Opinion: Turkey’s Neo-Ottomanism in the Balkans Now 24 pages

September 3 - 16, 2010 Issue No. 46 www.prishtinainsight.com Price € 1 Tony Blair: I Built NEWS Consensus for Skopje Sees Politics in Kosovo Mass Kosovo Action Grave Claim In his much awaited > page 3 autobiography, A Journey, former British prime minister Tony Blair reveals how he led the push for military intervention in Kosovo because it was the NEWS ‘moral’ decision in the Kosovo-Serbia Land face of ‘ethnic cleansing’. Swap Gets Official Thumbs Down

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Kosovo Winemakers Face Bitter Harvest BUSINESS Growers have accumulated the equivalent of 16 million unsold bottles, owing to the Serbian blockade on Kosovo prod- Privatised Kosovo ucts and the overall economic crisis. Firms Face By Petrit Collaku and Albania and Montenegro, where the Central European Free Trade there. Shengjyl Osmani we can send the grapes from Agreement, CEFTA, agreement, Mullaabazi said Kosovo was at a Repossession Rahovec in order to save the fami- which links non-EU countries in further disadvantage because of he harvest is about to start in lies in this business,” Bala told Central and Southeast Europe. the EU’s programmes of subsidies > page 4 Kosovo’s wine-growing region Prishtina Insight. Serbia refuses to accept to its own producers. Tof Rahovec, but farmers there Kosovo’s biggest wine producer, Pristina’s participation in the Muhamet Bugari from Rahovec CITY face being left with thousands of Stonecastle, has decided not to buy agreement as a separate country, owns three hectares of vineyards tonnes of fruit because winemakers any grapes this year from farmers saying it may only be represented and the 2010 harvest is going to be a Prishtina’s have not sold last year’s vintage. in the area because its reserves are by the UN mission in Kosovo, big challenge for him, he said. Nightlife Shuts Rahovec has some 2,240 hectares still full. The company owns 600 UNMIK. “I don’t know what I’m going to of vineyards, which will produce hectares of vineyards from which Serbia and Bosnia and do,” Bugari told Prishtina Insight. Early After Raids 20,000 tons of grapes this autumn. it produces 3.5 to 4 million litres of Herzegovina have also refused to “I don’t know where I’m going to In previous years, around a quarter wine each year. allow in any imports with the hall- sell 50,000 tonnes of Burgundy that > page 8 of that was sold outside of Kosovo, “We’ll produce the same amount mark of the Republic of Kosovo, are planned for this year.” the rest going to mostly to produc- this year, but we regret that we thereby depriving the new country Kosovo’s Ministry of ers of wine and raki, the local won’t be able to buy any grapes of key exports markets. Agriculture said it was in discus- GUIDE brandy. from local farmers,” Shani “We informed the government sion with farmers but, for the time UNESCO Probes But Sulejman Bala, head of the Mullabazi, general manager at about this problem in March this being, had no plan of action. The state-run Institute of Vineyards Stonecastle, told Prishtina Insight. year but there was no response Ministry offered subsidies to farm- Care of Butrint and Wineries, from Rahovec, said “Our tankers are full and we have from them,” Mullaabazi added. ers in 2008 and 2009 to plant new that 12.5 million litres of wine, the millions of litres of wine remain- Not all the problems facing the vines. Heritage Site equivalent of 16 million bottles, are ing in our basement,” he added. wine industry are due to Serbia. “We are looking for ways [to being held in vineyard basements Mullaabazi said the main prob- Mullaabazi said the main market help] but for the time being we > page 12 because of low sales. lem for the wine industry in for the company was Germany. But don’t have anything concrete to “This year, we are trying to find Kosovo was Serbia. Belgrade is due to the financial crisis Europe, say,” Bekim Hoxha, a ministry offi- new markets in the region, like in blocking Kosovo’s participation in sales of Kosovo wine had dropped cial, told Prishtina Insight.

Investors Fail to Mine Montenegro Rivals Jockey To Kosovo’s Rich Opportunities Fill Outgoing Leader’s Shoes

Tales abound of Kosovo’s bountiful Debates over the timing of the depar- mines, overflowing with gold, silver and ture of Montenegro’s long-term leader other precious metals. But the country’s from political life - and the impact this FEATURE still largely unexplored underground will have on the political scene - are a con- wealth is failing to translate into invest- stant topic in Montenegro’s print media. Kosovars Forget the ment. Recently, the Independent Much of it is fanciful and speculative, Taste of The Past Commission ... as Milo Djukanovic... business page 6 news page 10-11 > page 14

Y M is supported by: C K 2 September 3 - 16, 2010 news Tony Blair: I Built Consensus Blair Meets Rugova for Kosovo Action he leader of the In his much awaited autobiography, A TKosovans, Ibrahim Rugova, Journey, former British prime minister came to see me. He Tony Blair reveals how he led the push for was a thin, unwell man who had had military intervention in Kosovo because it throat cancer. He was the ‘moral’ decision in the face of ‘ethnic begged for help. “They are killing cleansing’. us,” he said. He gave me a present, a small piece of purple- and-white Kosovo crystal. “I have little to give,” he explained. I used to keep it on my desk in the den in Downing Street. He says the pressure he put on the US to get By Lawrence Marzouk involved led to “colossal strains on his person- Blair: I overruled NATO al relationship with Bill Clinton. “Kosovo was a very tough issue for US opin- Commander over Russian air- ion,” he writes, “There was no real appetite in ony Blair has for the first time revealed in detail port Seizure the public or among the politicians for any his leading role in pushing for military inter- action, let alone major military action involv- Tvention in Kosovo in 1999. here was an extraordinary epo- ing ground forces. In the former British prime minister’s logue, which arose in this way: the “In truth, without the US, forget it; nothing idea was for the Serbian forces to autobiography, A Journey, he reveals T would happen. That was the full extent of withdraw, and then NATO would go into his difficulties in convincing both Europe’s impotence. Pristina airport. European and US allies to take mil- “I began to engage with Bill Clinton over the On Friday 11 June, we awoke to news itary action, and later consider a possibility of military action, not just by air, that there was a delay, and suddenly we ground invasion, as well as the but if necessary through the use of ground were told Russian forces intended to failure of NATO’s initial air forces.” occupy the airport. Throughout, of strikes strategy. Blair explains that his motivation for inter- course, the Russians had been strongly Blair says the Kosovo experi- vention in Kosovo was a combination of moral- opposed to the military action, which ence reshaped his approach to for- ity and “enlightened national self-interest”. was one reason why we couldn’t get a UN eign policy, affecting his later “However my primary motivation was out- Security Council Resolution. They were approach to Afghanistan and Iraq. rage at what was happening,” he adds. “Here oviously very closely connected to the Blair writes that the then were ordinary civilians being driven from Serbs. If they then took over the main British Liberal Democrat leader, their homes and turned into refugees, killed, airport, it would turn everything into a Paddy Ashdown, alerted him to raped, beaten up with savagery and often fiasco. the dangers in Kosovo in 1997, as sadism, whole families humiliated or eliminat- Russian planes demanded airspace to fighting began to hot up between ed. fly though Hungary to get to the airport. the Kosovo Liberation Army and “God, had we learned nothing from Europe’s Russian tanks were on their way from Serbian security forces. history. It was shocking. And in one way, even Bosnia. At this point Wes Clark decided He adds that with the mounting more outrageous was the sense in some quar- we had to take the Russians on. He want- casualties and “strong intelli- ter that, yes, well, it was shocking but did we ed to order General Mike Jackson, the gence that [Serbian leader really want to be involved?” British on-the-ground commander, to Slobodan] Milosevic was about to Behind the scenes, Blair writes, world lead- fight for control of the airport if neces- authorize a major Serb assault’ in ers were not convinced the intervention was sary. Wes was Mike’s commanding officer 1998, he resolved to confront mat- the best course, noting that we “very nearly for these purposes. I was, therefore, very ters. abandoned Kosovo.” tricky. Did we really want British forces “There was ethnic cleansing. He writes: “Now we look back and most peo- fighting Russians? I didn’t think so. What’s more, it was happening ple would say: well, of course we couldn’t have Wes was absolutely right to be mad at right on Europe’s border,” he abandoned them; although we very nearly the Russians. It was a total breach of the writes. did”. understandings that had been made. It Blair highlights his pivotal role NATO’s first 30 days of air strikes, as was inflammatory and it threatened the in securing support for military Ashdown reported back to Blair at the time, peace. intervention and, once it became were a failure. I came out of a meeting to take the clear that this was not enough, the “Paddy went out to the Balkans and increasingly frantic calls ricocheting threat of a ground offensive. returned convinced we were not winning,” he around the system. Charles Guthrie “From the outset I was extraor- writes. “After 30 days, he said, we have yet to though we should be extremely cautious. dinarily forward in advocating a stop Milosevic taking any action he wants to Contrary to all propriety in chains of military solution,” he says. “I take against the Kosovans. command, I called Mike Jackson myself. look back and can see that “I had only been in power 18 months, but Fortunately he was very sound and solid throughout, to the irritation of already I was contemplating that I might have citizen, brave though not daft; but also in many of our allies and the con- to leave. I said: ‘I am willing to lose the job on a difficult position: Wes was his com- sternation of a large part of our this, but we are going to go for broke.’ mander-in-chief. Mike explained an system, I was totally and unyield- “We were going to try to grip it and I would order was an order. What should he do? ingly for resolution, not pacifica- use all my chips with President Clinton to get a The US forces hadn’t arrived. Only the tion. commitment to ground troops on the agenda.” Brits were on the spot. To fight, or not “This whole episode convinced President Clinton eventually came on board, fight? Mike clearly thought fighting the me of the need for a strong Blair writes, and, he adds, “As our resolve grew, Russians was completely crackers. I told European leadership and for a so Milosevic’s started to collapse”, so that and him to play along, ignore the order and proper European defence state- in the end a ground invasion was not required. stay cool. He sounded relieved. gy. Blair’s approach to Kosovo laid the founda- Finally, after a couple of days of farci- “My strategy was basically tions for his interventionist policy in other cal toing and froing, the Russians said it to engineer a set of strong parts of the world, he recalls. “The Kosovo con- had all been a mistake and the matter declarations and keep diplo- flict taught me many things, about govern- was settled. I often wondered what would matic negotiations going, ment, about leadership, about myself,” he says. have happened if I had told Mike to obey but make it plain that in the “It also completely changed my own attitude to the order to fight. Doesn’t bear thinking event of those failing, we foreign policy.” of really. were bound to act.” Rental of simultaneous translation equipment. Services for conferences, presentations and trainings. Y M [email protected] C For prices and booking call: +381 38 602042, +377 44 243376 [email protected] K news September 3 - 16, 2010 3 Skopje Sees Politics Behind Editor’s Word Kosovo’s Mass Grave Claim Merimanga Macedonia suspects political motives lie behind Prishtina’s demand to inspect two sites in the country, where By Lawrence Marzouk Kosovo believes about 40 missing citizens from the 1999 conflict may be buried.

t’s not Serbia’s UN resolution, By Sase Dimovski and the new supersized church or Petrit Collaku Ithe ICG’s controversial report which have sent tongues wagging in the past week. high-ranking officer in Macedonia’s Justice Ministry has told Prishtina No, no, no. The hottest issue is far AInsight that Skopje fears Prishtina’s more important – the crackdown on request to visit sites of alleged mass graves Prishtina’s late-night revelry. in the country may be politically motivated. Silence has descended on the streets The official, who spoke on condition of of the capital where once there was anonymity, added that Macedonia had decid- raucous laughter and thumping ed to treat Kosovo’s letter of request, issued music. And, as a result, sleep has in May, “extra-carefully” as a result. They returned to the pillows of those living have yet to grant formal access to investiga- near formerly rowdy bars. tors from the neighbouring country. Most people I have spoken to are “The answer of the ministry will depend angry at this audacious attempt to on the joint stand of [Macedonia’s ruling bring some order to Kosovo’s chaotic parties] VMRO DPMNE and the DUI after nightlife (although this is not a repre- they consult with American and EU repre- sentative sample as most of these are sentatives in Macedonia.” The Butel cemetery in Skopje the type to close the bar as the sun The DUI, the Democratic Union for rises). Integration, is the government’s ethnic names provided by Butel cemetery and none way they’re buried together. Half of our The main argument against the Albanian junior coalition partner. of them appears as missing persons. employees are Muslims, so they conduct police and municipality’s decision to Prishtina Insight can confirm that 32 Sevdije Frangu, head of Tear and Hope, a these funerals. If there was any doubt about enforce the law appears to be that Kosovars were buried in 1999 at one of the missing persons association from the this it would have become known already.” either the police were heavy-handed locations pinpointed by Prishtina, the Butel Kacanik area, on Macedonia’s border, said Filipovski told Prishtina Insight that if a or that they should have better things cemetery in Skopje. she had submitted evidence to the Kosovo mass grave were to be found in the cemetery, to do. However, this is not a mass grave as each authorities that has now been forwarded to he would resign immediately. I have sympathy with both these of the 32 has his or her own grave on which Macedonia. Referring to the claims by Frangu and the positions. Sending in the special the deceased’s name and age are inscribed. Frangu told Prishtina Insight that accord- Kosovo authorities, that bodies dumped into The dead range from infants a few months ing to witnesses from Kacanik, Serbian forces does seem a little excessive, and the Lepenec may have ended up in organised crime and corruption are old to a woman aged 97. forces killed seven locals in 1999 and dumped Macedonia, Prishtina Insight requested data Macedonian officials say they died of nat- the bodies in the river Lepenec. clearly bigger threats to the security from Macedonia’s Institute for Forensic ural causes, either in the refugee camps set As this river bisects Kosovo and of the state. Medicine. up in 1999, when hundreds of thousands of Macedonia, “the bodies might have floated But generally, I am enjoying this sig- The institute’s records show that from 1999 Kosovars fled over the border to escape down and entered the Macedonian territo- nal that Kosovo’s authorities are tak- to 2003 they carried out forensic analysis and Serbian repression, or in the homes of eth- ry”, Frangu suggested. ing small but important issues seri- identification of three bodies found in the nic Albanians in Macedonia who took them She added that she had visited Butel ceme- ously, and amused at the internation- river or along the riverbanks. in. tery in 2007 and met a gravedigger who told al, rule-of-law specialists complaining Officials in Kosovo’s Ministry of Justice, her he had buried 18 persons at the time of “Identity was determined in all those that the rule of law is being upheld. however, maintain that further investiga- the Kosovo conflict, showing her the site of cases and afterwards it was the responsibili- If these venues don’t have a licence tions are needed, though the minister, Haki their unmarked graves. ty of the courts and police to contact the rel- to open late and play music well into Demoli, has insisted that he does not suspect “The gravedigger told us that the atives and hand the bodies over to them,” the early hours then they should be Macedonian authorities were “involved in Macedonian police had brought the bodies in Professor Aleksej Duma, head of the insti- closed down until they receive the the murders of people”. a military truck”, Frangu added. “He told us tute, told Prishtina Insight. licence. “If some of the bodies were of Kosovo res- Prenk Gjetaj, head of the Government’s he had to bury all 18 of them.” And this new ‘authoritarian’ streak idents, there are records showing their iden- commission for missing persons, rejected Frangu said that when returned to the has not solely been aimed at drinking tity and who collected them at the end,” he accusations that there was any political cemetery a year on, the site had disappeared. holes. motivation. “The issue of missing persons is added. “I was shocked when I saw the same location No, the police have also been out in a humanitarian issue,” he said. was without any graves but all concreted The equivalent institution in Kosovo has force checking car documents and the Ehat Miftari, head of international judi- over,” Frangu said. several times requested biological material much feared merimanga, Albanian for cial cooperation in the justice ministry, said Her photograph taken in 2007 of the site of from the deceased from their Macedonian spider, has been scuttling across the they still suspected Macedonia was the site the 18 graves, which are now allegedly con- colleagues. The institute told Prishtina streets, scooping up badly parked of mass graves containing victims of the creted over, forms part of Kosovo’s evidence. Insight they have met all such requests com- cars. 1999 conflict. However, the company responsible for ing from Kosovo. The final bell for unlicensed build- “We have information on possible two looking after the cemetery in Butel and offi- Macedonian officials remain bemused by ings was also rung out through the mass graves that contains some 40 victims of cials in Skopje dismiss Frangu’s allegations. the idea that they are harbouring unmarked city last week, meaning that any new the war or maybe less,” he said. “We have The company running Butel allowed mass graves in their country. builds without a permit should be information that they are buried in Butel Prishtina Insight to see the data on the Pavle Trajanov, Macedonia’s interior min- tackled immediately. cemetery in Skopje and [at Blace] near the Kosovars buried there in 1999. It shows they ister in 1999 says all the Kosovars buried in [Kosovo] border.” were buried some three to four days after Call me a kill joy, but I don’t mind Macedonia at that time died of natural caus- The alleged 40 people are part of a list of death. This time was needed for relatives and the idea of drinking in legal bars es and lie in marked, separate graves. more then 1,800 people from Kosovo who the UNHCR to prepare the documents and which pay taxes, driving an insured “People were born and died every day in have remained missing since the late 1990s. approve their burial in Macedonia. The UN car, not blocking Prishtina’s limited the refugee camps; the policed recorded this Kosovo officials say they are awaiting an refugee organisation organised and paid for pavement options and living in a flat and there is data for it,” Trajanov said. official response from Macedonia to their the dead refugees’ burials at Butel. with a permit. “Cases of buried Kosovo residents exist but request before setting up investigative The deceased were buried in the Muslim Of course, the authorities need to there is nothing secret about it. All other teams. part of the cemetery in lots from 58-A to 160. ensure that getting a licence, paying claims are speculation.” Gjetaj said they wished to visit Butel and Ilija Filipovski, head of the burial compa- tax, insuring your car, finding a park- Macedonia is still pondering its response Blace, near the Kosovo border, in person. ny, said it was out of the question that the ing space and issuing permits to new to the request from Kosovo, though a deci- “We are working to create a body from cemetery in Butel contained an unmarked buildings are also possible to be done sion is expected in September. “The request Kosovo’s side to investigate the allegations,” mass grave. in a timely, transparent way. has been received and the office is reviewing Gjetaj told Prishtina Insight. Even when the names of deceased persons But overall, this new attention to it,” Mirjana Ilieva, of Macedonia’s Justice Prishtina Insight inspected the 32 graves were unknown, they were still buried sepa- detail should be celebrated – it is, in in Butel and after providing the list of the Ministry, told Prishtina Insight. rately and “with individual numbers,” he my view, Kosovo coming of age, mov- names of the people buried there, asked said. “We will go public once the procedure is ing from an obsession with simply Gjetaj whether these names corresponded “In this case, all the deceased were identi- complete. At this moment I cannot disclose existing, to trying to improve the qual- with those being looked for by Kosovo. fied. The High Commissariat for Refugees any details because the content of the ity of that existence, the quality of Gjetaj declined to answer, saying the com- and the police have the same data that we request is strictly confidential,” she added. Y life in Prishtina. Bring on the meri- mission for missing persons needed to visit here have,” he added. “Very few people have seen the request, M manga, I say. the two sites before commenting. “We take the same care of Muslims as we precisely because of its confidentiality,” C Prishtina Insight has cross-checked the do of the rest,” he continued. “There is no Ilieva said. K 4 September 3 - 16, 2010 news Kosovo-Serbia Land Swap Gets Official Thumbs Down While Prishtina condemns - and Belgrade ignores - the call by the International Crisis Group for a territorial exchange to be considered, some believe the option remains on the table. Idea with dangerous impli- cations: By Petrit Collaku and Bojana Barlovac While the ICG report cites well- placed anonymous sources to sub- stantiate its claim that a land swap uggestions that Kosovo and is being discussed behind closed Serbia might actively consider a doors, Albanian leaders in south Photo by Petrit Rrahmani Rrahmani Petrit by Photo Sland swap along ethnic lines as Serbia and Kosovo dismissed the Mitrovica’s main bridge part of a final settlement between them idea. have garnered a cold response from Riza Halimi, leader of the Krasniqi denied that officials told Prishtina Insight: “The govern- ‘Kosovo would lose out’: Albanians and been virtually ignored Democratic Action Party, PDD, the were privately discussing the ment has not discussed the docu- by Serbs. only ethnic Albanian MP in Serbia, options in the report. “We don’t ment and we cannot say anything While Serbs on the ground are The idea is one of several options said talk of an exchange of territo- know how they got this information about it,” he said. almost unanimously opposed to a put forward by the think tank the ries enjoyed no popular backing. because Kosovo’s government has Oliver Ivanovic, State Secretary land exchange – they consider International Crisis Group in a Halimi, who represents one of never talked about it [land swaps] of Serbia’s Ministry for Kosovo and Kosovo theirs already – Albanians report issued ahead of a crucial UN the areas in south Serbia that the and never will,” he told Prishtina Metohija, was more nuanced. The are not much more favourably General Assembly session on ICG said could be potentially Insight. ICG had a proven record of predict- inclined. September 9. exchanged, said there was “no Mufail Limani, a political com- ing the course of negotiations, he Mursel Gashi, 42 from Podujevo, At the session, Serbia will pres- interest among the public for an mentator from Prishtina, agreed. told Prishtina Insight. said Kosovo would only lose out ent a resolution following the advi- exchange of territories”. “No Kosovo politician would accept “The report shows a need for talks, from a territorial exchange. sory ruling of the International The parliamentarian told any of these options but only the which is what I praise,” he added. “Kosovo’s government should only Court of Justice, ICJ, in favour of Prishtina Insight that a land swap Ahtisaari plan, and the [ICG] report But he described the ICG’s suggested accept a land swap if the interna- Kosovo’s declaration of independ- would also have negative implica- presents no political arguments [on solutions as “inappropriate”. tional community forces them to do ence. tions for at least two former why they would],” he said. Declining to address the question so,” he said. Another suggestion of the think Yugoslav republics with ethnic divi- Ilir Deda, from the Prishtina of land swaps directly, he main- Vahide Islami, 61, from Prishtina, tank is for Kosovo to grant exten- sions of their own. based think-tank KIPRED, conced- tained that no solutions to the over- said Kosovo should never cede the sive autonomy to Serb-held areas of “If we open up the idea of ed that the ICG report was useful in all issue “can be… suggested in north to Serbia because it included northern Kosovo in exchange for exchanging territories in the laying out the options but con- advance. Instead, they should come one of Kosovo’s greatest potential Belgrade recognising Kosovo’s Balkans [in Kosovo] it could go fur- demned land swaps as a “fascist as result of talks between two assets, the Trepca mine. “The north independence. ther, with various other requests idea”. sides”. is the richest part of Kosovo,” The report, Kosovo and Serbia for corrections of borders, and it Territorial exchanges based on Andrej Nosov, founder of NGO Islami told Prishtina Insight. after the ICJ opinion, released on could affect Macedonia and ethnic criteria had rightly not been Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Over the border in Presevo, one of August 26, suggested that a land Bosnia,” he said. considered in Europe for years, he said the Serbian government would the south Serbian towns that would swap might involve an exchange of Halimi argued for full implemen- said: that Serbia and Kosovo could not react to the ICG report because potentially be up for exchange for Serb-majority land in northern tation of the 2007 Ahtisaari plan. not exist side by side as “two multi- it offered nothing new. northern Kosovo, views on the Kosovo for the mainly Albanian Named after the former UN special ethnic states” was unacceptable. “There isn’t anything new there street were more mixed. Presevo Valley in southern Serbia. envoy to Kosovo, this called for Deda maintained the ICG had that would satisfy one side or the Jonuz Fetahu, a lecturer, The report does not actively advo- internationally supervised inde- misread the situation in northern other that wasn’t already rejected described the ICG’s suggestion as cate a land swap - an idea the inter- pendence for Kosovo, and for auton- Kosovo, claiming that a significant by one of the sides,” Nosov told “harmful”, as it could create new national community publicly disap- omy for ethnic-minority areas with- proportion of the Serbian popula- Prishtina Insight. conflicts. “The right solution is to proves of - but suggests it should be in the new state. tion there was willing to live in an Some Serbian voices take a differ- give the Albanian minority in considered if other options fail. The ICG report voiced scepticism independent Kosovo. “The problem ent view, however, condemning the Serbia the same status as the about the chances of the Ahtisaari in the north comes from Belgrade,” idea of a land swap but conceding Serbian minority in Kosovo,” he plan ever becoming the basis of a Deda said. that it may be on the agenda. said. final settlement between Serbia and The Kosovo Serb leader, Rada But farmer Haki Latifi disagreed. Kosovo, however. Snub from Belgrade: Trajkovic - who describes territori- A rare voice in favour of a exchange al exchanges as unacceptable - www.prishtinainsight.com In Kosovo itself, official reaction of territories, he maintained that to the ICG’s proposals has been Serbs, meanwhile, have given the believes they nevertheless may the region “could be stabilised report little attention. While the ICG form part of a final compromise. through an exchange of the territo- Publisher: vehement and hostile. Memli Krasniqi, the govern- story dominated headlines in Serbia’s Foreign Minister, Vuk ries. BIRN ment’s spokesperson, reiterated the Prishtina for days last week, the Jeremic, was “discussing the “Whatever the politicians and Balkan Investigative Reporting Network recent statement of the Prime media Belgrada barely reported on it. Kosovo issue worldwide, armed institutions declare, either in Minister, Hashim Thaci, which is The Serbian government would with scissors and a ruler in his Kosovo or Serbia, the ICG is right Mensa e Studenteve, first floor that the report’s ideas were damag- not comment on the proposals, hands,” Trajkovic claimed, refer- and this [idea] should be analysed,” Milivoje Mihajlovic, head of the ring to his supposed openness to 10000, Prishtina ing. The only plan on the table was he added. “Let’s live as good neigh- government’s information bureau, redrawing the map. bours.” Kosovo the Ahtisaari plan. Phone: +381 (0) 38 24 33 58 Fax: +381 (0) 38 22 44 98 News in brief [email protected] Albania Urges China to Six Hurt as Explosions Hit Kosovo Belgrade Rejects Hague’s Plea Editor-in-Chief: Recognise Kosovo over Resolution ix people have been injured after two explo- Lawrence Marzouk lbanian political leaders have called elgrade has rejected a request by on China to recognise Kosovo’s sions hit Kosovo over the weekend, police British Foreign Minister William [email protected] Aindependence as they continue to Sofficials have said. BHague to withdraw its Kosovo draft res- Editorial Team: lobby on behalf of the state. One person was seriously hurt in an explosion, olution submitted to the United Nations Ana Petruseva, Gordana Igric, During a meeting with senior Chinese believed to be a bomb attack, in the eastern Bostane General Assembly. Communist Party officials in Tirana on village in the Serb-majority municipality of Novo Hague travelled to the Serbian capital on Jeta Xharra, Marcus Tanner, Monday, President Bamir Topi and Prime Brdo on Saturday. Tuesday to urge Serbia to scrap the draft or Petrit Collaku, Shengjyl Osmani and Minister Sali Berisha called on Beijing to Police did not release any more details of the inci- reach an agreement on it with the rest of the Belinda Vrapi not only recognise Kosovo’s independence dent, but said they had identified a suspect and European Union ahead of the UN GA meeting state, but to use its influence on the UN believed it was the result of an argument and not on 9 September. Marketing, Sales & Distribution: Security Council to back recognition from ethnically motivated. But after meeting Hague, Serbian FM Vuk other members. A hand grenade also went off at 2am on Saturday Jeremic said: “The option that is not on the [email protected] A statement from the president’s office morning in a Kosovo Police station in Zubin Potok, table for the Serbian government is an option on Tuesday read: “President Topi stressed within the largely Belgrade-controlled north of of withdrawal, we cannot do that. Design & Layout: “Rrjeti” the need for the expansion of the geo- Kosovo. Two police cars parked in the grounds were “We agreed that we have to co-operate in the Y graphic map of countries that have recog- damaged while a nearby private vehicle belonging coming days and months and reach a compro- M Printing: Lindi Printing Center nised Kosovo, where China can play a con- to a Kosovo Serb officer was set alight and “totally mise, not only in terms of Kosovo, but regard- C structive and determinant role for the destroyed” they said. ing the European future of the Western Copyright © BIRN K future.” Police said an investigation is ongoing. Balkans as well.” news September 3 - 16, 2010 5 Haradinaj Faces Andy Sparkes Kosovo Politics Ban Appointed EULEX He will, however, be allowed to Deputy Head retain his position as head of the opposition Alliance for the Future he current British Kingdom’s Ambassador to Kosovo By Lawrence Marzouk of Kosovo, AAK. Ambassador to Kosovo, Andy since April 28 2008 provide him Haradinaj is seen as the main TSparkes, has been appointed with first-hand knowledge about adversary to the current Prime deputy head of the European Union situation on the ground and post- Minister, Hashim Thaci, in next Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, conflict management, an apposite pposition leader and former year’s general election, giving his EULEX. Kosovo Liberation Army background to serve as the deputy Mr Sparkes, who will succeed fel- Ocommander Ramush retrial and ban from politics sig- head of EULEX. Haradinaj will be banned from nificant political importance. low Brit Roy Reeve, will take up his “It is a time when EULEX will taking part in politics if he is Haradinaj and Brahimaj, along duties in mid-October alongside confront considerable challenges released from The Hague while he with a third man, Idriz Balaj, orig- the new head of mission Xavier while continuing to deliver on the awaits a war crimes retrial, inally faced trial on war crimes Bout de Marnhac. core of its mandate throughout EULEX officials have stated. charges in 2008. Yves de Kermabon, the outgoing Kosovo. He will have my full sup- The EU rule-of-law mission in Haradinaj and Balaj were found head, said: “Mr Andy Sparkes has port in the accomplishment of his Photo by Petrit Rrahmani Rrahmani Petrit by Photo Kosovo, EULEX, has said it can not guilty, while Brahimaj was Ramush Haradinaj the requisite experience needed to tasks “. monitor former Kosovo PM sentenced to six years for crimes serve as the deputy head of a large Mr Sparkes became British consolidate KLA control there. Haradinaj and co-defendant Lahi against civilians in Kosovo. rule of law operation in a difficult Ambassador to Kosovo in April 2008 Haradinaj surrendered on 19 Brahimaj, who have asked to be But Haradinaj and Lahi environment. after previous postings in Congo, July, before the Appellate chamber released from the International Brahimaj were ordered to face “His experience as the United South Africa and Indonesia. Criminal Tribunal for former retrial on 21 July by the Appellate rendered its decision, ordering Yugoslavia, ICTY, ahead of their Chamber at the ICTY, following him to return to detention in retrial on war crimes charges. claims prosecution witnesses had Scheveningen in The Hague. According to a letter release to been intimidated into not giving A date for the new trial or a deci- Prishtina Insight by the ICTY, evidence. sion on their provisional release EULEX has confirmed it can meet Haradinaj was a commander of has not yet been scheduled all the requests and conditions the KLA during the conflict in although members of Haradinaj’s from the Defence Counsels for Kosovo, while Balaj was the com- party had suggested that their their release, including mander of the Black Eagles Unit leader could be sent home as early Haradinaj’s politics ban. within the KLA, and Brahimaj a as this week. Roy Reeve, acting head of EU KLA member stationed in the Haradinaj was a major figure in mission, wrote in a letter dated force’s Jabllanice headquarters in the KLA and became a key player August 24 that EULEX can provide Gjakove municipality. in Kosovo politics after the end of the necessary guarantees. The indictment alleged that, the conflict in 1999. He added that the mission will under the three men, the KLA per- His party, the AAK, came to be able to ensure that Haradinaj secuted and abducted Serb, power in 2004, with Haradinaj will not hold any government posi- Albanian and Roma civilians who becoming prime minister. tion or engage in any political were perceived to be collaborating But he served for only 100 days activity or political statement dur- with Serbian forces in the in the top job before being indicted ing his provisional release. Dukagjin area in 1998, in a bid to for war crimes by the ICTY in 2005. British Ambassador Andy Sparkes has been appointed EULEX’s deputy head

Y M C K 6 September 3 - 16, 2010 business Privatised Kosovo Firms Face Repossession Threat Four former state concerns, including Prishtina’s Grand Hotel, have days to stump up pay 18.5 million euro in fines for failing to meet agreed invest- ment targets - or have their assets seized. economist Musa Limani said. Muhamet Sadiku, from the Riinvest Institute, which spe- By Besiana Xharra cialises in business and economic studies, also said action should have been taken sooner. “The KPA has shown it doesn’t care, so I osovo Privatisation Agency, don’t believe it will take any KPA, has revealed that the measures,” he said. Kbuyers of four major state The Grand Hotel has been set a assets have just days to pay fines totaling 18.5 million euro. fine of 5 million euro. Its privati- The fines were imposed after sation deal in 2006 obliged the Pristina’s Grand Hotel, a tobacco buyer to invest 20.2 million euro. plant in Gjilan, a magnesite mine Just 1.2 million euro has so far and plant in Golesh and a similar been ploughed into the ageing plant in Strezovc failed to meet the venue. criteria for investment and job cre- The mine in Strezovc has been Owners of the Grand Hotel have been fined 5million euro for failing to meet investment requirements ation set out in the privatisation set a penalty of 4 million euro, as deals. receipt of the decision imposed by brought in to explore reposses- owners of the four companies but its owners have invested only a The KPA has repeatedly warned the KPA to pay the fine,” he said. sion. only Zylqif Berisha of the Grand paltry 138,000 euro of the 14.3 mil- all four owners that they faced “Until now, the buyers have not “The British consulting compa- Hotel agreed to comment. “This is lion euro they were required to having their assets repossessed if paid up but they still have time ny will interpret certain provi- between me and the KPA, and I put in. they did not meet the terms of the within the 30-day deadline to pay.” sions relating to the withdrawal will respond to them on all these The facility in Golesh has a sales. Early in August it decided If the deadline was not met, “all of shares and following this eval- issues,” Berisha said. debt of 5.5 million euro to pay. Its to fine the companies a total of necessary legal actions will be uation necessary actions will be Economists told Prishtina owners have put in only 117,000 18.5 million euro. taken”, he added. taken,” Kaloshi said. Insight that they were concerned euro, well short of the 16.2 million Ylli Kaloshi, the KPA Kaloshi explained that the sales The KPA, he said, was constant- that the KPA had not acted quick- euro in improvements required. spokesperson, said that the four had been carried out by the KPA’s ly monitoring the companies con- ly or firmly enough against firms The tobacco plant in Gjilan has had been given 30 days to pay up, predecessor, the Kosovo Trust cerned to assess whether they that had failed to meet their sale been fined 4 million euro for though he declined to specify the Agency, which operated under were meeting their financial com- conditions. investing 1 million euro in the exact day when the deadline fell. British company law. As a result, mitments. “The KPA should have confront- concern, not the stipulated sum of “Buyers have 30 days from British consultants have been Balkan Insight contacted the ed these enterprises earlier,” 5.5 million euro. Investors Fail to Mine Kosovo’s Rich Opportunities Despite Kosovo’s unexploited mineral reserves, the number of firms interested in exploring their potential is declining. gold and silver. Naip Zeka, a mining-sector expert and former chairman of By Lavdim Hamidi the board of ICMM, says Kosovo is the most attractive country for the mineral sector in the whole of Europe per square metre. ales abound of Kosovo’s But he explained that evalua- bountiful mines, overflow- tions of its underground reserves Ting with gold, silver and had been carried out mostly in the other precious metals. But the 1980s, and needed updating if country’s still largely unexplored Kosovo wanted to attract new underground wealth is failing to translate into investment. investors. Zeka added that failure to bring Recently, the Independent in a recognised international com- Commission for Mines and pany to carry out this work meant Minerals, ICMM, revealed that the that only companies of a doubtful

number of foreign firms applying Rrahmani Petrit by Photo reputation currently were seeking for exploration licences is declin- Miners in Trepca, Kosovo’s largest mining complex licences. ing. “On the basis of my informa- Canadian and Australian compa- Agency has set aside 2011 to tackle Trepca. They claim that the com- Experts in the mining sector tion, only a couple of suspicious nies, which are the mineral the metallurgical giant, which has pany owes them more than 50 mil- criticise Kosovo’s institutions for companies from China, Turkey kings,” Ceku said. become mired in legal disputes. lion euro. Other companies that failing to create conditions to and the former Soviet Republics But he said that various prob- Unofficially, the agency is prepar- signed contracts with the Serbian attract foreign investors. have expressed any interest in lems, not least the overall security ing to liquidate the company, government before the 1999 con- Naser Peci, vice-director of the obtaining them,” he said. situation in Kosovo, had deterred which has been long suffered flict terminated Serbian rule in ICMM, said: “In the past, there Ethem Ceku, former minister of potential investors and led to the chronic underinvestment. Kosovo have also issued lawsuits. was more interest among foreign energy and mines from 2004 to decline in interest. In the 1980s, Trepca was one of However, in June, a group of companies in obtaining licences to 2007, said a proper mineral strate- However, he believes that with the largest companies in the British investors, including Prince research underground reserves, gy and improved legislation ought just 150 million euro in invest- region, employing more than Michael of Kent, visited Kosovo but lately this interest has to have been put in place. ment, the Trepca complex in 20,000 staff. Production plummet- and expressed interest in invest- declined.” Peci attributed the fall- During his mandate as minister Mitrovica could be revived and ed in the 1990s as a result of lack of ing in the mining sector and in off to the global economic reces- of mines, he recalled, he had wit- generate around 400 million euro investment, the international Trepca. sion. nessed “an extraordinary amount in mineral sales a year. sanctions placed on Serbia and the One of Kosovo’s few successful Kosovo’s mineral riches include of interest” on the part of foreign Trepca is currently operating growing friction between privatisations has been in the min- Y the world’s fifth largest reserve of firms. well under capacity as Kosovo’s Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo. ing sector. The Ferronikeli mining M brown coal lignite and the giant “Our policies were focused on authorities mull what to do with Lawsuits issued by creditors and smelting complex in Drenas, C mining and metallurgical plant at attracting big investors from the the state-owned behemoth have complicated the process of central Kosovo, is one of Kosovo’s K Trepca, which holds lead, zinc, mineral sector, including The Kosovo Privatisation finding a sustainable solution to largest exporters. neighbourhood business September 3 - 16, 2010 7

Germany’s WAZ Denies Sell-off in Bulgaria

However, he admitted that in the past the media group has had dis- By Boryana cussions and offers regarding its Dzhambazova business in Bulgaria. “But there are no agreements, the offers are not ready for closing,” erman media group WAZ, he said. which owns Trud and 24 WAZ is also set to further discus GChasa, two of the largest its plans for the region with the dailies in Bulgaria, has denied European Bank for Reconstruction Bulgaria’s black sea coast rumours it is pulling out of the and Development in London, which country. holds a stake of almost 20 percent WAZ’s director Bodo Hombach in WAZ’s Vienna-based Ost- told the German daily newspaper Holding, which is responsible for Bulgaria ‘to Net €3 Handelsblatt at the beginning of the company’s business in South- August that he did not see any Eastern Europe. future for the company in the Ognian Zlatev, managing director Balkans. of the Media Development Centre Billion From Tourism’ The media group, which operates in Bulgaria, thinks that a future in several other Balkan states such ulgaria’s tourist industry is “It’s not true that it’s cheaper to shrank by seven per cent, reaching withdrawal of WAZ would have as Macedonia, Croatia, Serbia and serious effects on the local media expected to gain 6.5 billion spend your vacation in Greece or 144 million lev (122 million euro) Romania, earlier this year sold-off Blev (3.25 billion euro) this Turkey. Hotel prices in Bulgaria for the second quarter of the year, market. some of its papers in Belgrade after year, the chairman of the have fallen by 20-30 per cent,” he according to the National “Any possible withdrawal of coming into conflict with the WAZ, which has been one of the Bulgarian Tourist Chamber has noted. Statistical Institute. authorities. major media investors, would be a said. Cheaper prices and better cus- Tonchev stressed that one of the But Paul Binder, the Director major blow to the media market, Tsvetan Tonchev predicted five tomer services have lured many biggest problems in the local Corporate Communication at WAZ which, as with many other sectors, billion lev (2.5 billion euro) should Bulgarians to Greek and Turkish tourist industry the “grey” econo- Media Group, rejected speculation has been already hit hard by the come from foreign tourists, while resorts in recent years. my in the sector, which according the company would be leaving economic crisis,” he told Prishtina the rest of the revenues would be But Bulgarians are staying to him, accounts for up to 50 per Sofia. Insight. generated by Bulgarians. locally this summer, statistics cent of revenue. Binder said in an e-mail to “Besides, it would give a negative The country’s tourist sector is show as trips to the two neighbour- Two weeks ago, local tax offi- Prishtina Insight: “There are sign for the stability of the local currently accumulating around up ing countries take a sharp drop. cials launched a series of inspec- rumours about possible acquisi- economy as a whole,” he noted. to 20 million lev (10 million euro) At the same time, more foreign- tions of bars and night clubs tions, but we have always denied He said that WAZ’s exit from the every day, according to the ers from Russia, Poland, Ukraine, around the coast in an investiga- them. market would leave the other main Bulgarian Tourist Chamber. Israel and Belarus are also choos- tion into possible tax evasion. “Those rumours are spread player in the media market - New Tonchev said that the number of ing Bulgaria as their summer holi- Tax authorities have so far dis- repeatedly into the market ... by Bulgarian Media Group - which the holiday-makers at Bulgarian day destination. covered 300,000 lev (150,000 euro) people who are interested in buy- owns a number of local media out- seasides had risen by 15 per cent. Meanwhile, hotel revenues in unpaid taxes. ing. But we are not affected by this.” lets - in a dominant position. First Phase of Albania Pipeline Set For Completion will add an additional 9,500 barrels Marinza heavy oilfield in south of oil per day to the output, giving central Albania, which is believed the company exports of up to to hold about two billion barrels of 24,500 barrels by early 2011. oil. By Prishtina Insight Average production in the sec- The 44,000-acre heavy oil field, ond quarter of 2010 ending on located east of the city of Fier, is June 30 was 9,830 barrels of oil per the largest onshore oilfield in con- he first phase of a planned day, an increase of 54 per cent over tinental Europe, based on the 44-kilometre pipeline in the same quarter of 2009 and an amount of oil the site holds. TSouthern Albania will be increase of 19 per cent over the In Albania, Bankers also oper- completed in 2011, Canadian-based first quarter of 2010, Bankers said. ates the Kucova heavy oil fields. Bankers Petroleum has The second phase of the The company’s stock price has announced. pipeline, 30-kilometres long, will seen a lift recently following a new Bankers said in a statement on have a capacity of 70,000 barrels of assessment that showed 93 million Wednesday “progress is being oil per day connecting the oilfield barrels of proved reserves, up 34 made on the 14-kilometre phase to an export terminal in the port of per cent; a 19 per cent increase in one of the oil pipeline” and it Vlora and is scheduled to be com- proved plus probable reserves to would be completed early next pleted by early 2012. 214 million barrels; and a 36 per year along with an export hub ter- Bankers Petroleum, an oil and cent increase in proved plus prob- minal. gas exploration and production able plus possible reserves to 422 He said the line would connect company focusing on opportuni- million barrels. the main oilfield by rail to both the ties in unconventional petroleum The estimate of the original oil export terminal and two local assets, is the single largest foreign in place for the Patos Marinza and Y refineries through use of the hub investor in Albania. Kucova oilfields has been raised M at the city of Fier. The company operates and has from five to six billion barrels of The pipeline and Fier Terminal C the full rights to develop the Patos- oil. A gas pipeline K 8 September 3 - 16, 2010 city James Nicholls Reporting Officer, EULEX Prishtina through the Eyes of: the Eyes through Prishtina

What surprised you most about Prishtina? The beauty in Germia park, the welcoming spirit of people in general, the rapidity of change in Prishtina over the years.

What’s your favorite hangout? Amelie, Germia, Vogue hairdressers Prishtina’s Cathedral Do you do anything cultural? Once I was a judge in a rap contest. I have friends from all over Kosovo and soak up all sorts of the cul- ‘Opens’ on Sunday tural nuances. What is the most annoying thing about ing will not quite be ready. from Shkoder, Albania. Prishtina? “We will inaugurate the cathedral But some claim her father was from No smoking-free zones but there are still works to be done, par- Prizren in Kosovo and her mother from By Petrit Collaku ticularly in the interior,” Jakaj told a village near Gjakova in the same If you were mayor of Prishtina for the day Balkan Insight. state. what would you change? “What makes it more important is Major roads, airports and public I would definitely issue a decree for more green that the inauguration of Mother Teresa buildings across the region bear her parks, better and more solid children’s play- n event marking the death of Cathedral is happening on her 100th name and cities, including Tirana, grounds, initiate a tree planting campaign, pour Mother Teresa and inaugurating anniversary.” Skopje and Pristina, have statues of the enormous amounts of money into education ensur- APrishtina’s new cathedral, named after the famous nun, will be Mother Teresa’s origins are claimed Nobel Peace Prize-winning nun. ing strong safeguards are built in so the money is held this Sunday. by Kosovo, Albania and Macedonia, but Kosovo’s president Fatmir Sejdiu had used wisely. The culmination of the ‘2010 year of Shefki Ukaj, the political advisor to earlier dedicated 2010 to the anniver- Mother Teresa’ in Kosovo will occur on Kosovo’ Minister of Culture, told sary, with 25 major events scheduled. How many macchiatos do you drink a day? September 5, the anniversary of her Balkan Insight that there should be no Shefki Ukaj, a political advisor to the Zero macchiatos but two espressos (usually dou- death in 1997, when the new Mother argument over the ethnic Albanian’s Minister of Culture and co-ordinator of ble or i gjat) Teresa Catholic Cathedral in Prishtina heritage. the activities, told Prishtina Insight: will be inaugurated. Her centenary was She is a ‘mother for the world’, he “So far everything has gone well, but What’s the tastiest Kosovar food? celebrated across the world on August said, adding: “I am saying ‘the world’s what you do for Mother Teresa is I used to eat Burek which was nice at the time. I 26 and 27. mother’ because she belongs to every- always going to be too little.” guess salads. The secretary of the diocese, Don one.” The publicly owned Kosovo Post and Albert Jakaj, said that the Cathedral Born in Üsküb, today’s Skopje, in the Telecommunications issued a new What landmark do you use to tell taxi drivers will hold mass for Mother Teresa in the Ottoman Empire, the ethnic Albanian postage stamp with the figure of where you live? building for the first time but the build- was the youngest child of her family Mother Teresa on August 26. Antonella’s restaurant. Prishtina’s Nightlife Shuts Early After Raids Club and bar owners claim police raids will destroy Prishtina’s nightlife while the authori- ties say that they have discovered that most venues do not have the correct licences and many pay little, if any, taxes hours of the morning and some citizen’s complaints about noise staying open all night. however, after the first operation Photo by Petrit Rrahmani Rrahmani Petrit by Photo But Kosovo Police, Kosovo’s tax we realised that there were other Prishtina’s nightclubs are being forced to close at midnight By Belinda Vrapi administration and officials from irregularities going on with busi- “There has definitely been a midnight,” he added. “The work- the Municipal of Prishtina found nesses related to documents, so it great change from last month to ing licence we currently have, that almost all bars and night clubs the Kosovo Tax Administration ate-night bars and night this one.” did not have a licence to operate and the municipal inspectoriat allows us to work until midnight,” clubs in Prishtina have Kushtrim Hoxha, owner of after 11pm, and many did not pay joined the mission.” he explained. Lbeen raided nightly since Duplex, one of the biggest and “We have been trying to get the August 27 in a bid to close unli- taxes or had declared. He added: “The operation is still most frequented clubs in licence for late hours but it has censed premises which are flout- Owners have been fined and ongoing and we are seeing results. Prishtina, said the operation had been a Kafkaesque process ing the law. some of the venues closed. Since However, now we are looking for wiped out 90 per cent of his profits between the municipality and the The operation was launched fol- the start of the raids bars have new places that have opened or are and was destroying the city’s police, although according to the lowing complaints from neigh- been closing on time. opening in Prishtina which nightlife. bours of the capital’s many bars Agron Borovci, spokesman for haven’t been part of the operation “Nightlife in Prishtina is dead,” law it’s the municipality that and clubs, some of which are locat- police in Prishtina, said: “The pur- until now. he said. “The police comes every should grant the permits. Y ed within residential areas. pose was not to arrest people, but “What we aim to do is discipline Monday, Wednesday, Friday and “Of course, the youth don’t want M Prishtina has gained a reputa- to prevent disturbing of the public these club and bar owners to fulfil Saturday and closes all nightclubs to get all ready and dressed up for tion for its late night party scene, C order. the criteria for licences, taxes after midnight. only 20 minutes, since at midnight with most bars closing in the early K “The operation started due to etcetera. “The town is paralysed after they have to leave.” neighbourhood news September 3 - 16, 2010 9 Low Poll Turnout in Bosnia May Boost Nationalists Growing disillusion among voters about whether any parties can resolve the country’s ongoing crisis means that ethnic hardliners - with their core vote - could fare best in October. liament and the parliaments of ing to protect the national inter- telling us to vote for change, con- into society. “The political scene Bosnia’s two entities, the Bosnian ests of their respective ethnic sidering we don’t really have any in Bosnia has become exhausted, Serb entity, the Republika Srpska, group. new options,” Sarajevo taxi driver and it’s difficult to see any differ- and the Bosniak-Croat But no political party is seen as Sead Poturovic said. ence between those who are in By Sabina Arlsanagic Federation. coming up with imaginative solu- “The election campaign is power and those in opposition,” But on the street, ordinary peo- tions to the country’s numerous promising to turn into a true mud- Latal said. ple agree that many candidates problems, which include excessive slinging contest, but what other The danger of this widespread hen voters go to the polls don’t necessarily mean more spending on the civil service, choices do the political parties feeling of disillusion among vot- on October 3 to elect a options. “We have many different stalled political and economic have, considering they have no ers is that radical nationalists, Wnew presidency and par- parties but I don’t see the differ- reforms and ingrained corrup- vision for the future or a plan to with their militant core vote, liaments in Bosnia and ence between them,” said Dragan tion. solve the economic crisis?” asked stand to profit most from this situ- Herzegovina, they will have some Bogdanovic, 50, an economist The international community’s Sinisa Goronja, a 21-year-old stu- ation, Srdjan Puhalo, a psycholo- 50 political parties and coalitions from Pale, in the east of the High Representative to Bosnia, dent from Banja Luka. gist from Banja Luka, said. to choose from. But whether the Republika Srpska. Valentin Inzko, recently urged vot- Voter apathy is perhaps not that The staunchest advocates of the large number of parties increases Bogdanovic believes politicians ers to “distinguish between candi- surprising in what is one of the continued ethnic divisions in the the chances of real change com- ing to the politically deadlocked find it easier to “play the national- dates and party leaders who only world’s most over-governed coun- country have blocs of faithful and and impoverished country is less ist drum” than address people’s focus on grievances and those who tries. The 13 different layers of reliable voters who never fail to clear. real-life problems, including the focus on realistic solutions”, government and more than 160 cast their ballots. This opens the “Bosnia is a small country fact that about a third of the pop- describing the elections as a ministries eat up about 50 per cent way for a minority of the popula- that’s been dominated for nearly ulation is unemployed. chance to punish the “too many of the country’s GDP, while ethnic tion effectively to choose the gov- two decades by the same political “They have grown so skilful politicians and responsible offi- divisions stymie all attempts to ernment, he said. actors who have no real vision for that they no longer promise any- cials… [who] are stealing and get- address structural problems. Puhalo has conducted a survey the future,” Tanja Topic, a politi- thing, so people can’t call them to ting away with it.” Another obstacle to reform is of some 2,000 Bosnian citizens to cal analyst from Banja Luka, told account after the elections,” Inzko added: “On 3 October, vot- the fact that most of the new polit- determine the ideological and Prishtina Insight. “That is why I Bogdanovic said. The smartest ers will have a golden opportunity ical parties that emerged over the socio-psychological profile of expect more potential voters to choice on voting day would be to to express their opinion about this past decade are splinter groups active and inactive voters. From abstain than actually vote for any stay at home, he added. grand theft. If citizens channel that broke off from older parties, that, he concludes that the “better of the parties,” she added. While the official election cam- their anger into political action, it often due to rows over the distri- part of society” - unfortunately - The electoral commission pub- paign does not kick off until will be possible to start attracting bution of lucrative government are often those least likely to bal- lished last week names of more September 3, most Bosniak substantial investment… creating and lawmaker posts, Srecko Latal, lot. than 8,000 candidates. These will [Muslim], Croat and Serb political jobs and reducing poverty.” a Sarajevo-based analyst with the “They are less nationalist, more be competing for seats in the tri- parties have already started issu- But most Bosnians appear apa- International Crisis Group, a likely to be liberal than conserva- partite presidency and the 265 ing combative “warm-up” state- thetic about this so-called “golden think tank, explained. tive… and they [believe they] have deputies’ seats in the central par- ments, accusing one another of opportunity” to change things. “It Such parties are unlikely to no political option to support,” he crime and corruption and pledg- would be nice if they stopped inject a new spirit or new ideas said. Search for ‘Lost Temple’ Begins in Montenegro first time, Montenegrin marine archaeologist began work on August 23. By Lawrence Marzouk Mr le Quesne told Prishtina Insight that the project had got off to a ‘flying start’. He said that the first searches of n international archaeolog- the stones off Maljevik beach sug- ical team has launched a Asearch of a Montenegrin gest that it is ‘most likely that they bay after a 16-year-old British are medieval, from a local quarry schoolboy last year uncovered the and possibly intended for use in submerged remains of what could the nearby Fransiscan Monastery be a lost, ancient temple while at Ratac near Bar’. snorkelling in the Adriatic. He added that the team would Michael Le Quesne, then 16, was also look at nearby Bigovica Bay, swimming off the popular beach of an ancient harbour just south of Maljevik, near Bar, with his par- Bar with a series of wrecks dating ents and his ten-year-old sister from the Second Century BC to when he spotted an odd looking late antiquity. ‘stone’ at a depth of around two In 2003, archaeologists Louise metres. Schofield and Sean Kingsley It turned out to be part of a described Montenegro as both a large, submerged building which “dream and a nightmare”. may have been the centrepiece of In a piece for an academic joun- an important Greek or Roman ral, they added: “One is hard trading post, swallowed up by the pressed to think of any other sea during a massive earthquake. European country whose archaeo- Micheal’s father, Charles, a pro- logical landscape remains so enig- fessional archaeologist, has spent matically terra incognita. Because the past year assembling a team of Montenegro has for centuries experts to check the site and oth- comprised the periphery of ers in Montenegro, which has a empires and nations, historically largely unexplored coast. its cultural heritage has tended to The group, which includes Dr be neglected. In terms of potential, Lucy Blue, presenter of BBC Two however, it is over-ripe for pick- show Oceans, as well as, for the ing.” Maljevik, near Bar, is the site of the search 10 September 3 - 16, 2010 Neighbourhood Montenegro Rivals Leader’s Shoes

As speculation intensifies that Milo Djukanovic is about to leave the political stage, the jostling for power within his party has begun in earnest. Montenegro since 1991, making him power within his party has begun in Neighbourhood in brief one of longest serving politicians in earnest. Croatian ‘Storm’ Generals Trial Set Europe. So far, Djukanovic has given little for Final Phase By Kenneth Morrison Since 1997, he has held the post away, sending ambiguous and contra- either of prime minister or presi- dictory signals about the timing of he closing arguments in the war crimes trials of dent. Since his arrival on the his departure. He has stressed his three generals involved in Croatia’s 1995 Montenegrin political scene, aim to retire as Prime Minister, but T“Operation Storm”, in which hundreds of ethnic ebates over the timing of the Djukanovic has undergone an ideo- has simultaneously expressed a Serbs were allegedly killed, are set to be heard in The departure of Montenegro’s logical transformation. Once the desire to oversee Montenegro’s Hague. Dlong-term leader from political enthusiastic supporter of the achievement of EU candidate status Prosecution and defence lawyers begin their closing life - and the impact this will have on Serbia’s strongman Slobodan and NATO membership before he the political scene - are a constant statements from 30 August in the cases of Ante Milosevic, he turned away from steps down. topic in Montenegro’s print media. Gotovina, Mladen Markac and Ivan Cermak, on trial Belgrade and engineered the restora- He has denied that the internation- Much of it is fanciful and specula- for their roles in the military offensive. tion of Montenegro’s independence, al community has put pressure on tive, as Milo Djukanovic, the 48 year- All three are charged with killing Serb civilians from lost following the creation of him to go, although there is a percep- old Prime Minister, has given no clear the Krajina territory during the operation carried out Yugoslavia in 1918. tion among the international com- indication of when he intends to go. by Croatian Armed Forces and the Army of the Djukanovic wrested control of the munity that Djukanovic’s longue But speculation over Djukanovic’s Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina against separatist DPS in 1997 from a faction led by the durée in power has inhibited departure aside, one thing is certain: ethnic Serbs. former Montenegrin president and Montenegro’s democratic develop- his Democratic Party of Socialists, At least 324 Serbs were killed, 90,000 forcibly dis- Milosevic ally, Momir Bulatovic. He ment. DPS, the dominant political force in placed and 2,544 houses destroyed in the assault, subsequently steered Montenegro While his decision to give up the the country, is entering into a period according to the prosecution. through the stormy waters of post of Prime Minister appears of flux. The operation was carried out using “force, intimida- NATO’s bombardment of inevitable, whether he will rescind For the first time since the party’s tion, persecution, forcible transfer, deportation, looting Yugoslavia, the war in neighbouring the post of DPS leader is another cathartic split in 1997, issues of lead- and destruction of property” of Serb civilians, accord- Kosovo, and the very real threat of matter. ership and the party’s orientation ing to the indictment. civil war in Montenegro itself before A number of names are in the are back on the agenda, and in an Prosecutors have recommended Gotovina should leading the country to independence frame to succeed Djukanovic in uncertain new climate, internal con- serve 27 years in jail, Markac 23 years and Ivan Cermak in 2006. either role, but the most likely suc- sensus in the party is proving harder 17 years. In a sense, he has come to personi- cessors appear the finance minister, to achieve. The prosecution has said the offensive was master- fy Montenegro’s modern history. But Igor Luksic, or the recently installed Djukanovic has led the DPS since minded by Croatia’s first president, Franjo Tudjman now, as speculation intensifies that “minister without portfolio” and for- 1997, though he has been a key figure who died in 1999, having never been indicted at the he will retire from politics relatively mer head of Montenegro’s secret in the party and political life of International Criminal Tribunal for the former soon, the plotting and jostling for service, Dusko Markovic. Yugoslavia, ICTY. The plan to permanently remove the Krajina Serbs from the territory was formed during a meeting of high-ranking military and police officials and govern- ment representatives, including the four defendants, on 31 July, 1995, on Brijuni island, off the coast of Croatia, prosecutors said. Gotivina was commander of the Split Military District of the Croatian Army, HV, and overall opera- tional commander during the operation, Cermak com- manded the Knin Garrison and Markac was head of the special police forces. In its final brief, the prosecution argues each of the accused committed grievous offences “on a discrimina- tory basis against the Serb population of the Krajina with far-reaching consequences”. The prosecution has been given six hours to deliver its closing arguments, and the three defence teams will have two-and-a-half hours each. The trial opened on 11 March 2008 and has lasted more than two trial years. A total of 145 witnesses have given evidence. ‘Fall in EU Support’ Sparks Macedonia Row

acedonian government and opposition politi- cians have traded accusations after the results Mof the latest Eurobarometer survey showed a six per cent decline in people’s support for the coun- try’s EU accession bid compared to last year. According to results released this week, the latest survey carried out in May indicated 60 per cent of Macedonians consider that EU membership is a good thing for the country - down from 66 per cent the previ- ous year - 11 per cent think it is bad, while 27 percent remained neutral. The Eurobarometer survey also showed 63 per cent of Macedonian citizens believe unemployment is the Y biggest problem facing the country, along with the eco- M nomic crisis. C K Djukanovic is expected to stand down as prime minister of Montenegro soon 11 Neighbourhood September 3 - 16, 2010 Jockey To Fill Outgoing

Albanian Ex-Spy Murder Suspect

Neighbourhood in brief Held in Britain

former Albanian secret services officer, Ilir Kumbarao, who is alleged to have Abeen involved in the torture and murder of an Albanian-Macedonian businessman in 1995, has been arrested by police in Britain. Kumbarao has been charged by Albanian prose- cutors in connection with the killing of Remzi Hoxha, along with Arben Sefgjini, the former head of the General Directorate of Taxes, who previous- ly served as the head of Tirana’s Secret Service Office, SHIK. Two of Kumbarao’s former colleagues, Budion Mece, Avni Kolladashi, have also been charged. The four former SHIK officers are accused of abducting Hoxha, along with two other men, Zizo Kristopoli and Avdyl Loshaj, on October 21, 1995. The three were tortured by the defendants, with Hoxha dying as a result of his wounds after being placed in a SHIK safe house in the town of Lezha in northern Albania, prosecutors say. The reasons behind the abduction and torture remain unclear. Local media have alleged that Hoxha was a wit- ness to a conversation in Macedonia between then Prime Minister Sali Berisha and former Serb strongman Slobodan Milosevic, in which they agreed terms for smuggling oil during the 1992- 1995 Bosnian war. Berisha has declined to comment on the allega- tions, but in 2005 admitted tolerating the smug- gling trade between Albania and Montenegro. He said it was allowed for “humanitarian rea- sons” in order to relieve hardship suffered in Montenegro and Kosovo as a result of the UN embargo. Critics contend the contraband fuelled Djukanovic with the President of the United States Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Milosevic’s war machine in Bosnia. Kumbaro had previously been arrested in Many DPS deputies favour Luksic as erating tensions within the party. These tions and external variables that led to the London in October 2008 following an international premier, but Markovic also appears like- became more obvious during recent 1997 split do not exist today and it remains manhunt by Interpol and Britain’s Scotland Yard. ly to play a key role in the future, per- debates over the law on education, when unlikely that there will be an existential- But he was released after a Tirana court revoked haps even as leader of the DPS. Djukanovic had to implore DPS deputies ist crisis within the DPS, a party of com- his expired arrest warrant in December 2009. He Djukanovic’s decision to designate to vote in favour of the law, in order to peting but overlapping interests. was re-arrested after a new one was issue. Markovic, a strong supporter of his, as prevent Vujanovic and Marovic from In the past, most DPS members have The defendants all pleaded not guilty when they “minister without portfolio” may have forging a deal with opposition leaders, a understood that maintenance of the were arraigned before the High Court in Tirana. been driven primarily by a perceived development which could have opened party’s structure, and of all the benefits need to discipline deputies seen as cher- the door for further cooperation with the that this brings, needs to override narrow Ohrid Commemorates Murdered ishing designs to acquire power follow- opposition. personal ambitions. It is an approach that Serbian Tourist ing his departure. These include the Some commentators, such as Novak has served them well and is unlikely to country’s President, Filip Vujanovic Kilibarda, former leader of the People’s change any time soon. n Monday, the family of the Serbian and joint-Deputy Prime Minister Party, predict that flirtations with the Moreover, the question remains tourist murdered in the Macedonian Svetozar Marovic. opposition could lead to a schism within whether Djukanovic’s departure will rep- Oresort of Ohrid took his body for burial in Markovic’s rise almost certainly the DPS akin to that which occurred in resent a real shift in political power in Belgrade. negates the possibility of either 1997. Montenegro, or will merely be a symbolic The municipality of Ohrid held an extraordi- Vujanovic or Marovic obtaining leader- Such a split would create the possibili- gesture. After all, if Djukanovic steps nary session on August 30 dedicated to security ship of the party. Vujanovic has strug- ties of establishing a new political land- down as Prime Minister but retains con- in the city and Friday’stragic death of 34-year- gled lately to strengthen his position scape. While this would be problematic trol of the DPS, power would remain old Dejan Novakovic. within the party, while Djukanovic has for the DPS as a whole, it would present firmly in his hands. In the event of his Nenad Novakovic, the victim’s younger broth- increasingly marginalised the latter. new opportunities for the opposition, who departure from the party leadership, he er, told local media: “I think that this is a serious, Markovic’s subsequent appointment have denied attempting to meddle in seems bent on ensuring that only a trust- a very brutal murder. as head of the newly formed National internal DPS affairs, as well as for those ed ally, such as Markovic, will take his “They killed him in the worst possible way. I Security Council has meanwhile thrust within the DPS who are on the margins of place. hope that the justice will be served and that your him into a key position – a possible the party. Whether recent developments repre- court and the authorities will see it done without springboard to becoming Djukanovic’s Montenegrin politics has long been sent a summer storm in a teacup, a diver- incidents between Macedonia and Serbia. successor. characterised by a series of splits within sion or a genuine crisis will become clear- “I only regret that at the moment of my broth- With a strategy that appears to centre the ruling elite, rather than changes that er in the months leading to the next party er’s death there were no police to protect him on promoting close allies and marginal- take place through the mechanism of congress in spring 2011. when he shouted for help.” ising potential opponents, Djukanovic is democratic elections. That political Novkovic was beaten to death after being attempting to forge a DPS that will change will once again occur as a conse- Kenneth Morrison is a Senior Lecturer caught when he tried to flee a gang outside a remain under his influence, regardless quence of the former seems inevitable. in Modern East European History at De local night club. of whether he is still formally the party However, predictions of a cathartic Montfort University and is the author of On Sunday, an investigative judge in chief. split in the ranks of the ruing party may ‘Montenegro: A Modern History’, IB Macedonia ordered the group of seven men sus- However, these developments are gen- still be premature. The internal condi- Tauris, 2009 pected of the killing to be detained for 30 days. 12 September 3 - 16, 2010 Guide Hiking Dragash, Kosovo: Mountain shepherds, enormous Sharr Dogs, free roaming horses, pristine babbling streams and dramatic mountains are just a small taste of what awaits you in Dragash sandwiched between the borders that mar similar regions in Easy Hike from Restelica Difficulty: Medium of Macedonia and Albania. Kosovo. Ignored by the Yugoslav govern- To help spur sustainable eco- to Brod (or the other way The villages of Brod and By Todd Wassel ment, the area did not received tourism to the region and high- around) Restelica sit at opposite ends of a development money for tourism light an untouched wonder in the fork in the road that begins in the despite its wealth of flora, fauna Balkans I’m helping to write a hik- Starting Point: Restelica (or town of Dragash. ocated at the southern end and cultural traditions. ing guide to the Dragash Region Brod) Representing the southernmost of Kosovo, Dragash is an Luckily this also spared the funded by the United Nations Time: 2½ hours one way villages at the end of their roads, Loasis of untouched natural region from the communist era Development Programme and Kosovo, they are only about 10 Starting Elevation: 1,492 metres beauty and traditional villages concrete hotels and restaurants (UNDP). Highest Elevation: 1,972 metres km away from each other by the mountain trails but it takes more than an hour to reach the other vil- lage by car. Each village has its unique atmosphere and a hike through the mountain passes between the two is an easy way to explore both the surrounding nature and the character of the small villages dot- ting the Dragash region. Their isolation from each other has reportedly bred a healthy rivalry between the two villages. You will have to decide for yourself which town speaks closer to your own heart. No matter which you choose you are sure to fall in love with the sur- rounding mountains, sweeping grassy fields reminiscent of New Zealand, and a local population eager to host the rare visitor. The village of Restelica

I would recommend starting your hike from Restelica as you start higher at this end and the pass is less steep to reach, allowing you to enjoy your hike down to Brod. This will also allow you to stay The spectacular scenery of Dragash UNESCO Probes Albania’s

road, damaging the surrounding The site is managed by the sultation with the public has not accidents because of the traffic,” olive groves, has alarmed some Albanian authorities with the been carried out,” Tare added. he added. archeologists. assistance of the London-based In an op-ed in March, published Brian Ayers, current director of By Ben Andoni While the authorities maintain Butrint Foundation – until now in the Tirana daily Shekulli titled the Butrint Foundation, which that the damage done to the park often cited as example of fruitful “Butrint 2013 - Trashed by Greed”, plays an advisory role in the man- scenery is minor, a group of collaboration between local and Professor Richard Hodges, former agement of the park, complained N experts are to determine experts from UNESCO are soon to foreign expertise and money. scientific director of the Butrint that the authorities had kept the whether new road construc- visit Butrint to assess whether According to historian Auron Foundation, condemned the new proposal for the new road under Ution is damaging the arche- Tirana is honouring its obliga- Tare, the first director of the road unreservedly. wraps until construction started. ological park, which conventions tions under the 1975 World Buntrint Archeological Park, “Encouraged by the busloads of Contacted by Prishtina Insight, oblige the government to protect. Heritage Convention. interventions in a UNESCO world tourists, the Tirana authorities officials from Albania’s Institute The expansion of the road link- Butrinti is considered one the heritage site must meet specific have driven a huge ugly road of Monuments and the Cultural ing the southern Albanian town of most significant Classical archeo- criteria, which does not seem to be through the olives between Heritage Directorate in the Saranda to the Butrint archeologi- logical sites in the Mediterranean. the case with the new road. Ksamil and Butrint, obliterating Ministry of Culture said they cal park has stirred a row, with Dating back at least as far as the “The construction of a highway its magic,” Hodges wrote. could not comment until the some local and international 10th century BC, it was, in turn, a of these proportions inside this However, Ylli Cerova, until a UNESCO team, due soon in experts charging the government Greek colony, a Roman city and a area has no economic motive and few days ago director of the arche- Tirana, had inspected the road with poor management of the Byzantine bishopric before being destroys the park’s historical ological park, defended the expan- works. UNESCO world heritage site. deserted in the late Middle Ages, scenery,” said Tare. sion on safety grounds. A bigger On August 14, the Minister of The 20-kilometre road, which after which its magnificent build- The 2000-2005 management plan road would protect people visiting Culture, Ferdinand Xhaferri, fired was initially built in 1959, during ings sank into the marshes. for the park envisioned the expan- the site, which had seen too many Cerova as director with the justifi- the visit of the former Soviet Serious excavation the site only sion of the old road only as far as accidents in the recent past. cation that an inspection had leader Nikita Khrushchev, was began in the late 1920s, under the village of Ksamil, located only “During the summer months found the park to be dirty. narrow and presented a risk for Italian auspices. Still largely four kilometers North of Butrint thousands of tourists visit in Local media tied his dismissal motorists visiting the ancient unknown to the outside world itself. The rest of the track inside buses, and every time two buses also to complaints of financial Greek and Roman city. before the fall of the Stalinist the protected area would only be passed each other in the road mismanagement of the park, Y However, the way that a local regime of Enver Hoxha, the site repaved. there were problems,” Cerova charges which Cerova has denied. M company contracted by the gov- now receives tens of thousands of “The current project lacks a fea- said. “The narrow road, which Complaints over Cerova’s man- C ernment has moved to expand the visitors every year. sibility study and necessary con- was full of potholes, caused tragic agement of the park have also K Guide September 3 - 16, 2010 13 Restelica to Brod

the night in Brod in the only hotel Sharr dogs can be very territori- in the area, Arxhena. The hotel al. sits 3km from the town of Brod on Once over the pass follow the the way into the mountains. mountains down to the left. You’ll Their attempt to build an be able to see a rocky cliff in the insanely steep ski hill has marred distance, head toward this. the surrounding beauty, but the You will hit the old road staff is friendly and accommodat- towards Macedonia. At this point ing. you can either walk down the Their lamb is delicious, fresh steep, eroded ski slope towards from the town of Brod, and don’t Hotel Arxhena if you are staying forget to try the salty Sharr there, or continue to follow the cheese. old road north and it will eventu- ally bring you gently down into Starting from Restelica: the town of Brod.

Continue through the town Starting from Brod until you reach a sharp left hand turn that twists back on itself. Just follow the directions Follow this road up into the above in reverse. main part of town. Keep follow- If you are starting from the ing the road until it turns right Brod itself it is best to turn and leads you out of town to the right across the river just out- south and then into a river valley. side of town to begin your climb From here the walking path fol- along the old Macedonian road. lows the river into the valley. If you start from the hotel you The town of Restelica After about 20 minutes you will are forced to hike up the ski hill, A small restaurant called Dragash itself. come to a fork in the valley with a which is hot, dusty and very Practicalities Ramce by the river (before you To Restelica: Just after entering smaller river flowing into the steep.Be careful not to follow the reach the Arxhena hotel coming Dragash, and climbing the hill at larger from the left. well worn path towards the gla- Driving from Pristina takes from Brod) is a perfect place to the beginning of the town, take Leave the path here and follow cial lake in the south. about two-and-a-half hours to relax and search for the goats. your first right-hand turn. Follow the smaller river up into the val- Instead, once you are just reach Brod. the road for about 40 minutes until ley on the left. above the hotel turn west and Ask the owner for use of his Once you arrive in Prizren fol- you come to Restelica, the last After about 100 meters a path head up over the mountains binoculars. low the one way roads through the town along the road. will start on the left side of this were the path is smaller and The venue also serves great city taking a sharp left at the city Going to Brod: Continue river. made by sheep. lamb so stop by on your way center and following signs for through Dragash’s centre follow- Follow this up along the river to Don’t worry too much about back from hiking. Kukes and Dragash where you will ing signs for Brod. The road after the pass that leads down to Brod. the path at this point, just get up Just remember to call in take a right hand turn to leave the Dragash winds its way through On the way up you’ll find a spring and over the mountain pass and advance and they need 1 hour to city. Continue on the road to Kukes the mountains for another 20 min- where you can refill your water you will see where to go. prepare the lamb properly (tel for about 15 km until you come to utes until you come to Brod, the bottles. Don’t forget to look out for the 029-285-119). an intersection with signs point- last town along the road. Just before the top of the pass wild goats that live in the cliffs They are only open in the ing left to Dragash. there is a Sheppard’s hut where a above Arxhena hotel. They come summer but the scenery, cold Turn left and follow this road For more information and a lot of Sharr dogs live. Give it a out in the morning and late beer, goat viewing and fresh into the valley for about 30 km map of the walk visit wide birth just to stay safe as afternoon. meat can’t be beaten. until you come to the town of www.toddswanderings.com Care of Butrint Heritage Site

included allegations that after a theater festival in the summer part of Butrint’s Roman theatre were damaged. According to Professor Hodges, the park management has failed to properly preserve the site, noting evidence of decay in the theater and broken lights in the museum. His “j’accuse”-style open letter, set futuristically in 2013, ended on a pessimistic note, predicting that while time remained to reverse the damage, unfortunately that was unlikely to happen. “This vandalism could have been stopped and the damage repaired even in March or April 2010; after that it was too late,” Hodges wrote. “Greed won; Albania and the world lost.”

Ben Andoni is deputy editor of MAPO magazine. Balkan Insight is BIRN`s online publication. This Y article is funded under the M BICCED project, supported by the Swiss Cultural Programme. C Butrint’s famous amphitheatre K If you would like your NGO to appear in 14 September 3 - 16, 2010 our Making a Difference feature, please Feature email [email protected] Kosovars Forget the Taste of The Past

The cornucopia of exotic eateries springing up in Prishtina, and Kosovars’ desire to embrace all things new, means that old-fashioned dishes are vanishing.

threat. Afrim Fushtica, owner of a tra- By Shengjyl Osmani ditional restaurant named Pellumbi, the only such one left in Prishtina, said he was working hard to preserve ancient dishes. ot so long ago, every café, He blamed the decline of old- restaurant and bar in cen- fashioned recipes on the growing Ntral Prishtina served thick, habit of Kosovo restaurants of sweet, Turkish coffee to its cus- always serving a mixture of tomers. To offer anything else Italian and Kosovo cuisine. would have been verging on culi- “All Albanian-inhabited regions nary heresy. have more or less the same ingre- But in the last few years, the dients in their traditional cuisine, drink, while still widely con- like wheat, corn or barley bread, sumed at home, has virtually dis- potato, leek, onion, chives, or appeared from the high street, spinach dishes,” Fushtica replaced by the Italian-style mac- explained. chiato and espresso. Of 15 venues “But other parts of the regions Prishtina Insight visited in besides Kosovo stay loyal to their Kosovo’s capital, just two said Rrahmani Petrit by Photo traditional foods and don’t allow they still served it. from generation to generation twenties, told Prishtina Insight tional sweets as their parents and the modern ‘take-away’ foods to Coffee isn’t the only gastronom- within families will save many that she did not have time to cook grandparents did years ago.” replace the beautiful traditional ic tradition under assault from dishes from extinction. old-fashioned foods. A firm set up in 2005 as part of cuisine.” Kosovo’s increasing exposure to He also says that since inde- “I prefer eating traditional food, the Institute for Promoting and Among drinks that have virtu- the world and changing tradi- pendence, Kosovars are becoming but not to cook it myself, since I Advancing Kosovo Housewives is ally disappeared from circulation, tions. more interested in their gastro- don’t want to lose two or three attempting to keep Kosovo’s he says, is the salty juice from pre- It is difficult to pinpoint specifi- nomic heritage. “Since independ- hours making a pite or mantija,” ancient culinary traditions alive. served cabbages or cheese. “Today cally Kosovar dishes that are not ence, the awareness of the need to she said. The cooks working there say it would sound ridiculous if you claimed also by other Balkan preserve traditional dishes has However, Afrore Isufi, a nurse many restaurants simply don’t tried to ask for that in a coffee countries. But these traditional grown markedly,” he said. in her early 30s, was more conser- have the time to prepare such bar,” he said. Turkish-style specialties and oth- “It is very embarrassing if you vative. “I do cook after work,” she complicated dishes these days. But there is some hope. ers more specific to Kosovo, such are from Kosovo and don’t have said, “and the traditional food Majda Kyçkaniu, one of chefs, Fushtica believes that even if as the pasty dishes of flija and tul- any idea how pite is made, or how recipes are my favourites as they says interest in what they produce restaurants are not helping, the lumba, remain the core of tradi- rassoll, cabbage stored in water are the most delicious.” picks up in summer “when all the tradition of passing on recipes tional cuisine and are all under and salt, smells,” he added. Traditional desserts, such as diaspora come home and want to Albana Hoti- sweet pastries and rice puddings, taste traditional food. Berisha, a can still be widely purchased in “Flija, mantija, and pite are the cashier at Kosovo. But Belul Mustafa, owner most popular, as are some the DHL of the oldest sweet shop in desserts, like baklava, and sheqer courier Pristina, Elida, says his sales of pare, which people order for fami- service such items are down by about 50 ly celebrations,” she said. in her per cent compared to the 1990s. Sekibe Morina, another chef at early “Before, we sold up to a thou- the institute, added: “Many local sand tullumba [doughnuts] a day restaurants order us to cook tradi- but I can’t remember when we last tional food, like sarma, as they reached that number,” he said. don’t have time; they just order it “People are still buying tradi- at our place.” tional sweets like baklava or She said the best hope of pre- sheqer pare for religious serving traditional foods was for holidays or family cele- families to pass on the recipes to brations, but more and their daughters, a job she takes more people have seriously herself: “I want my switched to fruit daughter and nieces to know how cakes and choco- to prepare traditional foods. late cakes,” “Future generations need to Mustafa added. know traditional recipes; just as “It’s obvi- my mother taught me, I’m teach- ing my children,” she said. “I hope their children, nieces and nephews will know the taste of our ancestors.” ous peo- ple don’t con- sume tradi-

History of the Macchiato

Caffe macchiato, sometimes called espresso macchiato, is a coffee drink, made out of espresso with a small amount of milk. Macchiato simply means “marked” or “stained”, and in the case of caffe macchiato, this means literally “espresso stained/marked with milk”. This cup of coffee got its name because the baristas needed to show Y the waiters the difference between an espresso and an espresso with M a tiny bit of milk in it; the latter was marked. C In Kosovo, a large macchiato is the equivalent of a latte macchiato. K 15 Culture September 3 - 16, 2010 Kosovars and Serbs Try Art of Reconciliation A joint project between artists in Kosovo and Serbia aims to break down barriers dividing communities and forge a new ‘unofficial’ history of the 1999 conflict.

including audio files, photos and transcripts of interviews, will be made public during an exhibition, which will be held on neutral By Petrit Collaku terrain. By the end of September, the group aims to have carried out about 50 interviews in hile relations between Kosovo and Kosovo and a similar number in Serbia. The View from My Window project in action Serbia remain distinctly frosty, Milan Vracar, the project coordinator in Wsome artists from both sides of the Novi Sad, says the interviews with Serbs Sad, Andres Veiel from Germany and the late actor and professor from Prishtina, border are seeking ways to cooperate and will take place on both sides of the border. Neziraj will work on the text. The play will Faruk Begolli, who was loved by Kosovo tackle the thorniest issue dividing them, Interviewees will not necessarily be war vic- be staged in 2011, again on neutral terrain. Albanians and Serbs alike. their understanding of the 1999 conflict. tims or their families but will include a It might be held in the Albanian capital, “This paradox of the war, of a personality With this goal in mind, the Prishtina- range of people with different experiences. Tirana, Neziraj suggested. who belonged to two nations and two cul- based art centre Multimedia and Kultura “We will consider their age, gender, Veiel, a German film and documentary tures, will be interesting to explore,” Nova from Novi Sad met for the first time in involvement in the conflict, social status, maker, has become involved in the project Neziraj said. the Kosovo capital in July to take the first geography and more; all those people are for another reason: some of the interviews During the war in Kosovo, he went on, steps in a joint project. At Prishtina’s independent Dodona the- still victims in some sense,” Vracar said. will take place in Germany, to hear the point Begolli became a target for elimination by atre, 15 artists and cultural activists from “Personal histories are what we’re inter- of view of Germans about the conflict. The Serbian forces even while Belgrade TV was Kosovo and Serbia discussed plans for the ested in and each person has his-her story debate continues there over whether the screening old films starring Begolli as a project, “View from My Window”, which for him-herself; that is what we will be country was right to become involved in Partisan fighter, protecting the city of will include an exhibition, a play and sever- insisting on,” he added. “This very often dif- NATO’s 1999 bombing campaign against Belgrade. al other events. fers from the ‘official’ history [of the con- Serbian forces. Begolli survived the war but died in 2007 The first action in the project will be to flict], both in Serbia and Kosovo.” Vracar added that Veiel would also con- following a battle with cancer. interview dozens of people in Kosovo and Perhaps the project’s most ambitious aspect tribute his more neutral standpoint about The artistic community in the region has Serbia. By gathering these memories, they concerns the writing of the script for the play. the conflict to the play. “We are also consid- not before mustered the collective strength, intend to form an “unofficial history” of the As Neziraj explains, the text will be based on ering conducting some interviews among or will, to present an alternative view to the differences between the two peoples, which the collected interviews and be written by a Serbs and Albanians living in Germany,” events in Kosovo in the 1990s, Neziraj said: then led to the conflict. team of three, starting from next year. Vracar noted. “There are many cases where artists partic- “We want to include their stories and see “There are facts about what happened in “The message is one of peace and human- ipated in violence, fanning the fires of war.” when such differences became problematic the past,” he said, “but the most important ity; that a human is human because of who Both Neziraj and Vracar hope their proj- in their lives,” the Prishtina project coordi- thing is to use this history - and make it clear he really is, not because he belongs to a cer- ect will help break down the cultural barri- nator, Jeton Neziraj, told Prishtina Insight. that the future should not be like the past.” tain nation or religion,” he continued. ers that still divide artists in Kosovo and All materials gathered from interviewees, Playwrights Minja Bogovac from Novi The exhibition will also look at the life of Serbia as much as anyone else.

The award ceremony at this year’s record-breaking Dokufest Kosovo Film Festival ‘Nets Record Crowds’

event in the picturesque town of countries were screened alongside “Remember that we make a film few festivals where you ended the Prizren, are a great success, espe- a packed programme of parties, festival in a city with no cinema week without wanting to go home. cially given the fact that just 450 art events and talks during the fes- and where macchiatos cost the She wrote on her blog: “The gen- By Lawrence Marzouk newspapers are sold daily in the tival’s ninth incarnation. same in the heart of the city and erous daily group dinners and city, they added. Prizren’s river, the Lumbardhi, in the dirty bus station: always 50 parties come with warm hospital- Jeton Jagxhiu, the head of mar- and its fortress were both used as cents,” he said, “And most impor- ity, no pretentiousness nor any big bout 6,000 people flocked to keting for the festival, said: makeshift cinemas, in a city tant of all: we desperately need a industry focus. see Kosovo’s international- “Visitor numbers have been rising which has no permanent facility. cinema with 600 seats and air con- “Dokufest is a fest where you Aly acclaimed documentary by 30 per cent each year for three Jagxhiu said he could not ditioning in Prizren.” can just “come as you are”, watch festival, Dokufest, this year - a rise years, and if this trend continues reveal details of next year’s Film judge Sonja Henrici, the great films within the old stone Y of 30 per cent for the third year we will reach the magic number of Jubilee edition, but he promised head of development at the walls of Prizren, and end your M running, organisers have said. 10,000 in three years.” more “innovative and subversive Scottish Documentary Institute, night with Albanian rock such as C The figures for the eight-day More than 150 films from 34 inventions”. wrote that Dokufest was one of a Jerico; gypsy music, or techno.” K 16 September 3 - 16, 2010 Food & Drink Fresko: A Fresh Taste for Prishtina perhaps early dinners. What stands out is the ‘create your own’ options, which include a series of ingredi- ents you can incorporated into the By Maneater venue’s specialties. Salad ingredients include walnuts, smoked cheese and sun- dried tomatoes, while make-your-own resko is the latest restaurant to hit sandwich ingredients include six differ- downtown Prishtina. The new ent bread options. Featery not only serves up a distin- Also, a listing of freshly prepared guished and versatile menu, but also pro- motes healthy vegetarian options, usually juices, from smoothies to cocktails, will lost amidst the meat-loving cuisine of the catch your attention. city. The enchilada starter, Lebanese salad, Adjacent to Amelie’s first location on smoked salmon sandwich and American Fehmi Agani Street, Fresko evidently chop suey noodles offer a fine and varied picked up pointers from its next door selection for lunch. neighbour, applying upbeat and bright Cheese lovers will approve of the thick elements to its decor. White wicker patio melted cheese in the enchiladas, accompa- furniture brightens a small, enclosed ter- nied by meaty beans and roasted red pep- race area, while a soft indoor colour pers. palette creates the illusion of a larger The salad’s complexity takes the bore space in an equally minute interior. out of healthy eating. Couscous, corn, sun- However, a minimal design concept dried tomatoes, onions and olives sit on a allows Fresko’s food philosophy to shine. bed of mixed lettuce, dressed with simple A glass display case exhibits an abundant balsamic vinegar and whole-grain bread. Fresko may have a small outside area, but its great menu more than makes up amount of fresh ingredients, while a The sandwich, however, gets its appeal tively pleasing crunch and were served water, berry fruit juice and tangy shred- series of bookshelves promote healthy from tasty salmon and is accompanied by alongside extensively marinated barbe- ded ginger. Delightful. recipes and vegetarian lifestyle books. the usual tang of sour cream lettuce and cued chicken, a series of colourful veg- Fresko The menu is jam-packed with different bland ciabatta bread. gies, all with a well-seasoned starchy taste. Rr Fehmi Agani 17 meal options with a focus on salads, sand- The American chop suey, on the other My dining partner and I topped off our 045 597 597 wiches and noodles, making Fresko a hand, may just be one of the best noodle lunch with a round of freshly prepared more appropriate venue for lunches and dishes in town. The noodles had an addic- lemon ginger ales, including sparkling Where to pick up Prishtina Insight? Prishtina Insight has teamed up with these five excellent venues to offer a limited number of complimentary copies of Kosovo’s only English-lan- guage newspaper. Grab a copy of the publication and settle down with a drink or a meal to read it.

Filikaqa Sports Bar Cavallero Mexican Restaurant

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

Cantina am-pm Restaurant Hotel AFA Te Komiteti Prishtina Insight is Kosovo’s only English-language newspa- Cantina AM-PM, formerly known as Located in a quiet neighbourhood just Te Komiteti’s large trees and a beauti- per. It is available: Mexican Cantina, recently went through a outside the city centre, Hotel Afa can guar- fully garden, which surround the small transfer to new management, and although antee guests a peaceful night while being outdoor terrace, give you an impression On its publication date, hardly noticeable from a distance, the new within walking distance of all the action. of an exclusive place for ordinary peo- every other Friday, delivered to owners have transformed the venue into a The venue has won a host of awards for its ple. And this is exactly what it is. From your door or your inbox for as more grown-up affair with good, cheap food. excellent service to customers and offers a brunch to lunch-time snacks and special little as 10euro for six months. Cantina offers Mexican dishes at reasonable good range of facilities, from an exclusive evening meals, this restaurant offers Visit www. prishtinain- prices, starting from less than 5 euro. Although restaurant and VIP dishes comprising quality, varied ingre- sight.com for more details. the majority of the food is Mexican-influenced, bar to pretty, tranquil dients, combined to perfection. Cesar salad and pizza have been included too. garden. Rooms start at Alongside one of Prishtina’s best ‘mod- From news-stands in Mexican favourites 45 euro for a single, ern European’ Prishtina, Prizren, Peja, served up at Cantina and luxury rooms and style menus, Mitrovica, Gjakova, Gjilan and include tortilla, thicker apartments are avail- you’ll also find a Ferizaj on Saturdays for just pan-friend tortilla, able. The hotel’s rooms good selection of one euro. nacho chips and burri- are well appointed and wine, and great to. Cantina’s also offers comfortable. sangria and cock- From one of our partner a very pleasant area for 15, Rr Ali Kelmendi, tails . organisations (see above). al fresco dining. Sunny Hill, Te Komiteti Grab a drink, meal or a bed for Cantina AM-PM Prishtina Qamil Hoxha the night and enjoy a compli- Rr Qamil Hoxha +381 38/225 226 Street Y mentary copy from Mondays Prishtina www.hotelafa.com Prishtina after publication. M +377 49 710 710 +381 38 24 96 63 C K By Shengjyl Osmani September 3 - 16, 2010 17 in Prishtina Timeout Contact Prishtina Insight if you would like your event to feature or to advertise your venue. Email [email protected] Prishtina Diary PARTIES “Crazy Rock and Roll Party Night Forever” Venue: Creme de la Creme Time: Friday, September 3rd, 8:30 pm EXHIBITIONS Music: rock’n’roll, surf, rockabilly, a bit of punk “Bajram Party with coctail “Gjon Mili” music @ Purple ” The opening of the 10th Venue: Purple International Time September 9 at 9 pm - September Exhibition of 10 at 2 am artistic photogra- pher “Gjon Mili” “Filikaqa Karaoke Night” on September 3rd, Friday at 8 pm. It After summer holidays, Karaoke nights will stay open return every Friday in Filikaqa. until September Venue: Filikaqa Sports Bar 17, at 5 pm. Time: September 3rd, Friday 9 pm- Venue: Gallery Saturday 1 am of Arts, Prishtina CONCERTS “Back to the future: Kader Pagarusha” Back to the future: Kadër Pagarusha is part of “Open Air Concert: LnSaint & The the project ‘Back to the future’ by Stacion - Center for Freelancers” Contemporary Art Prishtina Venue: Mother Theresa Boulevard Time: September 4th, Saturday 8pm- October 2, 2 pm Time: September 3rd, Friday 8pm- 10 Venue: Stacion - Center for Contemporary Art pm Prishtina The Freelancers are an Alternative/ Psychedelic rock band from Kosova/Prishtina, formed in 2008 They “The Karate Kid” have created their very own genre that Starting September 2nd comes as a result of the interfusion Time: 5 pm and 7:30 pm between their life experiences and music he premiere starts September 2nd, at the Cinema ABC. Action influences. and adventure in 2 hours by the producer Harald Zwart, and a Tcast of Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan, Tarji P.Henson, etc. Dre Parker, a 12 years old, and his mother leave for China for her work. There, he falls in love with a roommate but the cultural differences make their relationship difficult. Dre starts having trouble with Chengu. Dre knows some karate, but the most popular sport is Kung Fu and Cheng was a champion in this sport. Dre is left to learn Kung Fu from an old master and fights Chengu.

“Big Party with Dafina Rexhepi, ETNON dhe LiL’Samee” Time: September 3rd Friday at 10 pm - Saturday at 3am Venue: KUBIK – Gjilan

“Salt” Ongoing Time: 10 pm

ction, Adventure and Thriller in a movie by Phillip Noyce star- ring the best paid Hollywood actress Angeline Jolie. Before Abecoming a CIA official Eveline Salt had pledged to work for another country. She has the chance to keep her word when a defector from the Russian spies accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt escapes Y and using her experience manages to leave and defend herself and her husband. M C K 18 September 3 - 16, 2010 Inside Prishtina Ecosovo Wish you were here? per night for groups of up to 3, 10 euro per person per night for groups of 4-7 people. Seminar By Elizabeth Gowing room can be rented for 25 euro for half a day. The kulla is close enough to Decan to be easily combined with a visit to the t’s my favourite kind of Unesco World Heritage Site holiday season right monastery nearby. Photos can Inow. Not the gasping- be seen at for-a-break weeks of May, www.elizabethgowing.com. Bar Review: nor August’s gasping-for-a- Bookings can be made on 044 swimming-pool frenzy. 253412. Probably most people read- ing this have taken some 2. Novo Brdo homestay The Cuban leave, have eaten some ice- cream, but still summer is accommodation f you haven’t enjoyed a drink at Fidel as wall art add masculine ly comfortable. A youthful presence not quite gone. Maybe we The Cuban yet, then you haven’t charm, while the use of velvet seat is more apparent at the bar, while could squeeze in a weekend Serbian and Albanian fami- Ibeen listening hard enough. coverings and unclothed roman- outdoor seating is usually occupied away? Maybe the office lies in Novo Brdo offer comfort- Prishtina’s latest ‘it-place’ has style sculptures of voluptuous by middle-aged admirers. could rejuvenate with an able, hospitable accommodation caused quite a stir among the ranks women augments female allure. awayday? Upcoming events at The Cuban (through an NGO initiative) in of bars and nightclubs in the city, The rumble of the cocktail-shak- And we are blessed with let’s just say its been a bit of a include a series of live performanc- homes close to the ancient cas- er can constantly be heard amidst many options - there are coun- Cuban revolution. es, varying from musical acts to tle. The castle dates from the the steady tempo of Latin jazz tries circling Kosovo which are The ambience strives to accentu- professional Latin dancing. thirteenth century, when Novo music. Apparently, bartenders can keen for a taste of your euros, ate the glory of pre-Fidel Cuba, a The Cuban’s prompt success story Brdo was a major European cen- tend to any sort of drink request, their asphalt hungering for the tre, wealthy from its mines. The time characterised by Havana’s lux- is hopefully a sign of the evolution but with an emphasis on rum-based tread of your car tyres. Those impressive fortifications are urious bars and nightclubs, which of a new bar trend, edging away concoctions customary in Cuba – new roads have been opened to now in ruins offering a great sprawled across the city during from an extensive period of make it as seductive as possi- think mojitos and daiquiris, just to place to explore, and for walk- American occupation. English/Irish style pub or American ble for us to burn up the car- Copious gold-tinted wall molding name a few. ing. See the range of accommo- sports bar bore. For now though, not bon and disappear to the sea- blend with extravagant chande- The Cuban also supplies a selec- dation and catering available at much beats the luxurious sensation side in a puff of smoke. www.tourism-novobrdo.com/# liers, 19th century inspired wallpa- tion of food, what they call a fusion of this Caribbean retrospect. Your next holiday could be (look under the ‘offers’ tab.) per and an eye-catching bar encom- of Mediterranean and Mexican cui- easier than that. It could be passing a backdrop of mirrors and sine. Options include burritos, kinder to the environment, and 3. Reka e Allagës in the neon lights surrounding a tower of nachos and seafood platters. The Cuban kinder to Kosovo’s economy. It vivid liquor bottles. The crowd is just as diverse as Rr. Luan Haradinaj, back could be - in Kosovo. And the Rugova valley The use of vintage cigar boxes Cuba’s demographics, allowing any entrance to Grand Hotel next office away day - you and blow up images of a young age group to find the space elegant- 045 620 620 know, the one where you go The Rugova Valley offers a and talk about how you could number of accommodation better make a better Kosovo. options, including individual Shop Review: That could be in Kosovo too. chalets and homestay. Everyone I offer you three suggestions has their favourite part of for places to get away to in Rugova; having spent two weeks Kosovo (and I’m sure there are this summer living and working Laguna Solarium & Sauna more - if you have something with the families of Reka e Allagës, this idyllic spot is to add then please email me so aying goodbye to summer it can be included in a future mine. 45 minutes drive from doesn’t mean you have to say column). Peja, the village is set in the Sgoodbye to bronzed skin. stunning mountains with views Laguna Solarium and Sauna, a 1. The Mazrekaj Kulla in to the peaks forming the local family-run business is the Montenegrin border and sur- Dranoc, near Deçan. answer to not only missing sunrays, rounded everywhere by the but also used up vacation time. heady medicinal scent of mar- The shop is home to two tanning A kulla is a fortified stone joram. Families in the village house, typical to Kosovo and beds and one tanning booth, all of use this and other herbs to which belong to the Ergoline label, northern Albania. Once com- make tea, while during the sum- mon in much of the country, which shop owner Lendita mer their children seem perma- Podvorica labels “the Mercedes- most kullas were knocked down nently stained purple with the Benz” of the industry. or fell down in the war and delicious local blackcurrants. Although the practice can be afterwards this one is a rare To arrange accommodation (15 intimidating for first-timers, survivor, restored by Cultural euro per night for homestay, Lendita’s extensive know-how of Heritage Without Borders with rates vary for chalets), call 044 the business of tanning is comfort- a modern bathroom and 661797. ing. kitchen where you can prepare So treat yourself to a Kosovan “Standing in a booth offers a your own food (though you can ‘staycation’; spend less time, more even colour, and room to also order traditional meals to money and fossil fuel on the manoeuvre. Lying in a bed is more be delivered by a local women’s journey and linger awhile in comfortable, and comparable to lay- co-operative). Downstairs, the one of the country’s beauty former stable has been spots taking big breaths of fresh ing under the sun,” she said. equipped with furniture and fresh air. The procedure is easy enough, powerpoint screen for semi- and less time-consuming compar- much your skin can withstand, mum of two people, and massage nars. There are three double Elizabeth Gowing is a founder ing to conventional sunbathing. Lendita will make sure to let you services, the lowest prices at 12 bedrooms plus the wonderful member of The Ideas Laguna’s tanning equipment use know. More importantly, she won’t euro for 30 to 45 min, and the later oda or men’s meeting room, Partnership, a Kosovan NGO turbo technology, which gives allow any client to surpass what 20 euro for an hour. with original wood carvings working on educational, cultur- results in just over ten minutes. she believes to be a safe span of and cushions, complete with al and environmental projects. Prices are reasonable – 5 euro for time. Services are open to both Y cosy wood burning stove in Responses or suggestions for 10 minutes, 8 euro for 10 to 15 min- The tanning rooms are modestly men and women. M winter, shuttered windows to inclusion in future columns will utes, 12 euro for 30 minutes, and 20 furnished, but more importantly 044 253 793 C open for summer evenings. find her at theideaspartner- euro for 40-45 minutes. regularly sanitised. Laguna also Rr. Ilaz Kodra, just past K Beds cost 15 euro per person [email protected] And if you’re not sure how offers a sauna designed for a maxi- the KEK building By Shega A’Mula 19 in Prishtina Inside Prishtina September 3 - 16, 2010 Outside In I’m Off to Novi Sad, mate!

By Kreshnik Hoxha

ou’ve all travelled by coach. But how many of you have been on a vehicle that Ymagically changes its registration plates halfway through the journey? How many of you have passed through this “spot” that some call a border and others call an administrative bound- ary? Have you got passports that you proudly wave in one place but they become a serious threat of territorial integrity in the other? Well, with its half a dozen disputed borders, the Balkans pro- vides quite breathtaking malarkey for that. The confusion kicks off with the coach that picks up the passengers nearby Hotel Victory in Prishtina operating with the KS registration plates – the legal ones in Kosovo after 1999. But, upon arrival in Belgrade you realise the mathematical permutations resulting in the appearance of the old PR plates from the pre- 1999 era. They appear like magic in the neutral zone! But hang on, if there is a neutral zone then you clearly are alluding to two different coun- tries, aren’t you? But then again, people cross without passports too. And the plot thickens even further when you find out that you can enter Serbia with Kosovo passports, but they have to be kept safely in Merdare and you have to have well placed friends able to obtain a letter from the Serbian government. So, don’t try this on your own! Depending on whether you departed from Prishtina – the capital of Republika e Kosoves - or from Pristina - the capital of the the Serbian The statue of Mother Teresa in Mother Teresa Square looks distinctly unloved province – you can choose to make the travel pay- ment with the banknotes of European bridges or Building Review those with images of Nikola Tesla. Business con- venience before politics is what they call it. If only everyone had this mindset! Seven hours on you are in Novi Sad. Entering The Deteriorating Statue of Novi Sad you are hypnotised by the beauty of the Petrovaradin Fortress embracing the Danube. The amalgamation of Austro-Hungarian archi- tecture with the mesmerising orthodox monas- Mother Teresa teries was yet another element that added excite- ment to the whole tour. other Teresa’s decision to dedi- ing for years, contributing to the feeling bigger one exists,” he added. And luckily no incident cropped up. cate her life towards ensuring of decay. And as children have climbed Dr Don Shan Zefi, Bishop at the With the Kosovo Albanians in town and the Madequate welfare for the poor has in and out of the fountain, slates of Catholic Diocese of Kosovo, confirmed stereotypes of separatism floating about, you earned her a throng of commemorative marble have cracked and completely that a new statue will be situated in can imagine the conspiracy theories. “They statues located in cities all over the world. fallen off the base. front of the Cathedral upon its inaugu- came here to lecture Vojvodina on secession! It’ll While the global community celebrates The same broken slates were then ration, but did not possess any informa- happen again!” the 100 year anniversary of the late eth- replastered onto the fountain, clearly as tion concerning the current statue. The scorching heat in Novi Sad accompanied nic Albanian nun, the condition of a quick fix. Moreover, most of them “The embassies of the west have fund- by the humidity was a shock to the system. But, Prishtina’s statue of the semi-saint is have now completely disappeared, leav- ed the completion of a new statue of it’s a good job no Albanian suffered from sun quite upsetting. ing those still visible unaesthetic. Mother Teresa, which will sit in the stroke or dehydration. The statue, a figure of Mother Teresa The municipality of Prishtina was front garden of the Cathedral”, he said, With the whole prejudices between the two and a young barely clothed child, located unable to notify Prishtina Insight exact- adding that “the diocese is unaware of parties, you can imagine the stories in Kosovo at the end of the continuously dug up ly who is responsible for the mainte- any plans to remove the existing statue about how we were dehydrated in Serbia. “They Mother Teresa Square is a popular gath- nance of the statue. Officials from the of Mother Teresa”. didn’t even give them water!” ering spot for children. While the young department of public relations did not Ministry of Culture official Shefki The stories from 1990s have sowed a high chase each other around the sculpture, have this information, they said. Uka also distanced the ministry from degree of prejudice! parents contribute to the site’s neglect According to Halili, the statue may the preservation of the statue, stating But the youth from both sides seems to be mov- by littering the ground with empty sun- instead be removed from the square all that “the Ministry does not possess the ing towards overcoming prejudice and focusing flower seeds and other rubbish. together, as part of a plan to introduce a appropriate competences to care for the on common interests for the future. According to Mustaf Halili, an offi- new statue in front of Prishtina’s statue,” but will be completing a series The Balkans is a complex region that shares cial from Prishtina Municipality’s Catholic Cathedral. of other events as part of a larger proj- common values and it is precisely these values department of culture, the statue was “A new, much larger statue of Mother ect to commemorate Mother Theresa. that will create the embryo of cooperation and situated in its current location in 2003, Teresa will be situated in front of the So while Kosovo’s Assembly holds spe- build trust between former Yugoslav nations. after it was donated to the city by a new Cathedral, therefore repair of the cial parliamentary sessions to commem- We all are different, but our difference is what group of wealthy American-Albanian statue located on Mother Teresa Square orate the 100th year anniversary of we have in common. brothers. might not end up happening at all Mother Teresa’s birth, and the Ministry According to my hosts, this was an amazing No further information was available because I believe it will be removed alto- of Culture and the country’s Catholic visit from a citizen of south Serbia. In my mind, from the department, or the municipali- gether,” Halili told Prishtina Insight. Diocese engaged in separate honorary this was a fantastic visit to my neighbouring Y country. ty’s information office. “A bigger statue is more than wel- events, the city’s only tangible piece of M It turns out that once we agree to disagree, we The fountain surrounding the figure comed by Kosovo and its people, so there commemoration remains in a state of C have a lot more to talk about. of Mother Teresa has not been function- would be no need for two statues if the ruin. K If you would like your NGO to appear in 20 September 3 - 16, 2010 our Making a Difference feature, please NGO Focus email [email protected] Missing Persons Remembered on International Day

bdullah Berisha from Klina is still looking for information about his Ason who disappeared in 1998 during the conflict in Kosovo. He criticised Kosovo’s government for not doing enough to find out the fate of the 1,837 people who remain unaccounted for. The NGO Youth Initiative for Human Rights, YIHR, marked the International Day of Disappeared on August 30 in the centre of Prishtina by displaying 400 pairs of shoes alongside the question: “Where are they?” Besart Lumi, programme coordinator at YIHR, said that there is an ultimate right for families to know about the fate of their loved ones. “Even after 11 years after the end of con- flict in Kosovo, the right of the families to know about the fate of their loved ones is denied,” Lumi told Prishtina Insight. Prenk Gjetaj, head of the government’s commission for the missing persons, said: “We are constantly asking the internation- al community to make more pressure on Serbia in order to provide information on missing persons.” He added that the consequences of war have brought terrible circumstances on the families of missing but on the govern- ment as well. He said that the families of missing have the right to be angry at the government since many years have gone without any information. The symbolic shoes of the missing were displayed in Prishtina “We will do the utmost and use all the Kosove. Their identification came as a with any family which has given blood Mitrovica in which families buried the forms to get to the information to shed result of the DNA analysis. samples. wrong person after they gave blood sam- light on the fate of missing persons,” he Some 200 mortal remains are at the Gjetaj said that some 2,000 persons in ples. said. morgue of the Office of Missing Persons Kosovo have been buried without DNA “We are asking families to provide blood On the day of missing persons, six mor- and Forensics, OMPF, in Prishtina. The analysis. samples and make the process proceed tal remains were reburied in Fushe DNA analysis of these has not matched He said that there are examples from properly,” Gjetaj added. Cultural Heritage without Borders – Preserving the Past

means to generate funds for the in Prishtina recently.” long-term survival of these A CHWB project in 2007, enti- buildings and has been working tled “Surviving Heritage of By Lawrence Marzouk with the In Your Pocket guide- Pristina”, researched the fate of book to create a guide to Prizren. the city’s old buildings. Of 102 This work is being carried out buildings identified in 2004 as against a backdrop of institu- important to the city’s heritage, ultural Heritage without tional apathy. “In 2007, our statistics showed Borders stands virtually Sali Shoshi, the organisation’s that around 44 per cent had been Calone in Kosovo in the fight to preserve the country’s head, told Prishtina Insight: destroyed”, Shoshi said. dwindling historical architec- “Heritage is not a high priority of Prishtina’s record in protect- ture. the government.” ing its historic heritage is poor. The Swedish NGO, which is He added that the Institute for Of 21 listed buildings and monu- now run virtually independently the Protection of Monuments, ments in city, four that were pri- in Kosovo, has been working the government body set up to vate homes have already been hard since its arrival in preserve the country’s architec- demolished for redevelopment. Prishtina in 2001 to protect and tural patrimony, has, in fact, One of the NGOs latest project renovate important sites, rang- been acting against its own man- has involved using 7,000 euro ing from 15th Century Ottoman- date. grants, a fraction of the cost of era mosques to traditional stone “The institute has done noth- full restoration, to shore up A restored Kulla in Velika Hoca, near Rahovec houses, known as Kullas. ing since 1999,” he said, referring important but vulnerable build- Since its creation, it has to the end of the conflict. “The ings. said. ation will improve in Kosovo but restored 40 buildings and provid- institute is in fact destroying “This will keep the buildings Despite the great difficulties in what is gone is gone,” he said. Y ed protection to many others monuments as we have cases structurally sound so that in 10 to prevering Kosovo’s heritage, M through a variety of measures. when the institute has issued 20 years, when heritage will hope- Shoshi remains optimistic about C It is now increasingly looking permission to demolish build- fully be more of a priority, the the future. For more information visit K to use heritage tourism as a ings, like a 15th Century mosque buildings can be restored,” he “My impression is that the situ- www.chwbkosovo.org opinion September 3 - 16, 2010 21 Turkey’s Neo-Ottomanism Dear Teta Mia... in the Balkans Teta Mia solves your problems Turkey’s firms are breaking new ground in the Balkans – another sign of the country’s growing power in its old backyard What’s better: open or closed? important role in the projection of Turkey, Syria, and Jordan. (Fictional) Member of the Working Group on Elections, democracy, freedom, the rule of law Turkey’s geographical proximity Prishtina and human rights in the Balkans. to the Balkans reduces the trans- By Oya Dursun-Özkanca Moreover, Turkish TV series, portation costs. The similarities in h, (Fictional) Member, an excellent question to get my movies, and broadcasting channels consumption habits between the brain into gear after the sultry summer break. But it become increasingly popular around people in Turkey and the Balkans Areally depends on the subject in question. For exam- the Balkans, boosting the Turkish make the region a very profitable ple, gjoni’s bar in Sunny Hill is much better open than closed, ince the 1990s, Turkey has been soft power in the region. market for Turkish companies. but you will benefit from closing your eyes if you are an hon- playing an active role as a Increasingly, people from the Accordingly, Turkish companies Sregional actor in the Balkans. Balkans visit Turkey, learn Turkish, flourish in the finance, construc- est procurement officer, or if you walk past the renovated Peace, stability, and security in this and want to live like Turks do. tion, medical, and insurance sectors Grand Hotel (unless you’re crossing the road). region have been top priorities for Turkey tries to capitalize on this in the Balkan markets. Turkish Similarly, Bill Clinton Avenue is better when it’s open, and the Turkish foreign policy in the increased cultural soft power in the companies increasingly win the bid- I mean totally open, not this slalom of cones and terrified post-cold war era. Turkey has been Balkans to maximize its economic ding offers for privatization of state- among the biggest contributors to traffic policemen running from the irresolvable gridlock; but soft power in the region. owned enterprises in the Balkans. the peacekeeping operations con- Ardian Gjini’s mouth would have been better closed when he At the June 2010 summit of the In April 2010, ENKA, a Turkish con- ducted by the UN, NATO, and the EU told the media that he had evidence of secret negotiations SEECP in Istanbul, the Turkish struction company, together with an in response to the civil wars in the between Belgrade and Prishtina – and then failed to provide Balkans. Turkey’s religious, cultur- Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu American partner, Bechtel, won the the evidence. al, and historical affiliation with the expressed Turkey’s eagerness to tender for the V rmic -Prishtin - countries in the region has already make the region “a hub for infra- Merdar highway, Kosovo’s biggest However, from your pseudonym, I suspect you’re actually proven to be a priceless asset for structure, transportation, and ener- ever infrastructure project. getting at electoral lists, no? So let us look first at the benefits these missions. Today, Turkey con- gy projects as well as financial trans- Connecting Kosovo with Albania of an open-list system, where voters select those members of tinues to participate in the EU and action”. and Serbia, the highway is expected a party whom they would like to see in government rather NATO post-conflict peacebuilding Turkish state agencies contribute to boost the trade volume between than voting only for a party. missions in Bosnia and Kosovo. to this amplified activism towards Kosovo and the rest of Europe. Over the past few years, Turkey’s the Balkans. Turkish International Similarly, in August 2010, the The open list – in theory – gives voters more say, as voters already active foreign policy towards Cooperation and Development Turkish-owned Limak Group can ignore internal party hierarchies when they put their the Balkans has gained further Agency (TIKA) provides financial together with its French partner cross against their favoured candidate. In 2007’s Assembly momentum with a new foreign poli- and logistic support for numerous Aeroports de Lyon signed an agree- elections, Kosovo’s electorate could select up to ten people cy doctrine commonly referred to as projects in the Balkans, including ment with the Kosovar Government, within any one party; in last year’s municipal elections, this “neo-Ottomanism.” Since 2008, there schools, libraries, local media acquiring the operating rights and was reduced to five, and a vote for a party automatically also have been a large number of high- organs, and hospitals, and renovates the renovation responsibilities of went to whomever was number one on the list. level visits between Turkey and the mosques and other historical monu- the Prishtina International Airport other countries in the Balkans, as ments. for 20 years. The Turkish financial The reasoning goes thus: Voters are intelligent; parties are Turkey attempts to establish itself as Turkey increasingly consolidates corporations are increasing their run by the “old guard” who don’t like reform or clean politics; a mediator in the region. In 2009, its political, economic, and cultural presence in the Balkan markets. voters will vote for new people given the chance; this will Turkey and Serbia signed a free influence in the Balkans. Improved Turkish Economy Bank (TEB) has remove the “old guard” from politics; ergo we should give vot- trade agreement. Turkey chaired the business relations are an integral already opened up branches in ers this chance to change politics by having open lists. South-East European Cooperation and natural part of this picture. Kosovo. Other major Turkish banks, But it transpired that the reasoning had several flaws. Process (SEECP) during 2009-2010. According to the Balkan Regional including bank, Ziraat Bank, and The slogan of the Turkish Center for Trade Promotion, the Halk Bank, also indicated their Voters are not necessarily intelligent. In 2009’s municipal Chairmanship of the SEECP, “From trade volume between Turkey and interest in making new acquisitions elections, 8.64% of the ballots cast in the normal way were Shared History to Common Future,” the Balkans, which was around $1.9 in the Balkans. invalid – equivalent to 53,379 ballots. Voters didn’t understand is telling about Turkey’s attitude billion in 2002, has reached $17 bil- Consequently, as Turkey has con- the system. towards the Balkans. As Turkey con- lion in 2007 and $17.7 billion in 2008. sistently managed to transform its Parties may well be stuffed with the “old guard” – but this tinues its efforts to mediate between Nevertheless, due to the ongoing political and cultural soft power in means that so are polling station committees (or in 2007, the Bosnia and Serbia, Turkish global recession, this figure has the Balkans into an economic one, Counting and Results Centre). Many of the people “counting” President Abdullah Gül is expected decreased back to the 2007 levels in the current analysis points to the tri- to visit Bosnia in beginning of 2009. Last month, the Kosovar umph of soft power in every sense. your vote have their own agendas (party line or local politi- September. Minister of Economy and Finance cal) about who should receive it, and with limited oversight, With its 78 million population, of Ahmet Shala invited the Turkish they can “amend” your vote. which 99per cent are Muslim, Government and companies to Oya Dursun-Ozkanca is an If voters vote for new people, why aren’t these new people Turkey has significant soft power invest more in Kosovo and Assistant Professor in the in parliament in their dozens? potential in the Balkans. As an EU expressed support for the idea of a Department of Political Science at Worse, when the “old guard” gets voted back in, it is able to candidate country and a long-lasting Balkans free-trade zone in Kosovo, Elizabethtown College, say to those upstart democrats advocating a new politics, “Oh member of NATO, Turkey plays an modeled after the one between Pennsylvania, USA look – sorry, we have a mandate from the people, who voted for us, not for you...Better luck next time, eh?” So this would all be why politics hasn’t in fact changed. Party representatives of all colours tell me privately that they are not automatically against closing the lists, but that they don’t want to come out in public with this suggestion for fear of being labelled anti-democratic. (Ironic, isn’t it?) It’s true – closing the lists would be a backwards step dem- ocratically speaking. But the problem we have now is that although the current open-list system is Gold Standard on paper, in practice it’s not implemented properly, being open to abuse by party members themselves. By having an unimple- mentable law on the statute books, we undermine further the rule of law in Kosovo, and the electorate’s cynicism about being unable to vote for change continues to grow. So I propose this, (Fictional) Member of the Working Group on Elections: Close the lists for the next election, but make it a legally temporary measure, committing the Central Election Commission to open the lists at a specified time in the future. In this instance, then, closed is better – as long as it’s tem- porary. Kosovo transport minister Fatmir Limaj signing a 700 million euro deal with US-Turkish consortium Bechtel-Enka

To send a letter to Prishtina Insight, email [email protected]. 22 September 3 - 16, 2010 interview Hyseni: “Recognitions Will Come in September” In an interview with BIRN’s Life in Kosovo television show, Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni argued that Serbia’s resolution to the UN General Assembly would fail, that Kosovo had yet to receive post-ICJ recognitions because diplomats had been on holiday in August and dismissed reports of secret talks between Prishtina and Belgrade. phe. Answer: You cannot consider Foreign Affairs. I am not saying are 35 countries. Now I am stating failed initiatives as initiatives or that the success at ICJ was an that there are more than 35 coun- Question: Why did you call it advantages. Why did the Serbian exclusive success of the Ministry tries, which are considering the By Muhamet Hajrullahu a catastrophe? For what rea- initiative at General Assembly of Foreign Affairs but allow me to official request of Republic of son? have success two years ago? Not say that Ministry of Foreign Kosovo for recognition. Answer: Because the Serbian because Serbian diplomacy was Affairs was charged with coordi- uhamet Hajrullahu: draft resolution is calling for a dia- successful but because they nation and representation of Question: Minister, I am Again we are, we can logue, for new negotiations for addressed their request to the Kosovo at the Court. Very soon, all interested to know if we can Mcall it in the arena with Kosovo status. Today, any request International Court of Justice, correspondence with the talk about the countries, Serbia at the United Nations, for new negotiations on Kosovo which is the main judicial body of International Court of Justice maybe not naming them, but this time at the General status is in essence a request for the United Nations. I would pose a from the first day will be pub- can we expect recognitions Assembly. What is the position destabilising the Western Balkans. question. Did Norway fail as a lished. Then, citizens and inde- during September? of Kosovo institutions about state that recognised Kosovo even pendent observers can assess Answer: For the first time I am the resolution or draft resolu- Question: So, the aim of though it voted for the whose success it is. […] If the ICJ saying that we can expect recogni- tion, which Serbia’s institu- Serbia is to drag the process International Court of Justice to result had been different, you will tions during September. I will not tions are trying to put on the along but that prevents recogni- provide an opinion on the inde- agree with me that the foreign name them. There are numerous agenda? tions of Kosovo. But, on other pendence Kosovo. Whoever sees minister would be main person to countries that are considering Skender Hyseni: The position of side, Serbia is all the time on this as an advantage for Serbian be blamed, the blame would be recognition. We can expect recog- Kosovo institutions is very clear: the offensive. What is the role diplomacy or the Republic of addressed to him. nitions. You cannot hold me to the since the day when the UN and position of Kosovo institu- Serbia is primarily wrong. numbers, since I never stated the General Assembly accepted the tions here? Question: Minister, the ques- number of countries which would resolution, sponsored solely by the Answer: I would be very grateful Question: What should we tion is what is Kosovo doing? recognise Kosovo during a certain Republic of Serbia, where it if you would tell me where do you say to the critics who say that Answer: Kosovo is doing a lot. It period. requested from the International see Serbia’s offensive. Kosovar diplomacy is in disad- is doing exactly what Serbia is not Court of Justice an advisory opin- vantageous position? There are doing. Serbia doesn’t have any Question: Will there be ion on the declaration of inde- Question: For example, the no initiatives. You can maybe cooperation with international another UN resolution from pendence of Kosovo. From that International Court of Justice mention an example of initia- community, Quint, European the Kosovo side or from day, the Republic of Kosovo had a was Serbia’s offensive. tives, so we could say to critics Union on its initiatives on Kosovo. friends: USA, Albania? clear position these efforts of Answer: No, it is not. that it is not as they claim it is. In the mean time, Kosovo is closely Answer: Firstly, there cannot be Serbia are in essence efforts to Answer: Criticism will never cooperating with the Quint, a resolution from the Kosovo side delay the process, in essence Question: Also, their request stop. You can achieve all kinds of European Union, United States in because Kosovo is not a UN mem- efforts to delay the start of the for new a resolution at the advantage at the diplomatic level all its efforts, in order to prevent ber and does not have the right to inevitable normalisation of rela- General Assembly is a new but you will not stop the criticism. any kind of damage that initia- do so. All current efforts are being tions between states in the offensive. They have sent a Prior to the ICJ, Kosovo diplomacy tives of Republic of Serbia can made so the Serbian resolution is Western Balkans. number of diplomats, 55 diplo- and Kosovo was harshly criticised cause. not passed, but not through sub- mats according to the Serbian for not doing anything, that the mitting another resolution by Question: The Republic of media, after the International Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not Question There have been Kosovo or other sponsor. There is Kosovo, or more precisely the Court of Justice opinion, in transparent. To the very last day promises from all heads of a big possibility that this resolu- Foreign Minister, expressed its order to influence countries not each critic said that the next fail- institutions, the president, tion with this text will fail. regrets in New York. Why? to recognise Kosovo’s independ- ure of Kosovo diplomacy will be at prime minister and from you as Answer: The Republic of Serbia ence. the International Court of Justice. foreign minister that there will Question: Is there any signal requested from the International Answer: I like your insisting. Or, in best possible interpretation, be new recognitions. A month that the five non recognising Court of Justice, more precisely However, allow me to express that they said the court would have a and half passed and we don’t EU countries will change their from General Assembly to declare I do not agree with your comments neutral opinion. have any new recognition. position? on the declaration of independ- at all because they have no basis Answer: Allow me to promise Answer: There are signals but I ence of Kosovo. I expressed regret, and I will tell you why they have Question: Everybody expect- again that there will be new recog- will not say more. There are sig- not because I doubted the declara- no basis. You cannot consider any- ed that. Even heads of institu- nitions. If we want to be precise, nals that there is a slight change tion of Kosovo’s independence […] thing related to the International tions didn’t expect that the only one month passed not a from the previous position. The but I expressed my regrets because Court of Justice as a Serbian opinion will be such… month and half. I provided clear International Court of Justice I knew that this will only lose time, offensive because Serbian diplo- Answer: You are wrong. Go back reasons why there were no recog- opinion cannot leave any country Kosovo’s and Serbia’s precious macy and Serbia have created a to my statements. nitions during this period. in world indifferent as it was time to carry out other plans. The fiasco, a failure. And, if you con- clear, direct and explicit. So, allow Same thing is happening sider this an offensive or Question: Not everybody Question: Which reasons? me to consider this from another with the current advantage of Serbian thought so. Answer: I will repeat them again point of view, from the angle of request of the diplomacy, than I real- Answer: I am speaking on behalf for the public. Firstly, each coun- coherence of the European Union Republic of Serbia ly do not know how to of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs try needs to review the court’s policy. Will the need for full coher- for a new resolu- interpret it. and Foreign Minister. I am talking opinion. It is an opinion which ence, consensus of European tion adopted by about myself. I am not talking for they want to study and draw their Union policy allow that European the General Question: Right, everyone. You are speaking to the conclusions from. We have made Union for a long time to be with- Assembly. I have but they have ini- Foreign Minister. our interpretation of the opinion out a unified and consensual poli- the document of tiatives, maybe and have sent this interpretation cy for Western Balkans, especial- the Serbian draft they are failing, Question: Do you think that to all countries. They all have it, ly for Republic of Kosovo? This is resolution, and but they still have the opinion delivered by the there are no exceptions. However, what is making me optimist that immediately after initiatives. And International Court of Justice each country has its independence these five countries will join the the ICJ in New this is was a success for the Ministry and discretion to draw certain con- other 22. York I called delaying of Foreign Affairs? clusions from the court opinion. it a catas- recogni- Answer: I am not going to say This is one reason. The second Question: Minister, the oppo- tro- tions. whose success it was. But tell me if reason is the very sensitive period sition has criticised [the gov- it failed, whose failure would it of the year. August is the month ernemtn] for the secret and have been in Kosovo? […] I am sure for holidays for almost all diplo- hidden talks with Serbia, is there were different analyses and macies in world. You cannot this true? comments before ICJ expect that any Government in Answer: Allow me to say that I saying that the next the world will end its holidays in consider that it would be a fatal failure, if Kosovo would order to sit down and review the mistake to even consider Kosovo have failed at the ICJ, would official request of Republic of starting secret talks with Serbia have been of the Ministry of Kosovo for recognition. or whoever. All of what has been said recently, the whole debate, I Question: We are at the end think has no purpose, I will not of August, September is com- comment on it because it really ing. We had promises that doesn’t merit any comment. there will be recognitions before the General Assembly. Question There were no Answer: There is no problem, talks? Secret or open talks? Y we can keep to our promise. I have Answer: Absolutely no. The for- M stated that there are dozens of eign minister would do everything C countries, I have stated that there possible before starting any talks. K September 3 - 16, 2010 23 By Shengjyl Osmani Classified Contact Prishtina Insight if you would like to advertise in Prishtina Email [email protected]

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