News: Kosovo Serbs in the North Released on Technical Grounds

October 15 - 28, 2010 Issue No. 49 www.prishtinainsight.com Price € 1 Thousands of NEWS Kosovo Ruling Party Kosovars Face Risks Exclusion Repatriation From 2011 Poll > page 3 The case of nine-year-old BUSINESS twins, returned to Kosovo Serbia May Veto by Austrian Police on Kosovo Chair of Wednesday, highlights Trade Group the plight of thousands > page 6 of families being thrown CITY out of Western Europe. Prishtina Taking Tough Line on See Page 12 - 13 Illegal Buildings > page 8 Lobby Contract Breaks NEIGHBOURHOOD Media Boss Accused of Undermining Kosovo Law on Tenders Jolie Film Prishtina’s decision to take on the top US firm Patton Boggs, without considering rival bids, flouts Kosovo’s own laws on tendering. By Lawrence Marzouk and the price with only one firm, the information on this case,” he told Asked whether the government Petrit Collaku Office of the Prime Minister Prishtina Insight. “I don’t recall had followed due process before should have applied to the PPA anything about this particular agreeing to the deal, he advised osovo’s government has with documents demonstrating contract.” Prishtina Insight to contact the awarded a lobbying con- why only one firm could supply Racaj was unable to identify any legal department of the Ministry Ktract worth 600,000 euro a the services. documents in his agency relating of Economy and Finance, saying year without a tender process, Only then, according to law, to the deal, while confirming that they were “responsible for funding Prishtina Insight has discovered. would the government have been the PPA needed first to agree to the project”. The decision to hand the one- allowed to begin negotiations with any awards of negotiated con- The head of the legal office at year lucrative deal to one of a specific lobby company. tracts. the Ministry of Economy, Lulezim Washington’s top lobby firm, On October 5, the government Government spokesman Memli Rafuna, then told Prishtina > page 13 Patton Boggs, appears blatantly to issued a decision that it was allo- Krasniqi told Prishtina Insight on Insight to contact the legal office breach the law on public procure- cating the 50,000-euro-a-month Tuesday that the government was of the Prime Minister’s office. “We ment. contract to Patton Boggs to “pro- allowed to use a “single source” don’t have anything to do with this TIME OUT By law, the Office of the Prime mote and protect the interests of tender process, in which only one matter,” Rafuna insisted. Minister, which is leading the the institutions of the Republic of company is allowed to bid, and that The head of the legal office at Nouvelle Guide process, should have gained per- Kosovo abroad”. the deal would be signed “in days”. the Prime Minister’s office then mission from the Public The head of the PPA, Mursel He maintained that the deal was told Prishtina Insight to speak to to Play Prishtina Procurement Agency, PPA, before Racaj, told Prishtina Insight that good news for Kosovo. “This is the procurement department. awarding any such deal. he was not aware the deal had what we need as a country and as a Next Week As it had decided to negotiate been awarded. “I don’t have any government,” he said. continues page 2 > page 17 Wires Stay Crossed in Clinton: Start Talks Now, But JUSTICE Serbia-Kosovo Energy Row Leave North until Later Justice in Kosovo: Belgrade and Prishtina remain locked in US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton a bitter dispute over energy supplies, one said today that status, sovereignty and ter- October 2010 year after the October 19, 2009 crisis that ritorial integrity will not be part of the saw power cut in the Serb-majority north talks between Kosovo and Serbia. Newsletter of the country for 18 hours. On the last stop of her Balkans tour, fol- The disagreement intensified in lowing visits to Bosnia and Herzegovina September when it emerged... and Serbia, Clinton met Kosovo... news page 2 news page 12 > page 22

Y M is supported by: C K 2 October 15 - 28, 2010 news Wires Stay Crossed in Serbia-Kosovo Electricity Row A year after Serb-run northern Kosovo suffered a power cut for 18 hours, as temperatures plunged, the energy dispute between Belgrade and Prishtina shows no sign of resolution. were undertaking “illegal activi- and all citizens, regardless of ties” in the north of the country. nationality, have power at a price KEK spokesperson Viktor that is 50 per cent lower than the By Besiana Xharra Buzhala said they had evidence that one that KEK offers,” he added. the two operators, supported by Cebalovic dismissed the KEK’s Serbia’s Elektromreza, EMS, are claims that they were supplying elgrade and Prishtina distributing electricity from substa- electricity to the north. “The EPS remain locked in a bitter tions to homes and billing cus- supplies electricity to northern Bdispute over energy sup- tomers. Kosovo and Metohija and it is logi- plies, one year after the October 19, “Only the KEK is licensed to cal for those who deliver goods to 2009 crisis that saw power cut in …supply electricity across Kosovo’s charge for it,” he said. the Serb-majority north of the territory and no one else,” Buzhala Elektrokosmet was a subsidiary country for 18 hours. said. “Users of electricity should of the state-owned EPS and head- The disagreement intensified in not be making payments to quartered in Mitrovica, northern September when it emerged that Elektrokosmet or EPS.” Kosovo, he explained. [Half of Serbia would face a hearing with He explained that since last Mitrovica lies in the Serbian zone the regional energy regulator, the November, the only supplier of elec- of Kosovo.] “The company buys Energy Community, concerning tricity in the north had been the electricity from the EPS and then what Kosovo claims is theft of 5 KEK, so, if customers were discon- charges customers in northern million euro a year from Kosovo in nected because of non-payment, Kosovo and Metohija,” he went on. tax revenues. they must immediately contact the He added that since EPS had Kosovo also maintains that firm to arrange reconnection. stepped in, the rate of bill collection Electricity is another major area of disagreement between Kosovo and Serbia Serbia’s energy operator is leveling Buzhala accepted that the situa- in the north had improved drasti- illegal fees, costing Kosovo energy tion had got “out of hand” in the cally, more or less from a base of regulates the transfer of electricity the treaty, it can be excluded from consumers 10 million euro a year October 2009, when the KEK zero, as “until then, people had not across Southeast Europe. the Energy Community. and raising the price of power by 20 stopped supplying electricity to the been paying [for power] for 10 But difficulties with the Serbian Fadil Ismajli, KOSTT’s chief per cent. north as a result of what he claimed years”. For its part, the KEK esti- Transmission Operator, EMS, have executive, told Prishtina Insight: As temperatures plunged sud- was a systemic failure. During that mates that 100 million euro in led to KOSTT issuing a complaint “We are confident that the issue denly on October 19, 2009, the north time, he went on, the EPS supplied unpaid bills has accumulated in to the Energy Community. between KOSTT and the Serbian of Kosovo, effectively ruled from the north with electricity. northern Kosovo over the years. On September 17 the Energy operator will finally be solved and Belgrade, lost all electricity. “But this was only during A source in the KEK told Community’s secretariat in in future we expect to have good The area remained without October [2009],” he continued. Prishtina Insight that it was await- Vienna sent a letter to Serbia, cooperation with EMS, as with all power until Serbia’s public energy “Since then, the KEK has managed ing a political solution to the overall informing it that it had initiated a other regional and European TSOs provider, Elektroprivreda Srbije, the situation and the KEK is the problem. “The EPS doesn’t supply preliminary procedure against the [Transmission system operators].” EPS, stepped in to reopen an only supplier of electricity in the the north with electricity but Serbs EMS for non-compliance with the However, Mildan Vujicic, unused power line from the south- north.” there still believes that ther EPS is treaty. spokesperson for the EMS, said western Serbian town of Novi Buzhala said the EPS was break- supplying them,” the source KOSTT claims it is losing 5 mil- KOSTT’s accusations were ground- Pazar. Serbian politicians claimed ing the law: “This is a matter of claimed. “There’s not very much lion euro annually because EMS is less. “The EMS and EPS can only that the move averted “a humani- rule of law and the KEK expects all that the KEK can do to solve this “illegally obtaining financial bene- make agreements with UNMIK,” tarian catastrophe”. law enforcement authorities in issue, as it is a situation between fits” from international energy he said. “We don’t communicate It remain unclear why northern Kosovo to take appropriate actions the Serbian and Kosovo govern- transfers through Kosovo. with KOSTT, and all agreements Kosovo lost power that day; expla- to ensure implementation of the ments.” It also alleges that Serbia is we made refer to us and UNMIK as nations range from network over- rule of law in the north.” Whether KEK or EPS are correct charging energy traders VAT for signatories,” he continued. load to human error and problems The EPS denies it is operating as not be determined independently. imports to Kosovo that pass Vujicic confirmed that Serbia at a particular substation. illegally, however, and said the com- Hajredin Kuci, Kosovo’s Deputy through Serbia. had received a letter from the But since then, the EPS has sup- pany had a right to supply electrici- Prime Minister, said the govern- Zana Rama, spokeswoman for Energy Community Secretariat plied electricity to northern ty to northern Kosovo. Spokesman ment was working to find a solu- KOSTT, told Prishtina Insight: but added: “The letter is based on Kosovo and has been billing cus- Momcilo Cebalovic said Resolution tion. “We are trying to resolve the “The damage to Kosovo, which is KOSTT’s documentation only,” he tomers. 1244, the 1999 UN resolution that situation, along with internation- eventually paid by Kosovo cos- said. Meanwhile, the Kosovo Energy allowed for the deployment of the als,” he said. tumers, is estimated to be around Serbia is preparing to present its Corporation, KEK, claims that this UN Mission in Kosovo, UNMIK - 10 million euro annually. evidence at a forthcoming session is illegal and says it has been pro- which Serbia argues is still in force Breaking the treaty? “In this context, prices of of the Energy Community viding customers there with ener- - does not mention the issue of ener- imported energy are about 20 per Secretariat in Vienna, he added. gy since November 2009. gy supply. The Kosovo Electricity cent higher compared to regional “That is the only way we can He said that in autumn 2009, the Transmission, System and Market countries,” Rama added. resolve the issues,” he said, noting Power Games: KEK abandoned the northern part Operator, KOSTT, is responsible Following receipt of the Energy that communication with UNMIK of Kosovo, since when “the EPS for transmitting electric power on Community’s letter, Serbia has two was “very good”. The KEK told Prishtina Insight took over supply of the province in the main electric networks in and months to respond, after which it “The only motives behind that it is concerned that two non- order to prevent a humanitarian out of, and across, Kosovo. may be found in breach of the KOSTT’s actions have to do with licensed entities, EPS and another disaster. It is also a signatory to the Energy Community Treaty. lobbying for Kosovo’s independ- provider, Serbia Elektrokosmet, “The supply is running smoothly Energy Community Treaty, which If Serbia is found to have broken ence,” Vujicic concluded. Government Lobby Contract Breaks Tender Rules from page 1 in fact, yet given the contract to This stated that the govern- often strongly influenced by polit- ing forward with lower offers. the company. It had only “made a ment had “decided to engage the ical considerations, he said. Patton Boggs’ foreign affairs The Office of the Prime suggestion about cooperating company Patton Boggs LLM”. “The government appoints lob- adviser is Frank Wisner. The for- Minister’s head of procurement, with them. The official report of the meeting byists that they owe for helping mer US Secretary of State under Isa Hajdari, then requested we “No decision is made yet, and lists one of its decisions as “agree- them come to power,” Zogiani George Bush, Condoleezza Rice, speak to the government’s the contract is not signed yet,” ing to pay Patton Boggs 50,000 euro told Prishtina Insight. appointed Wisner as the US’s spe- spokesperson, Memli Krasniqi. the spokesman added. a month for its services”. An expert on Washington lobby cial representative to the Kosovo When Prishtina Insight spoke However, claims that the gov- Avni Zogiani, head of the anti- firms told Prishtina Insight that Status Talks in 2005, where he again to Krasniqi on Thursday, ernment was only “cooperating” corruption NGO COHU, said he while 50,000 euro a month was not played a crucial role in negotiat- having informed him that the with Patton Boggs appear to con- was not surprised that the gov- excessive for such a top firm as ing Kosovo’s independence. PPA had not received any request tradict the government’s own ernment was flouting the law. Patton Boggs, an open tender There is no suggestion that to waive the usual tender process, press release, issued following its Tenders and contracts for process would have resulted in a Patton Boggs acted inappropri- he said the government had not, meeting on October 5. international consultants are number of good companies com- ately in obtaining the contract.

Y M C K news October 15 - 28, 2010 3 Kosovo Ruling Party Risks Editor’s Word Exclusion From 2011 Poll Tokenism Opposition says they will ask the Constitutional Court to rule on whether the Democratic Party of Kosovo has broken the rules by not holding internal elections within last three years. By Lawrence Marzouk

’ve given up the usual Albanian word from this week’s col- umn as part of my fight against tokenism. . IThat’s the art of glossing over real issues with tokens, whether it is reassuring but insincere words, or throwing the odd ethnic minority into a line-up just for show. In that sense, my usual biweekly Albanian word is a sop, or a token, to the fact we live in a country where most people speak Albanian, even though the phrase is always drowning in a sea of English, the language of the flag-oppressor. Although, I hope, it’s always useful for our readers to pick up a new word in the local lingo, it is, I must admit, a bit of tokenism. Back to the flag oppression, and there has been plenty of that this week. First, an order from on high, possibly from the US Embassy according to unconfirmed reports, demanded that all Albanian flags be taken down for the visit of Hillary. No red and black, they said, apparently it would have clashed with her outfit. Then, Serbian hooligans decided to burn an Albanian flag as they ran amok in Genoa before their country faced the Italian national side. Voters are expected to go to the polls in February, but a question mark hangs over whether Kosovo’s biggest party will be able to participate The reaction to both events has astounded me. Tens of thou- sands of people have signed various Facebook campaigns and all its branches and sub-branches in political parties tend to lead to splits thousands, for what I can see, have also changed their profile time to meet the general election rather than internal dialogue. status to various forms of the double-headed eagle. deadline. “The moment people who think dif- I’ll deal with the second incident first. There are idiots in By Edona Musa The PDK’s government coalition ferently appear, factions appear,” he every country on earth, and we should not get upset by the partner, the Democratice League of said. “That they then separate shows actions of a few racist bigots. Kosovo, LDK, has also missed the that there is no democracy.” Admittedly burning someone’s flag is offensive, but what deadline to hold its internal polls, but An example of this was the split osovo expects to stage early kind of behaviour did people actually expect from the ultra- should complete its round of elec- inside the LDK, following its internal right, hooliganism wing of Red Star Belgrade’s fans? general elections in February tions by the end of November. elections in 2006, which led to the cre- 2011, following the resignation ‘Ignore, move on and reach out to the moderate majority in K It last organised a vote almost four ation of a new party, the Democratic of the country’s President, Fatmir every country’ would be my advice. years ago in December 2006, following League of Dardania, LDD. Sejdiu. As an aside, I can’t remember anyone standing up against the death of its leader, Kosovo’s first After Nexhat Daci lost the LDK But in a recent twist, it has the principle of ‘not burning flags’ when the supporters of president, Ibrahim Rugova. leadership election to Fatmir Sejdiu, emerged that the poll could theoreti- Prishtina last year set a Macedonian standard ablaze after the The LDK has already begun the he set up the new party following cally take place without the participa- encyclopedia row. process of holding elections at local what was called the “Convention of tion of the country’s biggest party. Someone even phoned the BIRN office up to ask whether we level and is expected to be have select- Chairs”, so named after the fight that Central Election Commission rules could ask Hillary whether Kosovo should negotiate with a ed a new leader by the end of broke out after the vote. on party registration state that a country – Serbia – which is willing to burn the Albanian flag. November. However, Beqiri insists that his party faces suspension if it has not If the US’s foreign policy was based on negotiating only with “The LDK announced last year that own LDK is the most democratic held an internal election of all its countries which had not burned the stars and stripes, then it we would hold internal elections this party in the country. Members who members within three years of the would not be talking to many. year, and we’re obliged to respect disagreed with party policy were free last “electoral assembly”. I have more sympathy for those angry at the decision to legal norms,” said Ismet Beqiri, to express their ideas openly, he However, Kosovo’s biggest party, remove Albanian flags from Prishtina. It is the flag of the member of the LDK’s presidency. declared. the ruling Democratic Party of nation and not the state, after all. “The Constitution cannot be The two main faces of the PDK, Kosovo, PDK, led by the Prime Although perhaps confusing for some passing dignitaries respected in a selective manner,” he Hashim Thaci and Fatmir Limaj, Minister, Hashim Thaci, has not held and tourists, most people are able to spot the nuance with a added. a party congress since 2005. As such, have been seen as rivals since the lat- minimal briefing. it risks disqualification from compet- Political analyst Halil Matoshi told ter returned to Kosovo following his The Albanians of Kosovo should, of course, be allowed to fly ing in the election. Prishtina Insight that the PDK release in December 2005 from the their flag, even if it is also the state flag of their neighbour, should not have had the right to take International Criminal Tribunal for The opposition Alliance for the Albania. part in the last local elections in Former Yugoslavia, ICTY. Future of Kosovo, AAK, has said that But it is an entirely different matter whether a government, November 2009 either, because it had The relationship between the two is it will ask Kosovo’s Constitutional which is supposed to represent a multi-ethnic state, should be failed to comply with Election believed to be frosty, especially since Court to rule on the issue if the PDK flying the flag of just one ethnicity for a state visit, especially Commission guidelines even at that Limaj, Kosovo’s Transport Minister, fails to hold internal elections - and is when it is such a sensitive issue. point. became embroiled in a corruption still allowed to stand in next year’s If you want to fly one, I am afraid, you are going to have to probe led by the European Union rule- have the flags of Serbs, Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian, Gorani, elections. Strong leaders prevail: of-law mission in Kosovo, EULEX. Bosniak, Montenegrin, and the list goes on. Burim Ramadani, the AAK However, analysts downplay talk of The problem is that Kosovo is only really a multi-ethnic state General Secretary, told Prishtina While the opposition AAK and New a leadership clash between Limaj and in the eyes of those who want it to be so. That is why passing Insight: “If a party doesn’t hold elec- Kosovo Alliance, AKR, have held Thaci. diplomats, usually a fan of this concept, have to ensure he or tions every 36 months, they cannot be internal elections, neither Ramush “Limaj cannot take on Thaci, even if she makes a visit to see the monks of Gracanica, by now prob- certified and are illegal parties.” Haradinaj or Behgjet Pacolli, respec- he has the confidence of the majority ably the savviest international operators to also wear the cloth, The commission has been hesitant tively, have been challenged for the of the party, while he is under investi- and why we had both a Serb and Albanian journalist present- to comment in public on this issue but top jobs of these parties. gation by EULEX,” Matoshi said. ing Hillary’s session with civil society on Wednesday (although has been briefing that it expects the Political analysts believe that even Zogiani of COHU, on the other the Serb journalist was obviously dubbed on RTK into PDK to hold internal elections soon. within parties that comply with the hand, says he detects signs of a com- Albanian). Rame Buja, head of the PDK parlia- law on internal elections, there is lit- ing split within the party. He believes A multi-ethnic society is a good noble goal, but what we have mentary group in the Assembly of tle true spirit of democracy. Limaj has become closer to the AAK, for the moment is just tokenism. Kosovo, defends the party’s position, Matoshi, a commenator for the led by Thaci’s arch-rival, Haradinaj. The mantra of ‘Kosovo is a multi-ethnic society’ is tokenism arguing that Kosovo has had a busy newspaper Koha Ditore, says the par- “There is a current within PDK for the Serbs, who aren’t particularly pleased to have found agenda and the party had been wait- ties do not function democratally that is tending to get closer to the themselves outnumbered twenty-to-one by Albanians. ing for “a better environment” before because the leaders see themselves as AAK,” he said. “Structures in both In my view, the decision not to allow the Albanian flags to fly holding the poll. aristocrats. parties are trying to bring the two was the right one in the context, although it should come from “They cannot disqualify us “The [little] power they delegate parties closer.” Kosovo’s government, not any foreign government, especially because we will soon hold a working shows how much internal democracy The PDK’s Buja argues that there is as they are so committed to multi-ethnicity. convention,” he added, referring to a these political parties have,” Matoshi fruitful debate and a healthy demo- If people have a problem with this idea, then they should be meeting of all members that does not said. cratic spirit within the PDK. addressing their anger to the government about the concept of Y involve an actual election. Avni Zogiani, head of the anti-cor- Democracy is not all about having the multi-ethnic state, not a one-off decision to bring down M Buja said it would be impossible for ruption NGO, COHU, noted that dif- rivals for the party leadership, he told some flags for a dignitary’s visit. That is just tokenism. C the PDK to hold internal elections in ferences of opinion within Kosovo’s Prishtina Insight. K 4 October 15 - 28, 2010 news Kosovo Visa Liberalisation Process ‘to Start Soon’ The European Commission is set to unveil Kosovo’s strategy for visa liberalisation in the coming weeks despite growing disquiet in some European quarters about the expansion of visa-free travel for Balkan citizens Kosovo needs to be included in visa Disquiet over Visa liberalisation,” she said, referring to the five member states which Liberalisation By Lawrence Marzouk have yet to recognise Kosovo’s Kosovars hope to travelling visa free across Europe soon February 2008 declaration of inde- Albania and Bosnia’s steps Belgium filed by citizens mainly the world’s youngest state. pendence. towards the White Schengen List from Serbia and Macedonia. But she remains confident that Kosovo’s Minister of European have not been without controversy. In recent weeks it has emerged the Council of the European Union he European Commission is Integration, Besim Beqaj, told Officials in Paris have expressed that Sweden has become the latest would approve the move for expected to formally open Prishtina Insight that he also doubt in recent weeks about destination for Serbians seeking Albania and Bosnia next month TKosovo’s visa liberalisation expects a ‘strategy’ for the visa lib- extending visa liberalisation to asylum. and said it would be ridiculous to process in the coming weeks, eralisation to be revealed soon. Albania and Bosnia, which have Ulrike Lunacek, Rapporteur on According to local reports, of the exclude Kosovo from the process. He said that the process had been now fulfilled the technical criteria Kosovo to the European 22,045 applicants that have sought “There is a responsibility to renamed a strategy, rather than the to become members of the White Parliament, has told Prishtina asylum in Sweden this year, about those that already have liberalisa- usual ‘guidelines’, because of the Schengen List, according to the Insight. 4,000 declared Serbian citizenship, tion to make it clear to their citi- five EU member states which do EC. The Green MEP said she expect- not recognise Kosovo’s independ- “The Commission wants a meas- compared with 421 in the same zens that visa liberalisation is not ed the European Commission, EC, ence. ure [visa liberalisation] but will period last year. for seeking asylum or seeking a to open Kosovo’s path towards the “In essence, the strategy is the not be dealing with its negative In September alone, 1,410 job,” she said. White Schengen List, which allows same as the guidelines,” Beqaj said. impacts,” an unnamed high-level Serbian citizens arrived in the “Kosovo has just 2 million people citizens of a country to travel He added that the government French diplomat told Le Monde country, seeking asylum. so it would be ridiculous to leave across most of the European Union has fulfilled ‘all its obligations earlier this month. Lunacek said the issue was them out and it would affect the without a visa, in the ‘next couple required by the EU to receive the French State Secretary for raised in a recent meeting between democratisation process,” she said. of weeks’. strategy for visa liberalisation’. European Affairs Pierre Lellouche the EU and the Serbian govern- “We cannot leave 2 million people The news follows the European According to sources close to the called the visa policy a “matter of ment and called on the countries outside.” Parliament’s approval last week of process, Kosovo and Serbia’s path security” in a speech to the French which joined the list in January to Renzo Daviddi, head of the plans for Albania and Bosnia and towards the European Union are parliament on September 29. act responsibly. European Commission Liaison Herzegovina to join the list from being coordinated in order to give He said that France would She added that Kosovo’s image as Office in Kosovo, told Prishtina January. both countries steps forwards at request “security guarantees” a country of ‘criminals and corrup- Insight that the issue with asylum If the Council of the European roughly the same time. As a result, from Albania and Bosnia before it tion’ among certain member states, seekers would not derail Kosovo’s Union agrees to extend visa liberal- the announcement of Kosovo’s will support visa liberalisation. and increasing scepticism voiced path towards visa liberalisation. isation to the two Balkan states in strategy for visa liberalisation is Visa liberalisation for Serbia, by some major European powers, “Today this issue is also present November, Kosovars will be the likely to dovetail with progress for Montenegro and Macedonia was such as France, over extending visa in the public opinion and does not only citizens of the region requir- Serbia towards the EU, the source granted in January this year and liberalisation, present obstacles on present any problems,” Daviddi ing visas to travel to the EU. added. led to a spike in asylum claims in the road to visa liberalisation for said. The Austrian politician told Prishtina Insight that she agreed with some Kosovars’ fears that such a step would transform Kosovo into a ‘ghetto’. Charting an Unmapped Kosovo But she said she is optimistic the Volunteers are using an open-source online map service to plot Kosovo in detail for the first time liberalisation process will be extended to Prishtina. “Even those countries that don’t recognise Kosovo have said that By Lawrence Marzouk

ntil recently, detailed and www.prishtinainsight.com accurate maps of Kosovo Uwere almost impossible to find, in hard copy or online, and Publisher: you could forget about using a BIRN satellite navigations to locate your Balkan Investigative Reporting Network destination. But a group of volunteers and IT Mensa e Studenteve, first floor experts have been quietly but 10000, Prishtina steadily filling the void in decent cartography. Kosovo The online Open Street Map, Phone: +381 (0) 38 24 33 58 www.openstreetmap.org, forms Fax: +381 (0) 38 22 44 98 one prong of a movement for open [email protected] source programmes, which are copyright free and allow everyone from computer programmers to Editor-in-Chief: complete novices to access the pro- Lawrence Marzouk gramme code and update informa- [email protected] tion. Open Street Map has excellent coverage of Prishtina Editorial Team: Just two years ago, Kosovo was Open Source Software, Known as local logistics firm. in terms of the quantity of infor- virtually a blank slate on the Open Ana Petruseva, Gordana Igric, FLOSSK and the University of FLOSSK has now returned data mation available. Street website, as it was every- Prishtina. to the company with the new, “Kosovo is a beautiful country Jeta Xharra, Marcus Tanner, where on the internet, with just a James Michael DuPont, one of improved information. with beautiful places to visit but Petrit Collaku, Inge Baanders, Shengjyl few major towns and roads the driving forces behind FLOSSK DuPont said: “There is a huge no-one knows where these things Osmani and Belinda Vrapi marked, now thousands of cafes, and the improvements to Open community set up around this are,” DuPont added. “If you come restaurants, places of interest and Street Map, said that better maps database. It’s not some bureaucrat off a place you will not find these new roads have been plotted Marketing, Sales & Distribution: would boost investments in running around with a clipboard, places. thanks to the work of a small team Kosovo and help businesses. it is not a government that creates “Investors want to know where [email protected] of volunteers. He said that his group had col- this – it is you and me.” property is available and what the This work was outlined at last lected information ranging from While Google Maps, the best value of that property is, but at the Design & Layout: “Rrjeti” month’s conference Software municipal cadastral records to on- known commercial offer, has moment they can’t. Y Freedom Kosova 2010, organised the-ground photos to plot the map, improved drastically in recent “Map,” he said, “means money.” M Printing: Lindi Printing Center by local group Kosovar and had even used the Global months from a very low base, Open For more information visit open- C Association for Free/Libre and Copyright © BIRN Positioning System data from a Street Map remains streets’ ahead streetmap.org and flossk.org. K news October 15 - 28, 2010 5 Clinton: Start Talks Now, But Leave North until Later clothes’ shop named in her honour. “The US has asked Serbia and During the meeting with Kosovo Kosovo to sit down at a table,” By Petrit Collaku leaders, Clinton said that the US Clinton said at the joint press con- was pushing for dialogue between ference with PM Thaci. Prishtina and Belgrade that would The secretary of state said that offer technical solutions for Kosovo, as the youngest country in S Secretary of State Hillary Kosovo and Serbia, overcome the world, has to do many things at Clinton said on Wednesday obstacles and allow the two to the same time in order to create a Uthat status, sovereignty and become good neighbours. tradition of democracy and strong territorial integrity will not be part of the talks between Kosovo “As Prime Minister Thaci said public institutions to develop the and Serbia. today and President Tadic yester- economy and attract foreign day, some issues, such as status, investors. On the last stop of her Balkans Thaci and Clinton at a joint press conference in Prishtina tour, following visits to Bosnia and sovereignty and territorial integri- “The US will continue to offer Herzegovina and Serbia, Clinton ty of Kosovo will not be discussed,” assistance to the people of Kosovo pendent countries. After the meeting with Kosovo met Kosovo officials, as well as Clinton is quoted by the prime until you achieve those objectives,” “The time has come to end a cen- leaders, Clinton visited an leaders of the Serb community and minister’s website as saying. Clinton said. tury-old conflict between Kosovo Orthodox monastery in Gracanica, civil society organisations. She added that the leaders of PM Thaci reiterated that Kosovo and Serbia, the moment has come a Serb-run town. She told an audience of civil soci- both countries should come to the has expressed a readiness and will- for cooperation and looking She also met with the president ety members that talks should start dialogue with goodwill and respect ingness to build good inter-state towards the future. Kosovo is of the newly created predominant- as soon as possible, but on easier for the concerns of one another. relations with Serbia as two inde- ready,” Thaci told journalists. ly Serb municipality. issues than how to integrate Serbs in the north of the country, over which Prishtina has little control. What Hillary Said... “As you know, there are many successful Kosovar and “My opinion is that the status of Albanian Americans – every Greek and French restaurant in the north is resolved. And once On Business who are worried about privatis- that sinks in, that people of the ing the phone companies, pri- New York is run by somebody from either Kosovo or north will have to recognise that First, there has to be confidence vatising the electric companies, Albania, it seems like” they have to integrate into Kosovo, by American and other investors but it’s been our experience that that they must look to Prishtina, that the business climate is privatising companies will open market globally. The internet can statue. And my husband – it still that there cannot be any longer friendly to business, which means up competition, will provide more put your business, literally, on the looks like he has bronze coloured parallel institutions, that there has you have to tackle corruption; you jobs over the long run. There are world map. And it’s very cheap to hair, which I like. Because when I to be a commitment to working have to tackle organised crime, tourist sites in Kosovo that now do that. When I was a senator for met him – you know we’ve been together as many of the Serbian which is a problem in some parts that we’ve got firmly the inde- New York, many parts of New married 35 years as of Monday - communities to the south have of Kosovo; you have to continue pendence decision and there’s York, particularly upstate New so when I met him we were in law done,” she said. the economic reforms that will peace and stability in Kosovo, we York away from New York City, school, and he had very brownish, “Therefore, I think it is in lead to a more open economy. can start working to get people to are very poor – high unemploy- reddish hair. And the statue Kosovo’s interest to begin the dia- Second, I think we have to do know about. ment, not very many businesses. reminds me of that, so of course I logue as soon as possible on issues more to generate what are called I think that now is the time And I worked to put small busi- like the statue. Nobody should that are at first perhaps easier, like “small businesses” or “micro- that we could be holding invest- nesses on the internet because paint it white. Don’t paint it missing persons.” businesses.” I think there are a lot ment conferences between there are ways that you can make white. Keep it that colour She added that the US wants to of entrepreneurial people in Kosovo and investors in the more money if you have a bigger help Kosovo speed up the process Kosovo who can’t get access to United States. As you know, there market than just in your local vil- On Dialogue of integration of the north. credit to start or expand their are many successful Kosovar and lage or community. “So what we have to do is work own businesses. So we need to Albanian Americans – every So we have lots of ideas and Well, we are trying to make out the best way to integrate the look at ways of helping you find Greek and French restaurant in we’re ready to share those ideas, every consideration possible so citizens of the north. And perhaps credit for more small businesses. New York is run by somebody but there are certain steps that that this dialogue will be a dia- there is more that could be done There’s the big business that from either Kosovo or Albania, it your government has to take and logue between equals. When the more quickly, but I don’t think that might come in, but actually, more seems like. Every time I go to that your business community representatives of Kosovo sit with should delay this dialogue,” she jobs over the long run are created one, that’s what they come and must take to break monopolies, the representatives of Serbia, we said. by many small businesses start- tell me. So we need to be looking open up competition, open up the want to have an agenda and a Before sitting down for talks ing and growing. So I would like for successful business people in market, and really let the entre- framework for the negotiations with Kosovo’s prime minister, the advice of you about how we the United States to help broker preneurial energy of the people of that will help lead to resolution of Clinton visited a statue dedicated can do more to help small busi- understanding and work with Kosovo start making money and any of the remaining issues, like to her husband, former US presi- nesses in Kosovo. businesses here doing business putting people to work. missing persons, for example, dent Bill Clinton, which is located And finally, you need to finish training, mentoring, entrepre- internally displaced persons. on a boulevard named after him in privatising state industries. neurial activity. On Bill’s Statue There’s a lot of issues that are the centre of Prishtina. The for- I know it’s a debate in your par- And don’t forget the internet. I present not in the headlines, but mer president is considered a hero liament. I know there are some mean, the internet can give you a Well, I have to say it’s quite a in the daily lives of people. in Kosovo. She then popped into a Roma Lead Camp Closed, But Different Sides Claim Credit

Human rights and health groups contaminated camp for displaced September 2010 under the USAID- Mitrovica demolished 4 hard-built have long expressed concern about persons’. funded project, and the EU-funded structures in Cesmin Lug camp, the level of pollution in Cesmin “The United Nations mission in project will ensure resettlement of while UNHCR had two trucks and By Lawrence Marzouk Lug, one of three camps opened by Kosovo (UNMIK) has demolished a an additional 90 RAE families cur- one van for facilitating the trans- UNHCR in 1999 to house hundreds controversial settlement inhabited rently living in the Osterode camp, port of beneficiaries’ belongings of Roma civilians who had fled to by uprooted members of the Roma the press release revealed. from Cesmin Lug to Osterode he lead-polluted camps northern Mitrovica after their community, which was contami- The projects are implemented camp.” which have been home to homes in the city’s south were nated with lead from a nearby by the NGO Mercy Corps on behalf UNMIK, on the other hand, told TKosovo’s Roma refugees in attacked. plant,” the release reads. of both USAID and the EU. Prishtina Insight: “On October 1, north Mitrovica for more than ten The settlements were only But a statement issued four days But neither rival press release in a coordinated effort of UNHCR, years were closed on October 1. intended to be used temporarily, later by the European Commission referenced the work of the other Mercy Corps International (MCI), But in separate press releases, but until recently the site Liaison Office in Kosovo, ECLO, international organisation. RAE residents and UNMIK the United Nations and then the remained home to hundreds of said that a ‘joint EU and USAID When Prishtina Insight asked Administration in Mitrovica EU and USAID have claimed cred- Roma. effort had brought Cesmin Lug ECLO whether it was the USAID (UAM), Cesmin Lug camp in the it for shutting the camps down. But on October 1, the camps camp in north Mitrovica to a suc- and the EU team which had closed northern part of Mitrovica was The nearby Trepca lead mine were officially closed and the cessful closure’. the camps or the UN, Fjolla Ceku, closed and the last residents and smelting works were closed in remaining inhabitants have been “This breakthrough was made press officer, said her organisation moved to Ostorode camp. 2000, but heaps of waste matter resettled in new homes or to possible with the joint efforts of had been surprised by the press “UAM sealed the camp, while were never cleaned up and the sur- another nearby refugee camp, USAID and EU-funded projects in reports detailing the UN’s involve- the area remains to be under rounding area remains extremely Osterode, which has been made full coordination with other stake- ment. She added that the camps UNMIK Administration in contaminated. Dozens of cases of safer from lead poisoning. holders,” the statement said. were shut as part of the USAID-EU Mitrovica (UAM) custody and KP Y lead poisoning have been reported In a press release on October 8 Fifty RAE – Roma, Ashkali and project. protection. The remaining 22 fami- M over the years in the informal issued by the UN news agency, it Egpytian – families were resettled She said: “UNMIK lies have voluntarily moved to the C Cesmin Lug settlement. said that the ‘UN had shut the lead- in Roma Mahalla during Administration in North nearby Osterode camp.” K 6 October 15 - 28, 2010 business

Prishtina Airport Sees Passenger Serbia May Veto Kosovo Chair of Increase

rishtina International Aiport expects to Trade Group Pattract a further 100,000 passengers this year, com- Belgrade looks set on blocking Kosovo’s chairmanship of the pared to the last. Central European Free Trade Agreement from January 2011, During 2009, the 1 million milestone was reached on if it represents itself as an independent state. October 25, whereas this year ing CEFTA, the chair will go to the the figure was met in next country after Kosovo, Albania, September.

he added. in brief Business news The predicted number of By Lavdim Hamidi Minister Zharku rejects the pos- passengers for the full year is sibility that the country will lose expected to be 1.3 million. the chair of CEFTA, although he “For the past two years we accepts that it will face problems of have had an increase of elgrade could veto Kosovo’s different nature during the chairs almost 400,000 passengers,” chairmanship of the Central of Serbia, Bosnia and Moldova, said PIA Managing Director, European Free Trade B Agron Mustafa. “All this was none of which recognise Kosovo’s Agreement, CEFTA, from January achieved thanks to the hard 2011, a Serbian minister has independence. work of all employees of PIA, warned. “There is no possibility of losing While Kosovo’s government the chair of CEFTA and those creating best conditions for claims it will take up the position words are being said only by those airlines and passengers.” as an independent country, Serbia’s who have not read the agreement,” The airport is to be trans- Economy Ministry this week said Zharku said. ferred to the French-Turkish Prishtina must be represented by He insisted that Prishtina will consortium formed by the UN Mission in Kosovo, UNMIK. not direct CEFTA under the logo Aeroport de Lyon and Limak Serbia rejects Kosovo’s independ- “UNMIK-Kosovo”, as Serbia after the group successfully ence, declared in 2008, and insists requires. bid for a 20-year franchise. the UN remains paramount author- “We will chair CEFTA only as the A CEFTA map showing when countries left and joined the agreement ity there under Resolution 1244, Republic of Kosovo and in no other unlocking the trade embargo imposed, Minister Zharku threat- Large Firms in which authorised the deployment form,” he said. But he admitted that imposed by Serbia and Bosnia and ened blocking countries with recip- Latest Privatisation of a UN mission in Kosovo, UNMIK. Serbia, Bosnia and Moldova may Herzegovina. rocal measures. But the move never Round Kosovo’s Trade Minister, Lutfi refuse to attend meetings under From December 2008, when materialised on account of objec- Kosovo’s chairmanship. Zharku, says the country will only Kosovo replaced the UNMIK cus- tions from the international com- he Privatisation take up the post as “The Republic of Zharku explained that Kosovo is tom stamp with that of the Republic munity. Agency of Kosovo has Kosovo”. currently represented at CEFTA of Kosovo, Serbia and Bosnia Hashani said that if the country Tannounced the sale of a The stand-off could lead to the subcommittee meetings by experts placed embargos on imports failed to obtain the chair of CEFTA number of large firms as current chair, Serbia, not passing who go under their own names, not marked “Made in Kosova”. in 2011, it would represent a major part of its 45th round of auc- the baton to Kosovo, Berat Rukiqi, that of their country. This was done This has had far-reaching impli- failure not only for Kosovo but for tions. general secretary of the Kosovo to avoid disputes with the current cations for Kosovo’s already strug- the international community. The Health Spa near Peja, Chamber of Commerce, KCC, told chair, Serbia. gling export market, leading to a As of 2007, the parties to the Bauxite Mines near Klina, Prishtina Insight. Rukiqi said Kosovo was ill pre- crisis this year among grape pro- CEFTA agreement were Albania, Schock Absorbers Factory in “To take up the chair of CEFTA pared to chair CEFTA, unlike ducers, among others. Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Prishtina and a tobacco facto- in January 2011, Serbia should Serbia, which began preparations Kosovo’s biggest wine producer, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and ry in Mitrovica are among transfer the responsibilities to for the transfer in May 2009. Stone Castle, refused to purchase “UNMIK-Kosovo”. the firms up for grabs. Kosovo. However, neither side is Alban Hashani, senior analyst at any grapes from producers this The original members, Bulgaria, The last day for prequalifi- working on the transfer of respon- the Riinvest Institute, which spe- autumn because the embargo had the Czech Republic, Hungary, cation for this privatisation sibilities,” Rukiqi said. cialises in economic issues, said if left it unable to sell much of last Poland, Romania, Slovakia and round is October 20 2010, If Serbia refuses to transfer the Kosovo obtained the chair of year’s vintage. Slovenia, left the organisation after while bids must be submitted responsibilities to Kosovo for chair- CEFTA in 2011, it should work on At the time the embargo was they joined the European Union. by October 27. For a full list of companies and descriptions visit www.pak-ks.org. Kosovo Receives First World Bosnian Women ‘Beating Men in Pay Bank Funds League’ emale managers in Brussels. Bosnia earn more than their male counter- A World Bank report issued as F parts, a survey conducted by the decision was taken reveals that the country’s leading job site the fund hopes to ‘create steady By Besiana Xharra has revealed. employment and a favourable Female heads in financial environment for the development services outdo their male col- osovo has received 30million of policies for opening of new leagues by 32 per cent, accord- dollars from the World Bank jobs’. ing to the online survey con- K– the first time the country Investments will also be made to ducted by the www.posao.ba has received funds from the inter- ‘maintain flexibility of the labour national organisation since becom- job site. market and to protect workers’. ing a member in June 2009. In legal corporate services, According to the report, the The programme, which was they are paid 16 per cent World Bank also aims to improve agreed upon at a meeting of the more. the business registration process. The World Bank’s headquarters in Washington World Bank’s board of executive A similar trend was The programme will also pro- directors on October 4, aims to cre- this programme could prove diffi- stable economy,” observed in all other high vide assistance of higher educa- ate new jobs for Kosovo in a bid to cult because of the current unsta- Muhamet Sadiku from Riinvest positions in various sectors of tion to ensure a better quality of tackle an unemployment rate of ble political situation in the coun- Institute, which specialises in eco- institutions. employment in the country. about 45 per cent. try. nomic issues, complained that “The time has come that this However, Bosnian women The fund will also go towards “The World Bank programme is money promised at the donor’s programme be adopted in order to who work in lower position improving public procurement, very welcome,” said Myzejene conference was only trickling jobs earn about 92 percent of help the country in areas that the Selmani, the head of commission through. bettering higher education and what their male colleagues World Bank has submitted in its on economy in Kosovo’s Assembly “Investors are not feeling safe to tightening public expenditure get, the survey of 9,100 people programme,” said Hajredin Kuci, and a member of the opposition invest their money into a country management. revealed. Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo. New Kosovo Alliance, AKR. where there is much talk of cor- Of the 30.9 million dollar given, But the figure still puts “Kosovo is developing and such “Every donation helps in devel- ruption and organised crime - this 13.5 million comes in the form of them in a better position than donations will only accelerate this oping [the country], but this cur- makes them uncertain,” he said, Y grants, 6.3 million as loans and a working women in other development.” rent unstable government might adding that this 30.9 million dollar M further 11.1 million is composed of countries of the region, sur- But according to some, there is a jeopardise the programme. fund should be seen as a test for C donations pledged at the 2008 vey administrator Mersi