Opinion: Brussels Should Not Reward With Membership Talks

April 12 - 25, 2013 Issue No. 109 www.prishtinainsight.com Price € 1 NEWS Civil Service Chief Breaks Law With PDK Posts > page 3 NEWS Vows to Make North Respect Constitution > page 4 NEWS EU Reports Rise in Kosovar Asylum Seekers > page 6

Telekom Slovenije acquired Kosovo's IPKO in 2006. (Photo/Juanma Perez Rabasco) NEIGHBOURHOOD Serbia Sets Pride Slovenian Investigation Parade for September > page 9 Ensnares IPKO CULTURE Corruption probe into Slovenije Telekom revives accusations that bribery helped secure the license of Dervishes in a Spin Kosovo’s second-largest provider. Over authorities on similar information that Slovenije Telekom paid a bribe payment deadline, the tender went By Parim Olluri Rebuilt that can be used for investigations of 10 million euro for IPKO, which to the second-highest bidder, IPKO, rosecutors from the EU rule by both countries,” EULEX at the time was an internet service which offered 75 million euro. Tekke of law mission, EULEX, are spokesperson Blerim Krasniqi told provider called Ipko , to secure At the time, former US Secretary Ptaking a keen interest in a Prishtina Insight. its mobile operator’s license, the of State Madeline Albright, with > page 12 - 13 Slovenian corruption investiga- Late in March, Slovenia’s Slovenian newspaper Dnevnik her company, Albright Group, tion that is renewing suspicions National Bureau of Investigation, reported. served as an adviser to IPKO. about the way in which IPKO, NBI, arrested several former top- The accusations first surfaced in Albright remains a small sharehold- Kosovo’s second-largest mobile level officials at the state-owned the Kosovo media in 2007, a year er. provider, secured its operator’s Slovenije Telekom, which has held after after Kosmocell, a local consor- IPKO is now second-largest license six years ago. Kosovo’s only English-language a controlling stake in IPKO since tium led by Kosovo businessman mobile phone provider in Kosovo newspaper is available: “The [EULEX] prosecution is 2006. Ekrem Lluka, won the tender for the after the state-owned PTK. looking into the possibilities of col- Central to a wide-ranging corrup- license with a bid of 81 million euro. Delivered to laborating with the Slovenian tion investigation are allegations But as Kosmocell did not meet the continues page 2 Your Door

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is supported by: 2 April 12 - 25, 2013 news Slovenian Investigation Ensnares IPKO

from page 1 company and the market in which it operates,” the compa- In 2012, Albright’s investment ny added. fund, Albright Capital A diplomatic cable sent on Management, withdrew its bid to March 16, 2007 by the U.S. purchase a majority stake in PTK. Office in Prishtina and The Kosovo Competition released by WikiLeaks noted Commission had warned that the accusations. Tina a potential purchase would Kaidanow, the Chief of raise monopoly issues in the Mission, wrote in the cable telecom sector. that one of the partners of the The allegations raised in Kosmocell consortium, 2007, revived in late March by Kujtesa, had complained to the the Slovenian authorities, sug- US diplomatic office. gest Lluka deliberately Kujtesa, Kaidanow wrote, botched the deal in exchange claimed that Kosmocell had for 10 million euro from the 81 million euro it needed Slovenije Telekom. for the mobile phone license, Lluka, whose D3 mobile and that Lluka had pulled out later became a virtual mobile of the deal without consulting operator under IPKO, did not the other partners. respond to Prishtina Insight’s But Kaidanow also wrote requests for comment. that no compelling evidence IPKO meanwhile has sought supported the claims: “While to distance itself from the the tender process was not investigation. particularly elegant, it “Recent investigations into appears to have met the crite- Telekom Slovenije are not ria of fairness and trans- associated with the current parency.” Slovenian authorities are looking into the dealings of former Slovenije Telekom officials. management of Telekom The interest of Slovenian Slovenije or the IPKO compa- authorities in the deal, and the authorities to investigate how “The investigations in was owed the 16.2 million euro ny,” the company said in a seven arrests, suggest that the IPKO secured the mobile oper- Slovenia have started because after Kosmocell failed to com- news release. bribery allegations have more ator’s license. the public interest has been plete the license purchase. “IPKO’s current leaders are traction than they appeared to Self-Determination is also damaged. The same is even A 2011 report from the not part of the investigation, have six years ago. demanding to know why more true for Kosovo,” Self Telecom Regulatory Authority and they remain focused on In response into the Telekom Kosovo never cashed a 16.2- Determination said in a state- said that Kosmocell’s bank business growth, consumer Slovenije investigation, the million-euro bank guarantee ment. guarantee came from an satisfaction, new services and opposition Self-Determination that Kosmocell posted as col- According to the rules of the Italian financial institution creating value for the IPKO party this month asked Kosovo lateral for the tender. tender, the Kosovo treasury that did not exist. IPKO’s Powerful Friends Company co-founder discusses its purchase by Telekom Slovenije and his connections to Madeleine Albright and Hashim Thaci.

chase the company he co-founded. Musa said Ipko Net initially wanted Telekom Slovenije to pay By Parim Olluri 25 million euro for a majority stake. But the company did not want to pay that much. “We started bargaining. It lasted lovenian media reports for a month. In exchange for sell- maintain Telecom Slovenije’s ing 75 per cent, not 51 per cent of Sdealings concerning IPKO shares, we asked Slovenije have cost its shareholders millions Telekom to finance the increase in of euro. But the purchase for 16.5 million our capital,” Musa said. “In other euro of a 75-per-cent stake in what words, they gave us a loan.” was then a small Internet Service Musa said this loan allowed him Provider called Ipko Net was a and other shareholders, including good deal for the company Ipko Net’s co-founder, Akan founders, including Bujar Musa. Ismajli, currently Kosovo’s ambas- Musa’s role in what is now sador to the US, to increase their called IPKO own stakes. remains unclear. While he The increased stakes in turn led describes himself as a small share- to greater profits. holder, on IPKO’s official business Ismajli did not respond to registration he appears as a com- Prishtina Insight’s inquiries about pany director. Slovenije Telekom’s acquisition. Musa recently spoke to IPKO also had powerful help Prishtina Insight as the Slovenian along the way from Madeleine authorities scrutinize key transac- Albright, former US Secretary of tions that helped make IPKO the State. company that it is today. Musa said he enlisted Albright’s Asked about the Slovenian alle- help through an Ipko Net share- gations concerning the purchase holder, James O’Brien, who was IPKO co-founders Bujar Musa, left, and Akan Ismaili with the former UNMIK head Michael Steiner. of IPKO, Musa said: “Let them be part of the former Secretary of investigated if they have damaged State’s consultancy, Albright help was great and we can never Washington,” Musa said. the premier. Stonebridge Group. the budget of their country.” pay back what they have done for Musa also has a powerful friend “But it doesn’t mean that I have Musa declined to respond to alle- “We didn’t have to pay us,” Musa said. at home in Prime Minister had advantages from it,” he added. gations that Telekom Slovenije [Albright’s company] for the help. Musa said Albright opened Hashim Thaci who rents his flat in Musa added that he often meets paid Kosovo businessman Ekrem But we wanted to. We asked them Lluka a bribe of 10 million euro to first if we could give them a few doors in Washington and connect- Prishtina’s Sunny Hill neighbor- Thaci and discusses politics with back out of a winning bid for a shares. They accepted,” Musa ed the company to two interna- hood. him. Y mobile phone license, so IPKO said. tional development banks run by “I can’t tell what the rent is but “I am proud of it. I preserve and M could get it instead. Musa said Albright was incredi- the US government, EXIM Bank Thaci lives in a flat he has rented appreciate this connection. But, I C But he spoke freely about how bly helpful. “She gave us strategic and OPIC. from me,” he said. Musa says he have never needed or asked for K Telekom Slovenije came to pur- advice. She gave us contacts. Their “We felt at home in has a “personal friendship with financial help from him,” he said. news April 12 - 25, 2013 3 Civil Service Chief Breaks Law Editor’s Word With PDK Posts Fire Sale oday, the government is due to announce Despite serving on ruling party’s steering committee and leading a local office, Muhamet Latifi maintains the future owner of the state telecom, that he is not breaking the civil service law. TPTK. Let’s hope it doesn’t happen. With just two bidders left vying for a 75 per cent stake in PTK, the likelihood of Kosovo get- ting a respectable price for this highly profitable By Njomza Salihi and company seems quite low. Liridona Hyseni And there are troubling questions about the bidders. M1, owned by Lebanon’s former Prime Minister, is linked to allegations of bribery from he head of Kosovo’s civil service a mobile phone deal in Iran. Axos Capital also holds leadership posts in the Partners, a German private equity firm leading Truling Democratic Party of Kosovo, a consortium of bidders, doesn’t seem to have PDK, in a clear violation of the law. experience in telecommunications and hasn’t Muhamet Latifi, director of the been transparent about the identity of share- Department of Civil Service holders. Administration since 2010, is head of the In short, neither potential owner has a clean PDK branch in and was elected bill of health. to the party’s steering committee in Muhamet Latifi is in change of the civil service in Kosovo. He’s also a PDK leader. Why, then, sell PTK now? January. The prevailing argument is that Kosovo needs This is forbidden under the 2010 Law on The Anti-Corruption Agency has yet the Intelligence Service, SHIK, as vice the money — the government has spoken of a the Civil Service, which states: “Civil to give its opinion on whether Latifi is president of the PDK. 300 million to 600 million euro figure that it Servants cannot occupy directing posi- violating the law by serving as head of Bytyci, head of the Thaci’s communi- hopes to receive. The International Monetary tions in political parties and cannot be the civil service while holding PDK cations office, is forbidden from Fund recently warned that the government politically active.” leadership posts. involvement in party activities by the won’t be able build the new highway to Latifi admits his involvement in the Basri Musmurati, general secretary civil service law. Macedonia unless it sells PTK. PDK. “It’s true that I was elected to the of the PDK, told Prishtina Insight that Bytyci did not respond to Prishtina The second key argument is that PTK is a structures of the Democratic Party of while the party counts civil servants Insight’s inquiry about why he issued dinosaur that’s being held back by a bloated Kosovo,” Latifi told Prishtina Insight. among its officials, none serve in lead- the PDK announcement. workforce, gross mismanagement, and outdated He insists that he is not actually ership positions. Similar instances of civil servants infrastructure, and that a new owner will fix politically active. “When we see a conflict of interest, sending out party announcements have those problems. “I have suspended political activity we ask the person to choose between been recorded in Decan and Junik. Compounding this is the troubled history of since I got this job and if I continue to one of the two positions and the issue The public information officers in the privatisation effort. The first attempt in 2011 be involved in politics, according to the is fixed,” Musmurati said. these two municipalities sent out ended in scandal, with the government canceling law on civil servants, I will suspend my Prishtina Insight has reported on announcements about the Alliance for the bid after just one potential buyer was left, activity as a director,” Latifi said. previous instances of PDK leaders the Future of Kosovo from their official Austria Telecom. And the current sale has also Although Latifi said he had stepped serving as civil servants, including email accounts. had its share of trouble and delays, not the least down as head of the PDK branch in Naser Canolli, director of the Official The mayor of Junik, Agron Kuci, of which was the participation and withdrawal of Podujevo, he has not done so. In fact, he Gazette and newly elected member of blamed a technical mistake and Madeleine Albright’s investment fund. Thus, it’s was re-elected to the post on December the party steering committee. declined to comment further. tempting to put this saga to an end, and move on. 23. He offered no explanation as to how In fact, the line between party serv- Rasim Selmanaj, mayor of Decan, All of these arguments are compelling. Kosovo being elected to the PDK’s governing ice and civil service is frequently also blamed a technical problem. does need the money, PTK could use an overhaul body did not amount to political activi- blurred. “I’ve obviously told the information and the entire process has been a costly embar- ty. On March 26, Arianit Bytyci, a senior officer to send emails from the account rassment - with around a 4 million euro price tag Instead, he characterised himself as civil servant in the office of Prime of the party, but if it happened, it was a to date. a PDK supporter of nine years’ stand- Minister Hashim Thaci, sent out a PDK technical mistake that shouldn’t have A privatisation may be the answer, but it’s not ing. “The law doesn’t prohibit anyone press release announcing the appoint- happened and shouldn’t be repeated,” the only one. favouring a political party,” he said. ment of Kadri Veseli, former head of Selmanaj said. Other options are worth considering, especial- ly since PTK continues to generate a sizable prof- it. Last year, it put 45 million in Kosovo’s budget. Kosovo Bans Smoking in Why not look at a concession, like the agree- ment at Prishtina International Airport, and let a private company run and invest in PTK for a fixed amount of time, with a set share of the Public Areas profits going the government? Or why not even look at selling stock on the law, which President Atifete forbade smoking in indoor international equity market? Jahjaga is expected to sign. working areas and public Perhaps a PTK IPO sounds a little far-fetched, The law also aims to limit spaces, and in outdoor spaces but the point is that Kosovo does have other A man in smokes a cigarette By Prishtina Insight the sale of tobacco products connected with health care, options for how to get more money out of its tele- at a cafe – as pastime that’ll soon and their exposition, while education, or child care. com. be illegal. (Photo/Charles Roffey) preventive, educational and Since 2010, Macedonia has And even if classic privatization t proves to be awareness measures are also had a comprehensive national the best option, Kosovo can at least make PTK a Albania adopted tough anti- osovo smokers got bad to be implemented. smoke- law covering all more attractive product that’ll attract a higher smoking laws in 2007 but they news last week when A previous law on tobacco, public indoor areas. price. are not strictly enforced. Kparliament approved a approved in 2011, limited Curiously, though, the government hasn’t seen law on the control of tobacco, smoking in 30 per cent of pub- fit to do that. outlawing smoking in public lic areas, but was not ade- Reactions to the Smoking Ban The Regulatory Authority of Electronic and areas. quately implemented because Postal Communications, formerly known as the Kosovo MPs approved the it caused confusion amongst When I’ve heard about most terrible things in the Telecom Regulatory Authority, has, inexplicably, anti-smoking overwhelmingly, owners of bars, cafes, restau- the new ban on smoking, world. ” — Naser Goxhuli, 27 not issued 3 or 4G licenses, leaving Kosovo the with 71 votes in favour and two rants, and nightclubs on how “I said to myself how I am “I will respect this. I have only country in Europe that doesn’t have high- abstentions. No Kosovo law- to determine the non-smoking going to drink morning signs for no smoking every- speed mobile internet. Even Afghanistan and makers voted against. zones. espresso without a ciga- where. I want health inspec- North Korea have 3G providers. The ban prohibits smoking Regional countries have re3tte,” — Laureta Sahitaj, tors check out every place in High-speed mobile internet could a boon for in all public areas, on public imposed similar bans on student Prishtina.” Besim Fazliu, the Kosovo mobile phone sector. PTK said in 2011 transport, in work places and smoking. “Smoking is one of the owner of the Mol Caffe that the Telecom Regulatory Authority ignored other areas specified in the In November 2010, Serbia its requests for 3G and 4G licenses. The coun- try’s telecom regulator never explained why. Editor-in-Chief: Parim Olluri, Jeton Musliu and Design & Layout: “Rrjeti” That alone seems to be a great way to tell investors to stay away. After all, who wants to Artan Mustafa Donjeta Demolli. Arben Grajqevci invest in a telecom sector that’s in the technolog- [email protected] ical dark ages? Marketing, Sales & Printing: Lindi Printing Center Publisher: BIRN • Balkan Investigative Reporting Editorial Team: There isn’t a clear answer for what’s best for Distribution: Copyright © BIRN Network • Mensa e Studenteve, first floor • 10000, Jeta Xharra, Marcus Tanner, PTK’s future. But a tender with just two bidders [email protected] Prishtina • Kosovo • Phone: +381 (0) 38 24 33 58 Nate Tabak, Petrit Collaku, www.prishtinainsight.com — questionable ones, at that — isn’t it. 4 April 12 - 25, 2013 news Kosovo Vows to Make North Serbia to Respect Constitution Request Fresh Marking the fifth anniversary of the adoption of its constitution, Kosovo leaders said its provisions must one day extend to the Serb-dominated north of the country. Kosovo Talks Serbia says it will seek a new round of talks with Kosovo, blaming the failure of the last round on the lack of safe- By Edona Peci guards offered to the Kosovo Serbs. matum from Brussels and that he will back any decision that the gov- arking the fifth year of its ernment makes. adoption, leaders of By Bojana Barlovac "This format of talks is not accept- MKosovo said their consti- able anymore and we will insist that tution must be implemented “in the new talks are held under the aus- every corner of the country,” pices of an organization of which referring to the Serb-run north erbia's Deputy Prime we are a member,” Nikolic told a where Prishtina's writ does not Minister, Aleksandar Vucic, joint press conference with the run. Ssaid that the government will President of Republika Srpska, “The implementation of consti- ask for a new round of Belgrade- Milorad Dodik, in Belgrade on Northern Kosovo has largely been outside of Prishtina’s control since 1999. Prishtina talks following the tutionality and legality in the Sunday. breakdown of the last round. whole territory of the Kosovo matters have not altered since which was put on the table by the The EU-mediated dialogue was "Tomorrow [on Monday] we will Republic is a guarantee for demo- Kosovo declared independence EU foreign policy chief, launched in March 2011, three years make a formal response to Brussels cratic development and equality of from Serbia in 2008. Catherine Ashton. after Kosovo declared independence. and request continuation of the dia- all citizens," President Atifete The mainly Serb-populated On Tuesday, Kosovo's Prime The aim is to normalize relations logue and guarantees for the safety Jahjaga said. area is run by Serbian-financed Minister, Hashim Thaci, said he between the two countries, both of of the [Kosovo] Serbs," Vucic told "It is a necessity for establish- “parallel structures” in local had no doubt that one day “the which aspire to EU membership, in Serbian broadcaster TV Pink on ing the bases for a legal state, for security, judicial, health and edu- constitution will be fully imple- the context of Serbia's continued Sunday night. the long-term perspective and it cational institutions. mented in every corner of the refusal to recognise Kosovo's inde- This comes ahead of the Tuesday has an impact on the stability The dilemma has vexed rela- territory. There is no dilemma. pendence. and peace in the region,” she tions between Kosovo and Serbia. “The agreement on normaliz- deadline that the EU has set Serbia to added. No agreement was reached on the ing inter-state relations between decide on whether to give crucial The northern most part of north in recent EU-mediated Kosovo and Serbia will, without ground on Kosovo in order to save its Progressives Kosovo has been beyond the con- talks in Brussels. any doubt, be fully in line with EU bid. trol of the Kosovo government On Monday, Serbia rejected a Kosovo's constitution and laws,” The European Commission is due since the end of 1999 conflict and proposal related to the north he added. to recommend whether Serbia Against should open negotiations on April 16. The eighth round of EU-mediated talks in Brussels on April 2 failed to Agreement Serbia Says No To Kosovo Deal yield an agreement with Kosovo on the future of the judiciary and on with Kosovo the presence of the Kosovo military erbia’s ruling Progressives in Kosovo Serb areas. have decided to propose to By Marija Ristic and According to Vucic, the offer pre- Sthe Serbian government not Edona Peci sented in Brussels was meant "to to sign the agreement with humiliate us", explaining that it did Prishtina, but to urgently seek not include sufficient safety guaran- more talks, the party’s presidency tees for Serbs in Kosovo. He also said he Belgrade government has board stated on Monday morning. there was nothing written on paper. refused a deal with The president of the TPrishtina aimed at normal- Instead the Serbian delegation only Progressives, Vucic said that the ising relations, claiming that it heard requests. Serbian delegation was not offered endangers the basic rights of the "It must be clear that we do want to sign a clear document, but to Serb minority in north Kosovo. an agreement," Vucic added. agree on eight offered principles, Belgrade’s decision, which was Earlier on Sunday, the Prime out of which two were unaccept- reached at a government session Minister, Ivica Dacic, said that the able for Belgrade. last Monday, has already drawn government was strongly dedicated He said that Serbia failed to get expressions of dismay from the to continuing the Kosovo talks and clarification for several issues EU's top foreign policy official, was "unquestionably“ determined such as the presence security who said that Brussels believed The Serbian government insists it still is committed to talks with Kosovo. to continue with EU integration as forces in Kosovo north and juris- that an agreement should have well. dictions over education, health “remained committed” to contin- there was nothing written on been achievable. “We believe it is not useful to and justice. ued dialogue. paper, and instead, the Serbian But the Serbian government throw away everything that has “Regarding that we [Serbia] do “The government of Kosovo is delegation had only heard said that the deal offered in been done so far,” Dacic said on not have the paper that we are sup- disappointed with Serbia’s rejec- requests. Brussels did not provide basic Sunday after meeting representa- posed to decide on and that the tion of the proposal for normalis- "It must be clear that we do rights and security for Serbs in tives of all political parties in parlia- proposed solutions have not taken ing relations between Kosovo and want an agreement," Vucic added. north Kosovo. ment, referring to the eight rounds into account not even the mini- Serbia made by Baroness On Sunday, Serbian Prime Serbia's deputy prime minister, of Belgrade-Prishtina talks and the mum of our interests, our propos- [Catherine] Ashton,” said a gov- Minister Ivica Dacic said that the Aleksandar Vucic, had previously agreements already made. al is that we should not sign an ernment statement issued on government was strongly dedicat- stated that the government would Meanwhile, President Tomislav agreement, but continue the talks Monday evening. ed to continuing the Kosovo talks ask for a new round of Belgrade- Nikolic said that Serbia had not and try to find solutions as soon as “The proposals given by the EU and was "unquestionably" deter- Prishtina talks following the been offered a proposal but an ulti- possible,” Vucic said on Monday. were aimed at peace, stability and mined to continue with Serbia’s breakdown of the last round earli- the Europeanisation of the region EU integration as well. er this month. with a view to ending the histori- The talks with Prishtina have Catherine Ashton, the EU’s for- cal conflicts in the region,” the been crucial for Serbia’s EU aspi- eign policy chief, said she regret- statement said. rations because Belgrade’s hopes ted Serbia's decision. The eighth round of EU-mediat- for a start date for membership “After several rounds of discus- ed talks in Brussels on April 2 talks depend on the progress made sions I believe that all the ele- failed to yield an agreement with on the Kosovo issue. ments for an agreement on north- Kosovo on the future of the judici- The EU-mediated dialogue was ern Kosovo are on the table,” ary and on the presence of the launched in March 2011, three Ashton said in a statement. Kosovo military in Serb-dominat- years after Kosovo declared inde- “This needs to be an agreement ed areas. pendence. between the two sides, it is not for According to Vucic, the offer The aim is to normalise rela- the European Union to impose it,” presented in Brussels was meant tions between the two capitals, she said. Y "to humiliate us". both of which aspire to EU mem- The Prishtina authorities also M He said that it did not include bership, in the context of Serbia's expressed disappointment over sufficient safety guarantees for continued refusal to recognise C Belgrade’s stance but said they K Serbs in Kosovo. He also said Kosovo's independence. Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic news April 12 - 25, 2013 5 State Met Austrian Kosovo President Hospital Bill of PM’s Ally Urges End to Treasury paid nearly 65,000 euro for mayor to be flown to Austria for treatment after car accident in Prishtina. said he was unaware that the gov- Serb Monastery ernment paid for any of his expenses. “Personally, I haven’t By Liridona Hyseni received any money for my treat- ment,” Xhemajli, a member of the Row PDK presidency, said. Ilir Haziri, who was injured in ome six months after a dead- the accident, said the government ly accident in Prishtina’s didn’t help to cover his medical SVetrnik neighborhood, bills. “No institution has ever Prime Minister Hashim Thaci’s shown any interest in the other cabinet quietly issued a directive to use state funds to pay for the people in the accident; we medical treatment of a close polit- obtained medical treatment with ical ally. our own money,” Haziri said. Prishtina Insight recently Hamdi Rrustemi, whose 21- uncovered the cabinet decision, Former Ferizaj Mayor Bajrush Xhemajli is year-old son, Leutrim, died after dated December 1, 2009, to pay for set to get a new trial. the accident, said he was frustrat- the treatment of Bajrush ed by the government’s neglect. victims remained in Kosovo. Xhemajli, then mayor of Ferizaj “Not only has the government Thaci’s office did not respond to and a leader in Thaci’s Democratic given me nothing, it didn’t even Prishtina Insight’s questions Party of Kosovo, PDK. It appears show any interest in my son’s con- about the payment. It referred to have been the basis for an dition,” Rustemi said. inquiries to the Ministry of undated payment of 64,578.82 euro Xhemajli was convicted in 2010 Finance, which merely confirmed from the state treasury to the of negligence. The verdict was that it carried out the cabinet's Austrian Air Ambulance upheld on appeal but the directive. Company. Constitutional Court in February Money for Xhemajli’s treatment The May 21, 2009 accident in ordered a new trial on the came from a 5-million-euro gov- Prishtina’s Veternik neighbor- grounds that Xhemajli was denied ernment contingency fund hood left Xhemajli in a coma. He a fair trial. The majority opinion reserved for urgent or unforeseen was driving his official vehicle found that Xhemajli’s rights were The Visoki Decani monestrary is at the centre of an ethnically changed land dispute. when he attempted to overtake the expenses. The Law on Managing violated because the defence was Public Finances requires officials car in front of him. According to not allowed to call an additional Decan/Decani case, in which to provide clear justification for subsequent criminal charges expert to consider other factors in Belgrade granted property from expenses. However, the decision brought against him, Xhemajli the crash. the two Kosovo companies to the to pay for Xhemajli’s treatment By Edona Peci was driving at 40 kilometers per Xhemajli, who resigned as monastery in 1997, was an exam- does not explain why the money hour, above the speed limit, and mayor of Ferizaj in 2012, did not ple of how “Serbia’s colonisers had to come from the contingency struck three cars. serve any of his two-and-a-half- aimed to install their state struc- fund. The crash injured five others, year sentence for the crash. He tures violently”. The government only paid for one of whom later died. Xhemajli twice successfully petitioned the osovo’s President Atifete The US embassy in Prishtina was flown to Austria for treatment Xhemjali’s treatment. Contacted Jahjaga criticised MPs who local court in Ferizaj to delay the also urged MPs not to challenge the next day, while the other crash by Prishtina Insight, Xhemjali beginning of his sentence. Kstaged a parliamentary the court’s decision. debate about an ethnically charged land dispute at the his- “While an exchange of ideas on toric Serbian Orthodox monastery issues of importance to Kosovo is Photo News: Foot Patrol Visoki Decani. healthy, decisions confirmed by Members of parliament should the competent authorities should respect the law and not conduct be respected,” the embassy said parliamentary debates “which aim in a statement. to put in question Serbian “Any effort [by parliament] to Orthodox cultural and religious engage in issues outside its legal heritage in Kosovo”, Jahjagald mandate, including the Decan told Prishtina Insight in a written land case, threatens Kosovo’s sta- statement. bility and the integrity of the “This issue is regulated very institutional system established clearly by the laws of the Republic by the constitution,” it said. of Kosovo, the Ahtisaari package The supreme court in Prishtina [for Kosovo's status settlement], ruled in December that the dis- and is guaranteed by the Kosovo puted land belonged to the constitution,” she said. monastery, not to the companies The debate in parliament on which have been claiming it since Friday was sparked by a court rul- the 1999 conflict between Kosovo ing last December confirming Liberation Army fighters and that the the Visoki Decani Serbian government forces. monastery owns some 23 hectares The two socially-owned compa- of land which was being claimed nies, Apiko and Iliria, said that by two Kosovo companies. the Serbian authorities’ decision The decision has provoked a to give the land to the monastery series of protests by local Kosovo in 1997 was unlawful because it Albanians near the Serb religious happened at a time when site. Belgrade was actively repressing Jahjaga however insisted that Kosovo Albanians. “all legal procedures have to be The Serbian holy site closed its respected”. doors to visitors after tensions The Friday debate focused on rose in February. the expropriation of private prop- The Visoki Decani monastery erty while Kosovo was part of the is one of the best-known Serb former Yugoslav state from 1989 heritage sites in Kosovo, estab- to 1999. lished in 1327 and housing the The opposition Self- grave of its founder, King Stefan Determination Movement pro- Uros ‘Decanski’, although it now posed a resolution declaring such sits in solidly ethnic Albanian- Y A Kosovo policemen chats with a shoe vendor in the Bosniak Mahala of northern expropriations invalid. populated territory. It has been on M Mitrovica. (BETAPHOTO/SASA DJORDJEVIC) Self-Determination Movement the UNESCO World Heritage List C lawmaker Liburn Aliu said the since 2004. K 6 April 12 - 25, 2013 news EU Reports Rise in Kosovar Asylum Seekers Small increase may set back hopes of visa-free travel to Europe’s Schengen area.

Germany, Belgium, Sweden and Switzerland. Eurostat did not yet have com- By Jeton Musliu plete figures on how many appli- cants obtained asylum. But in recent years authorities have rejected the majority of claims. he number of Kosovars Fewer than 10 per cent were seeking asylum rose slightly accepted in 2011. Tin 2012, new data from the With the new figures, Kosovo EU’s statistics agency show, possi- remains in the top tier of the coun- bly setting back Kosovo’s hopes of tries of origin for people seeking gaining visa-free access to the EU asylum in Europe. Kosovo is in Schengen area. sixth place, behind Serbia, Data released by the EU statistic Pakistan, Russia, Syria and agency Eurostat in March, which Afghanistan. covers the 27 EU member states, Alexandra Stiglmayer, from the Switzerland, Norway and Iceland, European Initiative for Stability, show that 10,135 Kosovars request- said the rise in asylum seekers ed asylum last year, 265 more than would damage Kosovo’s prospects in 2011. By comparison, applica- of visa-free travel to the Schengen tions in 2011 were more than 4,000 area, which comprises most of the down on the figure in 2010. EU. Prishtina International Airport is the starting point for many Kosovar asylum seekers. The largest number of applica- “EU interior ministers ask the tions was for asylum in France, area. Leaders in Brussels have states following spikes in asylum Insight. obvious question: what would the been reluctant to lift the require- requests from Serbia and Citaku added that the govern- number [of asylum seekers] be Top Destinations for ment out of fears that the EU will Macedonia. ment is engaging in a campaign to without a visa requirement? Kosovar Asylum be flooded with Kosovars who Vlora Citaku, Kosovo’s minister combat illegal migration. Unless ways are found to bring Seekers in 2012: attempt to stay illegally. of European integration, down- Stiglmayer said the issue is in this number down, the EU is Reducing the number of asylum played the rise in asylum-seekers the hands of the Kosovo govern- extremely unlikely to lift the visa France: 3,690 seekers continues to be one of the and insisted a the downward trend ment. requirement for Kosovars,” Germany: 2,535 key requirements for Kosovo to remained intact. “Kosovo citizens deserve visa- Stiglmayer said. Belgium: 1,740 win visa liberalisation. “Trends show that there is a free travel, but in order to get it, Kosovo remains the only coun- Sweden: 1,045 A number of EU countries have serious drop, and what we need to their government must convince a try in the Western Balkans whose Switzerland: 585 been pressing to reinstate visa ensure is the continued decline of majority of EU governments that citizens must first obtain visas requirements for Western Balkan this trend,” she told Prishtina it is serious,” Stiglmayer said. before traveling to the Schengen Former UN Whistleblower Urges US to Cut Funds James Wasserstrom has urged the US to cut UN funding, after the organisation awarded him far less money for mistreatment by the UN mission in Kosovo than he was seeking. and the deputy head of UNMIK, Steven Schook, were to receive bribes as part of an agreement to By Bardh Shkreli build a new power plant in Kosovo. As a result of his attempts to bring the matter to light, Wasserstrom was stopped at the ormer UN whistleblower border of Kosovo while travelling James Wasserstrom on to Greece in May 2007 and told he FMonday said he had sent a could not leave the country. His letter to the US Secretary of State, passport was confiscated and his John Kerry and the Senate, urging them to slash funding for the UN. office sealed off. His car and house He urged the US to cut funds by were searched while some of his 15 per cent, as "the United Nations possessions were confiscated. failed to reward whistleblowers Posters with his picture were for reporting crime”. The US is the placed in UNMIK offices all over biggest single contributors to UN, Kosovo. Soon after, his contract covering 22 per cent of the budget. with UNMIK was terminated and The UN Dispute Tribunal deci- he lost all other work-related bene- sion on March 15 awarded him fits. $65,000 as compensation for his Schook, in an earlier statement, mistreatment by the UN Mission told BIRN that he was “very in Kosovo, UNMIK, following his happy” that the tribunal had ruled reports to investigative bodies of in favour of Wasserstrom. “What the organization on conflicts of happened was wrong,” he said. “I interest and corruption in its hope he gets major compensa- Kosovo mission. tion.” UN headquarters in New York. But Wasserstrom said he was He said he was not aware of the not satisfied with the compensa- claims that Wasserstrom had that time the government of spend money on. But we did not only in 2006 established a panel to tion and would appeal. He is seek- made against him, adding that Kosovo had no handle on corrup- have the authority to investigate investigate the behaviour of ing far larger damages of $3.1 mil- investigations against him had not tion issues in UNMIK. possible corruption affairs of UNMIK officials. lion. uncovered evidence of illegal “Relations between UNMIK and UNMIK in Kosovo,” Kosumi con- “Unfortunately this panel… had Wasserstrom, a US citizen, now actions. Kosovo until 2004 had been almost cluded. only limited responsibilities and works as a consultant on anti-cor- Former minister Ceku said that like an undeclared war. When I Ariana Qosaj, a corruption ana- was helpless in relation to the ruption in the US embassy in the matter has been investigated became Prime Minister in 2005, lyst, says the case reinforces suspi- immunity of high officials of Afghanistan. and that his name has been relations with UNMIK began to cions that there was corruption UNMIK,” he said. Andrea Young, spokesperson for cleared. improve significantly,” he said. within UNMIK. All cases involving senior offi- UNMIK, told Prishtina Insight Schook now works as an advisor He noted that UNMIK back then “Unfortunately, very few cases that, “as litigation is ongoing, we to the head of the Alliance for the had still executive power over were able to come to the surface cials of UNMIK have since been cannot offer a comment.” Future of Kosovo, Ramush Kosovo institutions and controlled and become known. Members of transferred to the EU law and Y In 2007, Wasserstrom, then Haradinaj. He lives in Kosovo and over 40 per cent of Kosovo’s the UN mission had immunity and order mission, EULEX. M working in UNMIK, heard allega- stopped working for UN since 2007. Consolidated Budget. could not be investigated by local “However, we all know it has C tions that the former Minister of Kosovo’ former Prime Minister, "We had disagreements on some institutions,” Qosaj told BIRN. been a struggle for EULEX to deal K Energy for Kosovo, Ethem Ceku, Bajram Kosumi, recalls that at projects that UNMIK decided to According to Qosaj, UNMIK with these cases,” Qosaj said. news April 12 - 25, 2013 7 Doctor Faces Grilling Over Patient’s Death Surgeon at Prishtina’s main hospital is accused of going home early and not returning after a woman’s condition worsened.

By Prishtina Insight

osovo prosecutors are inves- tigating allegations that a Kwoman died in the emer- gency room of country’s main public hospital after the on-duty doctor went home early. According to an official com- plaint by a supervising physician at the University Clinical Centre in Prishtina, Feime Haziri died around 3am on March 22, 2012, after the on-duty doctor, Valbon Gashi, went home, leaving her in a serious condition and in the care of two nurses. The hospital declined to reveal details of Haziri’s condition, only saying the 40-year-old was “seri- ously ill.” “There are strong allegations,” Imer Beka, the chief state prosecu- tor in Prishtina, told Prishtina The University Clinical Centre in Prishtina is Kosovo’s main public hospital. Insight last week. Contacted by Prishtina Insight return even after two nurses with two written warnings in the death of a person is not a joke,” The hospital invited Kosovo last week, Dr Gashi denied wrong- informed him that Haziri’s condi- September. He has since returned Ajet said. media to Sijarina’s recovery room, doing. “I am innocent,” he said, tion had worsened, according to to duty. Dr Gashi meanwhile continues where Dr Gashi explained how he declining to comment further. the complaint. Bajram Ajeti, head of the to work in the hospital’s vascular successfully improved arterial The head of vascular surgery, Olluri, in his complaint, said Dr Supervisory Council of the Civil clinic. blood in the veteran’s leg. Elmi Olluri, issued a complaint Gashi had previously been absent Service in Kosovo, which is tasked On Thursday, four days after According to the website Kosova about Dr Gashi to the hospital’s from hospital during duty hours with reviewing complaints against Prishtina Insight’s affiliate, Press, Sijarina said that he was disciplinary committee on March and was written up just weeks civil servants, including doctors, Gazeta Jeta ne Kosove, reported on wounded by Serbian forces in the 26. before Haziri’s death. said the hospital management had the case, the University Clinical war and the injury had dogged The complaint alleged that Dr The hospital suspended Dr neglected the patient. Centre announced that Dr Gashi him ever since. Gashi, who had previously exam- Gashi on June 25 with full pay, “Until now, nobody has been had recently performed a complex Dr Gashi “took care of me with ined the woman, went home even pending disciplinary proceedings, dealing with this issue, but I hope operation on Kadri Sijarina, a vet- all of his skill. He and his team though he was supposed to stay on the hospital spokesperson, Shpend that finally the prosecution will eran of the Kosovo Liberation operated on me and I feel very duty at the hospital. He did not Fazliu, said. Dr Gashi was issued deal with this seriously because Army, KLA. good; I’m now walking,” he said. Ex-Minister Limaj Requests Speedy Trial

advisor and Florim Zuka, a busi- nessman from . Limaj’s brothers, Demir and By Prishtina Insight Florim Lima, are accused of car- rying out bank transactions for the ex-minister. Limaj is also charged with not ormer transport minister declaring campaign money Fatmir Limaj and six other received when running in Fco-accused pleaded not Prishtina’s mayoral elections in guilty to charges of organized 2007 as well as other offences. crime and other corruption-relat- Limaj, a former Kosovo ed offences, while asking the court Liberation Army commander, is for a “speedy trial”. also one of ten suspects in the “I need a speedy, just, impartial high-profile "Klecka" war crimes and unbiased trial,” Limaj told case, accused of abusing prison- the court on Wednesday. ers at a detention camp during Limaj and the other defen- the 1990s conflict with Serbia. dants, Florim and Demir Lima, The former minister was Endrit Shala, Nexhat Krasniqi, acquitted of the charges last May Florim Zuka and Gani Zogaj, are but the prosecution successfully accused, among other things, of appealed against the verdict and manipulating tender procedures, the case has been sent for retrial. giving and receiving bribes and “I am ready to be in court obstructing evidence in relation every day in both cases [MTPT to three tenders in the Ministry and Klecka] just to come to the of Transport and Post truth,” Limaj said on , MTPT, for Wednesday. personal or material benefit. In a previous trial at the The alleged value of the dam- Hague Tribunal in 2005, Limaj age to the ministerial budget was acquitted of war crimes amounts to about 2 million euro. against Serbs and Albanians The 12-count indictment Former transport minister Fatmir Limaj consults with his attorneys. suspected of collaborating with includes telephone messages in Serbia during the Kosovo war Ministry of Transport. Limaj and two businessmen, According to the indictment, May 2008 between Limaj and and returned home to a hero’s The EULEX prosecution Mehmet and Bekim Shkodra, to tenders were fixed also in tele- Y Mehmet Shkodra, representative welcome. focused, while reading the whom a tender was allegedly phone communications between M of an economic operator that The next hearing in the MTPT indictment, on meetings between promised. Endrit Shala, Limaj’s former case is scheduled for May 17. C sought tenders from the K 8 April 12 - 25, 2013 neighbourhood business ‘Mother Turkey’ Stays Shy of Investing in Bosnia Beyond the florid talk of Turkish-Bosniak brotherhood, there is little sign that Turkey is taking much economic interest in Bosnia, or developing into a diplomatic force there. are a staple of Bosnian TV. the Ottomans and don’t want to see Bakir Izetbegovic, Bosniak mem- the difference between imperial ber of Presidency, and Recep Tayyip and modern Turkey,” he maintains. By Kenan Efendic Erdogan, Turkish Prime Minister “But that unreasonable reluc- Bosniak leader Izetbegovic, who tance [to see the difference] is often visits Turkey, maintains that becoming weaker and the Balkan the high-profile Turkish presence in people are understanding Turkey osniak and Turkish leaders Bosnia is all to the good. better with every passing day,” he often emphasize the deep “My frequent contacts with added. Bhistorical and religious Turkish leaders are strengthening a Ivan Kostic, an analyst from the Bakir Izetbegovic, Bosniak member of Presidency, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Prime Minister, shake hands. affinity between their two nations. trend. Turkey is a steady guarantee Belgrade-based Balkan Centre for “Turkey is our mother,” the for- of Bosnia’s unity and reform the Middle East, notes that Bosniak mer leader of The Islamic course,” he said recently. leaders are not the only ones wish- Community in Bosnia and “Turkish leaders are working on ing to present a powerful outside Herzegovina, Mustafa Ceric, said reconciliation, connecting leaders of country as their nation’s sponsor back in 2008. Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia through and protector. Turkish Prime Minister Recep trilateral meetings,” he added. “Such populist statements are Tayyip Erdogan “doesn’t belong But not everyone agrees. Adnan used to create a feeling among citi- only to Turks. He is our common Huskic, political analyst and lectur- zens that there is a ‘big brother’ leader,” Bakir Izetbegovic, the er at Sarajevo School of Science and who will take care of them,” he Bosniak [Muslim] member of Technology, says Turkey’s diplomat- explained. Bosnia’s State Presidency, said in ic engagement in the Western “Serbian officials, for example, February 2012. Balkans has had less impact than often refer to their connection to “There is no difference between Bosniak leaders maintain. ‘Mother Russia.’ But such state- us and our Bosniak brothers,” “The trilateral meetings of ments are not positive or construc- Erdogan himself said six months Balkan leaders under Turkish spon- tive,” Kostic told Prishtina Insight. ago. sorship are not a big deal,” he said. Emotional and spiritual bonds Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska, and Vladimir Putin, Russian President. “Bosnia and Serbia have solved between Turks and Bosniaks, aris- Bosnia, worth 442 million euro. when it comes to investments is not some minor issues through these ing from a common religion and Even Serbian-Turkish economic the only reason for the lack of deep- meetings but there is no big Turkish four centuries of common history, relations look poor when compared er economic cooperation between initiative contributing to the relax- are not matched by concrete actions to the volume of trade between the two countries. ation of ethnic tensions in Bosnia,” on the economic front, either. Turkey and Bulgaria, worth 2.83 bil- “Turkey sometimes simply does- he told Prishtina Insight. According to data from Bosnia’s lion euro in 2011. ’t understand the complexity of For Huskic, statements about Agency for Promotion of Foreign “There is a lot of talk about Bosnia and Herzegovina. Even the “Mother Turkey” or “brotherhood” Investments, Austria invested Turkish economic engagement in very resolute and concrete are nothing but folly and could dam- seven times more than Turkey in the region. But, until recently that attempts of Turkey to help Bosnia age Bosnia’s already frayed ethnic the last 19 years. engagement wasn’t that visible in often are fruitless,” he told relations. In first nine months of 2012, the practice, beyond meetings and Prishtina Insight. “Such an archaic understanding total volume of foreign investments papers,” Kostic said. The complexity of conflicts of Bosniak identity was, amongst in Bosnia was worth about 330 mil- For Adnan Huskic, Bosnia and between Bosniak and Serbian others, an excuse for war crimes in lion euro. But only 2.3 per cent was Herzegovina is far from a priority politicians is not the only obstacle, the 1990s,” he says, recalling from Turkey. in Turkish foreign policy, as the he says, but also the conflicts Mustafa Ceric the former leader of Bosnian Serb accusations that According to data from Turkish modest level of bilateral trade indi- between the Bosniak political par- The Islamic Community in BiH Bosnian Muslims were alien Foreign Ministry, bilateral trade cates. ties themselves. “Turks”. volume between Turkey and Bosnia Weak economic relations “Visits by Bosniak politicians to When Turkey beat Croatia in the Milorad Dodik, President of was worth 279.5 million euro in Euro 2008, Bosniak youths celebrat- between Turkey and Bosnia, he Turkey are often used in inter- Republika Srpska, the mainly 2011. explains, arise from Turkey’s hard- party clashes. And it seems that ed the Turkish victory in Sarajevo Serbian autonomous entity, certain- Of this figure, 210 million was as if their own side had won. headed realism in its investment Turkey’s leaders have begun to ly does not believe in the disinter- from imports from Turkey while approach. understand that,” he said. In Mostar, the southwestern city ested good will of Turkish leaders. only 70 million came from Bosnian divided between Bosniaks and “Bosnia doesn’t have a good Huskic says that Turkey should He has said often that “Turkish exports to Turkey. investment climate and Turkish start to ignore some of these prob- Croats, young people fought on the interests in Bosnia are opposite to By comparison, trade volume streets after the Croatian football officials and businessmen are lems if it wants to be a true friend the interests of Serb people,” and with Germany, Bosnia’s main trade aware of that,” he said. “In its for- to the Bosniak people. defeat. that, “The Turks always favour one partner, in 2011 was worth a total of Turkey has also opened two uni- eign relations, Turkey is driven by “If Turkey is indeed a ‘Mother’ side, the Muslim [Bosniak] side.” 1.4 billion euro. its economic interests in the first to the Bosniaks, then I expect her to versities and one college in Sarajevo, Speaking of such critics, And although Serbs and Turks the Turkish news agency Anadolu place.” turn a blind eye and invest in Izetbegovic dismisses them as hav- are far from considering themselves Nevertheless, for Mirnes Kovac, Bosnia - even though it is not the has its regional headquarter in ing a “19th-century mentality. brothers, Turkey has a bigger trade Sarajevo, and Turkish soap operas a journalist and political analyst best country for investments,” he “Some people are still at war with volume with Serbia than with from Sarajevo, Turkish realism told Prishtina Insight. Vienna to Host Balkan Infrastructure Summit The two-day Balkan Infrastructure and Construction Summit aims to inform foreign investors of business opportunities in the region. he first Balkans Infrastructure and Speakers at the summit will include Construction Summit will be held in Damir Hadzic and Mile Janakieski, the TVienna on May 29 and 30. Bosnian and Macedonian Communications The organisers of the event, the and Transport ministers, Kujtim Hashorva International Research Networks, IRN, stat- from Albania's Ministry of Public Works ed that the high-profile forum aims to sup- and Transport and Andreas Beikos, a port the expansion of foreign investment in European Investment Bank representative. the region by addressing the opportunities, The forum will also host Christos Gofas, strategies and challenges around upcoming team leader from infrastructure and inter- infrastructure projects. national financing institution DG, Andy The summit will address the latest trans- Carter, a specialist advisor for the portation projects, energy ventures and European Bank for Reconstruction and housing programmes in the Balkans. Development, representatives of the It will help investors to fully understand European Commission and government where to invest in the region and how to see bodies from Croatia, Serbia and a return on their investment capital. Montenegro. Topics will include national infrastruc- Major regional infrastructure compa- ture plans within the Balkans, assessing nies, European institutions, banks and the legal framework for investing in the international investors, will also highlight region and the latest infrastructure project the latest tender opportunities during the developments. two-day summit. Construction in Kosovo. neighbourhood news April 12 - 25, 2013 9 Serbia Sets Pride Parade for September In spite of repeated cancellations of the event in recent years as a result of threats, organisers have announced that a Gay Pride Parade will be held on September 28.

By Gordana Andric

elgrade Gay Pride Parade - cancelled by threats of vio- Blence in recent years - will Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic attacked the International Criminal Tribunal for the be marked from September 20 to Former Yugoslavia during a UN debate in New York on Wednesday. (UN Photo/Devra 29, while the central walk through Berkowitz) the capital is set for September 28, the organisers said. Gradimir Miletic, regional Serbia Slams Hague director of Civil Right Defenders and one of the organisers, says the organisers plan to meet Ivica Tribunal at UN Debate Dacic, the Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vucic, deputy prime Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic described the minister, Nikola Selakovic, the Hague war crimes court as a biased “inquisition” during a Minister of Justice, and Dragan Serbia’s last Gay Pride Parade was held in 2010. Djilas, the mayor, to ensure it goes UN General Assembly debate that was boycotted by the right-wing groups. "Regarding the walk, that is ahead as planned this time. The 2010 Pride went ahead, but something that we cannot do with- US as inflammatory. “That means the police will have several thousand youngsters, out police help and I hope that the The debate started with opening enough time to prepare for the remarks from Jeremic, who said “it Pride with us, so that there will be including football fans and mem- state, the Prime Minister and bers of rightist organisations, Deputy Prime Minister will is finally time to tell the truth about no surprises or room to say that international tribunals”. threw stones and missiles at the realise that securing the parade is By Marija Ristic preparations started late,” Miletic “I deeply believe that there should police, injuring police officers and Serbia’s international and consti- said on April 10. not be taboo topics among UN setting buildings and vehicles on tutional obligation.” Serbia's first pride march was states,” Jeremic said. fire. Miletic added that the organis- brought to a halt in Belgrade in t the UN debate on But UN secretary-general Ban Ki- June 2001 as protestors clashed Goran Miletic says that this ers had already secured institu- Wednesday about the role moon, who spoke right after with police. year he hopes Gay Pride will have tional and minister’s support. Aof international war Jeremic, defended the idea of inter- crimes courts, organised by the In 2009, 2011 and 2012, the better luck and that it will be held “However, when it comes to the national war crimes courts. current Serbian president of the authorities banned the parade for all nine planned days. Pride Parade, it is always up to one “We cannot expect human rights assembly, Vuk Jeremic, the after police declared they could “There will be a lot of events or two people in the country and I to be respected if we don’t support Belgrade leadership took the not safeguard the marchers and I believe it will all go ahead think it will be the same this year,” the international justice system,” he opportunity to attack the against threats of violence from without incidents," he said. he added. International Criminal Tribunal said. for the Former Yugoslavia, ICTY, Bosnia however expressed con- which it believes is biased against cerns about the ICTY’s recent high- Two More Critical Media Close in Serbs. profile acquittals of two wartime Nikolic said that the ICTY was Croatian generals, three Kosovo unfair and its verdicts made recon- Liberation Army commanders and Macedonia ciliation in the Balkans even harder. a former Yugoslav Army general. “ICTY trials will never reach the “Dissatisfaction with [the court's] real truth, that is why the reconcilia- verdicts exists within all three tion will not be real and honest,” he nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina said. and this has been increased follow- By Sinisa Jakov Marusic He cited war crimes trial defen- ing the recent three ICTY verdicts in dant Vojislav Seselj, the former particular,” said Nebojsa leader of the Serbian Radical Party, Radmanovic, the Serb member of ollowing the tragic death of their founder and of which Nikolic was once a mem- the tripartite Bosnian presidency. owner, Nikola Mladenov, the weekly Fokus and ber, as an example of unfair treat- The debate was briefly interrupt- Fthe daily newspaper with the same name are to ed when a representative of an ment. close. organisation representing wartime “Vojislav Seselj has been in The Employees of the two publications received imme- victims from the Bosnian towns of Hague for 11 years, which is a prece- diate discharge notices on Wednesday and were told Srebrenica and Zepa, Munira dent in legal history,” Nikolic said. that the newspapers, which were in financial difficul- Subasic, was ejected for attempting But Ranko Vilovic, Croatia’s rep- ties, will cease to appear. to show a banner describing resentative at the UN, said the ICTY Fokus was under pressure from several ongoing, Bosnia’s Serb-run entity Republika Fokus was struggling financially before the recent death of deserved support. connected libel cases whose plaintiffs together Srpska as genocidal, according to € owner Nikola Mladenov. “Croatia, as a victim of aggres- demanded up to 100,000 from the weekly and the media reports sion, has strongly supported the daily. The controversial UN debate pro- place in the same media freedom report. work of the ICTY... Maybe we didn’t Following the death of the owner and publisher, voked the Bosniak member of the While many accuse the government of targeting the always agree with some decisions Mladenov, in a car crash in late March, one business- Bosnian presidency, Zeljko Komsic, pro-opposition media for their standpoints, the gov- made, but we always supported the man and diplomat, Srgjan Kerim, withdrew his to cancel a planned visit to Belgrade, € ernment denies claims of interference. demand for 25,000 from the newspapers. work,” said Vilovic. saying that the Serbian president Meanwhile, the sparse police report into the car Fokus, founded in 1995, was the oldest political The US boycotted the debate, had offended wartime victims. crash and its circumstances has fuelled suspicions in weekly in the country while the daily was launched alongside Canada and Jordan, Nikolic was also criticised in some quarters of foul play. last year. describing it as “unbalanced” and Belgrade by the Serbian Liberal Police found Mladenov’s body on March 27 in an The closure of the newspapers comes at a time “inflammatory”. Democratic Party, which argued overturned car that had landed in a ditch near the when concern is being expressed for the future of Erin Pelton, spokesperson for the that his speech was “insincere and highway at the entrance to Skopje. media freedom in Macedonia. U.S. mission to the United Nations, harmful toward Serbian national The investigative judge in the case, Vladimir After the closure in February of the weekly said international courts had been interests” Gragjanski, also for financial reasons, Fokus was one Tufegdzic, this week confirmed that Mladenov’s death “critical to ending impunity and Despite the criticism however, of the last remaining print media outlets that were was an accident and that his car was driving 160 kilo- helping these countries chart a new, Jeremic was convinced that the critical of the government of Nikola Gruevski. metres an hour at the time. more positive future”. debate was a success. The World Media Freedom Index 2013, published in But it still remains a mystery where Mladenov “We regret in particular that the “This is the biggest debate in his- January by the organisation Reporters Without spent his last evening and who he last saw or talked to. way today’s thematic debate and the tory of the UN. Eighty-two countries Borders, ranked Macedonia in 116th place out of 179 Mladenov, 49, will be remembered as a prominent related panel discussion are struc- had their representatives present, countries in the survey, marking a hefty drop of 22 journalist who built a reputation as a principled critic tured fail to provide the victims of we had 42 speakers... We had very places from the previous year. of the political class that has led Macedonia since these atrocities an appropriate interesting opinions, many of them Four years ago, the country was ranked in 34th independence. voice,” she said. critical,” Jeremic said. 10 April 12 - 25, 2013 feature Kosovo War Victims Not Ready for Serbia Reconciliation Kosovo has started work on a reconciliation strategy, but relatives of victims of the war and its violent aftermath are sceptical that justice can be done, 14 years after the conflict ended. brought to justice. “It’s clear that the main aim is the dignified treatment of all vic- tims,” said the head of the work- By Edona Peci ing group, Dhurata Hoxha. Officials said it was also neces- sary to sign a peace treaty with hafer Veliu’s 13-year-old son Belgrade which would include “a Shyqyri was captured and request for an apology by Serbia, Xkilled by Serbian forces in for compensation for war damages 1999, but his body was only found and [more clarity] about missing six years later. persons”, Hajredin Kuci, Kosovo’s Now, like many relatives of deputy prime minister and justice wartime victims in Kosovo, Veliu minister, explained at the time. believes that Serbia has to make There was no official reaction the first move towards reconcilia- from Belgrade, suggesting that tion by admitting its guilt and say- such a move is not even being con- ing sorry. sidered by the Serbian authorities “I cannot forgive unless Serbia who are determined not to do any- apologises and all perpetrators of thing that could be seen as a step crimes during the war are brought towards recognising Kosovo as an to justice,” Veliu, who comes from independent state. a village near Gllogoc in central Relatives of wartime victims Kosovo, told Prishtina Insight. also believe that reconciliation Many others are still waiting for with Serbia is not even on the hori- news of their relatives who’ve not zon at the moment. been seen since they disappeared It’s unclear “how the Kosovo during the 1998-99 conflict, he government plans to achieve this added. [by itself]”, Veliu said. As the 14th anniversary of the A 13-year-old girl recovers after losing both of her legs in a landmine explosion in Kosovo in 1999. (UN Photo) “It’s up to Belgrade to bring all end of the war with Serbian forces perpetrators before justice 1,700 remain missing. Serb policemen and former urged proper treatment for all vic- approached last month, Kosovo because they live in Belgrade,” he Inter-ethnic clashes between Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA tims of the late 1990s conflict. established a ministerial working argued. Albanians and Kosovo Serbs also guerrillas for crimes committed A parliamentary debate on the group tasked with dealing with the broke out several times after the during the conflict, with a major issue sparked protests in past and reconciliation. Unilateral reconciliation end of the war, causing hundreds case against members of the para- Prishtina, with campaigners Officials vowed that evidence on of deaths on both sides and military Jackals unit currently accusing some lawmakers of war crimes committed during, impossible amongst UN police officers and ongoing in the Serbian courts. being disrespectful to women who before and after the Kosovo con- troops from NATO’s Kosovo force, Prishtina has also tried several were sexually abused by Serb flict would be collected and pre- During the 1998-99 war, more KFOR. cases of war crimes against civil- troops. sented to the relevant authorities than 13,000 people are estimated to Bajer and Kastriot Elshani were ians, both Kosovo Albanians and The US embassy in Prishtina so all the perpetrators can be have been killed and more than among around 19 people shot dead Serbs, with a high-profile case backed the move to give more aid during ethnic unrest in March against three former KLA com- to rape victims. 2004 when several thousand peo- ple were forced to leave their homes. Their brother Asllan Elshani told Prishtina Insight that one of them was shot by NATO forces in Caglavica, while the other one is believed to have been killed by a Serb. He said that his hopes for jus- tice had already faded. “Nine years have passed now and we have had no response. I have no hopes at all. It’s not that a dog or a chicken was killed - two men were killed. And not only my two brothers - there are many more,” Elshani said. He and other relatives of vic- tims were invited to present their evidence before the new working An injured woman from Kosovo arrives in at a refugee camp in group on dealing with the past Blace, Macedonia. (UN Photo) and reconciliation, which held its first meeting on March 18. Experts however have warned manders ongoing. The EU rule of “Every country has an obliga- the authorities not to raise peo- law mission in Kosovo is still tion to identify appropriate sup- ple’s hopes by making extravagant investigating more than 70 war port for those who have suffered as but unrealistic promises about crimes cases, while more than 300 a result of war, including sur- ensuring justice for the victims. remain unresolved. vivors of rape,” the embassy said Fadil Maloku, professor of soci- in a statement last week. ology at the University of Survivors demand help Families of missing people in Prishtina, described the govern- Kosovo have also called for mental initiative as “media manip- Meanwhile controversy has also increased welfare payments. They ulation for internal consumption”. erupted in Prishtina about currently receive more than 100 Reconciliation, he explained, whether thousands of wartime euro a month in financial assis- cannot be achieved unilaterally. rape victims should be put under tance, but their main demand is “The readiness in Kosovo and existing legislation covering con- for the authorities to shed more Serbia is still not at the necessary flict victims and their family mem- light on the fate of the remaining level, because of the moral stance bers – possibly assuring them of 1,700 people who have yet to be of Serbia, whose society lacks compensation payments of around found. accurate information on what 300 euro a month – has raised new However it is still not clear really happened in the five wars questions about the government’s when missing person’s commis- the regime of [Belgrade’s former efforts to deal with the past. sions from Prishtina and Belgrade Y strongman leader Slobodan] Some lawmakers argue Kosovo will hold their next joint meeting, M Milosevic had,” Maloku said. does not have the money in its at which topics like future C In recent years, Belgrade has budget to make payouts to rape exhumations of mass graves could K Thousands of refugees escaped to Macedonia. (UN Photo) prosecuted several cases against victims, while campaigners have be discussed. neighbourhood April 12 - 25, 2013 11 Nature’sNature’s ArtArt SendsSends ImaginationsImaginations SoaringSoaring

April is the prime time to pick a destination and see nature’s handiwork in all its splendour, far from the crowds.

By Nemanja Cabric The meandering River Drina.

ome places truly make people Kursumlija, and which show sculptor. it merges with the mighty Sava. ence, as well as of a determination see nature as universal art- nature’s architectural skill as well These come in the form of sta- The distinct green colour of the to find the easiest way through - Swork. The landscape ceases as its vivid need to play and lactites and stalagmites, found river is evidence of its epic battle which has caught many people’s to be an object of examination and change. throughout the cavernous halls, to conquer the limestone on its imagination. becomes an arena for expressing Not only does their size vary some of which our distant ances- 400-kilometre-long journey all the “You can’t straighten the curvy subtle feelings that words can from human size to some that are tors lived in. way to the south of the Pannonian Drina”, people will say in the barely express. ten times as large, they also have a Besides a sculpture of a mother plain. region, as if there is no point in Whether it is the curious heavy rock on top of them those with a child, this cave in eastern “I will not stop and fill some arguing further about something arrangement of trees in an points upwards to the . Serbia hosts an Aphrodite, a nar- worthless lake,” it threatens, while and setting things straight. ancient and intact forest, the Exposed to the elements and row Leaning Tower of Pisa, a entering Serbia at Jagostica, But it is not the only curvy river strange, winding course of a river forces of erosion, these figures are mosque and a famous “kiss”, crushing its way between Mts around these parts. The Uvac, that has carved its way to the sea never the same. Legends consider which is a phenomenon that Zvijezda in Serbia and Susica in whose canyon stretches south of for countless centuries, a cave dec- them people who were turned to occurs when a stalactite and sta- Bosnia and Herzegovina, becom- Mt Zlatibor in three places, also oration or some magnificent stone by magic, but science ruins lagmite finally touch one another. ing a borderline, an ancient bor- has perfect S-bends. It is an exam- sculpture made of earth – nature that illusion and claims other- While all of those artworks der, some say, between east and ple of the Drina artwork on a has a story that it is willing to tell. wise. were crafted by people, the river west. smaller scale, revealing amazing Those that care for such stories Apparently, these amazing Drina has been its own sculptor geometry and, again, green water. and who plan their spring trips sculptures, which exist only in a over the millennia. Its artistic Restless sculptor: The Uvac Canyon is also a nest- ahead can explore several destina- few places in the world, are the technique can be summed up as ing place of the rare Griffon tions in Serbia where they can result of earlier exploitation of going with the flow. All the way to its confluence, the Vulture, a bird with a wingspan of experience a different form of forests for wood, which resulted in It is also as if there were at least Drina meanders between the cliffs, almost three metres that nests in travel, free of the barrage of news the water removing the topsoil two Drinas. The first is the mighty choosing the most suitable terrain remote cliffs, preying over vast and information, noisy nightlife and softer rock and exposing mountain river that crushes the and the softest rock, leaving areas for dead animals. and mainstream resorts. intact harder rock beneath. rocks as it surges from behind various shapes of islands Unlike them, in the biggest part Take the tall sculptures that the Deep inside the Resava Cave, Montenegro through Bosnia and and peninsulas as it approaches of Serbia the Danube has plenty of rain and sun have carved out of meanwhile, are even subtler Serbia. The second is the meander- the valleys and cities. space to spread itself peacefully, the land at Djavolja Varos, near examples of nature’s work as a ing mirror it then becomes before Its curvy flow speaks of persist- except in one place in eastern Serbia where it narrows to the width of one-and-a-half football fields in a system of gorges called the Djerdap Gorge, or “Iron Gates”. The barely accessible banks and riverbed of these gorges hold secrets of Neolithic and Roman civilisations, while the whole area around them is a protected nation- al park. Thanks to two gigantic damns that were constructed here, the water level rose by 35 metres, leav- ing several villages and river islands under water, together with Neolithic settlements found and researched only a few years prior to construction. The water also submerged the isle of Ada Kaleh, known as a port and smugglers’ haunt, along with its mosque and labyrinth of alleys. However, what is left to see is still a first-class experience – the narrow range of forested hills overlooking the Danube as it tight- ens between thick forests and bare rocks, although at the entrance to Golubac it had seemed as wide as Djavolja Varos, Devil's Town, Serbia's unique and constantly shifting earth and rock formation. (Photo/Rudolf Gete) the sea. 12 April 12 - 25, 2013 neighbourhood Bosnia’s Dervishes in a Spin Over Rebuilt Tekke

10, 1993, in an attack by Bosnian Croat fighters from the HVO, he took 13 bullets in his chest, neck and jaw from a distance of Amina Hamzic only two metres. Amazingly, he survived. Having partly recovered, the next year he performed a hajj, a pilgrimage of Muslims to Mecca, ollowers of the Sufi tradition of Islam with a group of wounded civilians and sol- in Bosnia and Herzegovina eagerly diers alongside President Izetbegovic. Fawait the opening of a new tekke (Sufi Ahmed now maintains that it was good shrine or home), scheduled for May 8. that he was shot because his wounds paved Construction of the new tekke was com- his way towards the Kaaba, the holy site of pleted on April 6 at the Kovaci memorial Mecca, and gave him the chance to per- centre near the centre of Sarajevo. form hajj near the president with the touch The site is where the former president of a thousand brotherly hands. Alija Izetbegovic was buried. A secluded Today, he is retired and every free spot, it is surrounded by greenery and moment he spends in visiting tekkes and nature, with a great view over the old part mosques where he performs dhikr. of town. The aim of the municipality of Seldzuk, A once famous tekke: the main source of money for the construc- tion, is to replace the tekke built by Isa Bey Mevlevi Tekke on Bentbasa, which the Isakovic in 1462 on the outskirts Sarajevo Communist authorities demolished in 1957, at Bentbasa, which was demolished after was one of the most famous tekkes in World War II. Bosnia and Herzegovina, known for its his- Mevlevi dance, the sema Many Muslims in Bosnia and torical and cultural significance along Herzegovina are delighted with the idea, with the one at Buna in Blagaj and the The head of the Association for religious practices,” he said. ć as it shows that tariqas - Sufi orders - are Qadiri tekke Haji Sinan, which houses a Promotion and Preservation of Ottoman Kukuruzovi adds that opening the tekke ć reviving in Bosnia and Herzegovina once valuable collection of calligraphy. Heritage Haji Mujaga, Velija Kukuruzovi , will also lead to the administrative recog- again. The original tekke on Bentbasha was the says rebuilding the Mevlevi Tekke is high- nition of the tariqa by the Islamic One such believer is Hajji Ahmetak first registered institution of a tariqa in ly significant. Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ahmed, a dervish of the naqshybandiyya Bosnia and Herzegovina and is thus an “Mevlevi Tekke has cultural, historical “Official recognition of the Mevlevi order, and big fan of dhikr - a devotional important symbol in BiH history. and heritage importance for Bosnia and tariqat in Bosnia and Herzegovina will act or ritual glorifying God, performed in Many other tekkes in this area were also Herzegovina, because, although the come soon,” he said. the tekke. built in the 15th century. In Sarajevo alone tariqas were officially discontinued during Dervishes of the Mevlevi order are rec- Although he comes from a family that there were 47 at one time, many of which the rule of Austria-Hungary, the Mesnevi ognizable for their characteristic dance, cherished the Muslim faith, he says his are now demolished. (the poem of 20,000 verses of the founder of the “sema”. more complete devotion and understand- The goal of building a replica of the the Mevlevi order, Dzelaludin Rumi, which By spinning in circles for hours, they ing of its lifestyle came after he experi- original, built by Isa Bey Isakovic in 1462, is one of the best explanations and inter- pass into a state of meditation in which enced a tragic event. is to return to Sarajevo its old dervish pretations of Quran) never stopped being they praise God. The dance was invented ā ī During the war in Bosnia, on November order, which existed here for centuries. recited and the Mevlevi continued their by the founder of the order Jal l ad-D n marketing neighbourhood April 12 - 25, 2013 13

Muslim followers of Sufi-ism await the reconstruction of their ancient ‘tekke’ – a symbol of the revival of the forgotten dervish tradition in Sarajevo.

Muhammad Rūmī. Dizdarevic says that the religious, cultur- This order is also known for public read- al and civilizational background of ing and interpretation of the Mesnevi, Muslims in the region cannot be understood which critics consider a masterpiece of and interpreted without understanding the Islamic art. role of the tariqa. The interpretation of the Mesnevi in “Tariqas had a very active social role, and Bosnia and Herzegovina has a tradition they encouraged science and humanitarian dating back hundreds of years. work in society,” he says. On the other hand, the Rufaiyyah tariqa Dizdarevic recalls that in the past, tariqas are best known for their specific form of were inseparable from public life as the worship, during which their faces are dervishes dealt with work, science and art pierced with needles and the dhikr often as well as with the spread of Islam. includes games with fire. “The teaching of the tariqas... gave Islam During the act of piercing the faces, the seal of universalism, tolerance, spiritu- dervishes’ wounds often do not bleed, ality and enlightenment,” he adds which is attributed to the believer’s deep Dizdarevic also stressed the role of state of meditation. dervishes in the development of cultural, Believers approach certain tariqa scientific, religious and other institutions in according to their own sensibilities. For Bosnia and Herzegovina. example, the Naqshbandiyya tariqa is well “Tariqas change individuals from within, known for attracting people of a gentle and not wishing to change the community out- pacific disposition. side,” he notes. “But, although the tariqa is primarily an Mevlevi Tekke has cultural, historical and heritage importance for Bosnia. (Photo/Amina Hamzic) Part of Bosnia's identity: individual sphere, it allows that through individuals, the community lives a better, Muharram (the first month of the Islamic Hadžimejlić Effendi continues that the The following tariqas exist in Bosnia and happier, more tolerant and more humane calendar), a red prayer mat is used, symbol- tekke has an ambivalent nature, involving a Herzegovina: Rufaiyyah, Qadiri, life.” izing the bloodshed and tragic events in combination of spirituality and hedonism. Naqshbandiyya, Khalwatiyyah, Shadhili and Many today follow different ritual prac- Islamic history that occurred over these ten “Although tekkes are spaces where the Mevlevi order. tices from those that they had in the past. days, such as the exile from heaven, or the dervishes glorify and praise God and nur- Tariqas only differ in the practices and Mensur Effendi Pasalic, Chief Imam of death of Hussein on Karbala. ture their spiritual side, it's also a place rituals performed in the tekkes, as they are Fojnica, in central Bosnia, notes the modi- Tekkes are always built in secluded and where they talk, read poetry, drink tea,” he the legacy of their original founders, while fied ritual practices of the Naqshbandi beautiful places surrounded by nature, adds. they all share the same faith in God and the tariqa: Effendi Abu Samed Hadžimejlić explained "In an entirely different way, the tekke Prophet. "The Naqshbandi tariqa in the 1980s had a to BIRN. provides a kind of hedonism, consumption There are 12 tariqas in all in Islam, whose very strong ritualistic practice of piercing “Each location has been carefully chosen. of those living benefits that are in full number symbolizes 12 human natures. with swords,” he recalls. The surroundings of a tekke and its appear- agreement with Islamic tenets," Effendi Although Islam is usually thought of as “However, the influence of educated ance should inspire and create peace in our Hadžimejlić concludes. coming to the region with the Ottoman con- sheikhs gradually eliminated that practice, hearts,” he says. quest of the 15th century, some scholars and now it is reduced to the dhikr and spiri- believe that it appeared as much as 200 years tual meditation,” he adds. marketing earlier, thanks to the dervishes and their rit- uals. Spirituality and hedonism As political systems and governments blended: changed in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the past centuries, tariqas were not always Tekkes are not created by accident. approved of by the state, as was the case in Usually the sheikh has a dream about the 1952 when they were prohibited. Although location of the future tekke, and through they continued to exist in secret, the ban time the dream comes true. was lifted only 30 years later. For all tariqas, dreams represent an Today, as in the past, they have signifi- important part of the faith. For example, cance for the historical, artistic and cultur- one becomes a sheikh when a previous al development for Bosnia and Herzegovina, sheikh on his deathbed dreams about which a professor at the Faculty of Islamic of his students will become the next sheikh. Studies, Sedad Dizdarevic, explains. It happens often that a student dreams an “There is almost no writer or poet who in identical dream, and the overlap of dreams the Ottoman period did not belong to a becomes crucial in the selection process. tariqa. Tariqas are characterized also for sym- “Not only are they responsible for the bolism. Fasting, the dhikr as well as the cos- flourishing of 'divan' literature in our tumes of the dervishes include symbols of region, but they also developed a national Islamic events. literature in Bosnian and Arabic, known as For example, during the last ten days of Aljamiado,” he explains.

Y M C The new tekke at the Kovaci memorial centre. (Photo/Amina Hamzic) K 14 April 12 - 25, 2013 culture Kosovo Organ Trafficking Inspires Kusturica Film ments of the Kosovo Liberation Army, including Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, had traf- By Nemanja Cabric ficked the organs of prisoners dur- ing the late 1990s conflict. An investigation by the EU Special Investigative Task Force enowned Serbian film direc- started in 2011, but no legal tor Emir Kusturica has charges have yet been laid. Rannounced that his new In another case, seven ethnic movie will deal with human organ Albanians and two foreigners are trafficking, the focus of a current currently being prosecuted in high-profile trial in Kosovo. Kosovo for allegedly luring poor Kusturica said that the film donors to the Medicus clinic near would revolve around ideas from Prishtina with false promises that the books of Russian novelist they would be paid up to 15,000 Fyodor Dostoevsky but would euro, removing their kidneys and focus on what he described as "one selling them to rich transplant the biggest issues in this century". patients. "That issue is the removal of Kusturica has spoken about the human organs, the most brutal act proposed movie several times over and the biggest sign of a return to the past week, saying that his idea pagan times," Kusturica explained is to shoot most of the scenes in Emir Kusturica, left, with actress Monika Bellucci and Serbian Prime Minisiter Ivica Dacic. (Photo Beta) to Tanjug news agency on Sunday. Russia, as the majority of the plot Alleged organ harvesting in is probably the biggest issue of the Holding a lecture for students on vicious propaganda. I do not want is set there, while the Kosovo Kosovo became an international century," he said. the University of Nis on March 27, to defend anybody's crimes, scenes will be filmed elsewhere. scandal following the release of a He added that he will probably Kusturica said that Kosovo was a including Serbian ones, but I can- "The idea for the movie is in fact report by Dick Marty, then human work on it for the next three years great untapped topic for literature not understand how someone can a scenario that my daughter wrote rights rapporteur at the Council of because "it is a big project and it and film. compare events in WWII with at a time when we were all in dis- Europe, in December 2010. demands big preparations and He also complained that most what was going on during the belief about these events, and then The report alleged that some ele- investments". films present a dark image of break-up of Yugoslavia," slowly begun to understand that it Serbia to the world - "even Kusturica concluded. Hollywood-made movies with At the moment Kusturica is great film stars such as Richard preparing to shoot another film Kusturica ‘persona non grata’ in Kosovo? Gere and Penelope Cruz, and not under the working title 'Love and to mention Angelina Jolie's movie War', starring Italian actress resident of the Union of banned from Kosovo. daily newspaper on 'In the Land of Blood and Honey'". Monica Bellucci as well as Film Artists of Kosovo “Kusturica is a director that Friday. He said that all these films failed Kusturica himself. PLirak Celaj sharply reacted writes scripts for the Serbian gov- He argued that Kosovo society because "it is impossible to base a According to the director, the to the news that Kusturica will ernment, and has supported should strongly react against great artwork on false facts". shooting of this story about a man shoot a movie about organ traf- Milosevic’s regime. He should be what he described as Kusturica’s "Some even try to depict Serbian at various stages of the war will ficking by saying that “he cannot sanctioned as ‘persona non grata’ anti-Albanian propaganda. people as more genocidal than start on June 15 and last until the be called an artist” and should be in Kosovo,” he told Prishtina Germany in World War Two. It is end of October. 'Skopje 2014' Symbolizes Macedonia’s Frustration, Book Says The makeover of the capital reveals Macedonia's national weaknesses and frustrations, a well-known professor says in a pioneering scientific study. With its “anachronistic artis- euro, as well as to its artistic tic styles and inconsistencies styles. [Skopje 20124] is the result of all The heart of the project is a 22- By Sinisa Jakov the traumas and inconsistencies metre-high bronze equestrian Marusic that we as a country and as statue of the Ancient warrior, nation are experiencing… not Alexander the Great, which only through the centuries, but stands atop a white marble foun- well-known archaeology in the last ten years,” Causidis tain on the main square. professor has criticized the opines. The statue has caused much Agovernment-sponsored The grand government-led friction with neighbouring makeover of the capital, Skopje drive aims to give the neglected, Greece, which claims Alexander 2014, for improvisation and for grey-looking centre of the as an exclusively Hellenic figure. megalomania. Macedonian capital a more mon- Greece already has a long-run- “There is no common master umental appearance. ning dispute with Macedonia plan that unites all the separate Drawing inspiration from over its name, which Athens says parts into one unified and mean- Classical Antiquity, the project implies a territorial claim to its ingful whole,” Nikos Causidis envisages the construction of own northern province, also writes in his e-book, “Skopje 2014 museums, theatres, concert called Macedonia. - Sketches for Future Research”, halls, hotels and administrative Since 2008, Greece has been published last week. offices as well as tens of large blocking Macedonia from joining A page from “Skopje 2014 - Sketches for Future Research.” “It has been made by piling up marble and bronze monuments. NATO over the unresolved name buildings based on... improvisa- The project also envisages dispute. The blockade has also preparing the way for a more analyse and evaluate the project, tion and petty daily interests,” adding neo-Classical facades to prevented Macedonia from thorough study. comprising books and CDs on Causidis maintains. “I made several attempts to the historic events and personal- Through case studies of sepa- most of the iconic modernist obtaining a start date for EU publish the book [in hard copy], ities memorialized as part of rate buildings, monuments and buildings in the city centre. membership talks. but that did not work out. In the Skopje 2014. complexes that form part of the The project appears broadly Causidis, a professor at the Y end I decided to publish it myself These include the 10th-century project, the professor casts a crit- popular with members of the state Sts Cyril and Methodius M in electronic form,” he recalled. Tsar, Samoil, as well as two ical eye on its architectural and public, but critics object to its University in Skopje, says his C artistic values. high price tag, estimated by book is not a finished scientific Meanwhile, the government Ottoman-era revolutionaries, K some to be at least 500 million work but more of a synopsis, has announced its own project to Goce Delcev and Pavel Shatev. international April 12 - 25, 2013 15 Voter Information Wars: Republican Party Gets Serious About Data different sources, like campaign different email variations, before donation records, consumer data sending out the best-performing and volunteer lists, in order to fundraising email to its entire list By Louise Bekket produce more detailed profiles of — a testing strategy that some- individual voters. times earned the campaign an The Democratic National extra million dollars, or more. Committee has also streamlined The campaign also tracked indi- he Republicans have admit- the way information flows vidual responses to email blasts ted it: They need to get seri- between local volunteers and the — storing information on Tous about collecting and national party, so that data about whether someone had, for analyzing voter data. voters collected by many different instance, signed a card wishing Well, you can't get much more campaigns — such as a Minnesota Michelle Obama a Happy serious than talking to Teradata, voter's stance on gay marriage or Mother's Day, and using that the "data warehousing" company whom a Virginia voter supported information when asking the that helps Wal-Mart, Apple and in a state senate race — all ends same people to sign a birthday eBay store massive amounts of up in the same database in D.C. card for Barack. information about the behavior of Republicans want to match Obama's data team also gener- their customers. these innovations — especially ated individualized predictions A representative of Teradata presents some of the companies data analyses. Teradata is just one of the the flashy ones, like the Obama about voters. The team calculated, major data outfits with which campaign's ability to link people's among other things, which people tive ad placements. ways. Obama's 2012 canvassing leading Republican strategists are Facebook profiles to their official were most likely to be persuaded The result? The Obama cam- app, which anyone could down- talking in their declared effort to voting records. They also want to to support Obama based on a con- paign bought more targeted ads, load, included a map of the user's match Barack Obama's big data use data to make predictions versation about a certain policy while spending less per television current location that displayed campaign tactics, according to about individual voters, not only issue — information that then spot than the Romney campaign, the first names, addresses, ages one person with knowledge of the about how to influence their vote, allowed field organizers to be according to data collected by and genders of nearby strategy discussions. but about how to maximize their more strategic about the houses Kantar Media's Campaign Media Democrats. The Republican National potential political donations. they visited and the phone calls Analysis Group. The RNC will still get to control Committee would neither confirm This is where Teradata could they made. The campaign also constantly which developers are allowed to nor deny talking with Teradata, certainly be useful. The company Working with a company like adjusted its predictions — and access its data. But its plans for a but was emphatic that no deal is is not a data broker, an outfit that Teradata would only be a first checked on the big picture of the more open data platform will in place. Teradata also declined to strictly sells information about step toward this kind of sophisti- campaign — by connecting voter require that the Republican estab- comment. There's unlikely to be consumers. (So, for instance, the cated data program. Obama's 2012 information with detailed polling lishment confront technical, legal any final deals until the RNC GOP wouldn't be getting any of campaign considered using data. and cultural hurdles. appoints a chief technology offi- Apple or Wal-Mart's data.) Teradata, but ended up going with Shields, the RNC's new chief of "[The RNC] is an organization cer, which it has pledged to do by Instead, Teradata helps compa- Vertica, a Teradata competitor, staff, called the data develop- that is trying to figure out where May 1. nies organize their own data, so paired with open-source software ments "a space race" between the they sit with technology in gener- But if Republican strategists that they can pick out unexpected Hadoop, to organize and search RNC and the Democratic National al. They're going to have to make are still shopping for formal part- trends — for instance, that Wal- through their huge quantities of Committee. an investment in a big way, if ners, their goal is clear: a new, Mart shoppers stocking up for a data. But, as former Obama "They put up Sputnik, but they're going to go on with open more open database that will hurricane often buy strawberry staffers point out, having masses there's no reason that we can't put development," Harper Reed, the make it easier for Republican can- Pop-Tarts. of information doesn't do any- a man on the moon, and leave Obama campaign's chief technol- didates to share what they're When working with Isle of thing on its own: You have to use them behind," he said. ogy officer, told ProPublica. learning about voters — and for Capri Casinos, Teradata built a the data to ask the right ques- As well as hiring in-house data The hard part about opening up the party to share voter informa- system to combine information tions. analysts, the RNC plans to make it your data is trusting the users, tion with technology developers about customer gambling habits Wal-Mart famously used its easy for outside software develop- Reed said — including the users in order to build apps for use in with data from the company's database to ask what products ers to access the party's national you don't like. What happens if coming campaigns. hotels. The new system sends an customers tended to buy before database. The goal, Shields said, some Republican developers want "At lots of levels, for lots of rea- automatic alert to casino hosts hurricanes. The Obama campaign is to create a "vibrant market- to use Republican data to build a sons, there's a lot of people that whenever a "high-value guest" used its data to ask whether the place" of digital tools and applica- pro-choice app? we're talking to," Mike Shields, arrives at a hotel. It also tracks voters it wanted to reach were tions that developers can sell to "This would be a challenge for the RNC's new chief of staff, told how different customers respond watching the evening news — or Republican candidates — all any organization, not just a politi- ProPublica. to coupons, emails, and special other kinds of television shows based on the party's own voter cal one," he said. "It sounds inter- Both Republicans and offers. altogether. The campaign used the data. Think about the apps that esting. It sounds innovative. It's a Democrats already have databas- This kind of detailed tracking television-watching data it connect to your Facebook profile challenge." es of basic information about has become ever more central to acquired to figure out exactly — but for politics. This article is published cour- every voter in the United States. data-driven political campaigns. what shows the voters they want- If the plan takes off, some of tesy of The ProPublica, But Obama's campaign made big Almost every day, Obama's re- ed to reach were watching, all of the GOP's closely-guarded voter http://www.propublica.org, under strides in connecting data from election campaign tested 12 to 18 which made for more cost-effec- data will soon be available in new Creative Commons license.

Photo News: High Alert in South Korea

South Korea has raised its alert amid North Korea’s recent threat over a missile test. South Korean and US forces are together in an exercise during annual mili- tary drills in Yeoncheon, South Korea, near the border with North Korea on Wednesday. South Korea’s foreign minis- ter told lawmakers Wednesday that the risk of a North Korean missile launch is “considerably high.” (AP Photo/Ahn Y Young-joon) M C K 16 April 12 - 25, 2013 Guide

Here is Prishtina Insight’s guide to the best places in town to eat, drink, shop and be merry. We’ll keep this section updated with the newest and coolest places

town. Select a booth, ask the amiable staff to seat, if you intend to make a night of it. Next opening in Kosovo. tune into your match and grab a 'double to A&A restaurant and has round windows. decker' or 'triple burger', which look like Opens: 8pm-to late. Shut on Sundays. Restaurants: community of Kosovo. If you are acquaint- American fast-food classics but taste better. ed with Thai food, you're not in for any sur- Friday night Karaoke is a must-see, must- prises here, with the typical assortment of Fastfood: Liburnia 1 and 2 sing event. curries, salads and deep fried treats, deliv- Rr Meto Bajraktar, tel. +381 (0)38 222 719. Hard Rockers Club ered to decent standards. At 7 or 8 euro for a There are actually two Liburnias opposite Road Ilaz Kodra, contact: vraja_fatos@ - Bel Ami main course, it's relatively pricey compared each other, both very similar in style and mail.com. It's one of the few places in Rr Luan Haradinaj, Tel: +377 (0)44 133 848, to its neighbours. Open Monday-Thursday food. Housed in a fine Ottoman abode and Prishtina where you can catch regular live +386 49 133 848. The ideal town-centre stop 11:00-14:00 and 17:45-22:30; Friday-Sunday surrounded by pleasant walled gardens, acts and the only place which caters for for a quick lunch or takeaway snack, Bel 11:00-23:00. Liburnia oozes atmosphere, whether in win- those who like their rock served up heavy, or Ami unceremoniously serves some of the ter or summer. The food is a roll call of hard. On a quiet night, it's quite a comfort- best chicken doner in Prishtina in a surpris- Renaissance II decent traditional Albanian food, including able venue to grab a beer, even if you are not ingly un-greasy, smoke-free environment. Rr. George Bush (behind the Pro Credit Bank the usual stews (tave) and grilled meat. It’s being entertained by hirsute musicians . Ask for a “komplet” to get the classic doner HQ), tel. +377 (0)44 118 796. Renaissance not the best place in town to sample local packed with salad and sauces and wrapped offers arguably the best overall dining expe- delicacies, but a good choice given the set- The Cuban in tin foil. Monday-Friday 9 am - 7.30 pm; rience in Prishtina. It's quite an experience ting. Open 8 am - 11 pm Road Luan Haradinaj Tel: +377(0) 45 620 620. Saturday 9 am - 8 pm. just to find the place. Tucked away along a This is a decent addition to the city's drink- tiny alleyway, you enter the homely, stone Country House ing scene, even if the place can be full of building through heavy wooden doors. It's Clubs: Off road to Podujevo from , right spivs and tarts who aren't going to a fancy- 15 euro per head, and for that you will be after the Muciqi Mercedes-Benz garage, tel. dress party. The Cuban-themed décor is kept fed, watered and supplied with booze P1 +377 (0)44 656 054. This rustic restaurant is decadent Havana, the food is average, and for at least a three course meal, including a Fehmi Agani, +377 (0)44 608 669. If you’re a 15-minute drive outside Pristina (on a not very Caribbean, but the cocktails are wonderful meze starter and a delicious looking for cool, then P1 is probably not good day) and provides glorious views good. 8 am - 1 am. main course cooked on embers. Open 11 am the spot for you. The decor is pretty unin- across rolling, verdant hills and is especial- spiring, the music is bog standard and the - 11 pm. Xhoni’s Bar ly pleasant place in the summer to watch atmosphere reminiscent of a cattle mar- Rexhep Mala, Pristina, tel. +377 (0)44 750 720. the sunset. The overall food quality is ket. But if your thing is scantily clad Bars: Xhoni’s is, without doubt, a Prishtina insti- decent, with special marks for the fresh young women or packs of amorous boys, tution. It’s small, friendly and smoky, plays bread, straight from the wood stove, and than it’s an excellent choice. And, in the excellent soul, disco and classic rock music speca me maze (peppers in cream). 10 am - Tapë venue’s defence, it does have a pleasant from vinyl and is open until the last man or 11 pm. Hajdar Dushi Street Nr. 2 (next to Zani Bar, outdoor area for summer dancing. woman staggers out. Arrive by 11pm at the Kada Books, in front of the Radio Working hours Wednesday, Friday, weekend to secure a corner, or even better a Princesha Gresa Dukagjini). Tapë — which means “cork” in Saturday from 9 pm to 3 am. 23 Rr. Fehmi Agani, tel. +381 (0) 38 24 58 41. If Albanian but is often used to denote you have a horse-size hole in your stomach extreme drunkenness — is a bar with a to fill, this is the place to come. The meal warm atmosphere in Prishtina’s centre. It starts with some free bread and dips and is serves homemade rakia, as well as a variety followed by gargantuan portions of salad, of beers and other liquors, and, of course, meat, fish, or anything else on this varied Stone Castle wine - all at reasonable prices. menu. The food is sometimes great, some- times average but always served in massive Crème de la Crème portions. Open 10 am - 11 pm. Rr Robert Doll, tel. +377(0)44259912. Crème is probably the best all-round bar in the city. Hemingway It's run for the amusement of the young, Rr Ilaz Kodra, tel. +386 (0)49 145 637. , you arty owners and not for profit, which can get fresh sea fish in landlocked Kosovo. explains the more-than-generous pricing Hemingway is tucked away in an unappeal- arrangements, especially for the perfectly ing end of the city but worth a trip if you executed cocktails. Its five tiny floors heave are craving food of the piscine variety. It's a on Fridays and Sundays with Pristina's cool pretty basic sort of set-up and relatively to the variety of beats. Every Wednesday, expensive for the setting, but undoubtedly Friday and Saturday from 8pm to 3am. one of the best places in town for fish. Open 9 am - 11 pm Filikaqa Rr Mujo Ulqinaku BL 4/1, Pejton, website Le Siam Thai www.filikaqa.com; 038 244 288. Whistle, as it Rr Fehmi Agani, tel. +377 (0)45 243 588. translates from Albanian, offers a dizzying Stylishly designed and smoke-free, Le Siam array of televisions on which to watch your has become a real hit for the international sport of choice and eat the best burgers in Hot Food: VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT (ABOVE), Rruga Garibaldi, Behind Metro Caffe. Tingell-Tengell’s short-lived but much loved vegetarian menu gets a restaurant of its own. It doesn’t have a name, and it’s delicious. There’s falafel, hummus, baba ghanouj and more. The stew is also luxurious. All the food is under 5 euro. The bar also fea- tures a few whiskies you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere in Prishtina, as well as an allegedly 36-year-old rakia. The space also feels like home, in that down-to-earth hipster sort of way. The only quibble is the bread, which is a rather basic white bread that’s toasted and garnished with herbs. It doesn’t do justice to the otherwise spectac- ular fare. Don’t miss the poppyseed cake, either. - Gravlax

FRESCO (LEFT). Rr. Fehmi Agani. The newest eatery to hit Prishtina’s fine-dining scene, Fresco has designs on being one of its best. Forgive the excessive interior design - the food is is elegant and simple, with a gastronomic sense that in-step with the times. The salmon filet (11.50 euro) is a standout: succulent and flavorful, appear- ing alongside a sweet potato puree and tempura-fried zucchini. The steaks are perfect, too. +377 (0) 44 333 772.

PAPIRUN Tel. 045 26 23 23. Papirun has seating at two perpendicular counters in what’s basically a hole-in-the-wall just off Mother Teresa Boulevard, near the Grand Hotel. The menu has 13 options: 6 pizzas and seven sandwiches. The sandwiches are Y the stars, though. Every component is handled with care. The bread alone is good M enough to make just about any sandwich into a glorious feast. It’s freshly baked and seasoned with rosemary. C K April 12 - 25, 2013 17 Guide Contact Prishtina Insight if you would like your event to feature or to advertise your venue. Email [email protected]

Where to pick up Prishtina Insight?

Prishtina Insight has teamed up with these excellent venues to offer a limited Hotel Prishtina number of complimentary copies of Kosovo’s only English-language newspaper. Hotel Prishtina’s 43 charming guest rooms and suites are Grab a copy of the publication and settle down with a drink or a meal to read it. reminiscent of a small hotel in the European tradition. You'll immediately feel at home in our living room, sipping a glass of wine in our fine restaurant surrounded by a gallery of paintings by local artists. The hotel offers free, fast wifi internet, complimentary breakfast, Papillon Bistro Bar conference room, swimming pool, sauna and laundry service. Hotel Prishtina, This newly reopened bar in Prishtina, Papillon, offers St. Vaso Pasha nr. 20 more than 60 types of wines from France, Italy, Spain, +381 38 / 22 32 84 and Kosovo with great prices and delicious dishes. They serve pasta, sandwiches, salads and different appetizers. You can also try different types of local or internation- al beers. The bar, with it’s stunning new design, is located in the centre of Prishtina, near ProCredit Bank headquar- ter, RTK radio centre, and the Mother Teresa cathedral.

Papillon Mother Teresa Str. Nr. 51 A [email protected] 044 103 310

Hotel AFA Te Komiteti Located in a quiet neighbourhood just Te Komiteti’s large trees and a beauti- outside the city centre, Hotel Afa can fully garden, which surround the small guarantee guests a peaceful night while outdoor terrace, give you an impression being within walking distance of all the of an exclusive place for ordinary peo- action. The venue has won a host of ple. And this is exactly what it is. From awards for its excellent service to cus- brunch to lunch-time snacks and special tomers and offers a good range of facili- evening meals, this restaurant offers ties, from an exclusive restaurant and dishes comprising quality, varied ingredi- VIP bar to pretty, tranquil gardens. ents, combined to perfection. Alongside Rooms start at 45 euro for a single, and one of Prishtina’s best ‘modern luxury rooms and apartments are avail- European’ style menus, you’ll also find a able. The hotel’s rooms are well appoint- good selection of wine, and great san- ed and comfortable. gria and cocktails . 15, Rr Ali Kelmendi, Te Komiteti Sunny Hill, Prishtina Qamil Hoxha Street +381 38/225 226 Prishtina www. hotelafa. com +381 38 24 96 63

Paddy O’Brien’s A taste of Napoli in Prishtina.

The staff at After ten years of making pizza in Napoli, and Paddy O’Brien’s with only love to blame, Fatmir, the head chef, If you live in Kosovo and would like to have a saying: “It’s returned to Prishtina. His pizzas, made in a wood- easy to walk in, but burn stove, are definitely genuine napolitanas. receive the hardcopy of the newspaper very hard to leave.” Fatmir also has several delicious pastas on offer, a And with its true joy for the taste buds. Napoli has an excellent delivered to your door, you can also sub- warm atmosphere, selection of red and white wines or, for the more scribe for 13 editions, the equivalent of fantastic range of ambitious, one of the region's best quince raki. drinks and excel- Napoli makes for delicious lunch, dinner or even six months, for 13 euro, including deliv- lent food, it is easy after-theatre time out in the centre of Prishtina. ery, or for 26 euro for the whole year. to see why. There have been Pizzeria Napoli Please note, deliveries outside of many attempts to off Luan Haradinaj, opposite Newborn Prishtina may be refused due to trans- establish a proper 044/409-402402 Irish pub in port costs. Prishtina, but this You can pay through an international is the only one to hit the spot. bank transfer or in cash at a Kosovo From classic coffees to cocktails, via, of course, Guinness, you really wont find it difficult to select the perfect drink. branch of Raiffeisen bank. A mouth-watering menu of Irish specialties is also on offer, If you are interested in subscribing please spanning from all-day breakfasts to Irish stews at night. Options include shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, fish ‘n email us at [email protected] chips, and whopping great burgers. with the subject "subscription", listing Thursday is pub quiz night, but there is always something going on at the pub, whether it is sport screenings or just a good what type of subscription you require. We shindig. will then provide you with an invoice and Paddy O’Brien’s Tringe Smajli Street, by the Illyria Hotel bank details. Y Prishtina: 045-420900 M C K 18 April 12 - 25, 2013 timeout

Theatre

“Zambezia” 3D Every day at 2pm “The last station” “As if this was a show” Set in a bustling bird city on the edge of the Every Thursday at 8pm Every Wednesday at 8pm majestic Victoria Falls, The story is situated in the "In the bus no. 4...during "Zambezia" is the story year 2015. Nowadays and past the war in Prishtina ...a of Kai - a naïve, but problems are carried in the 26 years old - young high-spirited young fal- year of 2015. Burim is the man...is wearing jeans con who travels to the main character who is looking and a black T-shirt... At bird city of "Zambezia" for the truth, for his family "Union" hotel...sniper where he discovers the and his fiancé, which are still breaks a window... and truth about his origins missing since the war of KLA the youngster is shot in and, in defending the ended. After many attempts he the neck... A lady dressed city, learns how to be part of a community. finds out that his neighbour is in white, who was stand- Director: Wayne still alive and that he knows ing near him starts to Thornley more about his family. Burim scream. When she sees Writer: Camilla can’t live in the present; he is always going back to the the blood in her shirt she Bubna-Kasteliz, Andrew Cook, etc. past, in the memories of his family and Behare, his faints... two hours Starring: Leonard Nimoy, Jeremy Suarez, Abigail fiancé. Halfway he meets a young girl called Shpresa later...she is seen at the Big Mosque...near café Breslin. who reminds him of Behare and finally gets part of "Romantika", but this time accompanied by a friend Burim’s life. younger than her... “The Croods” 3D Based on the novel “Birds fly on their own” by Ibrahim Based on the drama by: Almir Imshireviq Every day at 4pm Kadriu. Directed by Agon Myftari The Croods is a pre- Directed by Lirak Celaj and Florent Mehmeti Cast: Rebeka Qena, Ardian Morina, Armend Ismajli, historic comedy adven- Cast: Besnik Krapi, Liridona Shehu, Ilire Celaj, Adrian Besnik Krapi ture that follows the Morina, Eshref Durmishi and Kushtrim Sheremeti. world's first family as they embark on a jour- ney of a when the cave that has always National Theatre of Kosovo shielded them from dan- ger is destroyed. Traveling across a spec- 8pm Friday, 12 April tacular landscape, the “After Miss Julie” Croods discover an By Patrick Marber incredible new world Director: Kushtrim Koliqi filled with fantastic creatures -- and their outlook is changed forever. Director: Kirk De Micco, Chris Sanders 8pm Saturday, 13 April Writers: Chris Sanders, Kirk De Micco etc. “After Miss Julie” Starring: Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan By Patrick Marber Reynolds. Director: Kushtrim Koliqi

“G.I. Joe –Retaliation” 3D 8pm Monday, 15 April Every day at 6pm and 8pm “After Miss Julie” Framed for crimes By Patrick Marber against the country, the Director: Kushtrim Koliqi G.I. Joe team is terminat- ed by the President's order, and the surviving 8pm Tuesday, 16 April team members face off “Collisions” against Zartan, his By Ekrem Kryeziu accomplices, and the world leaders he has 8pm Wednesday, 17 April 8pm Tuesday, 23 April under his influence. “Collisions” 8pm Friday,19 April “The killing of the mosquito” Director: Jon M. Chu By Ekrem Kryeziu Writers: Rhett Reese, “The killing of the mosquito” By Xhevdet Bajraj Paul Wernick By Xhevdet Bajraj Director: Donard Hasani Starring: Dwayne 8pm Thursday, 18 April Director: Donard Hasani Johnson, D.J. Cotrona, “The killing of the mosquito” 8pm Thursday, 25 April Channing Tatum. By Xhevdet Bajraj 6pm Monday, 22 April Premiere – “Kopelia” ballet Director: Donard Hasani Kosovo Turks Day Choreograph Ilir Kerni “Stoker” Every day at 10pm After India's father Prishtina Diary dies, her Uncle Charlie, who she never knew Crème De La Crème existed, comes to live Alexunder’s freaky friday! with her and her unsta- Friday, 12 April 2013 ble mother. She comes to at 9pm suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulte- Dit’ e Nat’ rior motives and Hithat Blues Trio Live becomes increasingly Friday, 12 April 2013 infatuated with him. At 9pm Director: Chan-wook Park Tingëll Tangëll Writers: Wentworth 5 years Tingëll Miller, Erin Cressida Wilson Forest Nimani – Ska; Arif Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, Muharremi - Dirty Dark Funk made in Mathew Goode. Plemetin; Vigan Nimani - Gangster ------Jazz; Shejn Tahirsylaj - Afro Beat; Gent Soon: “Broken City”, “Epic” 3D and “Evil Dead” Nimani - New Wave; Alban Nuhiu - Y African Funk; Jarkko Räsänen – Funk. M For any further questions or reservations call at 038 243 Friday, 12 April 2013 C 238 or visit them at www.kinoabc.com At 9pm K news April 12 - 25, 2013 19 BIRN Fellows for 2013 Selected he jury in the Balkan Fellowship for posals for the fellowship. Journalistic Excellence has selected Alongside six permanent committee T10 participants for this year’s pro- members, an expert in the fellowship inves- gramme. tigation topic is appointed as an annual The fellows were drawn from more than member, and this year it was Paul Lewis, 100 applicants. The competition for the top award-Winning UK journalist and special places was once again extremely close, and projects editor at the British daily newspa- the quality of shortlisted entries was very per The Guardian. high. Here are the fellows for 2013, listed alpha- BIRN would like to congratulate the win- betically by surname: ners, and to thank all who applied this year. Dino Jahic, Bosnia and Herzegovina BIRN would also like to encourage candi- Meri Jordanovska, Macedonia dates who were not successful to consider Hana Marku, Kosovo applying again next year. Marija Milosevic, Serbia The journalists were selected through Vlad Odobescu, Romania open competition to receive funding and Goran Rizaov, Macedonia professional support that would help them Mirko Rudic, Serbia conduct cross-border research into a topic of Erjona Rusi, Albania regional and EU significance. Participants Melisa Skender, Croatia in the programme are selected based on the Elena Stancu, Romania relevance, feasibility and originality of This year’s Fellowship programme topic their proposals, as well as their professional is Integrity. The Balkan Fellowship for Remains are taken by EULEX at the Mitrovica cemetery qualifications, motivation and journalistic Journalistic Excellence is an annual bur- approach. sary for cross-border investigative and long- The Selection Committee is comprised of form reporting. You can find out more about EU Finds Corpses of seven prominent media figures from the the project on its website: Balkans and Europe. Each year, committee http://fellowship.birn.eu.com/en/page/h members read, evaluate and select story pro- ome Wartime Missing in Kosovo The EU rule of law mission in Kosovo has recovered the remains of seven people who have been missing since the conflict with Serbian forces in the late 1990s. “This is the result of several weeks of analysis of a variety of documents dating from the 1998-1999 conflict. EULEX DFM By Edona Peci [Department of Forensic Medicine] believes that there could be more unmarked burials at this location and will request further he EU rule of law mission, EULEX, prosecutorial orders for more exhumations said on Wednesday that it had in the near future,” the statement said. Texhumed the remains of seven bodies More than 1,700 people are still missing 14 thought to be those of wartime missing per- years after the end of the conflict. sons and also found a further two parts of According to EULEX, so far this year its skeletons at a Muslim cemetery in northern forensic team has conducted 18 field opera- Mitrovica. tions in the /Pec, south Mitrovica, north “The victims were exhumed from Mitrovica, Suha Reka/Suva Reka, Prizren, unmarked graves spread throughout both / Djakovica, and the upper and lower part of the cemetery. Skenderaj/Srbica areas. During the operation, an additional four Seven of these resulted in exhumations potential burials were pinpointed,” EULEX and the remains of 28 individuals were Previous BIRN’s fellowship participants said in a statement. recovered. Photo News: On Guard

KFOR soldiers secure a bridge over the Ibar River, which runs between North and South Mitrovica. In light of Serbia’s rejection of a deal concerning northern Kosovo, KFOR renewed its pledge to “to con- tribute to a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all people in Kosovo.” (BETAPHOTO/Sasa Djordjevic) 20 April 12 - 25, 2013 opinion Ecosovo At Home in Velika Hoca

By Elizabeth Gowing

t seems that within the next month or so there is hardly a week when we’ll be working all the way through from Monday to Friday. So are you Ithinking of where you might go for a long weekend, or a night away somewhere special? If so, there’s good news, because one of my favourite places to stay in Kosovo just got more accessible. I love the Cultural Heritage Without Borders, CHWB, project that supported traditional homes in the stunning village of Velika Hoca to develop as bed and breakfast accommodation and receive visitors. For a long while, however, it was a well-guarded secret. Like an unattainable pleasure, people would surf the web for photos of this attractive community in the heart of Kosovo’s wine-growing region, Thaci, Dacic and Ashton during more hopeful times. with its 13 churches, some dating back to the 12th century. Sometimes you would see a bottle of raki on a shelf in someone’s home in Prishtina with a carved wooden cross improbably fitting into the bottle, and you would know Outside In they had been there. People mentioned the mythical-sounding Jerusalem Room but never really explained what it was. The reason for the mystique was that only a few printed copies of the For Kosovo and Serbia, brochure giving accommodation details seemed to be in existence. Like pirated movies, there were blurry photocopied versions in circulation, passed from the hand of one returning traveler to another heading off for the weekend, but unless you knew someone who knew someon. Velika Hoca a Deadlock remained almost unknown, and hard to find. In fact, it’s only about 20 kilometers from Prizren and makes an easy day entire nation hostage to the major step forward of the EU trip or a leisurely weekend away from the capital. And this week I discov- propaganda and manipulation. vis-a-vis Kosovo. This is espe- ered that the information about where to stay when you get there is now Serbia’s struggle in divorcing cially important given the lack available online! No more the exclusive holiday retreat of those in the know, By Kreshnik Hoxha itself from its dark past of consensus within the EU everyone can stay the night – at one of the four family homes made ready to becomes more apparent if we about Kosovo. The SAA carrot receive visitors. scrutinise the actions of the was a sign that Kosovo and The beautifully presented brochure with information and photographs of Serbian state officials, who felt Serbia will have separate EU he prime ministerial the accommodation is available on the Cultural Heritage Without Borders’ the need to consult Patriarch integration processes, but with drama in Brussels has website at http://goo.gl/xduWw. You can also read about the wonderful Irinej on the acceptance of the normalisation of relations as finally come to an end, at T agreement with Kosovo. We are the main intertwining condi- church architecture in the village (including Decan monastery’s winery) least for this season. Serbian talking about consultations tionality. you can read there about the variety of styles of homes which are ready to Prime Minister Ivica Dacic with the head of a religious Hashim Thaci and his cabi- receive visitors, along with contact details. (It often helps to find someone demonstrated that he does not who speaks Serbian if you want to book.) All the four houses from CHWB’s have the courage to announce to institution, whose calls for net were adamant that nothing project are more than 100 years old, though the Spasic house is probably the his nation the news that should peace have generally been should breach the grandest, and the one with the so-called Jerusalem Room holding the fami- have been announced back in marred by its infliction of hate- Constitution, a fruit of the ly icon, brought back from pilgrimage to Jerusalem 1999 - the permanent loss of speech toward Kosovo and its Ahtisaari Plan, which is often With the fellow guests in our party, we tried two of the homes in Velika Kosovo. Kosovar Prime Albanian citizens. This, howev- seen as the biggest compromise Hoca and were well looked after in both. Reasonably priced, with good home Minister Hashim Thaci, on the er, should not be much of a sur- Albanians made in their quest cooking and a sometimes over-enthusiastic welcome — I defy you to get other hand, showed that his prise given that at times of eco- for independence. That said, away with just one glass of raki — the accommodation is a treat. Why both- “courage and determination” nomic crises and social despair the negotiations failed as er leaving Kosovo for a weekend break when you can save time in the car are symbiotic with the presence the Kosovo issue has usually Serbia rejected the agreement. and petrol in the tank, and can contribute something to Kosovo’s economy. of international backing. served as food for masses in So, if Kosovo cannot come to an You’ll be sat in a vine-covered courtyard sipping the local red before your And in all this bitter epilogue Serbia. agreement with Serbia about colleagues have even made it to the border. it seems that EU foreign policy Serbia has a wealthy resume its own territory, then it is time chief Catherine Ashton has of rejecting agreements with to roll up the sleeves and tackle Elizabeth Gowing is a founder of The Ideas Partnership, a Kosovan NGO been dealt a major blow to her Kosovo starting with the the issue of the north directly - using volunteer power to tackle educational, cultural heritage and environ- career in her efforts of “normal- Rambouillet Accords of 1998. without Belgrade, without mental challenges. She is also the author of “Travels in Blood and Honey; ising the relations” between two However, what has become evi- Dacic, without heavily armed becoming a beekeeper in Kosovo” (Signal Books, 2011). She can be reached rather polarised governments. dent with the passage of time is police units and without vio- on theideaspartnership@ gmail.com So, what will be the price of this that every subsequent negotia- lence. stalemate? tion with Kosovo has put Serbia Kosovar leadership should be in a more unfavourable position diligent in drafting a strategic Serbia to negotiate as its power fades to economic plan for the integra- Belgrade’s lucid rejection of dictate developments in Kosovo. tion of its Serb citizens in the the agreement shows that the The last round of negotiations north. Challenges, problems leadership in Serbia was well proves that Serbia was trying to and obstacles will undoubtedly aware that backing such agree- save what it could be saved and be present, but this will be a ment could potentially bring did not even debate about south major test of Kosovo’s state- back the terror last seen with of Kosovo. Therefore, any fur- hood and the capacities of this the assassination of Zoran ther negotiations will ensure government. At the end of the Djindjic - this time presumably that Serbia’s EU path remains day, even in the hypothetical with Dacic as the victim. The the same - a passage via event that Serbia accepted the burning of the office of Oliver Prishtina. agreement, Kosovo would have Ivanovic in northern Kosovo, still had to approach its Serb attacks on the offices of Serbia’s Kosovo citizens in the north as it was largest party, SNS, and the On the other hand, Kosovo is clear that they railed against rather naff protests in Belgrade stuck, too. Even though when the agreement anyway. are the glaring example of how Edita Tahiri embarked on these Serbia’s decision is rather little Serbian public has done to negotiations, it was very murky disappointing, but it is not trag- Y face wars of the 1990s. The polit- as to what Kosovo stood to gain. ic. A tragic scenario would M ical rhetoric combined with the The possibility of a arise if during the necessary influence of the Serbian C Stabilisation Association punishment of Serbia, Kosovo Orthodox Church have kept an K Velika Hoca’s delightful B&Bs. Agreement, SAA, was seen as a faces consequences too. opinion April 12 - 25, 2013 21 Brussels Should Not Reward Serbia With Membership Talks Europe should not offer Belgrade a start date for talks until it offers its own minorities the same privileges it demands for the Serbs in Kosovo. by minorities in public life, Belgrade’s consistent pattern of including full and exclusive pow- trying to undermine Kosovo’s ers in matters concerning cul- sovereignty, it cannot be trusted By David L. Phillips ture, education, heath, environ- to act in good faith. Any agree- mental protection, and economic ment will require monitoring, development. Prime Minister guarantees and enforcement to Hashim Thaci has proven his ensure implementation. atherine Ashton, the commitment to the Ahtisaari Of course, dialogue is better European Union’s foreign principles, which have been than conflict. The EU should not Cpolicy chief, will issue a enshrined in Kosovo’s constitu- close the door on future talks. report on April 16 indicating tion. But these talks should include a whether Serbia will be given a date [Named after the Finland’s for- broader agenda, undertaken in to start talks on joining the mer president and UN diplomat a different format. European Union. who conceived the Ahtisaari Serbia cannot expect to Serbia, however, is undeserving principles, Kosovo was offered achieve in northern Kosovo Serbia has yet to be given a start date for talks to join the EU. and should not be given a date. Not internationally supervised inde- what it achieved in Bosnia – a only has Serbia refused to normal- pendence if it made concessions state within a state officially States, the United Kingdom, Western Balkans. Better to have ize relations with Kosovo. It fails including extensive autonomy to sanctioned by the international France, Germany and Italy, was Moscow in the tent as a partner an even more basic test for joining minorities.] community. Minorities in a useful system for coordinating than outside as a spoiler. Taking the EU. Serbia’s discrimination Negotiations do not represent Serbia, such as 300,000 ethnic diplomacy during the final sta- a regional approach would also against minorities in Serbia - a goal in themselves. Talks can- Hungarians, deserve the same tus talks on Kosovo. However, benefit relations between Serbia Hungarians in Vojvodina, not go on without result. treatment afforded 30,000 Serbs Russia’s non-participation as a and Kosovo. Albanians in Presevo, and When negotiations between in Northern Kosovo. The protec- full diplomatic partner led to Peacemaking in the Balkans Muslims in the southwest Sandzak Richard Holbrooke and tion and promotion of minority problems that worsened over during the 1990s demonstrated region - disqualifies it from join- Slobodan Milosevic broke down rights is not a menu where some time. the disadvantage of incremental ing the bloc. in March 1999, Holbrooke left groups get more than others. Russia is still smarting from measures. A comprehensive and The political dialogue between Belgrade warning Milosevic The EU is fundamentally its weak diplomacy in Kosovo, inclusive approach, involving all Serbia and Kosova broke down that NATO would act. However, about European values. Serbia its humiliation at the Prishtina regional and international stake- last week over executive powers Holbrooke called Milosevic the and other countries in the Airport in 1999, and subordina- holders, is a bold alternative that demanded by Belgrade for Kosovo next day to give him one last Western Balkans should adopt a tion to NATO’s command as can more successfully address Serbs living north of the Ibar chance to reconsider. Milosevic minority rights standard har- part of the Allied force for core and continuing problems in river. Local control of the judici- rebuffed his appeal. As a result, monized with European norms. Kosovo. Today Russia is resur- the region. ary and police is a deal-breaker. Serbia paid a dear price. The Ahtisaari principles repre- gent; it needs a robust role. If The Republic of Kosovo has When Ashton adjourned the sent a good starting point. Russia is part of the problem, it David L. Phillips is Director of already bent over backwards to Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, she Of course, European officials must also be a part of the solu- the Program on Peace-building provide local autonomy to Kosovo wished the parties a safe trip must lead negotiations on tion. and Rights at Columbia Serbs. It has implemented the home but left the door ajar for Serbia’s EU candidacy. But talks Russia can show its relevance University’s Institute for the Ahtisaari principles represent compromise. Belgrade may about a regional approach to and play a constructive role as a Study of Human Rights. His the gold standard in local self- make concessions aimed at jus- minority rights demand a more co-chair with the EU and United recent book is ‘Liberating Kosovo: government and decentraliza- tifying a decision by the EU to inclusive process. The quint, States on the development of a Coercive Diplomacy and U.S. tion. They address participation set a date for talks. Given which included the United minority rights standard for the Intervention.’ Macedonia’s Media Law: Don’t Pass It responsible for the forced removal cuss things with itself ? talk to this government about will not be done with the help of of journalists from parliament on Sixth, does it make sense to dis- media legislation and to continue journalists. They can use other December 24? This act breached a cuss with a government that their boycott of the “public culinary masters to concoct their By Petrit Saracini number of legal norms and inter- launched a “dialogue” with jour- debate”. legal stews. We will not sup with national conventions as well as the nalists with a sole purpose of get- Their watchword should be No them. We only wish them bon Macedonian constitution and the ting one of the few sentences in Pasaran! At least until the author- appetit! parliamentary rulebook. the 2011 European Commission ities change the above-mentioned Petrit Saracini is program man- efenders of the journalistic Thirdly, is there any sense in report on Macedonia that starts behaviour. ager at Macedonian Institute for profession should continue debating a law that no one has with the phrase, “Predominantly If they want to prepare laws, it Media. Dto refuse to talk to the gov- seen - and when no one from the positive”? Since then it has also ernment about its proposed media government and the institutions passed laws, like the one on law until the authorities change in charge of the media sphere has decriminalization of libel, which their ways. spoken a word in public about have further narrowed the space Macedonia’s Journalists Macedonia’s catastrophic 116th for free media and increased the Association, ZNM, the Trade ranking in the World Media level of censorship and auto cen- Union of Macedonian Journalists Freedom Index 2013 published by sorship. and Media Workers, SSNM, the Reporters Without Borders? Seventh, does it make sense to Macedonian Institute for Media, Fourth, does it make sense to discuss with a government that MIM and the Centre for Media debate with a government that has has marred the death of one of the Development, CRM as well as shut down the oldest TV station in icons of Macedonian journalism other organizations defending the Macedonia as well as three daily with procedural sloppiness and a profession, are all boycotting the newspapers, and under whose lack of even basic decency? They process of enactment of the so- watch journalists and cameramen have virtually ignored the death of called Law on Media. have been beaten, and nearly all Nikola Mladenov, not even send- Why? First, government institu- the critically inclined media are ing a telegram of condolence. Yet tions did not offer the draft law for ceasing to exist or struggling for this man was great promoter of consideration to media workers. life - and when media favours are pluralism in the country in the Afterwards following the standard bought with nontransparent late 1980s and early 1990s, which practice, they assembled a public spending of public money on gov- included giving space to the then debate at the last minute, not invit- ernment commercials? just formed DPMNE party, at a ing most of these organizations to Fifth, is there any sense in time when no one else gave them participate. debating with a government that such space. Second, does it make sense to refuses to debate with anyone There are many more reasons debate with a government that has opposed to it and seeks only to dis- for media organizations not to failed to process any of those

If you would like your NGO to appear in our Making a Difference feature, please email [email protected] 22 April 12 - 25, 2013 Life in Focus

Contraband’s Demise Kosovo police on Wednesday destroyed a collection of drugs and guns seized dur- ing recent months. The cache included 212 kilograms of marijuana, 1.2 kilograms of cocaine, a rifle and two pistols. (Photos by Korab Basha)

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