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PAGE 6 had a problem with under-spend- lutionary but seem to reflect the l yearn forY? jihad. Kosovo’s highest court got tangled some stil yria and Iraq, ons from fighting in S o stop its s or jihad. PAGE 6 osovo tries t l yearn f Y? PAGE 6 As K AR WEAaqR, some stil or jihad. yria and Ir l yearn f Y? W some stil om fighting in S yria and Iraq, o stop its sons fr om fighting in S As KosovoAR tries t WEAo stop its sons fr R W As KosovoAR tries t WEAR Wo stop its sons from fighting in Syria and Iraq, some still yearn for jihad. PAGE 6 ing. Meanwhile, the mayor’s arro- common sense you’d expect from WAs KosovoAR tries t WEARY? up in the messy aftermath of the gance and lack of charisma did not a free-market economist. June 8 elections with eyebrow-rais- ingratiate him with people. The worry, however, is how ing decisions. An August decision, in But, in his first days as Prime Mustafa will approach privatisa- particular, gave PDK the power to in- able. PAGE 12 lage to your t PI Guide: Bringing the vil e. PAGE 12 ge to your tabl able. PAGE 12 la lage to your t PI Guide: BringingPI Guide:the vil Bringing the vil Minister, Mustafa is setting a tion. The Prishtina bus system, pri- PI Guide: Bringing the village to your table. PAGE 12 definitely stall the formation of a new promising tone, by saying that the vatized during his time as mayor, government. The court also refused 25 percent pay raise promised to offers a cautionary tale of how not to hear a challenge to the extension public sector workers by his pre- to conduct them, especially when of the mandates of its three inter- decessor, Hashim Thaci, will not a key public service is involved. Holy warriors and the nationals court judges by President go ahead. Mustafa suggested that firms that fight against them . Public-sector pay increased create jobs might get state prop- Kosovars have joined the thousands

dramatically under Thaci, some- erty as a reward. That isn’t neces- of foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria. PI Guide: Where baked chicken gets seri ous.GE PA 1GE2 12 2 November 21-De PA GE 1 cember 4 ous. PA , 2014  #1 eri 46  Pric s s e 1€ en get ous. e baked chick ets seri Wher icken g PIP Guide: ked ch thing he touted during the election sarily a bad idea, but it also seems Authorities began cracking down in rish re ba Together a tinahe gain: rice 1€ W Alb  P ania r 2014  #146 oars:oars: oars: cember 4, PDK, lbania r November 21-De LDK rekindl A ania r PI Guide: gain: e Economic tig Alb er Insi Touniongether t a conomicain: tigerer rice 1€ o end crisis. E g onomic tig gh 46  P e Ec  #1 ekindl ethersh ao t, 2014 LDK r og ws its t eeth. PDKPA , T e eeth.eeth. cember 4 GE 6 shoekindws itsl t ws its t Novembertina 21-De LDKPA rGE 1 sho o end crisis.PDK, 4 rish union t PAGE 14 4 P AGE 1 o end crisis. P tinaPAGE 6 union t t AGE 6 campaign. The benefits may have ripe for abuse. ernest in 2014 amid growing interna- InsiPgrish h t P STUInsCKi INgh NE been obvious If Mustafa is sincere about get- tional condemnation of the atrocities UTUTRRALALUTRAL STUCKT INUCK N EIN NE to government ting the economy going, he will of Islamic State. S employees and need to take corruption more their families, seriously than he did as leader of

Rocky implement November 7 ation of Bruss -20, 2014  #145  Price 1€ agreements l els eaves northern K between Bel osovo caught els s grade and Prishtina. ation of Bruss el P Rocky implemen PAGEt 6 aught ation of Bruss aught but the coun- the LDK and previously as mayor rishtina Kosovo c ement Kosovo c eaves northern rice 1€ y PimpAGE l6 AGE 6  #145  P P -20, 2014 agreements l rishtina.Rock November 7 grade and P eaves northernrishtina. Insi between Bel eements l ade and P gh e 1€ agr gr t  Pric  #145 , 2014 ween Bel -20 bet rishNovembertina 7 P t tina try generally is of Prishtina. Kosovo and Albania InsiPgrish h t Nate Insigh not better off as Tabak rank at the bottom regionally of a result. As the Transparency International’s Cor- #EUVEXED Serbs on the rise, but the Editor-in-Chief #EUVE#XEEUDVEXED International ruption Perceptions Index. Wheth- north is still stuck Monetary er it is real or perceived, corruption Serbs in northern Kosovo were inte- Fund warned is discouraging foreign companies grated into the power structures in on multiple occasions, growth of and Kosovars themselves from in- Kosovo thanks to the 2013 Brussels public wages and other benefits vesting. agreement. Belgrade-backed MPs has made private businesses less There are not many reasons EULEX in Crisis now sit in Parliament, but the north competitive. They have to pay to feel excited about Mustafa. But, Downsizing and a watered-down itself remains in a state of flux. money they do not have to hire Kosovo needs a government, and mandate were a mere sideshow to good people, or settle for work- Mustafa leads the one it has right the allegations by prosecutor Maria ers who are not as good. The pay now. In offering glimmers of hope Bamieh in October that EULEX offi- raises have also put pressure on that the country may get a dose of cials ignored her reports of possible the country’s budget. sound economic policy, he should corruption inside the mission. In an interview with Reuters, be given a chance. 2015 Balkan Investigative Reporting Network • Mensa e Studenteve, first floor, 10000, Prishtina, Kosovo • PHONE: +381 (0) 38 24 33 58 • EDITOR- IN-CHIEF: Nate Tabak •STAFF: Jeta Xharra, Marcus Tanner, Valerie Hopkins, Petrit Collaku, Parim Olluri, Nektar Zogjani. • DESIGN: Trembelat • Prishtina Insight is supported by the Norwegian Embassy, Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network. Prishtina Insight n December 19, 2014 - January 15, 2015 n 3

• Copy / Print / Scan / Fax • Print • 22 ppm • 22 ppm • ARDF • Bypass • Bypass • Network 4 n December 19, 2014 - January 15, 2015 n Prishtina Insight Gjilan Nation Istog Fushe Kosove Kamenica North Mitrovica Belgrade Leposavic Kosovo Lipjan Obilic Delivery problems Rahovec Peja Because of its disputed status, Kosovo faces problems receiv- ing receiving mail and packages from abroad. Mail intended for Prishtina Kosovo frequently goes to Belgrade, which returns items instead Strpce of forwarding them. This makes it difficult for people in Kosovo Viti to order things online. Some Kosovars get around this by adding Vushtrri a “via Albania” to their address, which routes the mail through Zubin Potok Tirana, which in turn forwards it to Kosovo. Zvecan EU urged to Widen EULEX probe Serbia’s post By Petrit Çollaku sion and its current and former staff,” she added. Human Rights Watch has The allegations were called on the EU’s foreign made by EULEX pros- endures in policy chief, Federica ecutor Maria Bamieh, Mogherini, to give more who claimed that her powers to the expert colleague, judge Franc- tasked with probing the esco Florit, took a bribe corruption allegations, in order to release a de- Kosovo made by an EU prosecu- fendant in a murder case. tor, which caused a scan- Florit strongly denied the Post of dal in Kosovo in October. allegations. By Zana Cimili woman at the counter, explaining In the letter which Bamieh has since Serbia in in Serbian where it needed to go, was made public on been suspended. She Kosovo When Antigona Bajrami, a before filling out a form contain- Monday, Human Rights also claims that EULEX translator in Prishtina, wanted to ing her address as its known in the Watch’s EU director initially failed to inves- send a birthday present - a book Serbian system, with the zip code Lotte Leicht said that tigate her suspicions - to a friend in Belgrade recently, “38 000 , APKM.” APKM legal expert Jean Paul about Florit, and instead 28 she could not simply go to her stands for “Autonomous Province Jacque’s brief should be targeted her for being a post offices nearest post office and dispatch of Kosovo and Metohija,” Kosovo’s wider in order to ensure whistleblower. it from there. She had to drive 20 official name in Serbia. that the allegations are Last month Mogh- minutes to Gracanica, the largest Gracanica is the hub for Posta addressed “fairly and erini appointed Jacque, 240 ethnic Serbian town near Prishti- Srbija’s operations in Kosovo, firmly” to maintain the a senior legal adviser to employees na. which has 28 individual post of- credibility of the EULEX the EU, to conduct a four- “I used to live in Nis [in Serbia], fices and employees 240 staff. rule-of-law mission. month review of the situ- where I was born. We used to send “We get all the post that comes “We are concerned… ation. 20,000 postcards to places in Serbia or from Serbia, even stuff meant that Mr. Jacqué’s role Leicht said in her items deliv- Kosovo all the time, as well as all for officials and institutions in appears limited to over- letter to Mogherini that ered from over Yugoslavia,” Bajrami recalled Prishtina,” Randjel Nojkic, the seeing EULEX’s internal Jacque’s investigation Serbia each while driving to Gracanica. “Now head of Posta Srbija in Kosovo, investigation rather than should also look at com- year I need to travel to another city to said. “I make sure my employees conducting an independ- plaints by Vehbi Kajtazi, send stuff.” send through the important mail ent investigation into the a journalist from Kosovo Since Kosovo declared inde- meant for Kosovo officials, espe- allegations,” Leicht wrote newspaper Koha Ditore 7,000- pendence from Serbia in 2008, cially if there’s a contact number to Mogherini. who reported on the graft 8,000 there has been no formal coopera- on the package,” he added. “That investigation claims, that EULEX pres- items sent tion between the postal systems Nojkic acknowledged that the should not be limited to surised him to hand over out from of Kosovo and Serbia. As a result, it situation was peculiar. “The real- the corruption allega- his source material. Kosovo is almost impossible to send even ity is that the two postal systems tions raised by the former The EU mission has a postcard to Serbia from regular work here side by side… it’s just EULEX prosecutor but denied that the mission Kosovo post office. that the cooperation needs to be should include all cred- asked for any of Kajtazi’s Inside the Posta Srbije (Post ironed out,” he said.The Serbian ible allegations of corrup- documents. of Serbia) office in Gracanica, -Ba postal service is just one in a line tion implicating the mis- jrami handed over the book to the of institutions that still function Prishtina Insight n December 19, 2014 - January 15, 2015 n 5

Briefly

Serbia’s post Prison time in passports case. A former contractor for the Austrian firm OeSD was found guilty and sentenced to 12 years in prison Thursday for embezzling 1.4 million euro intended as payments for the A production of Kosovo pass- ports. Also convicted was Fisnik Blakaj, who received an 11-year sentence. The two were ordered to repay the money to OeSD. Prosecutors say that Velija forged an authorization from OeSD to redirect payments from Kosovo’s ministry of Internal Affairs to her com- pany, EU Consulting. Velija was arrested in 2012, and had claimed the money was used to bribe officials at the minis- try and the Austrian embassy at the direction of OeSD. The company denied these claims, and prosecutors never alleged that any bribery oc- curred, either.

Kosovo wins right to com- pete in olympics. Athletes from Kosovo will be allowed to compete in the 2016 Olym- pic Games in Rio after Kosovo under the direct patronage of the agreement has not been reached won full membership of the Serbian state in Kosovo. These in- regarding the post specifically,” International Olympic Com- clude schools and the Serbian state she said. B mittee. Athletes from Ko- telecom. “What we expect to happen is sovo are celebrating the IOC The Kosovo government for illegal structures to be closed decision to grant Kosovo full frowns on these institutions, which and for them to be integrated in membership, which means Belgrade has, in fact, begun to dis- the Kosovo system,” she added.In they will be fielding their own mantle as part of the EU-led April the meantime, ordinary people national team for the 2013 agreement with Prishtina like Bajrami will continue to have Olympics. on the normalization of their rela- to take extra steps to get ordinary tions. business between Kosovo and EU names new tribunal The Brussels agreement tack- Serbia transacted. chief prosecutor. US lawyer led the highest profile issues such “I hope stuff like this gets David Schwendiman will be the integration of Serbian police cleared up soon. Otherwise we’re the chief prosecutor of the into the Kosovo police force and just making life harder for each new special war crimes court the establishment of party au- other,” she concluded. that is expected to prosecute tonomous Serbian municipalities This story was written as part of senior Kosovo Liberation operating under Kosovo’s overall BIG DEAL, a civic oversight project C Army figures, PI has learned. auspices in the north of Kosovo. examining the implementation of Schwendiman, whose last job But, key issues have yet to be agreements between Kosovo and was investigating fraud and tackled as Belgrade and Prishtina Serbia. The project is being imple- corruption in Afghanistan, will continue to engage in talks. mented by BIRN Kosovo, Internews succeed Clint Williamson as Edita Tahiri, Kosovo’s chief ne- Kosova and Center for Research, the chief prosecutor of the gotiator in the talks, said the issue Transparency and Accountability ’s Special of the postal system has featured - CRTA, with support from the Brit- Investigative Task Force on in some discussions. “We have ish Foreign & Commonwealth Office Kosovo this week, EU sources spoken about this topic but a final and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. say. 6 n December 19, 2014 - January 15, 2015 n Prishtina Insight A small step to reclaim Kosovo’s streets Take Back the Night campaign takes on the harassment women endure every day.

By Hana Marku a week-long series of Facebook status posts, such as “Respect is Jeta Rexha, a 19-year-old student sexy”, “It isn’t a compliment, it’s at the University of Prishtina, has harassment”, and “You don’t have had some bad experiences walk- to teach your daughter not to go ing around Prishtina as a woman. out at night. Educate your son bet- She recalls one evening while she ter.” Each status is followed by the was waiting for a bus when she was hashtag #takebackthenight, or the cat-called five times by men driv- Albanian translation, #NataEshteE- Supporters of the Take Back ing past in their cars and slowing Jona. the Night campaign take to down to stare and talk to her. The social media campaign the streets of Prishtina. photos/ When asked what they said culminated in an evening march in donjeta berisha to her, Rexha answers that she ig- Prishtina, in the style of Take Back nored them. “I’m so used to these the Night protests held in various comments that I don’t remember countries from the 1970s onwards. the girl who is being ‘provocative’ dealt with through hashtags and them anymore,” she says, adding After the online campaign that with her choice of clothing. This Facebook statuses. that her experience is routine for created a buzz that rarely follows isn’t true, since girls are harassed “I thought some of the statuses young women in the city. gender equality campaigns in Ko- and violated even in the most or- were stupid, like ‘Don’t tell your “Before you go out, you make sovo, roughly 150 people joined dinary clothing,” Haliti added. daughter not to leave the house at a plan: go here, don’t go there, act the campaign’s concluding march Haliti was part of the team that night, teach your son better.’ Who like this, cover up more and no one in Prishtina. Protesters bore signs created a video to accompany the are you addressing this to? Who will bother you. If they do, keep a with such statements as, “What if campaign, which was screened is supposed to educate him? The cell phone handy and you’re pre- your sister gets harassed? Is she and posted online during the online campaign fell flat,” Fejzul- pared,” Rexha advises. ‘asking’ for it?” and illustrations of closing march. The video shows lahu said. Although there are no official women in different sorts of dress a young woman dressed in jeans “The organizers of the cam- statistics on street harassment of (“still not ‘asking’ for it”). A number and a jacket, walking through paign should have broadened women, ask any woman in Ko- of men were present, holding signs the streets of Prishtina for an en- their approach and put together a sovo and you’ll hear stories about at the front of the march. tire day. Over the course of eight program to be used at schools - in- unwanted sexual comments, be- Online debate about street hours, she gets harassed and fol- vite teachers to work with you, or ing followed down the street (and harassment during the campaign lowed over 50 times. approach the Ministry of Educa- sometimes into their apartment became heated, and the backlash Rron Gjinovci, a 25-year-old tion to see what can be done about buildings), and unwanted physi- was sometimes harsh. Critics de- activist, says the Take Back the this in schools and kindergartens, cal contact, like touching and grab- scribed the online campaign as Night video made him realize the the places where children get their bing. It is also a common complaint silly and ineffective, and as a poor extent to which women face sus- first education on why it isn’t right voiced in meetings held by the Ko- excuse for real activism. Many Fa- tained harassment in public. to harass others,” he added. sovo Women’s Network across the cebook users said the way women He said the overall effect of However, Morina, of the Ko- country during the last two years. dressed invites harassment, and the campaign was limited to the sovo Women’s Network, said their “The effect of sexual harass- that a woman’s state of undress capital. work on street harassment is far ment in public spaces can have a determined the amount of har- “I think the campaign initiated from over. “Women and girls still huge effect on the lives of women assment she encountered and this debate, but only in Prishtina. need a space to talk about this and girls,” Donjeta Morina, project deserved. This is a very good start,” he said. problem, and we’ve seen how tired coordinator at the Kosovo Wom- Oda Haliti, 29, one of the cam- “Our society needs this de- they are of feeling afraid and en- en’s Network, said. paign’s initiators and supporters, bate and it needs to be a very dangered night and day,” she said. “First, girls are harassed on the said the claim that a woman’s stern debate. I really hope young “The hashtag campaign street from a young age. They’re clothing determines the level of girls have begun to understand brought about real change, be- socialized with the idea that this is street harassment she experiences this problem better,” he added. cause a major problem that takes normal, that they have to endure is baseless. “At least they shouldn’t think that place every day has been normal- those comments, walk past and “The reasons why sexual har- what happens to them on the ized and is never talked about,” she put their heads down,” she added. assment occurs are always along street every day is normal, be- suggested. “If you ask me, the fact In late November, the organiza- the lines of, ‘Girls dress provoca- cause it isn’t.” that people have started talking tion (full disclosure: I’m a member) tively, they’re undressed and so Critics of the campaign main- about street harassment to this ex- decided it was time to do some- deserve to be violated.’ We often tain that it did not go far enough. tent is a very big change,” she con- thing about it, by organizing a Take hear these things, unfortunately,” Bardhyl Fejzullahu, a 33-year-old cluded. Back the Night campaign. she said. programmer, said the problem of Hana Marku is a member of the The campaign consisted of “The harasser is not judged, but street harassment could not be Kosovo Women’s Network. Prishtina Insight n December 19, 2014 - January 15, 2015 n 7

A EULEX memo shows that advisors of President Atifete Jahjaga had reservations about extending the mandates of three interna- tional members of the Constitutional Court without going through Parliament. 8 n December 19, 2014 - January 15, 2015 n Prishtina Insight Cover The unlikely rise of Isa Mustafa

The new Prime Minister has taken a winding path from his time as a Communist youth leader to the top office in government, where his free- market vision for Kosovo will now be tested. Change of the guard? Despite getting the Prime Minister’s post, Isa Mustafa, is still eclipsed in raw political power by his prede- cessor, Hashim Thaci, now his deputy. visar kryeziu/ap via beta

By Una Hajdari welcomed the deal. from a fishing rod. Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, But there was little enthusiasm A deal with the PDK amounted from forming a new government. After six months of political crisis, that the curmudgeonly former to a betrayal in the eyes of many However, the parties failed to form Isa Mustafa and Hashim Thaci Mayor of Prishtina would be run- LDK supporters, some of whom one of their own, partly because of emerged from the offices of Presi- ning the next government. still resented Mustafa’s rise to the a ruling from the Constitutional dent Atifete Jahjaga three weeks Even in his own party, the top of the party. Court and partly because of dis- ago, announcing that they had Democratic League of Kosovo, Mustafa had abandoned the cord among the party leaders. agreed to form a government with LDK, the news did not go down opposition coalition he had formed For Mustafa, going into bed Mustafa as Prime Minister. that well. Fliers soon appeared with three other parties after the with Thaci’s PDK offered greater Kosovo breathed a collective on LDK offices across the country, June elections. For six months, rewards. In the VLAN coalition, sigh of relief that the crisis was over depicting the 63-year-old as a fox the coalition, dubbed VLAN, pre- he had agreed to become only at last, while international leaders chasing an armchair dangling vented Hashim Thaci and the the speaker of parliament, while Prishtina Insight n December 19, 2014 - January 15, 2015 n 9

Ramush Haradinaj was to have Isa Mustafa has expressed no emo- of endurance and political guile, Minister from way back in the become the Prime Minister. tion,” the daily Express noted at the in a career that began in the early 1970s, when he was a rising star in Mustafa himself expressed lit- time. 1980s as a rising star in the Com- the then ruling League of Commu- tle emotion following his election Charm is not one of Mustafa’s at- munist Party in Yugoslavia, which nists of Yugoslavia. to the top post in government. In tributes. “A sense of humour is not has now taken him to the Prime “We worked together in the a statement on Facebook, he said his best quality, but I think that is be- Minister’s office in Kosovo. League of Young Socialists of Ko- only that the deal was made “bear- cause he is very serious and firm,” sovo. Mustafa joined us while he ing in mind the situation the coun- Ilmi Uka, a resident of Prapashtice, Communist youth was an assistant professor at the try faces”. the village outside Prishtina where Muhamet Mustafa, an eco- Faculty of Economics in the Uni- He displayed a similar lack of Mustafa was born, said. nomics professor at the Riinvest versity of Prishtina, where he had emotion four years ago, when he Whatever Mustafa lacks in Institute and a longtime friend of been named the best student,” Mu- was elected head of the LDK. “Only charm, he has made up for in terms Mustafa’s, remembers the Prime hamet Mustafa - no relation to the

CONTINUES ON PAGE 10 10 n December 5-December 18, 2014 n Prishtina Insight Cover

Isa Mustafa through the years

1951 Born in Prapashtice, a vil- lage on the outskirts of Prishtina.

1970s Becomes active in the League of Young Socialists of Kosovo

1974 Graduates from faculty of Economics at the University of Prishtina.

1984 Becomes head of the Exec- utive Council of the Munici- pality of Prishtina, a position he holds for four years.

1985 Receives a master’s degree in organizational sciences from the University of Bel- grade.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 1989 Appointed as Secretary for Prime Minister - recalled. creased pressure to show loyalty their own community. Development, Science and Isa Mustafa was part of the to Serbia. Many were expelled Muhamet Mustafa sees it dif- Information in the govern- leadership of the youth organiza- from the party for failing to do so, ferently. “Albanian politicians ment of Kosovo after the tion and worked to increase stu- and accused of anti-state activities. at the time were under extreme Serbian province is stripped dent participation, according to pressure from Serbia, especially of its autonomy. Muhamet Mustafa. Controversial years from chauvinist circles”, and it Later, Isa Mustafa was elected Mustafa managed to stay on in was good that some “stayed in 1990 to represent the Kosovo party’s the party. His opponents condemn politics to try to salvage what re- Flees Kosovo after Serbian youth wing at Yugoslav level. “We the position he took in December mained,” he said. authorities issue warrant for wanted someone who could com- 1989, when he became Secretary Mustafa and his colleagues his arrest amid pushback pete with the members from the for Development, Science and In- tried to uphold the remaining against changes to Kosovo’s other republics on an equal level,” formation in the Kosovo provincial rights of the Kosovo assembly. In status. Muhamet Mustafa said. He repre- government under Jusuf Zejnul- July 1990, the assembly notably sented the youth of Kosovo at the lahu. refused to accept fresh changes 1990-9 splendid funeral of Yugoslavia’s This was considered contro- to the Yugoslav constitution. In re- Serves as Minister of Fi- President-for-life, Josip Broz Tito, a versial because it happened after sponse, the Serbian government nance and Economics for great honour for the time. Serbia, under Slobodan Milosevic, declared extraordinary measures Kosovo’s government in In 1984, he became head of the stripped Kosovo of the extensive and issued an arrest warrant for exile. Executive Council of the Munici- autonomy it had enjoyed under Mustafa who fled into exile. pality of Prishtina, a position he the 1974 constitution. Mustafa and He split his time abroad be- held for four years. As Yugoslavia other Albanians who continued tween , , started falling apart, members to serve in the government were , Albania and . CONTINUES ON PAGE 13 of the League of Communists of called Serbian stooges who were During the 1990s, his economic Kosovo started coming under in- working against the interests of expertise came into play when Prishtina Insight n December 5-December 18, 2014 n 11

Mustafa, at an LDK meeting in 2012, has never been known for his charm. photo/atdhe mulla

he became Minister of Economics Mustafa returned home, quit poli- and Finance in the exiled govern- tics and took up a professorship at ment of Kosovo set up by Ibrahim the University of Prishtina, teach- Rugova under . ing economics. In interviews he gave at the In 2006, however, an old friend, time, Mustafa said he thought the , asked for help. Se- government in exile would last jdiu had recently been elected only a couple of months rather and needed than nine years. In the mean time, an economic advisor. According he set up the system that financed to Sejdiu, Mustafa was not then in- the parallel Bukoshi government, terested in politics, and he agreed based on a tax that was collected “only to do an old friend a favour.” from Albanians in Kosovo and At the time, Mustafa was not abroad. The tax money financed a member of Sejdiu’s LDK. But, its activities until NATO’s air war Sejdiu says he valued Mustafa’s with Serbia toppled Serbian rule in experience as an economist and Kosovo for good in 1999. Mustafa’s the role he had taken in the exiled opponents, however, say it is sus- government. Sejdiu soon promot- picious that he never published ed Mustafa. “After being my advi- the accounts of the fund, which sor for a year, I nominated him as reportedly amounted to around Mayor of Prishtina,” Sejdiu recalled. 100 million German Marks. Mustafa won the race, beating Former President Fatmir Sejdiu appointed Mustafa to be his economic advisor in 2006, only to see his friend wrestle Road to top of party the PDK candidate, . control of the LDK four years later. photo/atdhe mulla After the war in Kosovo ended, He went on to serve as Mayor of

CONTINUES ON PAGE 12 12 n December 19, 2014 - January 15, 2015 n Prishtina Insight Cover

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

Prishtina for two mandates, until and divide the LDK membership,” the current Mayor, , Sejdiu added. of Vetevendosje, beat him in a run- In November 2010, after the off in November 2013. government fell, the LDK over- Under Mustafa, Prishtina saw whelmingly elected Mustafa as its noticeable improvements to its in- new leader. “I invite you all who are frastructure, with better streets and part of LDK to stand up for it, build it more traffic lights. He spearheaded up, work and move together, in or- the refurbishment of Mother Te- der to get the electorate to return to resa Boulevard. But there was also the LDK family,” Mustafa told sup- out-of-control illegal construction. porters. There are claims that up to 20,000 Mustafa’s tenure as LDK leader unpermitted buildings went up has not resulted in a dramatic re- during his mayoralty. Problems vival in the party’s fortunes, how- occurred also with nepotism in the ever. In the 2011 elections, it won municipal administration. two more seats in parliament, gain- At the same time, the Mayor ing another four in the latest polls raised his profile inside the LDK, in June. which was struggling for direction In 2013, Mustafa suffered a hu- after its founder, Rugova, died of miliating defeat in Prishtina, when cancer in 2006. As a fellow intellec- he lost the race for mayor in a city tual and as a veteran of the nonvio- that had been an LDK bastion. He lent struggle against Serbia, Sejdiu had reportedly said he could win emerged as a natural successor to the election with his hands in his Rugova. pockets. However, in 2007, the LDK suf- fered a humiliating defeat in the Coalition crumbles national elections, losing 16 seats in After the June 8 elections, it parliament, where it had been the seemed that the PDK, despite win- biggest party, and being eclipsed by ning the most votes, would be fro- Thaci’s PDK. The two parties would zen out of government. The LDK, later form a coalition government along with the Alliance for the but they were strange bedfel- Future of Kosovo, AAK, Levizja lows - the LDK being the party of Vetevendosje and the PDK splinter the urban intelligentsia, while the party, Nisma, representing a major- PDK was started by KLA veterans, ity in parliament, banded together largely from rural Kosovo. against the PDK. The coalition started off on a A coalition agreement fore- good note, with Kosovo’s declara- saw becoming tion of independence in 2008, but Prime Minister, although his party it remained fragile. was only the third largest in the In 2010, the Constitutional bloc. Haradinaj had previously Court ruled that Sejdiu could not served as premier for 100 days be President of Kosovo and head a before surrendering to party at the same time. He resigned to face charges of war crimes for as President, a post with limited which he was eventually acquit- powers, with an eye on the Prime ted. Mustafa settled for the speaker Minister’s office, occupied by Tha- of parliament, reflecting the fact the PDK”. As the months dragged With the exception of Veteven- ci. Shortly after, the LDK withdrew that although the LDK was the big- on, the opposition bloc failed to dosje, Kosovo’s major political par- from the coalition and the govern- gest party in the bloc, he himself agree on revising its coalition ties do not articulate clear political ment fell. was not seen as prime ministerial agreement, however. Mustafa re- or economic philosophies. Their Meanwhile, Sejdiu faced chal- material. portedly insisted on becoming the campaigns revolve on practical lenges for the party leadership. He But the deal was spoiled by the new prime minister under the new promises - to create more jobs and did not expect one to come from Constitutional Court, which an- circumstances, to which Haradinaj join the EU, for example. However, his friend, Mustafa, however. “I nulled Mustafa’s election as speak- did not agree. when Mustafa addressed parlia- had a private meeting with him and er and ruled that only that PDK, as As international pressure ment for this first time as prime asked him directly: ‘Are you plan- the party that won the most votes mounted on Kosovo to form a new minister, he laid out a vision that ning on running for party head?’ in the previous election, had the government, the PDK and LDK got was decidedly ideological and an- He swore he would never do that right to nominate the speaker. back together, after Thaci agreed chored to free-market principles. and would never run against me,” Even then, the LDK held firm to become Deputy Prime Minis- “We will establish a free and Sejdiu said. against the PDK, with MP Ismet Be- ter and Foreign Minister, leaving open market. Employment and But, “He took the first chance qiri declaring that the party would Mustafa to run the government. the increase of social welfare will he had to rally people against me “never form a government with Free-market vision be based on private initiative, and Prishtina Insight n December 19, 2014 - January 15, 2015 n 13

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 1999-2006 Returns to Kosovo; receives Ph.d in economics from Uni- versity of Prishtina, where he also becomes a professor.

2006 Appointed as economic advisor to President Fatmir Seijdu.

2007 Tapped by Sejdiu to run for mayor of Prishtina; wins election

2009 Re-elected in landslide.

2010 Elected president of LDK, defeating his friend Seijdu.

2013 Suffers humiliating defeat, losing the mayor’s office to Shpend Ahmeti in a run-off.

2014 Becomes prime minister of Kosovo after LDK enters into coalition with PDK following a six-month political stale- mate.

At his inaugural address to parliament on Dec. 9, Mustafa said free-market economics will get Kosovo on track. photo/beta a competitive market will ensure from that collected on the border area,” he noted. economic prosperity,” Mustafa told to internal VAT revenue. Whether he will enjoy much MPs. He also scrapped a pledge to “The government will work support for his vision is also far un- hike wages, which was part of the hard at generating steady eco- clear. Seven LDK MPs did not vote first package of laws slated to pass nomic growth, which will ensure for him as Prime Minister – some- through parliament as part of the macroeconomic, fiscal and social thing he scolded them about dur- 2015 budget, violating Thaci’s cam- stability,” with the goal of “minimiz- ing his first address. There is also paign promise to “increase wages ing the trade deficit,” Mustafa said. the matter of the PDK. While Thaci in the public sector by 100 per Agron Demi, who heads the is officially taking a back seat to cent”. Mustafa has since said that Gap Institute, says while Mustafa Mustafa as Deputy Prime Minister, wages should only rise in line with is an economist, he is entering the PDK still has seven more MPs in economic growth. uncharted territory. “It is hard to parliament than the LDK, casting To boost the private sector, measure his ability as an econo- doubt over how much real power Mustafa has said he will slash taxes mist during his time as mayor be- the new Prime Minister will have. on small and medium-sized busi- cause the municipalities do not Nektar Zogjani contributed to nesses and shift the weight of VAT have many competences in this this story. 14 n December 19, 2014 - January 15, 2015 n Prishtina Insight piguide The five best places to eat in 2015

By Nate Tabak options). Sabaja’s sliders are extra The MIQT empire: awesome because the buns are After Paddy O’Brien’s closed It was an interesting year for eat- made from spent beer grain. (Saba- this year, the people behind the ing in Prishtina. Closures included ja Drs Beer House: East side of the MIQT Taverna and MIQT Bar Fresco, Komiteti, the Ninety One stadium, next to Red Cross. Open stepped in and did a public service and Paddy O’Brien’s – perhaps daily, 8am to midnight. www.face- by making it their own. They took victims of EULEX downsiz- book.com/Sabajadrsbeerhouse, away much of the kitsch, turning ing. But a crop of newer res- 049 582 000) into a homey pub that accessible EAT taurants are doing strong. to wider range of clientele. Gas- They’re eateries that attract a tronomically, the MIQTs (Taverna larger swath of Prishtina, beyond and Pub) aren’t especially revo- expats and the wealthy. These lutionary. But their comfort food, places are serving good food in re- playful atmosphere and good laxing settings, without waiters in crowds make them something bowties. They’re also evolving by special. (MIQT Pub: Tringe Smajli, updating menus from time to time, ex Paddy O’Brien’s, between Swiss and they seem destined to get even BabaGhanoush: Diamond and Agim Ramadani, better in the New Year. This hole-in-wall continues to open daily, 8am-midnight, www. stand out for being the only veg- facebook.com/MiqtPub 049 6771 Mezzeria: etarian restaurant in the country. 11; MIQT Taverna, Off Mother Te- This newcomer to the Kafet e Falafel and dips anchor the menu, resa Boulevard, next to Foto Nesha. Vogla area did something remark- but the owners make refreshing Open Monday-Saturday, 045 999 able: it revamped its menu. It con- tweaks from time to time, includ- 957 or visit facebook.com/miqt. tinues to have stalwarts like the ing the addition of “bean star,” taverna. Kosovar tapas plate - with cheese, which has a refreshing mix of soujouk, pershute and olives, beans, dips and greens served with among others, with some uncon- pita chips. The vibe is hip but sub- ventional things like the sliders dued- a la Brooklyn or Kreuzberg (small burgers). While small plates in , and makes a great place are the stars, the mains are deli- for just having drinks. ( BabaGha- cious too, including great steak. It noush: Follow the small road to the has a brasserie vibe, managing to left of Metro Cafe (across from the be elegant but not stuffy. (Mezze- Grand Hotel) and take your first ria: Fehmi Agani street 52/2. Open right. Monday-Saturday, 4pm-late. Monday-Saturday. Contact them at 049 886 214.) 045-663-665 or online at facebook. com/mezzeria. Sharra Pub: Good pizza, good beer … to- Sabaja Drs Beer House: gether. Who would have guessed? The restaurant offshoot of the This pizza pub is geared toward Sabaja Craft brewery could prob- millennials, who appreciate good ably get away with serving micro- interesting food that’s affordable waved qevapa thanks to the deli- even with a fe w adult beverages. cious locally made ales on tap and A specially built oven cranks out in bottles. But Sabaja is also taking some of the best pies, with a mind- American-style pub fare seriously. boggling array of toppings. Sharra It serves the best burgers (actual also does creative specials for ones, not pleskavica) in town and lunch, when the place gets packed. isn’t afraid of using bacon. Sabaja, (50 Fehmi Agani, Street, At Kafet e too, recently revamped their menu Vogla (the small cafes), in Qafa, with a stronger emphasis on bar Prishtina food. This includes sliders (I don’t Tel: 049 896 698) know who had them first, but you can never have too many slider Prishtina Insight n December 19, 2014 - January 15, 2015 n 15 Opinion Send us your thoughts to [email protected]. Why Kosovars got what they voted for Shortly after being elected presi- more often than not, produce para- expressing disgust with a group dent of the in 2009, doxical results, political gridlock, of politicians who keep failing Barack Obama met with Eric Can- paralysis, apathy, or more of the the country and plundering the tor, one of the Republican leaders same. public purse for private gain. But in the House of Representatives, That is what is happening in the outcry over the current politi- to discuss policy ideas and ways Kosovo. The frustration and out- cal arrangement in government to stop the economy from further right hostility of the public over the is misdirected and does not solve ruin. In a posturing gesture that election and the formation of gov- anything. Some of those elected reinforced his astounding victory, ernment under Isa Mustafa this may be corrupt and are probably and his conviction that he had the month is nothing more than vali- the wrong choice for the country, upper hand politically, he famous- dation of an election. Six months but these politicians have won the ly told Cantor: “Elections have con- ago, Kosovars cast their votes and elections. They have won the ma- sequences and I won.” got what more or less what was jority of the vote and have agreed It was a crucial moment for the expected: a fragmented political to come together and form a gov- country in the middle of the great- landscape with political forces ernment. est economic crisis in more than that then coalesced to form coali- Those who reject the formation 70 years. But Obama’s comment tions. The country was paralyzed of this government either had the was timeless in that it addressed for months, but behind-the-door wrong expectations over the last the heart of democracy and the party haggling and political horse- six months or they confuse their choices that people make when trading is not unique to Kosovo; own political differences with a they vote. Elections may indeed they are hallmarks of many multi- democratic process that didn’t go have major consequences with party parliamentary systems. to their liking. You don’t have to sweeping historical outcomes, as It comes as an interesting de- support the current political par- when Nelson Mandela was elected velopment, nonetheless, to see ties in power in order to accept President of South Africa, or when how Kosovars vent their frustra- their political legitimacy. Accept- Obama be- tion over the latest political deal ing defeat with grace is a sign of MIKRA c a m e the first black between Mustafa’s Democratic democratic maturity. KRASNIQIPresi- dent of the US. League of Kosovo, LDK, and Instead, the political frustra- In oth- er instances, Hashim Thaci’s Democratic party tion should encourage an active elections bring of Kosovo, PDK, which led to the political movement, away from the to power political forces that may formation of a government after levers of power, which connects not necessarily be good for the six months of paralysis. with voters at a basic level, explain- country. Voters sometimes make Somehow, this widespread ing to them the fundamentals of perplexing choices when they em- despondency suggests that the why they should not re-elect poli- Mikra power the same people over and democratic process is broken and ticians who have done so much Krasniqi, over again, despite widespread that voters are being cheated in damage to the country. Only by a native of evidence of political corruption, this deal. The basic fact remains working with voters and winning Kosovo, is a voter intimidation, shadowy busi- that the new government is a di- their trust over matters that are senior econ- ness deals, and nepotism. rect result of the majority vote. important to them can sweeping omist with Regardless of the end result, Seen from this viewpoint, the po- changes occur. the Govern- at the heart of it, free elections are litical parties that won the largest For now, however, Kosovars ment of supposed to validate the judge- share of the popular vote in the last have a government legitimized by Maryland’s ment of voters. Democracy is root- election are forming a government their own vote. For better or worse, Department ed in the belief that majorities have and by definition that is political le- voters will deal with the conse- of Economic the right and the wisdom to hand gitimacy, reconfirming the vote of quences of their own vote. It is up and Busi- political control to a number of in- a majority. to the opposition to take this oppor- ness Devel- dividuals at any given time. That’s Voters are legitimately frustrat- tunity to start educating the voters opment in the theory, at least. The operational ed with certain political figures re- and get them to pay attention next Baltimore. definition of elections today is to assigned or re-elected into the new time to better alternatives. This His opinions shuffle the levers of control from government - Thaci down a notch is democracy at work with all its are solely one political force to another with to serve as Deputy Prime Minis- imperfections and pitfalls. The his own and minimal scrutiny and little change. ter and Foreign Minister, among sooner Kosovars get used to it, the not reflect What the public gets comes in the others – and with their previous sooner they will find alternative those of his form of consequences, whatever failures and widespread corrup- methods of electing governments employer. they may be - consequences that, tion. There is nothing wrong with with more public support. 16 n December 19, 2014 - January 15, 2015 n Prishtina Insight