We have supported all of our euro from a 8.7million euro budget. mature campaigning. Finance told Prishtina Insight: The Ministry of Agriculture and projects but I cannot tell you exactly An official in its economic depart- The situation didn’t improve “There are some ministry’s that Rural Development spent 40 per cent why we have not managed to spend ment said: “We have financed every after the first round of the local haven’t spent their budget because of its budget. 100 per cent.” project for constructing new homes elections on November 15, when they were out of ideas and projects.” A spokesman said: “We are still This ministry, up until December and projects which help communi- KZAP rejected more than half of Some ministries in 2009 spent as vetting the process of the autumn 23, had only spent 5million euro ties return to their homes. We have complaints on technicalities. little as 40 per cent of their budget, sowing, and after we have finished from its 12.5million euro pot. financed all our projects but it looks Rules are rules, but given the while others, such as the Ministry of this verification we hope to achieve The Ministry for Communities like the projects were not enough [to organisation’s invisible public Transport, spent more. about 80 per cent of the budget. and Returns has spent 6.5million spend our entire budget].” information campaign and the absence of an online complaint option, especially taking into account Kosovo’s erratic postal sys- Two Reruns, One Recount tem, this finickity approach appeared to be the product of The Central Election Commission, CEC, has decided to rerun elections in Prizren and Lipjan and recount votes in Gjilan after pedantry or self-preservation, serious fraud and irregularities were discovered rather than a desire to tackle seri- ous concerns of fraud in the first sion. We have advised them,” Rrecaj round. KZAP was shaping up to be said. a real KFLOP. “The only order we can give to the But, late last week, a now embold- By Petrit Collaku CEC is to annul the results based on ened commission head, Tahir the investigation of certain ballots,” Rrecaj, emerged from the muddle of he said. the past few months with a remark- lections are to be rerun in two Following the comments, the CEC ably frank assessment of the may- municipalities and votes ordered a rerun in two municipalities oral run-off and a demand for the Erecounted in another, after and a recount in the other. The elec- elections to be rerun in three fraud and irregularities were discov- tion is expected to take place in late municipalities. ered by the Election Commission on January or early February. He assessed that there was evi- Appeals and Complaints, ECAC. Rrecaj sent a two-page document to dence of serious irregularities and ECAC advised the CEC on the CEC last weekend, revealing that intentional election fraud in the December 21 to conduct a rerun of the there was suspicion of irregularities, majority of polling centres in December 13 mayoral runoff election vote steeling and fraud in more than Gjilan, Prizren and Lipjan. in Prizren, Gjilan and Lipjan. half of polling stations in the three With this, Rrecaj ‘kzapped’ the On Monday, CEC said it needed municipalities. Photo byPhoto FoNet myth peddle by the great and good more information from ECAC before The tight mayoral election race in Voters in three municipalities were again go to the polls after fraud was discovered of Kosovo, both international and it could make a decision, specifically Prizren, Gjilan and Lipjan was local, that the toddler republic had ulation. It was from both parties,” punishment. on whether the latter had ‘advised or between the Democratic League of met the highest international stan- Rrecaj said. “I believe strongly that, for these ordered’ a rerun in the municipali- Kosovo, LDK, and the Democratic dards in its first election. He added that the CEC should not elections, all violators of the law will ties. Party of Kosovo, PDK. Both parties, KZAP’S advice was greeted frost- repeat the mistake of the 2007 elec- be punished equally,” Rrecaj said. ECAC’s president, Tahir Rrecaj, which currently form a fragile gov- ily by the Central Election tions, when evidence of vote manipu- ECAC’s advice for the rerun was said that according to election law it is ernment coalition, polled almost half Commission, which dithered and lation was destroyed after 60 days. He branded a ‘political decision’ by up to the CEC to order the rerun, of the votes each. delayed until finally coming to a said that without this evidence, the Kosovo’s parliament speaker, Jakup while ECAC can only advise on such “The commissioners of the LDK decision on Tuesday afternoon to commissioners were able to escape Krasniqi. moves. “It was very clear in the deci- and PDK were involved in vote manip- recount Gjilan and rerun Prizren and Lipjan. The CEC appeared politically driven, weak and indeci- Anticorruption Agency: 150 Fraud Cases, 0 Trails sive as a result. KZAP surprised us all and, as a from page 1 Prishtina Insight asked officials at Prishtina est of Kosovo is in question, then they [the gov- result, gave me fresh confidence in District Court about the judiciary’s failure to ernment] must interfere.” Kosovo’s institutions. He said that with the reform of the judiciary, bring cases to trail, but they refused to com- Burim Ramadani, general secretary of the But the complaints commission’s which is ongoing, and the reappointment of ment. opposition Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, findings also raise a worrying ques- judges and new prosecutors, he hoped the situ- Osman Kryeziu, Chief Prosecutor at the AAK, said the government is not interested in tion – if fraud was so widespread in ation would improve. Public Prosecutor’s Office in Prishtina, said: fixing corruption, as they are involved. these three municipalities, what “But what must be done is that our govern- “These are issues that require time to review, He said: “How can they fight corruption was the true picture for the rest of ment should support the judiciary’s work,” he and we do not publicise this information.” while these people are involved in corruption? the country? added. “They must be well paid in order to be Nuhi Uka, chairman of the Municipal Court The current government has proved that it is Unfortunately, with the results impartial and not corrupt.” in Prishtina, said that delays have arisen not concerned about Kosovo’s image, as they now certified, we will probably Officials of Kosovo’s government said that because judges have too many cases to deal are oriented towards their own personal inter- never know. But I hope that for the they have done enough for the agency by sup- with. ests.” election reruns in January or porting it since its creation, adding that they Ibrahim Gashi, vice-president of the opposi- Despite the struggle, the Anticorruption February,it will be the political par- could not interfere with the judiciary. tion New Kosovo Aliance, AKR, said the govern- Agency says it will not lose hopes. Preteni said: ties, who have orchestrated this Memli Krasniqi, spokesman for Kosovo’s gov- ment is wrong to say it cannot interfere in the “We will continue to move forward. We will not fraud, that surprise me. ernment, said: “All that we can do is to support work of the judiciary, adding that it should close cases which are not being examined. We PS Befasi means the agency, as we have supported them to open increase salaries to legal staff. will reactivate them at any time and we will surprise in Albanian and to operate.” He told Prishtina Insight: “Where the inter- succeed.” 4 • December 24, 2009 - January 01, 2010 news Returning to the Front Line Outside In The return of Kosovo Albanians to the controversial, divided neighbourhood of Kroi i Vitakut/Brdjani, near Mitrovica, has Sllatina broken a psychological barrier in place since 1999, according to the government. But some of those who have moved back to their homes, following government-funded reconstruction, feel let down and used like a pawn in a political game. Express political reasons,” he said. “Where were we before 2009? We have lived poorly and badly and we continue By Kreshnik Hoxha By Petrit Collaku to live like that.” He claims that Kosovo’s govern- ment could do more for returnees. Platform 2 for the 10.55 Akropolis uiet has returned to the con- “For many years we’ve been non- Express Service to Athens, calling at troversial neighbourhood of citizens of Kosovo. The govern- “Munich-via-Villach, Ljubljana, QKroi i Vitakut/Brdjani. ment was not interested in us. Our Zagreb, Belgrade, Prishtina (Fushe The small village outside of issue only came under considera- Kosove/Kosovo Polje), Skopje, Mitrovica was rarely out of the tion in 2009,” Habib said. Thessaloniki and Athens.” spotlight this summer as large and Habib works for the public com- This was the announcement for the sometimes violent protests were pany Pastrimi and earns 135 euro a train service introduced in the late 1960s held by local Serbs, angry at month. He said that he is diabetic as a joint initiative between the German attempts to reconstruct Albanian and that the hard economic situa- Federal Railways and the then-Yugoslav homes. Kroi i Vitakut/Brdjani was the scene of violent clashes during the summer tion has worsened his health. Railways. At the time, the area, which is to “When I see my children working The service passed along the same as the family do not have funds to added. the north of the river Ibar, seen as as bag carriers, my heart weeps,” Kosovo rail tracks between complete the work not paid for by Habib said that he made many the dividing line between Serbs said Habib, trying to hide the tears. Leshak/Lesak and Hani i Elezit/General the government. attempts before 2009 to reconstruct and Albanians in Kosovo, was Habib watches from the window Jankovic, which nowadays is a subdivid- “I am happy to be back at my his house but he was stopped by swarming with KFOR troops and the reconstruction of the new ed line consisting of services from home but we cannot live like this,” KFOR. “Many times, I was hand- EULEX police officers. apartments in which many Serb Zvecan to Belgrade and Prishtina to He said. “I have already spent 3,500 cuffed by KFOR. They did not allow Today,almost unnoticed, some of families will be accommodated Skopje following the Kosovo conflict. euro to renovate some things in the me to be here,” said Habib. But the Kosovo Albanians at the centre soon. He blames Albanians for sell- Having never had the opportunity to home.” today, Habib continues to hope that of the controversy have moved into ing their land to the Serbs. enjoy the comfort of a train journey in Dinore hopes to furnish another his home will be complete and he their Government-funded homes Today, Kroi i Vitakut is labeled a Kosovo, my fascination with British room soon and she hopes that next will live normally. and are attempting to get on with ‘multiethnic neighbourhood’. National Rail maybe should not come as year the family will be reunited He said that the situation is calm their lives. Prishtina Insight asked Habib if surprise since my move to England. again. “I also hope that my son will but he cannot relax because of the One of the families to have Albanians and Serbs could live Just a week ago, when I was flying to get married,” Dinore added. constantly changing situation in returned is the Rama’s – Habib, 62, together, he said: “We will be forced Kosovo, I had to take the Gatwick The couple believe that the house Kosovo’s volatile north. and his wife Dinore, 55. They to live together. We have nowhere Express train from London Victoria to is not ready yet for the rest of the “For the time being, the situation moved back to the home they left else to go. Don’t ask me about poli- Gatwick Airport. family to return. is good, unless they [the Serbs] are during the 1999 conflict this tics.” Fast, reliable, almost always punctual Mitrovica municipality is in making plans. They are quiet and autumn. Memli Krasniqi, the govern- and fairly good value for money if charge of the reconstruction proj- this is not good,” he said. “But we “I have moved between 12 houses ment’s spokesman, told Prishtina booked in advance, this train rarely dis- ect. Rasim Veseli, director of are used to that and we don’t care. in Mitrovica before this,” Habib Insight: “One of Kosovo govern- appoints. urbanism, told Prishtina Insight We don’t have elsewhere to go any- And it was on this king of the British told Prishtina Insight. ment’s priorities is returning peo- the project only includes the recon- way,” he added. railroad that, perhaps unfairly, I started “It’s not easy to move with nine ple to their homes. struction of the house. Habib feels that the reconstruc- to weigh up the British rail system family members from one place to “Kosovo’s government has bro- “We build the house and reno- tion effort in Kroi i Vitakut was a against the almost non-existent Kosovo another. We were walking with ken the psychological barrier in vate the first floor. For the rest, it’s political move. He said: “I think one. blankets on our backs.” this neighborhood which existed up to the family to invest,” he that the houses are made only for The general view in Britain is that The house has a new façade, and since 1999.” ever since the then Prime Minister John some work has been carried out Major privatised the railroads, the train inside, allowing the couple to live fares have rocketed and value for money in the sitting room. Nauru, Kosovo - MasterCard has plummeted. But the rest of the house The most curremt example of the remains unfinished and unusable, British discontent has been the reaction Diplomacy? to delays during recent snow fall. But I take a very different view of the The Pacific island state of Nauru has recognised South Ossetia and Abkhazia, both of quality of the British service, originating from Kosovo, which has barely managed which declared independence from Georgia last year. Can this have Balkan ramifications? to preserve even the most basic service www.prishtinainsight.com money allegedly connected to this Ossetia and Abkhazia have seceded inherited from the Yugoslav Railways. week’s recognitions has also bought from this former Soviet republic, just Still, I drifted off, imagining being Publisher: the derecognition of Kosovo. as Kosovo has seceded from Serbia. whisked from Kosovo’s airport to BIRN By Tim Judah Requests by Balkan Insight to the However Russia fought a war with Prishtina on the Sllatina Express. Balkan Investigative Reporting Network Nauruan, Russian and Serbian Georgia in August 2008 and then Afterall, the tracks between Sllatina authorities for clarification on this recognised the two breakaways. At the and Prishtina remain intact, if you don’t Mensa e Studenteve, first floor auru is 21 square kilometres question went unanswered. However same time, it supports Serbia’s territo- take into account the illegal houses glued 10000, Prishtina and has an impoverished pop- a spokesman for the Kosovo Foreign rial integrity and argued for Serbia at to them. Used properly, this infrastructure Kosovo Nulation of some 11,000. Last Ministry said: “This does not affect us. hearings on Kosovo’s independence at would provide a great connection for Phone: +381 (0) 38 24 33 58 week Kieren Keke, its foreign minister We do not expect to be derecognised by the ICJ earlier this month. those flying in and out of Kosovo. visited Moscow, Tskhinvali, the capi- Nauru.” Serbia, says one senior official, can- Fax: +381 (0) 38 22 44 98 However, the proper use of this slice of tal of South Ossetia, and Sukhumi, the In September last year Nauru not make common cause with Georgia [email protected] railroad seems to be too much to wish for capital of Abkhazia. joined three Pacific neighbours, the though because this would cross a considering the eagerness of Kosovo’s According to Radio Free Europe US and Albania in being the only Russian “red line” as far their rela- Editor-in-Chief: transport ministry to pour all its and the Russian newspaper countries to vote against Serbia’s pro- tions are concerned. resources into miles and miles of new Lawrence Marzouk Kommersant, Mr Keke secured posal to the UN General Assembly that Likewise fierce opposition from the asphalt and little else. [email protected] $50million for “urgent socioeconomic the International Court of Justice give US and other important countries pre- Taking into account Kosovo’s geo- projects in Nauru,” while he was in an advisory opinion on Kosovo’s inde- vents Kosovo from recognising the two graphical position, it could, as before, Editorial Team: Moscow. pendence. Georgian breakaways. However, last become a central train hub for the Ana Petruseva, Arif Muharremi, In South Ossetia Mr Keke said his Such a strong alignment with the year Abkhazia did offer mutual recog- region. The benefits would range from country aimed to “help the young US on that question makes Nauru’s nition to Kosovo. Gordana Igric, Jeta Xharra, Marcus increasing mobility by allowing people to Caucasus republic to overcome its dif- decision to recognise the Georgian According to Maxim Gunjia, travel easily through Macedonia and Tanner, Petrit Collaku and Shega A’Mula ficulties” by recognising it. “We will breakaways very surprising. Abkhazia’s deputy foreign minister, even Serbia to other parts of Europe, pro- also ask our neighbouring Pacific In 2002, China is reported to have “unfortunately they rejected our pro- viding a much more environmentally Marketing, Sales & Distribution: countries to help you in the same way.” offered Nauru $130million to switch its posal.” Today,it is no longer an option. friendly mode of transport and address- [email protected] Nauru is only the fourth country to recognition from Taiwan but in 2005 According to one diplomat source ing the overcrowding on the roads. have recognised the Georgian break- Taiwan offered Nauru a better deal in Kosovo no one there, either in gov- I hope that one day Kosovars will also Design & Layout: “Rrjeti” aways, along with Russia, Venezuela and so recognition was switched back. ernment or in the diplomatic commu- be in a position to whinge about a 2 and Nicaragua. However, with its Since then Taiwan has helped finance nity has made a connection between minute delay on the Sllatina Express or Printing: Interpress R. Company recognition it is now the only state in its airline and its government website. Nauru’s decision and its potential see the “anuluar/otkazan/cancelled” the world to have recognised both For Serbia, the Georgian question is ramifications for Kosovo. “For princi- sign on the screens at the stations due to Copyright © BIRN them and Kosovo. extremely difficult because its natural ples,” he said, “there is the UN, for something petty like leaves on the tracks. It remains to be seen whether the sympathies lie with Georgia, as South everything else there is MasterCard.” business • December 24, 2009 - January 01, 2010 5 Agriculture Growth Strangled by ‘Unaffordable’ Loans Interest rates for agricultural loans in Kosovo are twice as high as those offered for other businesses and mortgages. Experts claim the absence of afford- able credit is preventing one of the country’s most promising sectors from expanding. more attention than it currently receives as it is crucial for develop- ing family businesses and Kosovo’s By Lavdim Hamidi economy. He said subsidising this sector would create an opportunity to adri Krasniqi hoped to build replace imported agricultural pro- a farm for himself and his duce with homegrown goods. Kten family members in He added that the agricultural sec- Lipjan, on the southern outskirts of tor was wrongly not a priority for Prishtina, to secure their financial Kosovo commercial banks, which is future. But after numerous reflected in the high interest rates, attempts to find an affordable loan, whereas rates in the EU are around 2 he gave up. to 3 per cent. “I had planned to invest more The governor of the Central Bank than 10,000 euro in the agricultural of Kosovo, Hashim Rexhepi, said sector, but the interest rates are too that his institution cannot interfere high – that’s why I had to drop the with the interest rates of commer- idea,” Krasniqi told Prishtina cial banks. Insight. He admitted that rates were higher Naser Rugova, a parliamentarian in Kosovo compared to the EU and

for the governing Democratic byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit neighbouring countries, but League of Kosovo and chairman of Kosovo’s government has said it is investing more each year in agriculture explained that at a meeting he had the committee for agriculture, called with officials from the Government, the agricultural sector have not been cultural loans representing just 4 per of the use of arable land for con- on banks to cut their rates, adding they had defined steps for supporting favourable, and now it’s time to draft cent of the total credit issued by com- struction, non-transparent valuation that the agricultural sector had been the agricultural sector in Kosovo. a concrete strategy for supporting mercial banks, with manufacturing and pricing of agricultural land (for left by the wayside. But he added that the relevant this sector,” added Rugova. taking up close to 21 per cent and the both sale and lease), difficulties for “Banks have to change their institutions for implementing those According to the latest edition of service sector 75 per cent. farmers to access credit, and an out- approach towards agricultural loans policies had not followed these plans ‘Bankometer’, published by the According to the European dated and inadequate land registra- since in every other country this sec- through. Institute for Advanced Studies, GAP, Commission’s 2009 Progress Report tion system.” tor is supported by the banking sec- Officials from Kosovo’s interest rates for agro-loans in on Kosovo, despite some progress, But a commercial bank officer, tor, while in Kosovo it is the oppo- Government told Prishtina Insight Kosovo are between 15 and 24 per the agricultural sector is still strug- who asked not to be named, told site,” he said. that the budget for the Ministry of cent, while other businesses are gling, in part because of a lack of Prishtina Insight: “The rates are He added that previously 65 per Agriculture was growing year on charged between 12 and 15.6 per cent. credit. higher because the risk is higher.” cent of Kosovo’s population lived off year. Mortgages are even lower at between The commission wrote: “Kosovo’s The leader of the Kosovo Alliance the land, but that this figure was The ministry in 2010 will have a 8.9 and 12 per cent. agriculture continues to suffer from for Business, Agim Shahini, believes dropping. budget of 12 million euro, while in High rates have resulted in agri- fragmented land tenure, lax control the agricultural sector needs far “Until now, the lending policies for 2008 it had 9 million euro. New Bill Sparks Albania Property Rights Debate Fresh legislation that aims to sell the land leased for tourist resorts has current and previous owners crying foul estate developers, subsidised to build vate the abuses created by the law on the resorts, failed to uphold their con- tourist resorts. cessionary contracts. Toro complained that the new bill By Florian Papadhimitri Top of the list of infractions was did not place any financial burden on in Tirana the sale of villas in the resorts, which the developers who had broken the was not allowed by the concessionary law but only on the victims of the agreements, built on land leased by developers’ abuses. hen Merita immigrated to the government for a 99-year period. “It’s unclear what will be sold to the US more than a decade In a cabinet meeting three weeks the [new] owners of the villas, the Wago, after Albania plunged ago Berisha argued that because of land on which the villas were built, into economic chaos, she hoped her the developers’ infractions, parlia- the land plus the garden, or the whole beach-front villa in Golem, near ment needed to legislate in order to area on which the tourist village is Durres, would provide a sanctuary transform people like Merita into built,” he added. for the parents she left behind. what they thought they already were The property developers, on the “Tirana is a sweaty concrete - owners of their own real estate, other hand, deny they are collectively bunker in the summer and does not while at the same time compensating to blame for the situation and say the do my father’s fragile heart much the pre-war owners of the land. concessionary contracts should be good,” she explained. However, unlike Merita, the prime reviewed case by case.

Many Albanians like Merita used byPhoto Marzouk Lawrence minister had a different idea of who “We cannot talk about abuse,” said the savings they collected in the 1990s Albania’s riviera is seen as prime real estate for major tourism operators should bare the cost of this compen- Maks Muci, head of Albania’s to buy real estate in a string of new sation. Developer’s Association, adding that Earlier this year, tourism giants eigners. resorts that sprang up like mush- Not the developers but the unwary those developers who breached their Club Med pulled out of plans to devel- The scheme was basically a pri- rooms along the coast. purchasers of the villas “should buy contracts should bare part of the cost op a massive complex on Albania’s vate-public partnership, but few of More than a decade later she has at market price the land on which of compensation but only after a riviera because of land rights’ dis- the developers, most often with polit- discovered that the developer had no their villas were built and these legal review. putes. ical complacency, upheld their end of right to sell her the land on which her funds should pass to the expropriated Many in Albania believe the con- According to the Ministry of the contracts. villa was built. owners of the land,” Berisha said. struction companies are behind the Economy, the government leased A new bill presented recently by That is because the land was expro- Berisha maintained that people new legislation, as they have every- land to developers for the construc- Prime Minister Sali Berisha is pro- priated from previous owners under like Merita were members of a new thing to gain from it while others will tion of 32 tourist resorts between posing to deal with this by penalising the communist regime. The authori- bourgeois class and should be taxed now bear the financial burden of 1996 and 2005. the people who bought properties in ties now want her to pay up for the for their affluence. their errors. The developers received tax breaks the tourist villages, not the develop- land her house was built on. The former property owners “It feels like I am being sold the to develop high-end accommodation ers who sold it to them. Widespread corruption, conflict- expropriated by the communists – same home twice,” said Merita, dur- for foreign tourists who would hope- The bill has drawn criticism from ing legislation and red tape have the old bourgeois class – are also ing a phone conversation from her fully bring in hard currency and cre- those who bought the villas as well as turned property rights into one of against the plans. house in Florida. “It’s not just unfair. ate jobs. from the expropriated landowners – Albania’s thorniest issues, hamper- According to Agim Toro, head of Anywhere else in the world but in However, most often the develop- both of whom agree it is unfair. ing foreign investment and tourism an association of former property Albania this would be illegal.” ments ended up being complexes of In the memo attached to the draft development and creating another owners expropriated by the commu- small villas of dubious quality that bill, the government admits that this stumbling block for the country’s nists, called Property with Justice, Florian Papadhimitri is a business were sold to locals, not rented to for- legal initiative comes after the real- accession into the EU. the new proposal threatens to aggra- reporter for Koha TV in Tirana. 6 • December 24, 2009 - January 01, 2010 city Uncontrolled Construction Fatos Boom Leaves Buildings Empty Halili is a journalist for Jeta ne Kosove, BIRN Kosovo’s current affairs By Petrit Collaku show. He moved from Tirana, Albania, to Prishtina in rishtina’s post-war con- September 2009. struction boom is showing Pnow signs of slowing despite the increasing number of large office and residential blocks lying empty across the city. of: the Eyes through Prishtina Safet Gerxhaliu, vice-president of the Kosova Chamber of Commerce, OEK, told Prishtina Insight that there was an over- supply of new buildings in Kosovo’s capital, partly due to the downsizing and departure of international organisations. “Kosovo has broken all the records in repairing and recon- structing houses after the war and returning the population to byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit New buildings are proving difficult to rent out. Fatos Halili their homes,” Gerxhaliu said. But he believes the uncon- ty which, if not sold, will lose themselves in such situations, square metres in size and is a What surprised you most about trolled building boom which fol- value because of the deteriora- they would find a way to gener- mix of Parisian, Ottoman and Prishtina? lowed emergency reconstruction tion of the buildings. ate money,” he said. Austro-Hungarian architecture. work could now have serious “Another reason we have For Gerxhaliu the most worry- Owner Dukagjin Hoxha said consequences for Kosovo’s econ- such a big boom in construction ing issue is that urban planners that he rents out the space for 15 What has surprised me most has been the omy. in Kosovo is that it offers the have failed to protect the town. euro per square metre, and had warmth of the people. Since the first day here, He added that the lack of spa- possibility of quick money laun- “The construction in Kosovo hoped to find a client for the I felt the same as in my native town. tial and urban planning was dering,” he said. in general is cheap. But there whole building, bringing in also to blame for the growing Gerxhaliu said that despite was no thought about the ecolog- 60,000 euro per month. What’s your favourite hangout? number of empty buildings. the oversupply of new offices ical aspect of destroying green “I have been offering my build- Rock Bar, Bar Route 66 and Kafja e Vogël – “The demand is low and the and homes, prices were staying spaces in the capital,” he said . ing for rent for almost a year now, places where you can stay comfortably and supply is high,” said Gerxhaliu. stable. Unoccupied new buildings but, as you know, the financial drink something with your friends, and also “The most worrying aspect is He said: “Strangely the trend with large ‘for rent’ signs can be crisis has done its job.” use your laptop for any work you need to do that money [from rent and sales] of stable prices is continuing found dotted across Prishtina He has now given up finding a thanks to the wireless service. will not be generated and all this even though supply is higher today. tenant for the entire building and will have a negative impact on than demand.” One such building is in Sunny is looking to rent out each floor to Do you do anything cultural? the general development of He suspects that the foreign Hill, and happens to be one of the a different company. Kosovo’s economy.” capital for some of these build- finest recent constructions to There is no suggestion of To tell you the truth, not too much. Work has He added that investors have ings comes from dubious grace the city’s skyline. impropriety on the part of the taken up too much time and I haven’t seen Pri sunk a lot of money into proper- sources. “If real investors find The building is around 4,000 owner interview in the story. Film Fest or Prishtina Jazz Festival. But I am sure I will get along to events soon.

What is the most annoying thing about Bells Toll Again at Orthodox Prishtina? The lack of pavements. You always need to walk on the street and fear car accidents. I’ve Church after Six Year Silence already been hit by a car. It is very problematic that there are no pavements for pedestrians.

If you were mayor of Prishtina for the day what would you change? By Shengjyl Osmani Everything but the people who live here. I he bells rang out at would like to have more green spaces, more Prishtina’s St Nicolas parking and better streets. These all need TOrthodox Church on changing to make Prishtina a metropolitan city. Saturday,for the first time since it was torched in the March 2004 How many macchiatos do you drink a riots. day? The 19th Century church, which has been undergoing If I am not too stressed, I drink four to six but reconstruction thanks to funds it can go up to seven to eight a day. It is too from the European Commission, much, but I love coffee. I can’t imagine a day of marked its patron saint’s day by work without my favourite drink, it makes me ringing the bells and holding a feel stronger and gives me a moment of peace.

small service, during which tradi- byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit tional slava cake was offered. St Nicholas Church was badly damaged during the March 2004 riots What’s the tastiest Kosovar food? Ranjil Nojkic, who is in charge believe that things will get better violence spread across the coun- Work on the church included of maintaining the church and in the near future and that the try, claiming the lives of ethnic roof reconstruction and the Burek and yogurt - it’s superb. But I also like who lives in Gracanica, told church will be able to get back to Albanians and Serbs. restoration of the choir gallery, kebabs or the great Fli, a traditional dish. It Prishtina Insight that he hoped its old ways and operate as other The church’s iconostasis and the paraklis, the baptismal cham- feels like I’m in Tirana as food here is mostly mass would soon be held again at churches, where people will be the silver cross, cast in the 19th ber and the parish home. like Albanian home food. And I really adore holy building, situated just off more than welcome to practice Century and one of only three of Nojkic said that the church Albanian traditional food. the Germia Park road. their religion.” a kind, were both destroyed in the would only reopen formerly He said: “More and more peo- He added that the neighbour- attack. when ‘Archbishop Artemije has What landmark do you use to tell taxi ple would like to return to their hood appeared safe now for Serbs Nojkic said that renovation given permission for the priest to drivers where you live? homes [in Prishtina] as they are to return. work had finished earlier this hold a mass in this church’, refer- safe to practice their religion now. In March 2004, Kosovo year but many of the frescos and ring to Kosovo’s most senior “I am a big optimist and I I say: “Dubrovnikut ju lutem, përballë Albanians attacked the church as iconostasis still needed repairing. Serbian cleric. Elitas.” feature • December 24, 2009 - January 01, 2010 7

Prishtina’s youth Calls to Commemorate is rediscovering the poetry of a seemingly Prishtina’s Forgotten Bard forgotten bard, Mirko Young people are rediscovering the haunting poetry of the Gashi. A Facebook long neglected poet, Mirko Gashi, through a Facebook page recently established in his honour page dedicated to the recognised. mercurial artist, who Gashi has been described as the “first Albanian to lead a bohemian died in 1995 following By Rina Krasniqi lifestyle”, “the poet of the town” and the “Bohemian of Prishtina” – but a battle with alco- his works are no longer in print and n Prishtina’s main pedestrian his turbulent but fascinating life holism, has become thoroughfare, Boulevard seem to have faded from memory OMother Teresa, passers-by can since his death in 1995 after a long the first online reposi- gaze up at black-and-white images of struggle against depression and alco- Kosovo’s best-known artists. holism. tory of his work and a Actor Faruk Begolli, musician Now a Facebook page created in Muharrem Qena, painter Muslim his honour in September this year is forum for a campaign Mulliqi and other figures are com- attempting to resurrect his memory memorated there, but, according to and poetry. some, one of Prishtina’s most cre- It has already attracted almost 450 Mirko Gashi’s poetry is seeing a revival thanks to a Facebook campaign to honour the ative spirits is missing from this con- members who are assembling a mod- stellation. ern-day library of his work, memo- had never read anything by him until his personality, saw their own youth- ‘Bohemian of The Association of Poets of ries and photos. a couple of years ago. ful rebellion against all those that Prishtina, the Literary Book Club, Bardhi Haliti, 25, one of the cre- “On discovering him, I was very tried to control their lives realized,” Prishtina’. and a growing number of young ators of the page, told Prishtina intrigued by his poems about love she said. enthusiasts are calling for poet Mirko Insight: “Unfortunately, I had only and loneliness. They had such hon- “But the young people who used to Gashi’s contribution to the city to be heard of Mirko Gashi as a name, but esty and were written in a way that I listen to his passionate readings at hadn’t encountered before in poetry gatherings with admiration Albanian poetry.” are not so young anymore,” she Gashi was born in 1939 in Kraljevo added. “So it is a new generation in Serbia and attended primary which, though it hasn’t had the school in Presevo and secondary chance to hear him recite in those school in Gjilan, in Kosovo. He stud- troubled times, is still captivated by ied journalism in Belgrade and his written poetry.” worked as a reporter for the newspa- Kurti said the Facebook page per Flaka e Vëllazërimit, (Flame of marked a new generation’s approach Brotherhood), in Skopje in to her father’s poetry,which, she said, Macedonia, and for Radio Prishtina. “seldom leaves anyone indifferent”. But he was most admired for his She said: “Without question, reading verse and his anthologies – particu- the reminiscences of many friends larly Gjarpëri i Shtëpise, (The House makes me and my family feel proud. Snake), 1980; Arbor Vitae, (The Tree “He lived a difficult bohemian life, of Life), 1988; and Plagë Uji, (Water completely set on the spiritual and Wound), 1990, which earned him poetic world, and one vastly distant many admirers. from the material one. Increasingly prone to depression “It caused him countless difficul- in later years, Gashi turned to alco- ties, but those who loved him and hol and died of his addiction in July who continue to do so accepted him 1995. At the time, his work was wide- as he was, and they weren’t few in ly published, but today it is out of number.” print and his earlier books are extremely rare. Ron Krasniqi, 23, who graduated The Eternal River from the American University of Prishtina last year, is calling for the That river Prishtina municipality to put up a On its meandering course statue. He said: “Gashi became an Quenches thirst, urban legend of Prishtina and Drenches flowers, remains a legend in stories told by Fills grain bins people who lived in Prishtina, saw And deepens the furrows in the him walk the streets of Prishtina and cliff sides who had the chance to experience his In which the dew dresams. passionate readings at poetry gather- ings. In that river, “In Mirko Gashi, the creators of Life and Death the fan page see a kind of strange Stroll hand in hand nostalgia for a Prishtina they haven’t Like twins off to some starry experienced, for something lost, but school about which they had heard count- To learn less stories as children,” he added. Why milk seethes in a mother’s “In the poet, the younger genera- bosom, tions sense a more romanticised feel- How the sea awakens in the lap of ing about their city’s past; he is a the moon, symbol of a different Prishtina – and, And where in the tides most importantly, in Mirko Gashi We search for our lost faces. they see a hero who shouldn’t and will not be forgotten,” Krasniqi con- Today we are, tinued. Yesterday we were, Zora Gashi Kurti, Gashi’s daugh- Tomorrow we will be ter, told Prishtina Insight that she In that eternal river. was not surprised a campaign had started to honour her father. From the volume Plagë Uji, “As a child I got used to the magnet- Prishtina, Rilindja 1990. ism that my father exerted on others Translated from Albanian by – especially on young people who, in Robert Elsie. 8 • December 24, 2009 - January 01, 2010 By Laura Wolfs and Guide Shengjyl Osmani Skopje’s Beautiful Some of Skopje’s Back Streets Highlights: Skopje has long been a popular day-trip destination for the people of Prishtina looking for a shopping or cultural hit. But the capital’s most Suli Han rewarding experience involves getting lost in the back streets of the old The Suli Han is located next to the Ciften town and delving into its bustling market. Hammam in the old town. It was built by Ishak Bey in the 15th Century to provide funds for the Aladja Mosque. The name ‘Suli’ comes from the Turkish By Lawrence word ‘sulu’, which means ‘having water’, and Marzouk refers to the han’s position next to the Serava River. he earthquake of 1963 Kursumli Han Suli Han sustained much damage in the razed many of Skopje’s great fire of 1669 and was completely devastat- T18th and 19th Century Built by Muzein Odza in the middle of the ed in the 1963 earthquake. buildings to the ground, mak- 16th Century, this han is believed to have It was fully reconstructed in 1972 and today ing way for the concrete mon- gained its name from the Turkish for lead, is the Faculty of Visual Arts and Museum of strosities which today blight kursunlu, because of its lead roof, although Skopje Old Bazaar. the capital’s skyline. during the Second World War the lead was Despite its change of status and reconstruc- But the Ottoman architec- taken down and reused. tion, it remains an impressive building. ture of the old town survived, Kursumli’s inn served for many years as a and the charshiya, as it is gathering place for merchants and their cara- known, remains an enchanti- vans. ng area to while away a day searching for bargains, sipping sweet tea or tucking into Turkish food. Skopje’s bustling market Skopje’s mosques, churches, hammans and imposing their produce. A particularly appealing fortress are well known and Lively banter between cus- route from the market takes documented, but exploring the tomers and shopkeepers in you to Kursumli Han, which back streets and side alleys of Albanian and Macedonia, dates back to the 16th Century. the old town and bazaar gives waiters weaving their way This is a classic han, a trad- visitors a more intimate expe- through the throng, expertly ing place and inn for mer- rience. carrying glasses of amber tea, chants in Ottoman times. You Outside of Skopje: Mount Vodno The market, which is held and the smell of freshly reach the building through a every day at the Bit Bazaar,has ground coffee all add to the small arch in a large wooden While the 75-metre-tall steel cross atop all the ramshackle charm of intensity of the atmosphere. door, which opens up onto the Mount Vodno may have proved controversial the orient. Spices, nuts, olives, The produce is seasonal, central courtyard, which is lit- when it was erected in 2002, the splendour of cheese, tea and fresh vegeta- fresh and delicious – on my lat- tered with the kind of ancient the three hour walk to its base and the view bles compete for your atten- est trip, the stalls were heaving artifacts that usually grace a across Skopje is unquestionable. tion, as do the traders, who with mountains of carrots, country’s finest museum. In winter and at night it is possible to drive attempt to lure you into tasting leeks and cabbages. The structure undoubtedly to the top, weather conditions permitting, but needs some renovation work, the walk to the top should not be missed. and repairs were being car- ried out at the time of my visit, but its rough-around-the-edges feel, and the serendipity of stumbling across 1st Century marble plaques with Latin Mustafa Pasha’s Mosque engraving propped up against the wall, certainly adds to the This beautiful mosque is found just under experience. Skopje’s fortress. Today,the han is used as the The structure was built in 1492 by Mustafa lapidarium of the National Pasha, whose name in inscribed on a plaque Archeological Museum of above the gate. Macedonia. The 47 metre high minaret was constructed Surrounding Kursumli Han of marble and the interior is decorated with are some of my favourites floral motifs. streets in Skopje. These cob- A sarcophagus, believed to mark the grave bled roads are lined with of Uma, one of Mustafa Pasha’s daughters, is Ottoman and Austro- also found in the complex. Hungarian style buildings in various states of decay, but which ooze fading grandeur. It’s worth putting your map away at this point and getting Prishtina Insight’s snow report lost among these aging gems as you make your way back to Brezovica’s new snow park opened on December 20. the old town’s main thorough- The project is the work of the Snownjeri group, visit njeri.net/snow for fares of gold and jewelry deal- more information, and has been sponsored by construction company ers. Restaurant Turist is, in my Mabetex. mind, the best place to stop for Hotel Woodland is also expected to open in time for the start of the skiing sustenance if you are looking season in Brezovica, which commences on December 26. For more infor- for traditional Turkish style mation visit www.woodlandhotel-ks.com. food. This spot, just next to So far Brezovica has received about half a metre of snow. Kapan Han, is particularly appealing in the summer Mavrovo, Macedonia, has been open from earlier this week and has when the outdoor chairs and received 40cm of snow and Popova Sapka, Macedonia, is also now open tables are refreshed by the cool with a similar amount of the white stuff. The entrance to Kursumli Han breeze of a fountain. • December 24, 2009 - January 01, 2010 9 Food & Drink Photo byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit

Breathing Space and We recommend: BALANCE: a new, stylish eatery, serving good food with a slightly more distinctive flair Chalet Comfort at Hani than most in Prishtina. Rr. Perandori Dioklecian 044 ing feeling of warmth. appetizers, which went superbly Their extensive knowledge of dish- 455 005 But what may be the best feature with our Italian wine. The bruschet- es and alternatives ensure that you is the spaciousness of the venue – ta was nicely unconventional – receive exactly what you want. BISTRO: One of Prishtina’s tables are nicely distanced from one multigrain rye bread with a topping All in all, this venue is a great By Maneater in Prishtina top venues for dining. The another, allowing for intimacy, and of red cabbage and olive oil – while option for a large dinner party. low levels of second hand-smoke the cannelloni was quite tradition- Waiters are experienced at dealing restaurant’s addition of a varied, ani i 2 Roberteve has been from tobacco users. al, accompanied by a sweet tomato with even the pickiest of clientele, a imaginative and perfectly exe- serving up a consistently The second floor is slightly more sauce which worked well with the versatile menu tenders many cuted menu and the added bonus Hgood dining experience for formal than the first, with immacu- fresh tang of the ricotta cheese. options for different tastes, while of jazz two times a week, means 20 years in various settings, and lately set tables, crackling fireplace, But if you’re a cheese lover (or single tables can seat up to eight this much loved bar and eatery now has even more to boast about a centre-set piano and a dance area. more of an addict) go for the cheese people very comfortably.For a more has managed to improve on an with the opening of an impressive My dining partner and I happened tray. Fresh Italian cheeses such as amusing evening, a self-grilling already winning formula. three-level venue located just on the to drop in after 9 pm, just in time for mozzarella, gorgonzola, parmesan, area with surrounding seating can Bistro, Rr. Sejdi Kryeziu, +377 be reserved, offering enough room outskirts of town. a live performance which is sched- and fontina sit beautifully next to 44 55 64 44 Situated next to the booming sub- uled every night. some local feta-like cheese on a for around a dozen guests. urban area of Veternik, along the Hani’s menu is extensive, ranging wooden platter. Very communal, Shared meals such as seafood GAGI: The small sizes of the road that leads to the town of from soups, salads, pasta, pizza and and nicely plated. platters or meat combinations come rooms make for an intimate Gjilan, the restaurant incorporates main courses of beef, lamb, chicken Veal medallions and chicken cheap, and are quite hefty in size. a whopping 1,500 square metres of and fish, with hints of Italian influ- breast arrived, prepared according Also, other than the many varieties atmosphere, whether you like it dining space, an area considerably ence. to the waiter’s recommendations – of great wine, bartenders serve up or not, Gagi’s menu is whopping larger than their charming Italian I know it may sound like any fresh mushrooms and a black pep- more than 40 cocktails. 11 page composition, which bistro located downtown, by Mother Prishtina menu, but with 20 years of per sauce for the first, tomato The final floor, located under- attempts to hit every possible Teresa Square. experience behind their belt, these cream sauce for the second. Both ground, will soon house a large art note by offering every possible And the quiet suburban backdrop restaurateurs know how to add delivered succulent textures of gallery,which will be open to all vis- Prishtina dining option as it is accurately reflected by Hani’s some character. flavour. itors. own. cabin-like interior. Wooden ceiling We first went with some bruschet- The thing about Hani’s service is Hani i 2 Roberteve is on the road Str. Fehmi Agani #12 to Gjilan, just before you reach beams, green coloured walls, and ta, a portion of spinach and ricotta that even if you’re not satisfied, +386 049 522 511 accents of brick give off a satisfy- cannelloni and a cheese tray for waiters are quick to offer solutions. Hajvalia. Telephone: 044 112 609. Photo byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit 10 • December 24, 2009 - January 01, 2010 By Arif Muharremi Art & Culture in Prishtina See in the New Year in Style

he holiday season is always madly busy - everyone is dashing around Prishtina and Kosovo will be offering up a range of New Year Tbuying gifts, making wishes and try- ing to organise a crazy New Year’s night. Yes, but one question: Where to go? delights, from cosy bars to big brash nights of debauchery. The first thing to take into account is that the big ‘going out’ party night in Kosovo is on January 1, not New Year’s Eve. But where to go? Here, our culture expert Arif Muharremi Prishtina has an abundance of snug little parties in snug little bars to mark the end of the decade, but only for a limited number offers you his guide to a great night. of guests. If you are looking for some- thing a little louder, Kosovo’s capital is from London and local DJs Labinot ues in Prishtina, is preparing a three- says Gentian Rizaj, one of the club’s man- also offering crazy, disco house DJs and Sponca and MC Dagg will be performing night extravaganza of unforgettable elec- agers. He added: “If you decide to come, local bands playing rock ’n roll hits. at Hotel OK on December 31 to the early tronic music from January 1. you better sleep three days in advance so If you are intent on seeing the New Year hours of the new year. “We wanted to establish a real New you can make it without sleep for three in with a very late night, Prizren’s Drum Deepo Club, one of the best known ven- Year’s haute couture of music and fun,” nights.” ’n Snow event might be for you. DJ Jimi The first New Year’s night at Deepo, on January 1, is reserved for Italoboyz, aka Marco Donato and Federico Marton, a duo which has become an essential fixture of the capital’s small but passionate ‘mini- mal scene’. On the back of their notorious back-to- back DJ sets, their reputation has grown to the point when they can now be found playing regularly across Europe. The second night at the club, January 2, will see Findling, aka Severin from Germany, along with guests Yacine from Morocco and a very talented drummer, Nabil from Paris, who will give the night an oriental touch with percussions. Spray, Kosovo’s biggest and best known club, is also laying on a major event for January 1 in the form of a hip hop party with DJ Daddy K from Belgium. On January 1, Hotel Prishtina, for just 35 euro, is offering live music of a more traditional variety from Fatos Hondozi, with food and drinks thrown in. On the same night, Maroon Pub has booked the famous Kosovar rock band Minatori. Tickets are priced at 10 euro, or 15 euro if you reserve a table. Odyssea Bistro Bar in Prishtina has also prepared a New Year’s surprise by organis- ing a performance of a Latino band on January 1. And jazz bar Sokoli e Mirusha has a three- day music programme of Edi King, Denik Prizreni and Babuka, from January 1 to 3.

For more information, turn to page 15 By Shega A’Mula • December 24, 2009 - January 01, 2010 11 in Prishtina Inside Prishtina Building Review: An Upgrade for Kosovo’s Education Leaders Photo byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit Why Not? offers live acts and karaoke nights Bar Review: Why Not? his spot is dedicated to those Karaoke night every Sunday. A of you who aspire to make it large plasma television will ensure Tbig one day, or for the rest that even the tipsiest of guests can that just need to let their hair down at least slur out a couple of lyrics once in a while. With weekly jam without squinting too much. sessions, and many live acts, Why The interior is quite mellow, with Not? offers a chilled out environ- low lighting, understated dark- ment where anything goes, be it a leather seating, and a series of melodramatic performance or black and white photos of leg- heavy metal imitation. endary artists scattered across the Open for coffee and a serving of walls. Photo byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit Two new, very modern, public buildings are in stark contrast to the surrounding structures rock-oriented playlists by day, Why You don’t need to feel pressured Not? turns into a doorway to to perform – sitting back and sip- osovo’s Ministry of told Prishtina Insight work was Insight that the total cost of the expression by night. Owner Alisa ping a beer or glass of raki rrushi Education and Academy of divided into three phases. academy building and parking Kiseri, who happens to be a musi- and enjoying the music is just as KScience and Art will begin “Our company was responsi- area reached around 5million cian herself, performs live a couple much part of the offer. moving into their new homes this ble for the third phase of con- euro. of nights a week, while the stage is Why Not? is in Perandori week with the inauguration of a struction, which began roughly Ministry of Education official open to guests on other evenings. Justinian, 20 meter away from the new two-building complex, locat- about this time last year. Our job Besim Beqiraj said that just the Instruments and the equipment is Pejton village stairs. ed on Agim Ramadani Road in consisted of completing every- third phase of construction for available for use. Prishtina. thing from the electric work to their building cost just over For those less ambitious, Why For more information visit: The two structures are similar the outdoor façade after the ini- 3.5million euro. Not? has decided to offer a weekly www.wyhnotks.com. in appearance, standing at four tial structure was completed,” storeys high, and incorporate he said, during a private tour of modern exteriors of glass and the building before its inaugura- Shop Review: metal, very dissimilar to the rest tion. of the mainly concrete residen- Glass, chrome, ceramic and tial buildings of the area. marble detail throughout the More than 200 ministry person- box-like building emphasises a Art-Tekstil nel currently working out of a clean-cut design. And very large rented building in the neighbour- windows bring in an abundant he history behind this local business began in hood of Dardania will take up amount of natural light. the 1940s in Gjilan, when owner Vehbi four floors of modern office The office space is large and TSherifi’s grandfather decided to enter the fab- space in the slightly larger of the open, in contrast to the min- ric trade. Decades later, the family remains one of two buildings, located closer to istry’s current conditions, main- the best importers of fabrics in the country, bring- the University of Prishtina ly comprising dim light, ing in wool, cotton, linen, satin and much more. Economics Faculty. crammed and cluttered offices. The shop is located on the second floor of the Qafa A smaller group of staff will What may have taken more complex, along the same road as De Rada near the occupy the next-door Academy of time to develop is the two-floor City Supermarket. It offers fabrics in many different Science and Art building, which underground parking area, colours and patterns. The majority of shipments has been financed by the which is the only component of continue to arrive from former Yugoslav countries Department of Public the complex which connects the such as Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia. Administration, after the acade- two buildings. A large selection of men’s suits, coats, shirts and my requested a larger working Parking elevators lead drivers ties, also varying greatly in style, colour and fabric, area than their current location up to two triangular-shaped glass take up almost half of the store area. But customers at a small 19th century home in doorways located in front of the can also purchase their own wool to be taken to tai- the old city of Prishtina. two buildings, which are both lors around the city for custom-made suits and other “Our current location offers decorative and functional. items. Sherifi told Prishtina Insight that his selec- minimal working environment Just behind the parking eleva- tion of wool is perhaps the best in the country. requirements and is so small that tors stand five tall posts, bearing “A tradition of handmade goods does remain in we can’t even employ more peo- the Kosovo, Albanian, American, Kosovo, and this story is an example of it,” he said. ple, which we need,” Academy EU and NATO flags. Secretary Zija Bylykbashi told Perhaps changes to the nation- 100 per cent wool and different wool blends cost Prishtina Insight. al education programme will between 10 euro and 35 euro a metre. Other fabrics, Construction began in 2005, boast similar modern character- such as satin, linen, and cotton, cost from 4 to 8 euro but many set-backs delayed istics to the architecture of the a metre. progress. two, almost identical buildings. Staff are friendly and eager to assist you in choos- Project manager for the min- Ilir Osaj, head of the depart- ing the best fabric for any specific project. istry building Ruzhdi Morina, of ment which manages govern- Commercial offers are also welcome, such as cus- construction company Altrade, ment buildings, told Prishtina tom orders of fabrics and major projects. byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit Call 044 999 888 for more information. Art-Tekstil is a great spot to pick up textiles for tailor-made items 12 • December 24, 2009 - January 01, 2010 neighbourhood

Celebrations at EU Visa Serbia Coalition Hopes Opposition Scrapping acedonia, Serbia and Montenegro celebrated last Stays Fragmented in 2010 MFriday as 17-years of visa restrictions on travel to the European As problems mount for the ruling parties, their biggest ally is likely to remain the disunited state of the opposition. Union fell. News in Brief News Macedonians marked the event with a massive party in Skopje’s main square and a state lottery for a free trip By Pedja Obradovic in to Paris. Events were also held in Belgrade Belgrade and Podgorica. In Skopje, Friday night was declared a ‘white night’, meaning that all clubs erbia’s authorities are well and bars were allowed to remain open aware that 2010 will not be until the early hours of the morning. Seasy – not only because of British DJ Fatboy Slim performed in the difficult economic conditions the main square alongside popular in which they will have to operate Balkan musician Zdravko Colic. but because many sensitive The EU lifted visa obligations for the issues, such as regionalisation three Balkan states on Saturday, and European integration, December 19. The holders of new bio- remain wide open. metric passports are now entitled to Some analysts maintain the visa-free travel to 25 members of the 27- main topics of political debate nation bloc. will be economic and social chal- lenges but caution that the oppo- sition could try to impose a debate on corruption, crime and other issues of national inter- ests such as the level of autono- my for Vojvodina or the Kosovo question. Analysts emphasise that 2010

will not be a year in which par- byPhoto FoNet ties prepare for elections, as the Boris Tadic has delivered Serbia’s EU bid ruling centrist coalition looks solid enough. But the opposition will keep up the pressure. Tadic Submits Serbia’s EU Serbia’s governing coalition Candidacy comprises the centre-left byPhoto FoNet Disunity among opposition parties in Serbia is likely to give the ruling coalition a relatively easy ride Democratic Party, headed by erbian President Boris Tadic trav- Serbian President Boris Tadic, formed a coalition with the par- of this debate will directly influ- “There will be pressure from elled to Stockholm on Tuesday to the pro-business and pro-EU G17 ties gathered around the ence its ratings at the end of central and southern Serbia to Sofficially submit Serbia’s applica- Plus, a coalition led by the Democratic Party of Serbia. year.” form their own regions because tion for EU candidacy. Socialists and a local party of For the first time in years, the The fact that the focus is mov- Vojvodina now looks privileged The decision came after Tadic and the mayor of Jagodina, Dragan Democrats lost power in a ing to everyday bread-and-butter over the rest of the country,” he the country’s Prime Minister Mirko Markovic. It was cobbled togeth- municipality which, with 160,000 issues only confirms that a said. “This is going to be a con- Cvetkovic signed a request on Saturday er during the negotiations that voters, is widely seen as ‘Serbia national consensus has been stant source of tension”, assess- night in the name of the government followed parliamentary elec- in miniature’, since it is home to reached regarding key issues es Vukadinovic, especially for EU candidacy. tions in 2008. voters from both urban and rural such as the EU, Vukovic added. among the Democrats. The Swedish Prime Minister and The Democratic Party narrow- environments. But political analyst and Analysts said that the biggest Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fredrik ly won the election on a pro- The defeat in Vozdovac fol- columnist Djordje Vukadinovic asset of the ruling parties may Reinfeld and Carl BIldt, have welcomed European ticket in a direct con- lowed in the wake of Serbia’s believes the opposition is capa- well be the fact that the opposi- Serbia’s decision to submit their candi- test with the then equally most significant recent break- ble of returning the issue of tion remains disunited. dacy. strong, ultra-nationalist Serbian through in the European inte- European integration to the The remaining Radicals can- Bildt wrote on his official blog that Radical Party, headed by “this is a historic moment for Serbia”. gration process, with the EU lift- arena once again. not forgive Nikolic for splitting Vojislav Seselj, on trial in The The country’s path to candidacy was ing visa restrictions and activat- “That relative national con- their party in two while rivalry Hague for war crimes. paved on December 7 when EU foreign ing a hitherto frozen Interim sensus on the EU could become between Nikolic and Kostunica However, after Seselj’s deputy, ministers agreed to unblock Serbia’s Trade Agreement. problematic as a result of com- is another obstacle. Tomislav Nikolic, quit the interim trade agreement, which is part of The loss of Vozdovac has not ments on, or reactions to, the Europe also remains a bone of Radicals, along with a number of the Stabilisation and Association alarmed the Democrats too much verdict by the International contention in opposition party like-minded deputies, to form a – at least in public. But it demon- Court of Justice, ICJ, in The Agreement, SAA. Ratification of the SAA ranks. new opposition party, the strates that the ruling parties Hague on the issue of the legali- is expected to happen before summer. Kostunica’s government took a Serbian Progressive Party, and could face serious challenges in ty of Kosovo’s independence,” he stern anti-European stance after adopted a more pro-European 2010, which is expected to be an said. “It is possible some Albania Buys Five Military some EU countries announced line, the ruling parties lost their exceptionally difficult year eco- demands or conditions from the monopoly on a pro-Europe posi- their recognition of Kosovo’s Helicopters nomically. EU regarding Kosovo could tion. Since then, they have been independence, while Nikolic “Right now, Serbia is seeing cause a reaction,” he said. exposed to increasingly strong claims he will not cooperate with he Albanian Ministry of Defense numerous protests by company Kosovo unilaterally pro- competition from Nikolic’s any anti-European parties. “I signed on Friday a 78.6 million employees over unpaid salaries, claimed independence from party. cannot form a coalition with Teuro deal for the acquisition of bad privatisation deals and [over Serbia in 2008 and has since been Latest opinion polls show anyone who does not want five AS 532 AL Cougar helicopters from companies’] failures to meet recognised by 22 of the 27 EU Tadic’s Democrats and Nikolic’s France-based Eurocopter. their obligations to workers,” countries. The legality of the Serbia in the EU,” he told the Progressives almost neck-and- The transport helicopters are expect- Belgrade philosophy professor declaration is currently before Vecernje Novosti newspaper in neck at around 30 per cent each. ed to be delivered to the Albanian mili- Vladimir Vuletic said. “This is the judges of the ICJ in The mid-December. A survey in the Politika daily in tary by 2013 and represent the largest going to provide the political Hague and their non-binding Vukadinovic does not, there- November showed a nationalist arms purchase made by the country in focus for next year as well.” opinion is expected in the first fore, believe any kind of joint coalition gathered around the the last decade. Djordje Vukovic, of the Centre half of next year. opposition front against the rul- Democratic Party of Serbia, led Albania, which together with for Free Elections and Vukadinovic also believes ing parties looks possible. by former prime minister Croatia joined NATO in February, has Democracy, makes a similar Nikolic is not in fact firmly pro- “I don’t expect any kind of Vojislav Kostunica, and Seselj`s started to update its military arsenal in assessment. The centre of debate European and such events may unity on the part of the opposi- Radicals sharing a distant third tion – not only because of the order to meet the alliance’s standards. place with eight per cent. The is moving away from strategic bring this to the surface. [poor] relations between In February 2008, Albania added four Socialists are next with six per issues such as Kosovo, the EU, He says one of the other main Radicals and the Progressive new patrol ships to its navy fleet after cent, followed by the Liberal NATO and relations with Russia, topics in 2010 could be regionali- Party but because the reaching a 31 million euro deal with Democratic Party and G17 plus. towards employment issues and sation, following adoption of the Progressives and the Democratic the Netherlands. This month, Nikolic’s infrastructure, he says. Vojvodina Statute, which estab- “The other topic that the lishes a high degree of autono- Party of Serbia are incapable of According to the agreement, 11 mil- Progressives capitalised on their lion euro for the new ships will come in high ratings, winning a key vic- authorities and opposition will my for the northern province. making any kind of alliance,” he the form of a government grant from tory against the Democrats in fight about is corruption, crime Other parts of Serbia do not said. “That is why the opposition the Netherlands, while the rest will be the Belgrade municipality of and other negative [social] phe- enjoy much autonomy, he notes, won’t be able to exert any kind of supported by Albania’s state budget Vozdovac, where they have nomena,” Vukovic predicted. and in 2010 this topic could significant pressure on the “The way each party comes out become more significant. authorities,” he added. over a period of four years. opinion • December 24, 2009 - January 01, 2010 13 New Year’s Messages Dear Teta Mia...

With 2009 drawing to a close, Prishtina Insight finds out what the highlights and lowlights of the year have been and what we can hope for in 2010, from Teta Mia solves your problems By Shengjyl Osmani and Ivana Stevanovic visa liberalisation to Kosovo playing international football.

My son wants a superhero for Christmas. Should I buy one for him? Besim Gashi, Known as Babuka, musician A loving parent, Prishtina What was Kosovo’s biggest success and fail- money back, at least we can use it now for the ure of 2009 in your opinion? development of Kosovo. es, Loving Parent, you should. I think that might help. . Biggest failure: After the elections, the gov- Y2009 – what happened in 2009? Biden ernment, actually the PDK, declared not to What are your New Year’s resolutions, hopes popped in for a cup of tea and I think the be in a coalition with LDK. It was shocking and expectations for 2010? ombudsperson was appointed minutes before he to me. And then, the next day, I was even rang the doorbell, EULEX released a prisoner, more shocked watching them smiling when I want to produce an album and have at least sorry, I mean a report, and then there were elec- they claimed that nothing happened actually. two hit songs, and to make high quality video tions (but the doctor says I’m not allowed to talk I was shocked by their behaviour. I think it is spots for them. I want to practice playing the about those anymore). But nothing really hap- not fair toward us, citizens, to treat us like drums more – at least four days a week. pened, did it? that. I want to renovate my jazz café and restau- 2009: The lost year. What a bloody shame. 2008 rant Sokoli e Mirusha. was so exciting, with independence and the con- Biggest success in 2009 was Kosovo’s stitution and the reconfiguration of UNMIK, entrance into the IMF and World Bank. To tell you the truth, I really hope we have and then 2009 was a damp squib. OK, I grant you Though I know we will have to give that visa liberalisation by the end of 2010. that the year’s tail-end got a bit more lively, but no-one was actually doing anything. Instead, we Milot Berisha, MA student at the University of Prishtina. just stood there, mouths agape, as events hap- pened to us. We were passive. We were lemons. What was Kosovo’s biggest success and fail- So – bring on Action Man! What we need is ure of 2009 in your opinion? First off all, I have decided to finish my action! Now! masters’ studies and, more importantly, I (Start humming the A-Team soundtrack or As a success, I’ll mention the decentralisa- have decided to find a job that will be deal- some other such motivational theme.) tion. As for failures, I think that it would be ing with cultural diversity and cultural How old is your son? No – scrap that – you can the “success” of closing us in by giving us tourism. never be too old, or too young, to take action! the opportunity to travel to only three coun- I hope we will be ‘de-stereotyped’ on the The nub is to work out what you want to change tries without bureaucratic visa procedures. international stage and also at a local level. – and then to deploy the appropriate superhero. I also hope for economic growth and the Who you gonna call if you want socially What are your New Year’s resolutions, hopes rule of law to improve in the new born owned enterprises to be sold to real companies and expectations for 2010? Republic of Kosovo. and not just asset-stripped and hidden in the Caymen Islands? Ghostbusters! What about boosting Prishtina Municipality’s Fadil Vokrri, Football Federation of Kosovo’s President limp attempts to clear the pavements of illegal- What was Kosovo’s biggest success and failure ment and persistence, we have managed to ly parked cars? Spider Man is here to help! (But of 2009 in your opinion? have two meetings at the headquarters of remember, Isa: With great power comes great FIFA, where we were welcomed by the high- responsibility.) In 2009, football in Kosovo has marked many est officials in football. So, we opened a new What do you do if you want an untapped successes in the national and international page in the history of Kosovo’s football, and mobile phone system? Summon the field. During this year, we have managed to were part of FIFA’s agenda. Transponders! (Transponders: Robots in consolidate and professionalise the organisa- Disguise!) tion and the administration of the Football What are your New Year’s resolutions, hopes Wanna get the government to speak the truth Federation of Kosovo, which has resulted in and expectations for 2010? to the good citizens of their country? Whip out the most regular championship until now, Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth! which has achieved the goals of increasing In the upcoming year, we expect to perfect Superheroes to the rescue! Pow! Wham! quality and visibility. We have also formed a our organisation and to overcome the legal Kerplunk! (Or was that the noise of an LDD can- women’s championship. barriers to accepting Kosovo football into didate hitting the ground?) On the international field, with our commit- international organisations. Your son will also need an Archnemesis. There’s no use having the full array of plasticat- Albin Kurti, leader of the Vetevendosje movement ed superpowers at his finger-tips if he has no Archnemesis bent on destroying him. If you What was Kosovo’s biggest success and failure n’t reduced, unemployment didn’t improve, don’t splash out on an Archnemesis against of 2009 in your opinion? the executive powers weren’t removed from whom your son’s Forces of Good can struggle, international bureaucrats etcetera. So, your son will become flabby: his muscles will The best way of evaluating 2009 doesn’t seem Kosovo didn’t become a sovereign state with weaken and his morals will wilt. to me through successes-failures evaluation. territorial integrity and its citizens don’t Of course, Archnemesis will have its own First of all, logic like that is business logic. have economic development and welfare. super-evil resources too – corruption, violence, And secondly, Kosovo doesn’t move because With such policies, we are lost. vaults of gold in Liechtenstein, a network of of the failure of the government and other spies... institution, and, in fact, suffers from this. What are your New Year’s resolutions, hopes Never mind all this concern among modern The overall focus was on foreign recogni- and expectations for 2010? parents of their children becoming too com- tions, and not at all on inside consolidation: moditised or commercialised, eyes glued to the Serb parallel structures weren’t dis- With such degrading policies in 2010, it will Cartoon Network, friendships defined on brand solved, Mitrovica didn’t unite, poverty was- make us want to go back to 2009. names. Definitely get your son a superhero set – he needs to be drilled to deal with 2010. Dr Chris Hall, American University in Kosovo President And goodness knows what may happen next year! A high-speed car-and-helicopter chase What was Kosovo’s biggest success and failure in areas where power is reserved to EULEX – of 2009 in your opinion? the court system, organised crime and cor- across the hills of Malisheve? a further descent ruption, controlling the northern border, into the mire of corruption as privatisation In 2009, Kosovo moved a long way in the integrating more of the Serbian population. picks up? the crumbling to dust of state struc- direction of becoming a ‘normal’ country – if The international institutions here are fail- tures? such a place exists. Looking past the political ing and rapidly losing credibility. Elections unblemished by the Stain Of Fraud? headlines – few of which have any impact on Roads made with The Right Gravel stretching people’s lives, or will be remembered by his- What are your New Year’s resolutions, hopes out to the horizon? Journalists unafraid to carry tory – Kosovo did a lot of very positive but and expectations for 2010? the Torch Of Truth through the dungeons of ‘normal’ things. It built roads and schools, it government? held fiercely contested elections, some busi- In 2010 they [the international institutions] Will the Forces of Good triumph over the nesses failed but many more opened. should face up to that fact [that they are fail- Forces of Evil? Let's put on our blue Spandex Where Kosovo performed badly in 2009 was ing], but I do not expect them to do so. tights and find out... Bring on 2010!

To send a letter to Prishtina Insight, email [email protected]. 14 • December 24, 2009 - January 01, 2010 If you would like your NGO to appear in our Making a Difference feature, please NGO Focus email [email protected] Sharpening Legal Minds – Kosovo Law Institute diminished considerably, and this is due to many factors, such as the lack of responsibility [from the competent By Visar Hapciu people], the poor administration of this sector, the lack of political will to change this situation, not completing the legal and institutional infrastruc- osovo Law Institute (KLI) is ture, the lack of continuing legal edu- working in one of the most con- cation, bribery, corruption and many Ktroversial fields in Kosovo: the other factors which have suffocated legal sector. the state in general, especially the judi- Financed by international donors ciary system.” located in Kosovo and abroad, this Mushkolaj told Prishtina Insight institute has developed partnerships that KLI will be monitoring Kosovo’s with Kosovo’s Chamber of Lawyers, progress towards the European Union, Forum for Civic Initiatives and many focusing on the judicial system. others. He added: “[KLI] has continued their According to Korab Mushkolaj from efforts to better prepare civil society in KLI, the efforts of this NGO are the legal field, prepared a special train- focused on reforming legal education. ing programme in partnership with He told Prishtina Insight that the Kosovo’s Chamber of Lawyers with goals of KLI include court monitoring the aim to improve the capacity of and evaluating the compliance of Kosovo’s lawyers, both those who are Kosovo’s legislation with best interna- more experienced and those who have tional practice. just started their careers in this field.” Mushkolaj added: “This institute Mushkolaj added that as Kosovo is aims to contribute to advancing the going through a transition period, KLI, professional judicial skills of young alongside many organisations, face a professionals in Kosovo and enforcing number of challenges. the rule of law in Kosovo.” He said: “But for us, these chal- On the question of whether lenges are turned into energy and Kosovars can nowadays rely on the devotion to the point of self-denial. legal system, Mushkolaj said: “Based Kosovo must progress, no matter the on current practices and on the field in obstacles.”

general, it is evident that citizens of For more information visit Kosovo byPhoto Insight Prishtina for Rrahmani Petrit Kosovo’s trust in the legal system has Law Institute on Facebook. Kosovo Law Institute monitors the performance of courts, alongside a host of other activities

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36 79 24 598 5163 248197356 49 86 97 9 657423981 By Visar Hapçiu • December 24, 2009 - January 01, 2010 15 in Prishtina Timeout Contact Prishtina Insight if you would like your event to feature or to advertise your venue. Email [email protected] Prishtina Diary Christmas Events in Prishtina December 25, and MC Dagg. 9pm December 24, 2009 Duplex Club - January 1, Davidoff White Spray Club – On Thursday Tetris (Manipulative serving up Tapas food - 8.30pm Sensation Party night, starting from 11pm, Space) – “The Glasses” will appetizers from the rich (Dress code: Deepo Club – Spray is hosting a party with be performing live in Spanish cuisine. white); Special Performing Ruby Girard (Also known as Tetris, starting from 10pm, Guest DJ Agent Italoboys. Hectic). In the spirit of in what is supposed to be a Duplex Club – “Join us for Greg from Christmas, Spray has warm-up party for Spray. a night where the music Athens. announced that they are giv- Tetris is located on Mark will spin, the dance floor January 1, ing away 100 tickets for free Isak 24 Street (te Qafa). will rock and everyone will 10pm December 25, (available at Tingell Tangell have fun! An unforgettable 10pm Maroon Pub – until December 23). The ticket Hard Rockers Club - A night, not to be missed!”. Tetris Minatori per- price at the door is 2 euro until new jazz band called This is how Duplex is 2am. After 2 am, the ticket Muzike Anglisht will be advertising this Christmas (Manipulative forming live price is 3 euro. Spray has also performing from 8.20pm on party on their Facebook Space)- Ruby (ticket price: 10 organised a deal with Taxi December 24 at the Hard account. They will be enter- Girard (known euro; or 15 euro Velania so that guests will Rockers Club (Located in taining the crowds with hip as Hectic) will if you reserve a only pay 2 euro for the ride. Santea, near Bill Clinton hop music from DJ Ognen be performing. table). Boulevard). At this event, (also known as Boogieman) Deepo Club – Starting from guests will be able to secure from Skopje. Starts at 10pm. December 26, 8pm, Deepo is organising a themselves a Balantines 8pm January 1, special Christmas party with for just 1 euro. Peppermint Club –DJ Line bar – Hip 8.30pm DJs from Tirana. Protonyz Ayleen from Germany will Hop night with Hotel Prishtina and Leo Cik will be perform- Odyssea Bistro Bar – be entertaining guests with DJ KONT. - Live music ing to a passionate crowd. Starting from around 10pm, hip hop music at Over 400 guests have already Newborn band will be per- Peppermint Club, starting December 27, with Fatos confirmed their presence on forming for a special from 11pm and ending at 9pm Hondozi Facebook for this event. Will Christmas Night at Odyssea 4am. DJ Flow is the warm Duplex Club – (Tickets price 35 you be joining them? Bistro Bar. The bar will be up act. Live music with euro – drinks Aragona Band. and dinner included). December 28, 9pm Cinema Pristina In Your Duplex Club – January 1, Hip Hop night 11pm Pocket city guide with DJ Flow Spray Club - and Valon on Hip Hop party drums. with DJ Daddy January 1, K from Belgium. Around 8.30pm Odyssea Bistro January 1-3, Bar – Latino 8pm Band perform- Sokoli e ing live. Mirusha – Edi December 28, King, Deniku, 10pm Babuka and Peppermint friends live Club – A big (Reservations on party hosted by 044 788 888). Bamboo Smart.

December 31, January 2, rom December 21, ABC Cinema will be unveil- ing another world premiere. The movie is 10pm 8.10pm FZombieland, which will be screened twice a day. Hotel OK Villa Venera - Although the name of the movie might sound scary,it (Prizren): New is actually a comedy starring Woody Harrelson, Jesse New issue for sale at ‘New Year’s Eve’ Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin and Amber Year’s Eve party Dukagjini and Dit e Nat party Heard. In addition, ABC Cinema will continue broad- (Drum ‘n Snow) casting the film 2012 every day at 5pm. For more info tel. +38 649 173 447 (Reservations: Time: 8pm and 10pm with DJ Jimi Duration: 1 hour and 23 minutes from London, DJ 044/ 363 014 or Ticket price: 3 euro http://pristina.inyourpocket.com Labinot Sponca 044/ 515 918) Reservation: 038 243 117 16 • December 24, 2009 - January 01, 2010 marketing