Opinion: Time to Upgrade Kosovo Politics

October 1 - 14, 2010 Issue No. 48 www.prishtinainsight.com Price € 1

NEWS Election Kosovars Struggle Looms after Swiss Welfare Cuts Following > page 3

President’ BUSINESS s Exit Grape Subsidy Early polls look likely fol- Halts Kosovo lowing the resignation of Protests the head of state, Fatmir > page 6 Sejdiu, but the governing CITY coalition is at logger- heads over when they Another Ottoman should be held. Era House Faces the See Page 3 Bulldozers > page 8 Sale of PTK Enters Choppy Waters NEIGHBOURHOOD Concerns about government-appointed advisers, corruption probes, strike threats and political problems are complicat- Macedonia’s ing plans to sell off Kosovo’s most lucrative asset. Psychiatric Homes pre-qualification documentation. Prishtina Insight. By Lawrence Marzouk Advisor Overload Wallow in Neglect The firm is expected to fetch In October 2009, the Ministry of Just a few months after their between 300 and 600 million Euro. Economy and Finance, MEF, appointment, and allegedly under uestions are mounting > page 10-11 But the process has been fraught appointed Liechtenstein-based pressure from international actors about the privatisation of with difficulties. Concerns have in Kosovo, the government QPost Telecommunications Telco AG, lawyers Wolf Theiss and been raised about one of the com- appointed a second tier of advi- of Kosovo, PTK, as plans to sell off consultants TPA Horwath, both of TIME OUT panies appointed to advise the gov- sors for a further 500,000 Euros to the country’s most lucrative public Austria, and US-based consultants enterprise face a growing number ernment on the sale, Telco AG, who PRTM to advise the government supervise the work of Telco AG Win Tickets for of setbacks. Prishtina Insight has discovered on whether to sell PTK and lead and its consortium. But supporters of the project was fined by telecom regulators in the process through to a potential The Liechtenstein-based Nouvelle Vague’s argue that the sale must take place Italy last year for their involvement sale. They are called “transaction telecommunications firm has, as a now, to secure the best value for the in erotic phone lines, and who have advisors”. company, yet to establish itself as Prishtina Concert firm and ensure Kosovo does not recently had new advisors appoint- A 1.1 million Euro fee was a major name in the telecoms con- sink into debt as it pays for its 700 ed to monitor their work. agreed with the consortium and if sultancy market, although its staff million Euro highway. Worries have also been PTK is successfully privatised the include a number of consultants Despite mandatory approval expressed that corruption raids on consortium, led by Telco and who have worked on major privati- from parliament having been post- PTK may damage its sale price. Vienna-based lawyers Wolf sation deals in the region. poned, the government decided to The process has been further Theiss, will receive 0.39 per cent of Prishtina Insight has also dis- press ahead with the sale of PTK in complicated by attempts by Serbia the sale value, or 2.3million Euro, covered that the firm has been June, with the state planning to to derail the sale of what it sees as if PTK fetches 600 million Euro. dogged by a series of unofficial retain 25 per cent of the company’s Belgrade-owned assets, protests by Telco AG’s success in securing and official complaints levelled shares. the unions and the political uncer- the deal, however, surprised some against it in another field in which Some 30 firms expressed initial tainty which has followed the resig- of the other bidders from more it operated. interest in the bidding documenta- nation of Kosovo’s president, established firms, sources from tion and this week five submitted Fatmir Sejdiu, this week. one of the losing bidders told continues page 2-3 > page 17 Banks Record Massive Profit Albanians Vie for Religious INTERVIEW Increase Sites Ashton: Commercial banks in Kosovo continue to “Often, during the winter, we have to record large profits thanks to cost cutting pray directly on cold snow,” says ‘Kosovo-Serbia and high interest rates for bank loans. Sallahudin Brahimaj, 20, who worships at Talks Must Economic experts criticise bank direc- an improvised mosque in Prishtina’s tors for applying the highest interest rates Dardania district. Start Now’ in the region while, as they say, the pack- The Dardania Mosque was formally a age of bank services... shop, sited on the ground... business page 6 feature page 12 > page 22

Y M is supported by: C K 2 October 1 - 14, 2010 news

from page 1 Euros, in the run-up to the tender Rrustemi noted, referring to the decision, according to official lob- EULEX investigation. “No investor For a number of years, Telco AG bying reports filed in US’ Senate is going to come in with these prob- rented out premium rate, Office of Public Records, to lobby lems.” Liechtenstein-based numbers in Kosovo and the US about issues Rrustemi added the courts need- across the world which, according related to the tender. No other ed to clear up all suspicions before to complaints from phone users on firms in the process used US lobby- the government proceeded with the internet forums, and a case taken ists. sale. out by the Italian telecommunica- Among the team assigned to tions regulatory authority, have not lobby in Kosovo was Shawn Questions over Timing and always been used in accordance Sullivan, who was brought in from with the law. another lobbying firm, Cassidy & Process Alban Hashani, of the Riinvest According to mobile phone users Associates, where he was senior Institute, which specialises in eco- in different corners of the world, vice-president. He has recently nomic issues, said the government complaining on internet forums, moved to a new lobbying firm. had a duty to state its case concern- they were contacted by text mes- From 1995 to 2003, Sullivan PTK’s Headquarters in Prishtina ing the benefits of PTK’s privatisa- sages with news that they had won served in various capacities at the tion. a prize and were given a number to US Departments of State and action advisor in an interview with and is expected to cost the company “The government has failed to call which was owned by Telco AG. Defense. In 2001, he was appointed BIRN’s Life in Kosovo show this many millions of Euros. explain why they have to sell 75 per Those who followed up the text political advisor to the NATO week. PTK argues that it was essential cent of PTK assets and not, say, 67 with a call where then charged pre- Commander General in Kosovo When asked, he said: “The gov- to bring the firm in as its current per cent,” Hashani said. mium rates without their knowl- and later as the NATO Secretary ernment needed a strategic advisor billing system is ‘falling apart’ and But Liridon Mavriqi, political edge, it is alleged. General’s personal representative to, as the name implies, give it limiting the number of new, con- The Liechtenstein-based firm to Serbia. strategic advice – Yes.” tract-based customers it can take advisor to the economy minister, was also fined 100,000 Euros in 2009 Telco told Prishtina Insight the A spokesman for the Ministry of on. It also says that the new billing said the main reason why the gov- for providing premium-rate num- decision to employ lobbyists was a Economy and Finance told platform could be of use to future ernment wished to privatise PTK bers to an erotic phone service legitimate tactic, aimed at “neu- Prishtina Insight that the strategic buyers who already use the popular now was because of growing com- which did not advertise the cost of tralising” other US-based bids. advisor’s appointment did not Amdocs system. petition within the field in Kosovo calls, according to the official find- Despite securing the multimil- mean it “does not trust the current Richard Quick, head of anticor- which saw PTK’s annual revenue ings of an investigation seen by lion Euro deal with Kosovo’s gov- advisor Telco”. They also main- ruption at PTK, told Prishtina fall from 182 million Euros in 2007 Prishtina Insight. ernment, private concerns among tained that the decision to bring in Insight: “The negotiations are to 145 million Euros last year. Telco AG, according to its web- diplomats, expressed to Prishtina new consultants was made by the going to be a long process and are Another key inducement to sell site, has stopped selling interna- Insight, began to surface early this Kosovo government and was not likely to be completed after the pri- is in order to release funds for the tional premium rate numbers, year about whether the relatively influenced by other institutions. vatisation. new highway connecting Kosovo, although its sister company Telco unknown firm’s work would In late August, a new consortium “This means that whoever takes Albania and Serbia, costed at 700 AT continues to operate in that inspire enough confidence to satis- was appointed at a second attempt – on PTK will be required to settle the million Euros. field, its website notes. In a briefing fy a suspicious public that its most after the first tender failed to dispute with Amdocs.” As a condition of an IMF loan of note sent to Prishtina Insight, lucrative asset, PTK, would be pri- attract enough bids – as strategic 109 million Euros, the government Telco AG, said it was ‘merely the vatised properly. advisors, including US-based PTK Under Investigation is obliged to sell PTK in any case. owner of numbers’ and not respon- The Ministry of Economy and Hunton & Williams LLPk, Castilla Some experts fear PTK’s poten- Murilo Portugal, acting chair of sible for services provided by those Finance then issued another ten- Strategic Advisors and David Ross tial sales value may also have suf- the IMF, said in a statement: “An renting the numbers. der in May, this time to employ Group, at a further cost to Kosovo fered as a consequence of raids by important objective of the Fund- However, when Prishtina Insight ‘strategic advisors’ to work along- of 555,000 Euros. the EU rule of law mission, EULEX, supported programme is to shore asked for an official comment on side the ‘transaction advisors’. The appointment, a well-placed on the firm on July 15. up the government’s bank balances whether its operations in the area According to tender documents source told Prishtina Insight, has The action which included a to a prudent level. of international premium-rate that Prishtina Insight has seen, the delayed the process by at least two search of the home of PTK’s execu- “The timely privatisation of numbers cast doubt on its suitabili- new strategic advisor will conduct months. tive director, related to investiga- PTK, the post and telecom operator, ty to lead such a prestigious proj- an “ongoing analysis of the privati- Telco AG told Prishtina Insight tions into multi-million Euro con- will help replenish bank balances ect, the firm said: “We think this is sation process, thereby providing that work between the different tracts between PTK and Kosovo- and ensure that deficit financing an unserious (sic) and very mali- assurance to the Kosovo public that advisors was progressing well: “We based Dardafon Mobile over will not rely on short-term com- cious question, not based on facts. the privatisation is carried out in have completely different roles to telecommunication licences for a mercial borrowing.” A team of highly qualified experts accordance with the highest inter- the strategic advisors – we have our new mobile phone company, Z Avni Zogiani, of the anti-corrup- is advising the Government of national standards of transparency job and they have theirs and we do Mobile. tion organisation COHU, which has Kosovo on this important transac- and fairness”. not expect to have any problems.” The offices of Dardafon LLC, been monitoring the privatisation tion and your questions are drafted While the transaction advisor Devolli, the parent company of process, told Prishtina Insight: in a way that harms the privatisa- remains in place, advising the gov- Cancelled Contracts and Dardafon, and the Z mobile compa- “The government has to sell PTK tion process and damages the inter- ernment on the privatisation ny, the brand name of the new net- now to give that money to the road est of the Republic of Kosovo.” process, the strategic advisors will Recruitment Freeze work, and the private residences of project. This is being done under The firm’s relationship with monitor the work of the transac- The privatisation process has representatives of those companies pressure.” Mobilkom Austria, one of the tion advisors and the government, also been hit by disputes between were searched. Zogiani also complained that the potential buyers of PTK, has also in effect introducing a senior part- PTK and the Ministry of Economy Z mobile is a virtual network, sale was continuing, even though come under scrutiny in the Kosovo ner to the process half-way through and Finance. meaning that it does not have its mandatory approval from parlia- media. Telco AG admits it acted as privatisation. These occurred after PTK signed own telecommunication infrastruc- ment had not been given in June. advisors to Mobilkom Austria in a The ministry argued that the a 20 million Euro deal with the ture and uses that of PTK. This week five firms submitted number of previous transactions appointment of ‘strategic advisors’ Cyprus-branch of the international PTK offices, in particular those of their pre-qualification documents in the region, including in Kosovo, on top of the existing ‘transaction firm Amdocs in April to provide a the chief executive officer, Shyqyri to qualify for bidding – Croatia but says it no longer works for the advisors’ in the middle of the pri- new billing platform for mobile cus- Haxha, and his private residence, Telecom, Albanian Alb Telecom, Austrian mobile giant. vatisation process was normal tomers. were targeted in raids. No arrests Egypt’s Orascom Telecom Holding, The firm said in a statement: international practice. Following complaints from have been made and EULEX said Telekom Austria and Sabafon from “We do not understand how [our] But sources close to the process potential buyers of PTK, including that investigations were ongoing. Yemen. ‘previous close relationship’ with a described the decision as “highly Mobilkom Austria, who said it did All of those involved have denied But the deal cannot go ahead telecom company should qualify as unusual” and said it was motivated not want to be lumbered with the any wrongdoing and said in state- without parliamentary approval, a conflict of interest for an advisor. by concerns among international contract, Ahmet Shala, Minister for ments following the raids that they and following the resignation of “Please let me draw your atten- diplomats about Telco’s relatively Economy and Finance, ordered the are willing to cooperate with Kosovo’s president this week this tion to the fact that most of [the] unknown status. cancellation of the deal and a freeze EULEX and the police. may have to wait for elections. tender participants for PTK adviso- The same source added that the on all major capital investment and Naim Rrustemi, an independent If elections are held soon, as is ry tenders had direct or indirect decision may have also been moti- recruitment, according to a govern- deputy in Kosovo’s parliament, said looking increasingly likely, a new commercial relationship with tele- vated by a desire to bring in con- ment letter seen by Prishtina he had left the parliamentary ses- government may also decide to com companies interested in PTK, sultants who would work more Insight. sion on PTK privatisation in June take a different tack on the project. either as their commercial or closely with the international com- As the Amdocs contract had because of a perceived lack of A source working on the deal told investment banks, auditors, man- munity. already been signed, PTK and the transparency in the process. Prishtina Insight that companies agement consultants and similar.” US Ambassador to Kosovo firm were forced to enter into an Rrustemi said the public enter- will be very hesitant to bid during An investigation by Prishtina Christopher Dell did not confirm arbitration process in London to prise ought not to be sold until the this period of political uncertainty Insight has also shown that Telco or deny that he had encouraged the find a suitable compromise for the various legal problems had been and that the election of a new gov- AG paid the US lobbying firm government to employ a strategic cancellation of the contract. The resolved. “Each problem could ernment could put the sale back to Rhoads Group USD75,000, 55,000 advisor on top of the current trans- arbitration has yet to be concluded decrease the price of the company,” 2012.

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“With PTK’s profits falling, this will lead to a decline in the sale Editor’s Word value,” the source added. Election Looms Following But Ambassador Dell said that he was confident a new govern- ment would be in place in time for President’s Exit Privatizimi the key decisions to be made about all privatisations, including PTK, Early polls look likely following the resignation of the head of state, Fatmir Sejdiu, which he said will be sold at the but the governing coalition is at loggerheads over when they should be held. earliest in six months time. By Lawrence Marzouk Anti-PTK Protests on the also speaker of parliament, such as future talks with Serbia. from the PDK, said he was in “It’s quite a big mess inside Streets By Petrit Collaku discussions with all political the LDK and it is difficult to pre- n an intriguing report published last The privatisation process also parties on finding a solution. dict what the direction of the week, Rita Augestad Knudsen, writing for the Norwegian Institute of risks being derailed by unions, But in an interview with the party’s future will be,” he added. I International Affairs, questioned why fearful that the sale will lead to job BBC on Wednesday, Krasniqi olitical parties in Kosovo had been launched into a frenzy of losses. suggested the current political Kosovo have split down Ready or Not? privatisation without anyone stepping back PTK workers called for the environment in Kosovo dictated The possibility of quick elec- Pthe middle over whether and asking whether it was the correct choice process to stop and this week that new general elections a general election should be tions has left many institutions for the country. marched in Prishtina against plans should be held. held immediately following and political parties ‘flat foot- It’s a valid question. Privatisation is to privatise the firm. the resignation of President Kosovo’s presidents are not ed’, according to Ambassador not always the best option for publicly The head of the PTK union, Fatmir Sejdiu. directly elected but chosen by a Dell, especially the Central owned firms or assets. Milazim Alshiqi, said selling off Sejdiu stepped down as two-thirds majority of parlia- Election Commission, which Just look at postal systems across the the company was a mistake. “PTK President on Monday following ment. will have to organise the poll. world. Many countries find it impossible is not a burden on the Kosovo gov- a Constitutional Court ruling Krasniqi believes that it could While Dell questioned the to make postal firms profitable with uni- ernment,” he said. “During the last that he could not simultaneous- pose a problem if a new presi- readiness of the Commission to versal coverage, but the idea that the four years, PTK has donated some ly be head of state and head of dent is elected now for a five- manage a snap poll, its company should just be offloaded to the 3.5 million Euros for projects such a party, the Democratic League year term, while the parliament spokesperson Fehmi Ajvazi, private sector for services to be slashed is as building houses for the homeless of Kosovo, LDK. may have to wait until late next insisted they were prepared. “If quite unpalatable. or scholarships.” The dominant partner in the year for their elections. the parties agree on elections, In the case of Post Telecommunications The movement Vetevenodsje, governing coalition, the Under the constitution, the we cannot run away from the of Kosovo, PTK, however, I believe that ‘self-determiniation’ in Albanian, Democratic Party of Kosovo, speaker can assume the matter,” Ajvazi told Prishtina privatisation is the correct choice, espe- has also held protests and has PDK, led by Prime Minister President’s functions for no Insight. cially given that the postal section will be Hashim Thaci, wants a snap longer then six months. Nexhmedin Spahiu, political pinned anti-privatisation posters handed back to the state. across the city. parliamentary poll held before If three votes in parliament commentator and a former may- fail to elect a new president with In recent years, Kosovo’s most lucra- Visar Ymeri told the protestors the end of the year. oral candidate for the AKR, said The party has the support of a two-thirds majority, a general tive asset, PTK, has been losing ground to this week: “Today, I will not invite that while early elections looked key members of the interna- election must be held within 45 its private sector rivals. This is painfully the government to stop the privati- likely, it would be better for tional community, who want to days. clear from the plunging profits. sation of PTK, because it would be Kosovo to assemble an interim make sure that any govern- The president may also dis- Nepotism, corruption and just plain hopeless. Today, my call is government of technicians and ment entering key negotiations solve parliament following a poor management have meant that PTK addressed to the citizens of Kosovo, wait until next April to vote. with Serbia on ending the successful no-confidence vote is not where it should be. and especially PTK workers in this “But it’s up to the interna- against the government. Privatisation is a quick, clinical way of Kosovo-Serbia stand-off has a tional protectors [of Kosovo] to case. It is our responsibility to pro- It is not yet clear which mech- reversing the downward profit trends clear popular mandate. set the date of elections rather tect our property. We must be more But the government’s junior anism is more likely to be used if and injecting much needed money into than Kosovo’s political parties,” determined and organised to pro- coalition partner, led by Sejdiu deputies decide to force an early the country’s coffers. he suggested. tect the assets of Kosovo.” himself, is calling for the elec- election. It is, however, a great shame that the tion to be put off till next year, New Parties: process to date has been fraught with dif- The Serbian Question when the President’s mandate ficulties and that is being carried out Coalition at loggerheads: Among the new parties stak- is due to expire. One reason why the LDK has with a metaphorical gun to the country’s ing their claim for a slice of While Kosovo’s government The opposition Alliance for said it will not support an early head. power if an early election takes attempts to press ahead with the the Future of Kosovo, AAK, is election is because it is No single institution or individual is to place is the nationalist privatisation, the Serbian state- also steadfastly against an embroiled in its own internal blame for the mess that has been the pri- Vetevendosje movement. owned telecommunications firm early election, mainly because leadership elections, which will vatisation process, although the govern- Left wing economically, it has Telekom Srbija AD has been consis- its leader, Ramush Haradinaj is see a new party head elected by ment is most culpable. been the loudest opponent of tently warning that PTK’s buyer in detention in The Hague the end of November. And it’s not unexpected that selling off international supervision of will face a legal challenge. awaiting retrial for war crimes. On Thursday, the LDK’s a relatively huge company in a country Kosovo’s independence. Early The Belgrade-based firm claims Meanwhile, the opposition Sejdiu and the PDK’s Thaci met with no experience in that field has not this year it declared it would that its assets were “unlawfully Democratic League of to discuss the deadlock, saying been without obstacles. stand in the next election. seized” after the 1999 conflict and in Dardania, LDD, and New after the meeting that the talks But if you have read this week’s Albin Kurti, the leader, told a statement this week warned that Kosovo Alliance, AKR, were would continue. Prishtina Insight piece on PTK, you will Prishtina Insight that his party buyers could face “legal actions in quick to call for a vote as soon Sejdiu told Prishtina Insight realise that so many different actors have had already appointed staff to their home countries as well as as possible. that his party had not yet offered been meddling in the process that the deal with election preparations. before European judicial bodies”. a new presidential candidate. ship has been buffeted well off its course But he was disappointed that This summer, Telekom Srbija International Backing: “We need at least four to six the date was being determined time and again. took out an advert in the Financial Since Sejdiu stepped down, months to prepare [for elec- by the international community The gun to the head is, of course, the Times with a similar warning. several high-level meetings have tions],” Sejdiu said. By then, the and by “selfish politicians”, he pressure to sell the asset in order to find While the potential success of taken place between the govern- party’s internal election would money which has, in essence, already ment and the so-called Quint, the be settled, he added. “The LDK added. this action has been questioned by Another party that will also been spent. legal experts, and the claims of US, Germany, Britain, Italy and will [then] have time to be well The IMF has made it quite clear that France. soon register for the election unlawful seizure dismissed by the restructured,” he said. Kosovo must sell PTK if it wants to com- Senior diplomatic sources He added that the party had race hails from the civil-society UN Mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, plete its first, 700million euro highway. from the Quint countries told not started internal discussions sector. sources close to PTK’s privatisation Of course, the government could Prishtina Insight that an elec- on likely next steps with regard Shpend Ahmeti, head of the warned that Telekom Srbija could decide to stop construction halfway tion was imminent. “I believe to its current coalition arrange- think tank GAP, and Ilir Deda, force bidders in its own ongoing pri- through, or raise cash through borrow- early elections will happen ments. “There is a need for a from KIPRED, Kosovar Institute vatisation process to drop plans to ing at loan-shark rates instead. before the end of the year,” one thorough analysis of all that is for Policy Research and buy PTK. The source added, howev- Neither options are, however, more diplomat said. happening to make a plan about Development, announced the er, that there was no indication that attractive, or should I say less unattrac- US Ambassador Christopher what should happen next,” formation of their new party to tive, than selling off PTK, even for a cut- it would carry out this action. Dell told Prishtina Insight: Sejdiu said. Prishtina Insight on Thursday. price deal. But Croatia Telecom, one of the “Elections may be the best way The LDK would be serious They said they would reveal So, PTK must be sold and to date the five potential bidders, said this forward for Kosovo – I wouldn’t contenders in the next election their programme, membership sale has been, let’s say, a little problematic. week it was not concerned about have said that one week ago, and would aim to take the post of and the party’s name shortly. Not all is lost, however. the threats. before the court’s decision [on Prime Minister in a new coali- “The time has come to offer The continued presence of the President’s resignation].” tion, he added, unlike the pres- Kosovo society a chance to We have five potential bidders, some Serbian licensed mobile phone The ambassador added that it ent and past coalitions, in which receive what it has long been more reputable than others, and the operators in Kosovo could also was important that any govern- the party took the post of expecting from the government, chance to squeeze every last drop out of impact on the price of the sale. ment team entering negotiations President. a better quality of life,” Ahmeti them for the benefit of Kosovo. At least 80,000 users outside of with Serbia had a clear mandate Prishtina-based political ana- told Prishtina Insight. But the process must be clean, trans- Kosovo’s Serbia-controlled north from the electorate. lyst Mufail Limani said Sejdiu’s Deda said government was to parent and, most importantly, honest. use Belgrade-based networks, it is resignation had affected the blame for the broken state of Qualities, I believe, that have been Y estimated, rather than the Pristina Constitutional tangle: proper workings of the state at a Kosovo’s society. “This is unac- sadly lacking from similar sell-offs to M licensed firms, IPKO and PTK’s Kosovo’s now acting presi- delicate time, jeopardising ceptable and cannot be tolerated date. C Vala. dent, Jakup Krasniqi, who is important political processes, anymore,” he said. K 4 October 1 - 14, 2010 news Kosovo Families Struggle after Swiss Welfare Suspension A decision by the Swiss government to suspend a raft of welfare payments to Kosovars in the face of growing public concern about benefit fraud has left hundreds of families in dire financial straits.

age percentage of disability pension explained to the Swiss parliament recipients among immigrants from that the primary reason for the deci- Balkan countries. sion not to renew the social security By Dana Landau The debate led to an agreement agreement was not the issue of between Switzerland and Kosovo fraud. r Shaban Hasi held the lofty posi- over the benefit payments not being He argued, instead, that the rea- tion of director of the depart- renewed in April this year, resulting son was that “given Kosovo’s insti- Dment of neurosurgery at in non-payment of all new pensions tutional shortcomings, the proper Prishtina University’s Clinical Centre to Kosovars who chose to spend implementation of a treaty is not from 2000, after he returned to his home their retirement years in their currently possible”, referring to a country from Switzerland, until 2008. homeland, as well as an end to child social security agreement between But what his colleagues at the benefits for children living in the two states. Prishtina hospital did not know was Kosovo, affecting thousands of The problems include a reliable, that he was also clocking up thou- Kosovars working in Switzerland. up-to-date and complete civil regis- sands of euros in disability benefits Kosovars started emigrating to ter, and a functional liaison agency from the Swiss state at the same Switzerland from the late 1960s to enable the treaty. The labour law, time. onwards, and many more followed which would regulate social insur- At each review of his status, the as refugees during the 1990s. ance, has yet to pass Kosovo’s Kosovar neurosurgeon, who had It is estimated that approximately assembly. Kosovars celebrating in Switzerland, where there lives a large Albanian diaspora practiced in a Swiss hospital before 170,000 Kosovars are living in In late 2009, the Swiss govern- Jashari himself is disabled and pension payments and thus should being diagnosed as incapacitated, Switzerland today. Over the years, ment took the decision not to renew incapable to work and he used to retain the right to choose where claimed he was still unable to their employers have made pay- the agreement with the government receive 190 euros a month to support they would like to retire. return to work. ments from their salaries into of Kosovo when it ended in April his four children. The petition also addressed the But following a tip-off from the Switzerland’s basic state pension 2010. Imri Blenishti, father of five, orig- Kosovar authorities and called on Prishtina hospital to Swiss authori- and social security insurance. Switzerland has social security inally from Ferizaj, has been work- them to urgently take up the issue ties, Hasi was arrested in 2008 and The social security agreement agreements with 43 countries and ing and living in Switzerland since with their Swiss counterparts. earlier this month given a 21-month between Switzerland and all other former Yugoslav republics 1990. The decision not to renew the suspended jail sentence and ordered Yugoslavia entered into force in have either already completed He continued to work in agreement was announced in late to repay the 400,000 euro he had 1964, and ensured the rights of social security agreements with Switzerland after his wife and chil- 2009, however, it was not until fraudulently claimed. Yugoslav immigrants to receive Switzerland or are in the final dren returned to Kosovo five years September this year, more than 5 “We had no idea he was receiving their pensions and insurance pay- stages of doing so. ago. months after its expiry, that a work- a pension from Switzerland, as soon ments even if they decided to retire The decision only affects pen- Until May this year, Blenishti ing group from Kosovo visited the as we heard about it from the Swiss in their native country. sions newly claimed from April this received a monthly 900 euro child Federal Social Insurance Office in authorities he was let go,” a senior But as concern mounted about year onwards, and will not change allowance, which was invested in Switzerland. University staff told Prishtina abuse of the system by Kosovars, the situation of the approximately his children’s schooling and univer- The purpose of the visit was an Insight. the Federal Social Insurance Office 250 disability and old-age pensions sity fees. information exchange at which the This story was just one of many in Switzerland announced in 2008 and 330 additional pensions for chil- But since April, the payments minimum technical requirements to form a benefit fraud media storm that investigations into suspected dren of recipients already issued in have stopped. Blenishti said he was for a start of negotiations on an which sparked a heated debate in misuse of disability pensions to Kosovo. very worried about his children’s agreement were clarified. These Switzerland over social welfare pro- recipients living abroad had begun. Newly retired Kosovars will be endangered schooling, adding: “I include the effective implementa- vided to Kosovars. However, investigators in Kosovo left without pensions if they decide am not the only one going through tion of social security legislation Representatives of the populist soon had to halt their operations to leave Switzerland upon retire- this - many Albanians are experi- and a complete civil register. Swiss People’s Party spoke of the after receiving death threats. ment. They may request a reim- encing the same problems.” On September 16, the Assembly of “Balkanisation of the disability Federal Councillor Didier bursement of the pension payments Apart from the immediate effect Kosovo gathered for an interpella- insurance”, citing the above-aver- Burkhalter in late 2009 declared the made over the years, but this does on Kosovars in Switzerland whose tion of Prime Minister Hashim failed investigations and the atmos- not come close to the value of a full children reside abroad, the change Thaci after a request from deputy phere of threats and insecurity as pension. is also likely to influence the deci- Emrush Xhemajli, supported by 32 the reason for discontinuing the And the move also affects those sion of new Kosovar pensioners deputies, on the topic of the non- agreement with Kosovo. claiming other types of benefits, about where to spend their retire- renewal of a social security agree- www.prishtinainsight.com The Social Insurance Office fur- such as children’s allowances and ment. Many will opt not to return to ment between Switzerland and ther stated that it “assumes that disability payments. their homeland, meaning a loss of Kosovo. Publisher: Kosovo indeed exhibits a dispropor- Thousands of Kosovars in investment into Kosovo’s economy, Speaking at the plenary session of BIRN tionately high potential of insur- Switzerland are feeling the effects of as well as additional social security the Kosovo Assembly on September Balkan Investigative Reporting Network ance fraud”, however, without men- this change in policy, it has been and healthcare costs to Swiss insti- 16, Prime Minister Thaci was criti- tioning any details about the inves- claimed. tutions. cised for not reacting sooner, but he Mensa e Studenteve, first floor tigations. Jusuf Jashari, 47, from Ferizaj In May this year, members of the assured parliament that all steps And while Swiss law requires the and long-time resident of Geneva, Kosovar diaspora together with would be taken to ensure that 10000, Prishtina legal and administrative coopera- said he was no longer receiving Swiss trade unions petitioned with Kosovar citizens in Switzerland will Kosovo tion of local authorities for investi- allowances for his four children several thousand signatures against not be deprived of a right that all Phone: +381 (0) 38 24 33 58 gations within a contracting state, who now live in Kosovo. the discontinuation of the agree- other former Yugoslav citizens con- Fax: +381 (0) 38 22 44 98 no Kosovar institution was “I no longer receive any payments ment. tinue to enjoy. informed of the presence of investi- for my children in Kosovo and life is The decision was criticised for Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin [email protected] gators. much more difficult for the children discriminating against Kosovars Kuci accepted that there was insti- Despite the initial link with now,” he said. “I have asked many who have worked in Switzerland, tutional neglect of this problem and Editor-in-Chief: fraud, when pressed for an explana- times for the decision to be contributed to consolidating the has vowed to ensure the appropriate Lawrence Marzouk tion of the decision, Burkhalter reversed, but I have been refused.” Swiss welfare state through their actions are taken. [email protected] Editorial Team: News in brief Ana Petruseva, Gordana Igric, Jeta Xharra, Marcus Tanner, Kosovo Mayor’s Home Searched Clinton to Visit Serbia, Kosovo Tadic to attend Petrit Collaku, Inge Baanders, Shengjyl in Fraud Probe .S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Patriarch’s said on Wednesday that she plans to trav- Osmani and Belinda Vrapi he home of Skenderaj mayor Sami Lushtaku and three other inauguration Uel to Serbia and Kosovo next month to private houses have been searched as part of a fraud investi- push for talks between the two. Marketing, Sales & Distribution: Tgation by the Kosovo police and the EU rule-of-law mission in erbian President “I am very much looking forward to my visit Boris Tadic will [email protected] Kosovo, EULEX. Officers launched the searches on Tuesday in the Skenderaj municipality after Kosovo’s Special Prosecutor had filed to both Belgrade and Prishtina and the oppor- Sattend the inaugura- charges of abuse of official position, fraud in office and trading in tunity not only to speak with leaders, but also tion of Serbian Orthodox Design & Layout: “Rrjeti” influence, EULEX officials said. with citizens,” Clinton said during a visit of Church Patriarch Irinej at Y Skenderaj municipality, the mayor and the Commission for the High Representative of the EU for Foreign the Pec Patriarchy on M October 3, the church has Printing: Lindi Printing Center Donation of Social Apartments are being investigated for the dona- Affairs, Catherine Ashton. C The visit to Belgrade is expected on October 12. announced. Copyright © BIRN tion of social houses to 43 beneficiaries last year. K marketing October 1 - 14, 2010 5

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Express RTV Y M C K 6 October 1 - 14, 2010 business Grape Subsidy Halts Kosovo Protests Farmers led large protests demanding help from the vineyards and government, including one demonstration last Friday By Lawrence Marzouk when 21 protestors were injured after a clash with police. Betim Behluli, of the grape producers’ association, said: “The aim of the associa- osovo’s government has agreed to tion ... was for the protest to be calm and subsidise grape production follow- dignified, but the moment the special King a spate of increasingly violent police unit appeared, the mass of protes- protests led by farmers unable to sell their produce. tors got agitated.” The government’s offer of 1,000 euro Sulejman Bala, the head of the state- per hectare for the year came after grape run Institute of Vineyards and Wineries, growers in Kosovo’s vineyard region of from Rahovec, told Prishtina Insight that Rahovec/Orahovac were left with thou- grape producers had slashed their whole- sands of tonnes of unsold fruit because of sale prices from 0.25 euro per kilogramme cuts in wine production. to 0.15 euro. “The grapes are currently being sold “This is a subsidy for your hard work, The government has agreed to subsidise grape growers who have struggled to sell their produce this year but it is also to save grape vine cultivation only to private consumers by the road- in the Republic of Kosovo,” Deputy Prime side,” he added. Stonecastle, the country’s largest pro- Belgrade is blocking Kosovo’s partici- Minister Hajredin Kuci said late on Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuci ducer of wine and the focus of much of pation in the Central European Free Tuesday. held a meeting with grape growers on the farmers’ anger, decided not to buy Trade Agreement, CEFTA, which links Rahovec, in the south east of the coun- Tuesday evening which led to the subsidy any grapes this year from farmers in the non-EU countries in Central and try, has about 2,240 hectares of vineyards agreement. area as its reserves are still full. Southeast Europe. which are expected to produce 20,000 tons Half of the payments will be made by The company owns 600 hectares of Serbia refuses to accept Prishtina’s of grapes this autumn. December 31, the government said, with vineyards from which it produces 3.5 to participation in the agreement as a sep- In previous years, about a quarter of the rest coming by the end of January. four million litres of wine each year. arate country, saying it may only be rep- production was sold outside of Kosovo Kuci said: “We have talked with pri- “We’ll produce the same amount this resented by the UN mission in Kosovo, with the rest going mainly to producers of vate companies, but the government year, but we regret that we won’t be able UNMIK. wine and raki, the local brandy. cannot impose their views, and must to buy any grapes from local farmers,” Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina But vineyards have accumulated the respect their independence. Shani Mullabazi, the general manager at have also refused to allow any imports equivalent of 16 million unsold bottles of “We have no desire to see citizens Stonecastle, told Prishtina Insight in an with the hallmark of the Republic of wine due to the economic crisis and an protesting in Kosovo, much less those interview earlier this month. Kosovo, depriving the new country of a embargo on Kosovo products by Serbia. who have worked, and work, diligently.” “Our tankers are full and we have mil- key export market. It had been feared 6,000 tonnes of According to a press release issued by lions of litres of wine remaining in our Mullabazi said the main market for grapes could have been left to rot this the government, representatives of the basement,” he added. the company was Germany but, due to year, leaving growers with a loss of 10 mil- grape growers are satisfied with the sub- Mullabazi said the main problem for the financial crisis in Europe, sales of lion euro. sidy proposal. the wine industry in Kosovo was Serbia. Kosovo wine had dropped there. Banks Record Massive Profit Increase Profits in the banking sector rocketed by 20 million euro in the first six months of 2010 through cost cutting

suggests that the high interest rates are a result of the high demand for loans in the country. By Lavdim Hamidi “The Central Bank for the moment only has the role of supervisor but with the new law, it is expected that the Central ommercial banks in Bank will be granted additional Kosovo continue to record functions,” he said. Clarge profits thanks to Shatri is calling on the state to cost cutting and high interest rates for bank loans. investigate whether banks have Economic experts criticise colluded to keep interest rates bank directors for applying the high, an accusation that Rukiqi highest interest rates in the dismisses. A spokesman for TEB region while, as they say, the Bank dismissed accusations that package of bank services is banks were involved in any form poorer than in neighbouring of price fixing. countries. Eight commercial banks oper- Kosovo Central Bank, KCB, ate in the Kosovo market, most of reports that until the first half of which do so with foreign capital. this year, commercial banks in “We have banks from Italy, the country have marked a profit Turkey, Albania and Germany of 19.4 million euros, up 56.8 per that are interested in the Kosovo cent on the same period last year. market,” Kada said, adding that “The increase in profit is first there is room for new banks in and foremost a result of the cut the market, which, according to in commercial bank expendi- him, could have a positive tures, which have been cut by 6.5 impact on Kosovo’s economy, per cent, in comparison with the offering new services and new same period last year, whereas Banks in Kosovo have recorded a huge increase in profits employment opportunities. the earnings marked an increase Rukiqi also believes that two to of 1.2 per cent,” according to the charge, which, he says, are the high risk of default in Kosovo, to the latest figures 4.5 per cent three more powerful banks could central bank’s monthly bulletin. highest in the region. but, according to Shatri, the of loans were classified as ‘bad’. enter the Kosovo market, which Haki Shatri, head of the “Interest rates for loans in opposite is true. The rate of bad According to the bank, the fig- could also lead to a lowering of Parliamentary Commission for Kosovo are around 12 to 13 per loans is the lowest in the region. ure in Albania is 10.5 per cent, it interest rates. Y Financial Supervision, said cent and are the highest in the This fact was confirmed by is 8.6 per cent in Macedonia, 16.5 “The bank service package is M Kosovo’s commercial banks region,” said Shatri. KCB officials. Besnik Kada, per cent in Serbia and 13.5 per the poorest in the region, there- C secure such high profits because The banks argue the high spokesperson of the Bank, told cent in Montenegro. fore competition would have a K of the high interest rates they rates are applied because of the Prishtina Insight that according Economic expert Berat Rukiqi positive effect,” says Rukiqi. neighbourhood business October 1 - 14, 2010 7 Bulgarian Organic Food Wets Europe’s Appetite Ralcheva is herself an organic Most of their produce is sold producer, mainly growing laven- abroad - fruit and vegetables tra- By Boryana der and roses, with about 95 per ditionally go to Western Europe Dzhambazova cent of her lavender oil going while the United States, Canada abroad – mostly to France, and Japan are a good market for Germany, Switzerland and the organic herbs and rose oil. Netherlands and with some Bioselena’s statistics show roducers spy profitable oppor- going to Thailand and the United that the number of companies tunity in Western Europe’s States. that import and trade organic expanding appetite for P She said that many Western foods grown without chemicals. products to Bulgaria has also nations do not have a sufficient Bulgarian farmers Tania and rapidly increased from 14 last quantity of crop land in general, Hristo Penov enjoy working year to more than 120 today. let alone land suitable for grow- their land near the sun-drenched According to Stoilko ing organic produce. coastal city of Burgas. Apostolov, the director of “The labour there is very The couple, aged 54 and 57 Bioselena, it is easier to sell expensive and this makes organ- respectively, aided by their 29- organic produce in Germany ic production even harder,” she year-old son Stefan, have farmed because the organic sector is said. organic produce in the town of very advanced. “There’s a demand for Sredets for four years. He said many big German Bulgarian organic produce But the family has a reason to companies buy, process and sell because we offer quality and low, be especially pleased with the Bulgaria hopes to export more organic produce, such as this garlic their production all over competitive prices.” fruits of their labour last year, Europe, while in Bulgaria the She said Bulgaria was ideal “We have lots of land that has The country also seems to when they sold 50 tons of organ- processing sector is still in its for growing the produce as much not been cultivated for years and acknowledge the good outlook ic wheat to Germany. initial phase. of its land has not been farmed which would be perfect for grow- for the country’s organic mar- In Bulgaria, which remains for years, so no chemicals or fer- ing organic produce,” he said. Although Ralcheva agrees that one of central Europe’s poorest ket. tilisers are present in the soil - The Penovs are among 500 Bulgarian producers have a countries as it emerges from its In 2007, Bulgaria adopted a an essential requirement for local organic producers who are bright future in Europe, she says communist past, the Penovs are five-year national plan for the growing uncontaminated organ- now exporting most of their pro- the demand for its produce part of a newly emerging trend. development of the organic sec- ic produce. duce to Western Europe. abroad is greater than the local They are taking advantage of tor including further develop- She stressed the Balkan coun- More than 90 per cent of producers can supply. what observers say is a niche ment of the overseas market. try could further gain a key posi- Bulgaria’s organic produce is “Bulgaria has an image of a position Bulgaria, and other The government wants 8 per tion in the Western European exported abroad, according to country that offers eco-friendly Balkan countries, may have in cent of the land in the country to market by offering organic pro- data from the Ministry of vegetables and products and we catering for their Western be used for organic agriculture duce to those countries that Agriculture, a trend underlining have all the necessary conditions European neighbours’ growing by 2013. can’t grow it themselves. the potential that Bulgaria has to supply organic produce to appetite for organic foods. An increase in the number of Western Europe,” Ralcheva said. Tania Penov told Prishtina “This year, some German com- as a promising supplier of organic producers and volume of “Foreign companies want big- Insight: “We sent a sample of panies have been very interested organic foods to the European organic products are also among ger quantities than local produc- our wheat to Germany so the in buying eggplants, peppers market. its goals. ers, working by themselves, can company could test it. It said the and tomatoes from us,” Penov Veselina Ralcheva, the chair- The number of local producers supply,” she said. quality was excellent and bought said. “However, we have to woman of the Bioproducts grew ten-fold from 2003 to 2008, all the produce. expand in order to provide the Association, which unites local according to Bioselena, a local Organic farming, according to “Bulgaria has an excellent necessary volume they require.” organic producers, said the non-governmental organisation Ralcheva, could also create more opportunity to further explore Kamen Krastanov, a member country could occupy a niche working in the field of organic jobs. “Growing organic herbs, this niche market and should of the newly established local position in the marketplace in agriculture and environment. which are very popular abroad, take advantage of it, as in Association of Organic Traders, Western Europe, where many It estimates that there are could provide a living for people Europe this is a hefty business thinks Sofia should embrace the fruits and vegetables are grown around 500 organic farms in the in remote mountainous areas worth millions of euros.” opportunity to further develop by intensive or traditional farm- country, up from 311 in 2008 and where no other type of agricul- its organic market. ing methods. just 181 two years earlier. ture is possible.” Belgrade, Skopje Seek Paypal Service

With many consumer websites only offering payments through Paypal, Serbian and Macedonian By Bojana Barlovac nationals find they are restricted to sites where the purchase of goods and services online has to be carried out using credit and debit acedonia and Serbia are cards. to officially ask PayPal, Irena Lacmanovic, a student Mthe global system for con- from Belgrade, told Prishtina ducting financial transactions Insight she was no longer able to over the Internet, to offer its serv- download music from one website ices to the two countries, Serbia’s after it changed its payment sys- Minister of Telecommunications tem to ensure the security of vey by the Serbian Institute for She expressed her hope that the Serbia was given the EU pre- has announced. transactions. Statistics on the use of informa- customs difficulty becomes histo- accession green light on June 14 Jasna Matic said on Monday: “For the sake of our safety, the tion and communication technolo- ry once the EU Stabilisation and when the 27 EU foreign ministers “In a conversation with a col- online radio ... which I’ve been gy, ICT, in the country. Association Agreement, SAA, is decided to submit the country’s league from Macedonia, we have paying to listen to for ages has With 87 per cent of Serbian implemented, since tariffs on EU SAA to the parliaments of EU concluded that the Macedonian recently shifted to PayPal pay- nationals declining to purchase goods would gradually be abol- member states for ratification. case is exactly the same as ours - ments only, leaving many of us online, Matic said such statistics ished. The PayPal system was founded that they have been negotiating without access to our favourite show there was no particular con- The SAA, by which countries in the US in 1998 and has been with PayPal for several years, but music.” fidence in the country in the safety hoping to join the EU work to har- owned by eBay since 2002. It has no concrete progress for the com- She said there was no other way of internet payments. monise their domestic legislation been available in Europe since pany to enter the market has been to access the content as Serbia is “Additionally, relatively compli- with EU laws and implement 2004. made.” not served by PayPal. cated customs procedures for reforms, is part of the pre-acces- The service enables the online Y He said the two countries would Irena belongs to 13 per cent of goods coming from abroad make sion process and was the next sale and purchase of products and M make a formal request to the com- Serbian nationals who purchase the whole thing more difficult,” important step on Serbia’s path services, money transfers and pro- C pany to introduce its services. online, according to the latest sur- the Minister added. towards joining the bloc. vides security of shipments. K 8 October 1 - 14, 2010 city Pierre Bonifassi, Another Ottoman Era House Intern at European Commission Faces the Bulldozers Liaison Office The ornate ceilings and engraved walls will soon make way for another drab block if the owners receive planning permission

By Belinda Vrapi

ne of Prishtina’s most beautiful of: the Eyes through Prishtina Ottoman houses, once owned by Othe local chieftain, is to make way for a new block of flats. The home, which has been inhabited by the same family for 26 years, holds rare decorated ceilings and wooden walls with exquisite engravings. But the ageing family, who asked not to 1. What surprised you most about be named, is waiting for planning permis- Prishtina? sion from Prishtina Municipality so the The patience of people stuck in unexpected land can be sold on for redevelopment. traffic jams due to road works. The white-washed house is wedged in 2. What’s your favourite hangout? between a series of communist housing Dit e Nat in the afternoon, Tingle in the blocks just off Qamil Hoxha Street in cen- evening, Pishat for dinner, later Gegë for jazz tral Prishtina. music or Crème de la Crème. It is visible from the toilets in Te 3. Do you do anything cultural? Komiteti and can be accessed through the I go to concerts, festivals and exhibitions. entrance of the next-door block. The house is facing demolition With the visits of Morcheeba, Snoop Dogg and The two main rooms offer ornate wood- Tony Blair, Prishtina was definitely the place to en carved and painted walls with the Star be this summer. Otherwise, I’d like to organise of David, the Crescent Moon, as well as my own photo exhibition in Pristina in autumn Hebrew and Persian writing, according to with pictures taken in the region and in Kosovo the owner. (www.tame-time.com). Not much is known of the house’s histo- 4. What is the most annoying thing about ry other than that it used to belong to the Prishtina? local Bey, a term for a local leader in Bars closed at midnight. Ottoman times. 5. If you were mayor of Prishtina for the The owner of the house told Prishtina day what would you change? Insight: “Many have come to see the house I would definitely build a large parking lot to and they all are astonished and comment relieve the pavements from cars. And if my on its unique architecture.” mandate is renewed for a second day, I would “However we need a new house to live dig a new river in Pristina. But where? in,” she said, “We are now waiting for the 6. How many macchiatos do you drink a municipality to give permission to day? builders so they get the land and build.” Well, I’m not a macchiato drinker; I’ve many Despite the home’s impressive architec- addictions but not this one. I know that I’m cer- tural features, it is not a protected building. tainly missing a part of Kosovo culture. But if And Sali Shoshi, head of Cultural you ask for fresh orange juices or Peja beers... Heritage without Borders in Kosovo, told 7. What’s the tastiest Kosovar food? Prishtina Insight that even protected Burek më djath with yogurt from corner buildings are facing demolition. burektore. The best breakfast on earth. “44 per cent of the houses have been 8. What landmark do you use to tell taxi demolished since after the war and once drivers where you live? again I say the trend of demolishing old Hotel Ambasador! houses has to end,” he said.. One of the ornate walls of the main living area State-of-the-Art Schools to be Completed in November

wo new, state-of-the-art vocation- tration and trade. will improve the opportunity of gaining al schools are to open in “It is crucial for the country to provide employment everywhere in the world.” TNovember after a 13million euro vocational training. This will hopefully Minister of Education Enver Hoxhaj building programme. mark a new era for education here,” Kvale said the schools would become the best in The facilities, located in Skenderaj and added Kosovo ‘in terms of content, functionality Malisheve, have been funded by the The curriculum has also been developed and design’. Norwegian government. with help from the Norwegian Agency for The schools are the starting point of a Last week, Ambassador Sverre Johan Development Cooperation (NORAD) and new mission for education in Kosovo,” he Kvale visited both to meet construction the Norwegian Ministry of Education and said. workers and confirmed the November Research. “Vocational education and training is opening. The European Centre for the the very best way of connecting education “The schools look really promising and Development of Vocational Training has with the economy.” will probably become the two best in the reported that the curriculum is in line The schools will be completed in early Balkans” he said. with the requirements of the EU. November and their opening will be Y The Skenderaj school will focus on build- Kvale added: “The 1700 annual students marked with a small ceremony. M ing and construction, while students in will not only be a valued resource in The official opening will be held in C Malisheve will study commerce, adminis- Kosovo, but the level of education provided March next year. K The new school in Malisheve neighbourhood news October 1 - 14, 2010 9 Bosnia Parties ‘Repeating Election Promises’

osnia’s ruling political par- jobs for young people. Democrats, SDP, would win 29 per ties, heavily favoured to win “It is discouraging that the rul- cent of the vote for the parliament Bre-election in October polls, ing parties are repeating as much of Bosnia’s Croat-Bosniak part, have been making the same prom- as two-thirds of their earlier followed by SDA with 9 per cent ises to voters as before they took promises ... they should have done and HDZ with 7 per cent. office four years ago, according to what they promised in 2006 In the country’s other part, the a leading civic association. instead of trying to win re-elec- Serb-dominated Republika Sabina Arslanagic tion on unfulfilled promises;” Srpska, the ruling SNSD would The Sarajevo-based civic associ- Brkan said. win 38 per cent while two opposi- ation Why Not (Zasto Ne?), said on Brkan voiced hope that voters tion parties, the Serb Democratic Tuesday it had found the parties would not allow politicians to Party (SDS) and Party of were repeating more than two- “trick them” and would instead Democratic Progress would, win Election posters in Bosnia thirds, or 67.3 percent, of the base their voting decisions on 17 and 16 per cent respectively. promises they made in 2006, after “what they (ruling parties) The SDP’s candidates for the Bosniak “unity”. Srpska and the Croat-Bosniak comparing key election pledges achieved over the past four years”. country’s central parliament also But Croat and Serb parties dedi- (Bosnian Muslim) Federation. made in recent weeks by the five The study looked at the govern- enjoyed the support of 20 per cent cated most of their campaign to The Croat-Bosniak Federation ruling Bosniak, Croat and Serb ing parties, namely the Bosniak of the survey’s participants, fol- the issue of the “protection of is further divided into 10 cantons, parties with the last general polls. Party of Democratic Action (SDA) lowed by respective 13, 7, 6 and 5 national issues” relating to their each with its own parliament and “Specifically, we found that the and Party for Bosnia-Herzegovina per cent for those who supported groups, notably the possibility of governing responsibility for local ruling parties repeated, in their (SZBiH), two ruling Croat parties SNSD, SDA, SDS and HDZ. creating a third entity for Croat issues. programmes for the forthcoming the Croat Democratic Union Monitoring of the first 10 days people and securing a greater In the October elections – the elections, 247 out of the total of (HDZ) and the Croat Democratic of the pre-election campaign, autonomy for Republika Srpska in sixth since the 1992-95 Bosnian 367 promises they made in 2006,” Union 1990 (HDZ 1990) and Serb which kicked off on September 3, the face of growing calls of the war – 50 political parties and the association president Darko Alliance of Independent Social by Sarajevo University’s Alumni international community for coalitions will compete for seats Brkan told Prishtina Insight. Democrats (SNSD). think-thank, ACIPS, revealed that strengthening the country’s cen- in the state parliament, two entity The repeated promises included A poll conducted in early Bosniak, Croat and Serb parities tral institutions. parliaments and the parliaments achieving constitutional changes, August by the Bosnian office of were largely focusing only on Under the Dayton Peace of 10 cantons. bringing the country closer to the the US National Democratic their respective ethnic groups. Agreement which ended Bosnia’s The country’s collective presi- EU and NATO, building health Institute, NDI, on a sample of The monitoring found that 1992-95 war, the country was split dency and president of the clinics and highways, reducing 2,000 Bosnian citizens, showed Bosniak parties were more likely into two highly independent parts Republika Srpska will also be re- public spending and creating new that the opposition Social to focus on real issues and – the Serb-dominated Republika elected. Romanians Protest Over ‘Unsustainable’ Pensions Reforms

hile thousands demon- ment adopted a pensions law that strate against harsh cuts, would gradually increase the Wgovernment says failure retirement age to 65 for men by to change the system will jeopar- 2015 and for women by 2030. dise vital IMF deal. The retirement age today is 63 Protests by trade unions and for men and 59 for women. The opposition parties against IMF- new law would also eliminate the mandated pension reforms are special pensions currently given unlikely to derail Romanian gov- to certain categories of public- ernment plans to alter the system, service workers. analysts say. The current retire- Left-wing and liberal opposition ment system is bleeding billions of deputies left the chamber to euros each year as the population protest against the rejection of ages. several of their amendments, Thousands of people across the including increasing the average country joined the protests this pension to 45 per cent of the aver- week against the austerity plans, age gross wage, or 220 euros per which include cuts to pensions month. The average pension now and raising the retirement age. is 175 euros. “My salary has been cut by near- Speaking in parliament, Prime ly 40 per cent to about 250 euros a Minister Boc defended the month,” says Ionut Albescu, a changes. “In practice, the age of Bucharest laboratory assistant retirement is now 56-and- a-half who has been working for 40 years. “Next year, when I retire, I’ll have for men… and 55-and-a-half for a pension of less than 200 euros, women,” he said. “We can’t go on Romanians protesting against reforms with this early retirement sys- which is not enough even to cover get the legislation passed. ed,” economic analyst Ilie tem has suffered from a growing tem.” living expenses.” The vote for the new pensions Serbanescu said. deficit since 2008. The figure is Albescu was among the demon- Unions and opposition deputies say the plan places an unfair bur- law resulted in 170 in favour and 2 “On the other hand, union lead- forecast to reach 3 billion euros by strators who on Wednesday car- against, according to the Speaker. ers and opposition politicians are the end of the year, forcing the ried whistles, balloons and flags den on workers. In Romania’s parliament, most just playing their normal roles, state to borrow more in order to and called on officials to resign, They have tabled counter pro- votes are conducted by deputies opposing any measure that con- pay out pensions. chanting: “Shame on you.” posals, including taxes on certain using electronic cards. The opposi- demns people to make huge sacri- Experts agree that a communist- In July, the centre-right govern- bonuses and on the highest tion claims some MPs from the fices,” he added. era pay-as-you-go pension system ment of Emil Boc decided to slash incomes to help fund the pension pensions by 15 per cent and then system. government side voted using cards “Furthermore, the pension law is unsustainable over the long freeze them in 2011. The main opposition Social of colleagues who were not actual- is part of a package of measures term. The measure was undertaken as Democrat Party, PSD, has also ly present in the room. agreed with the IMF, so it had to be Romania spends the equivalent part of a reforms package conclud- announced it will challenge the Many analysts say unions’ and adopted by the end of this month of 12 per cent of its GDP each year ed with the IMF and the EU in law in Romania’s Constitutional politicians’ opposition to the new or we risk losing the money,” he on pensions and welfare pay- exchange for 20 billion euros in Court. pension law is just a way for them continued. ments. Together with the bill for aid, designed to help Romania They claim that the government to save face. “People recognise the The law will now be sent to public-sector wages, this accounts emerge from its financial crisis. inflated the number of lawmakers problems in the retirement system President Traian Basescu to sign. for about two-thirds of the govern- Furthermore, last week, parlia- in parliament that day in order to but don’t want to be directly affect- Romania’s public pensions sys- ment’s annual expenditures. 10 October 1 - 14, 2010 Neighbourhood Macedonia’s Psychiatric Time stands still for residents of mental health facilities where degrading treatment is the norm, promised reforms never materialise and getting out is nearly impossible. lack of political will to improve the situation. Residents appear warehoused, By Yana Buhrer not treated; living conditions are Tavanier dehumanising; and institutions are understaffed. Meanwhile, the process of reintegrating patients alking the dim, linoleum- into the community is so slow and covered corridors at the fraught with bureaucratic barri- WDemir Hisar psychiatric ers that it is almost non-existent. hospital, your feet stick to a floor covered in urine, faeces and soup. Bedraggled, unwashed women Chronic underfunding: silently return from lunch, some In Demir Hisar there are rooms carrying chunks of dry bread and for music therapy, art therapy and others holding half-eaten cans of reading therapy. soup which drip onto the floor as But only 30 of the patients visit they shuffle by. these rooms. Most are locked Many are barefoot, their filthy inside the wards – their daily rou- feet making a gummy sound with tine, shuffling from bedroom, to each step they take. The women bathroom, to day room, to canteen. are all carrying spoons, pressing They look anaemic, their pale skin them close to their chests. One by glowing in the dark and damp cor- one, they disappear into their bed- ridors. rooms where pools of urine lie Patients at Macedonia’s other under some of the beds. There are psychiatric facilities fare little bet- no nightstands, lockers, personal ter. items, photos or clothing. In wards four and five at “Shit, shit, shit everywhere,” Bardovci, on the edge of the capi- Macedonian psychiatric homes have seen little progress in decades murmurs one woman, her eyes tal, Skopje, 30 ghosts sit inside the fixed on the floor at the entrance to blue-tiled day room, which is Macedonia, also complain of lack “The current situation in the toilets of the locked women’s locked from the outside. Dressed of funds and staff. Macedonian psychiatric institu- New curtains, same prob- ward at Demir Hisar in southwest in pyjamas, they sit on benches or Petar Kangov from Negorci, a tions is characterised not only by a Macedonia. Three steps forward on the floor, rocking back and hospital for 220 people, says he lack of funding but also by a reluc- lems: It takes a journalists’ visit to and there it is – human excrement forth. Some have been there for needs doctors and social workers. tance to implement changes and to briefly improve life for patients at spread everywhere and dry sinks more than 20 years. Pavlina Vaskova, deputy director introduce new methods, both on Demir Kapija, an institution for with no taps to clean up the mess. Directors of the hospitals blame at Bardovici, which has 450 beds, the organisational and individual The conditions at Demir Hisar, a lack of resources for the many says doctors, psychiatrists, 30 levels,” he said. people with intellectual disabili- Macedonian psychiatric hospital problems at their facilities. nurses and about 20 cleaners are In a recent report, the MHC ties in southeast Macedonia. for 370 people, are mirrored “We urgently need cleaners. We needed if the hospital is to run notes that “the general hygiene “Yesterday morning I was called around the region. Degrading have just 11 cleaners for the whole properly. requirements for the building are by friends who work in the institu- treatment, human rights abuses hospital. But there is a govern- Human rights groups are also not fulfilled... The bed linen is in a tion who said new sheets were put and appalling neglect are all too ment-imposed moratorium on new calling on Macedonia to spend very poor state. There is an alarm- on the beds, curtains were hung, common at mental health facilities hires because of the financial cri- more on its psychiatric patients. ing and urgent need for mattresses everybody was dressed,” said as promised reforms never materi- sis, so our hands are tied,” said “The price of 365 Macedonian and bed sheets. Oliver Nedev, who resigned as alise, leaving the vulnerable to lan- Demir Hisar’s then-director Laze denars [6 euro] per patient, per “The treatment at these institu- director at Demir Kapija in 2008 guish for years on end in shocking Kuzmanovski who says 95 per cent day, for hospital treatment, does tions is still limited mainly to but until recently continued to conditions. of the hospital’s budget goes on not correspond to realistic costs pharmacotherapy... The patients work there as a doctor. An investigation by Prishtina salaries. “Hygiene is a big, big and is far from the expenditure who are in the locked wards have But the newly-hung curtains Insight has found that Macedonia problem,” he adds. necessary to treat these patients,” no access to a phone... Their right and the neatly made beds covered is failing to meet international The management of Negorci said Toni Menkinoski, a lawyer to non-censored correspondence is in stuffed toys don’t hide the reali- standards, not only because of and Bardovci, the two other main with the Macedonian Helsinki not respected. The letters patients ty of Demir Kapija. insufficient funds but rather a psychiatric hospitals in Committee, MHC. receive are often read by the staff.” Twenty-eight-year-old Ilcho was Girl Injured in Phone Mast Explosion

Authority, ART, dismantled 23 direction of the police,” Besim Hoti, and VIP companies that have anten- masts. the Kosovo police spokesperson for nas in Kosovo. Kosovo police confirmed they had Mitrovica, told Balkan Insight, Telekom Srbija said in a state- By Petrit Collaku escorted ART engineers in a village adding that the situation in the ment on Sunday they would not in the Vushtrrri municipality. north was now calm. abandon their users and workers in “Kosovo police continued today to Hoti said the Kosovo police Kosovo, and were ready to do every- three-year-old girl was injured on offer assistance to ART ... there was received information on Saturday thing necessary to restore commu- Tuesday night when a bomb no security threat during the opera- from a Kosovo Serb that a bomb nication services. Awent off on the roof of the build- tion,” Baki Kelani, a Kosovo police could have been fixed to an antenna Oliver Ivanovic, the State ing in which she lived in the Serb- spokesperson, told Balkan Insight. in Tvrdjan village, Leposavic Secretary of Serbia's Ministry for majority north Mitrovica. ART’s action started early on municipality, that belonged to Kosovo and Metohija, believes that The detonation was aimed at a Sunday with the support of Kosovo Kosovo’s mobile operator, Vala. representatives of "certain coun- mast operated by IPKO, a Prishtina- special police units. “Kosovo police found some 200 tries" in Pristina had supported the licensed firm, and followed Kosovo's Kosovo police officials said they grams of TNT mounted in the move, claiming it could only have telecommunications regulator were alerted to the presence of antenna and removed it successful- been carried out with the support of action against Serbian-licensed about 500 Kosovo Serbs near Dren ly,” Hoti said. Kosovo Albanians. operators. village in Zubin Potok, north of ART claimed in April that "It shows that the international Serbia’s mobile and landline tele- Kosovo, who were attempting to Serbian telecoms operators were community is not unanimous in the phone connections across most of Y obstruct the cutting of phone lines working illegally in Kosovo. assessment of the situation and Kosovo were interrupted on M in the area. The firms, using the phone prefix- measures that are to be taken for Monday on Tuesday after Kosovo’s C “There were explosions and shots es of 063 and 064, function in Kosovo this part of the Western Balkans," Telecommunication Regulatory K fired from the crowd, but not in the through Telekom Srbija, Telenores Ivanovic said. Police investigating the crime scene 11 Neighbourhood October 1 - 14, 2010 Homes Wallow in Neglect taken from his abusive father who kept him She also declined to comment on whether ing down institutions in Central and institutional setting. It is economically inef- chained in the yard of his home in Angelci, there are any recent EC documents on the Eastern Europe and the former Soviet ficient to keep part of the institution operat- a small village. The Ministry of Labour and subject, other than the annual progress Union, signed an agreement with the ing as well as operate the alternative system Social Welfare placed him in Demir Kapija. reports, which say little about the matter. Macedonian government in 2008 to help in the long term. Eventually there will need Eighteen months later, he lies curled up in Konstantin Jovanovski, a press officer at Demir Kapija residents move back into the to be a complete shift to the community- his bed, his knees almost touching his chin. the EC delegation in Skopje, said monitor- community. based system. “This is what he does all day, because ing the situation in psychiatric hospitals is OSMHI agreed to fund the process, which “This is what had to happen in other that’s the position he was in when he was not in the EC’s mandate. included providing housing, establishing countries, and investments in attempting to chained in the yard by his father,” said one “Even though the institutions that you community living, providing training and ‘improve the conditions’ for the most dis- of the workers, adding that Ilcho doesn’t mention are not subject of direct monitor- covering living expenses. Under the plan, 64 abled people in the institutions were clearly undergo any special therapy. ing by the EC in the country, their work is in people per year should leave the institution poor investments. In the Macedonian con- Nedev blames inadequate and unqualified the scope of the protection of human rights over a period of three years. But the process text, we have the benefit of hindsight, but staff for the problems at Demir Kapija, and freedoms,” he said. has been slow and since 2008 only about 40 that does not seem to count for much here,” which houses 280 people including children. “Therefore, we do our best to encourage people have left Demir Kapija. said Klein. “Last year we had presidential and local the country to fulfill the highest European “With the Macedonian government we Gordana Trajkovska, who has a child with elections. Demir Kapija is a small place, and standards in this, as well as in every other have papers and lots of promises,” said an intellectual disability, is the director of 150 people were employed on temporary con- sphere, so that it can sooner join the EU fam- Judith Klein, the director of OSMHI. “The Poraka Negotino, an NGO that provides tracts in the institution – so that they and ily,” he added. fact is that we have 40 people who left Demir community-based housing and other sup- their families would support the party of Kapija who are now completely new people, port to those who have come out of Demir the mayor,” he said. Prisons or hospitals? living in the community like dignified Kapija through the OSMHI programme. “These are unqualified people taken from Long stays in psychiatric facilities are the human beings,” she added. “We managed to take very few people out the street, picked simply according to their norm in Macedonia. Many resemble social “The problem is that there seem to be so of the institution. We literally have to pull political alliances,” he added. “And they are care homes, and a great number of the many excuses to delay real progress on this people out. The institution resists people supposed to provide special care to people patients end up there for life. project, and we are already so far behind. leaving, because it receives funding on a per with disabilities? They are harmful.” In the past year, 770 patients out of a total “If there are elections we lose half a year. capita basis,” she said. Nedev, who says he was fired as doctor of 1,125 at the three main psychiatric hospi- Then there are many bureaucratic hurdles Based in Negotino, a small town close to when he shared his concerns with the local tals in the country had been hospitalised for that have to be jumped, and in all of this it Demir Kapija, Poraka Negotino operates a press, claims residents eat bread with tea more than 180 days. is difficult to understand why those respon- day centre for people with intellectual dis- twice a day and just once a day have lentils, In Bardovci, around 100 patients are sible do not recognise that now is the time abilities and manages the houses for organ- peas or cabbage. He also claims that the there permanently - some have been hospi- that a committed donor is offering this part- ised community living where former heating fuel is being stolen and that it is bit- talised for longer than 20 years. About half nership, making the transformation of one patients from Demir Kapija have relocated. terly cold in the winter inside the buildings. of the people in Demir Hisar have been of their worst institutions absolutely The houses are rented from local people, Petre Nikolov, the director of Demir there for more than 10 years. “Some 150-200 doable and with a result that will not only and there is full time support provided by Kapija, dismissed the allegations as “pure could easily leave immediately if they had be an enormous human rights victory but a assistants which is reduced over time speculation”. He says he has no need for somewhere to go,” said Kuzmanovski. major success for the government.” according to individual needs. more staff and denies there are financial But they don’t. Macedonia has no net- Snezhana Mihajlova, the head of a four- “At first the people in the town were problems at the hospital. work of community-based services such as person department in the Ministry of against us, but now we have 20 applications However those monitoring Demir Kapija day-care centres or community housing Labour and Social Welfare, responsible for from homeowners who want to rent them share Nedev’s concerns. that could help people with mental health the coordination and implementation of out to us. People saw that there is nothing to “There is no individualised therapy. problems leave the institutions. the government’s deinstitutionalisation be afraid of,” said Trajkovska. We’ve been saying for some time now that it There is also no government strategy for strategy, insists the state is committed to Verche is one of the residents of the com- needs to be developed. But in this institution the deinstitutionalisation of the psychi- getting patients out of Demir Kapija. munity-based homes run by Poraka there are ... way too many unqualified staff,” atric hospitals. “Our priority for 2010 is to open six more Negotino. Now 31, she had spent her entire said Slobodanka Zdravkovska, the head of The Ministry of Health did not respond apartments in Skopje, and then to take an life in Demir Kapija before being taken out a the social welfare ministry’s department for to repeated requests from Prishtina Insight additional 132 people out of Demir Kapija, year ago. the protection of persons with disabilities. for comment on the government’s plans for leaving only the people with the most severe “I remember her very well, this specific getting patients back into the community retardation and those that need medical face,” said Toni Menkinoski from the Hear no evil, see no evil: and on the poor conditions in the hospitals. support,” she said. Macedonian Helsinki Committee. “I saw her Conditions in the institutions should be A representative also failed to attend a pre- “These would be around 150 people.” She a couple of years ago when I was in Demir closely monitored by the European arranged interview. says those who continue to need psychiatric Kapija. She was strolling the yard like a Commission as Macedonia is an EU candi- Others, however, have plenty to say on the care could be moved to smaller facilities, ghost, dressed in filthy grey rags, not want- date country, and respect for human rights situation. “The living conditions in the psy- “but that would need a lot of funding and is ing or not being able to communicate with is one of the main criteria for accession to chiatric hospitals are catastrophic. The something to be considered for the future”. anyone. Being here, even for this very short the union. process of deinstitutionalisation should be Klein says that in order to implement time, has done wonders for this girl. Before The EC spokesperson for Enlargement speeded up,” said Idzet Memeti, coherent and economically efficient social she had absolutely no human dignity.” and Neighbourhood Policy, Angela Filote, Macedonia’s ombudsman. “We have to pull welfare reform, the institution must be declined to comment to Prishtina Insight’s them out.” closed completely and alternatives devel- Yana Buhrer Tavanier is a free-lance questions on how the commission monitors There are those trying to help but oped for all the residents. Sofia based journalist and 2009 fellow in psychiatric hospitals and social care homes progress is slow and the government is “The most disabled people are the most Birn’s Balkan Fellowship for journalistic in Macedonia, and on whether it looks at liv- being blamed for foot-dragging. vulnerable and need the most assistance, excellence program. Balkan Insight is ing conditions, standards of care and The Open Society Mental Health not the least assistance, and they can never BIRN’s online publication. See more at human rights abuses. Initiative, OSMHI, a body focused on clos- be provided a decent quality of life in an humansnullandvoid.wordpress.com Albania Faces US Cash Threat over Courts Bill

he US Embassy in Tirana administered under the Threshold Albania’s business community ernment of Prime Minister Sali has warned Albania’s politi- Programme by USAID.” has long supported the creation of Berisha. The socialists want the Tcal parties they must pass a The Administrative Courts bill the court, which they see as a government to instruct a parlia- long-delayed bill to create an is one of six components of the means to protect the rights and ment investigative commission to administrative court by the end of Millennium Challenge legal interests of all citizens. recount the parliamentary elec- the month- or risk losing Corporation Threshold To pass the new law, the tions ballots, in return for them Millennium Challenge Funding. Programme II - Albania. Albanian government will need to voting on bills requiring more The Embassy said in a state- The draft law has been pending secure a two-thirds majority incor- than a simple majority. ment on Tuesday: “In order to in parliament since early last year. porating opposition parties. However, the government has so complete planned activities with Under the Millennium Challenge However, opposition leader Edi far refused the opposition’s US funding, the law must be Agreement, USAID would work Rama has declined to give leeway request, claiming that they have passed by September 30. with Albania’s government and to consensus reforms in parlia- exhausted all legal means. “Failure to enact this legislation judiciary to establish the ment following the contested June The ruling majority is expected will result in the closure of Administrative Courts once the 28 parliamentary elections, nar- to send the bill for a vote in parlia- Administrative Courts’ activities law was passed. rowly won by the right-wing gov- ment on Thursday. American Ambassador to Tirana 12 October 1 - 14, 2010 Feature EU Continues ‘KFOR’ Fuel Albanians Vie for Religious Once lauded as a symbol of religious tolerance, the opening of Prishtina’s new cathedral has stirred simmering resent- Smuggling ment among many Kosovar Muslims.

Muslim country where just five mosque to be built in the city. Ibrahim Rugova, the former Probe per cent of the 2 million inhabi- This refusal to grant land in president of Kosovo, is rumoured By Gjergj Erebara tants are Christian, some claim Prishtina to the Muslim communi- to have converted to Christianity in Prishtina, this is outright discrimination. ty for a new grand mosque back in just before his death in January Skopje and Tirana Ninety per cent of the population 2004 – after land was earmarked in 2006. is ethnic-Albanian. the capital for the new cathedral in By Petrit Collaku Ferid Agani is chairman of 2000 - is at the heart of the dispute. A question of envy? Often, during the winter, we Justice Party of Kosovo, a popular Fatmir Sejdiu, the former Others, however, dis- have to pray directly on cold political party of practicing Kosovar president, formally miss complaints about the “snow,” says Sallahudin Muslims in the country. opened the Cathedral of Blessed cathedral as mere jealousy. olice in Kosovo have said Brahimaj, 20, who worships at an Mother Teresa on September 5, Jahja Drancolli, pro- improvised mosque in Prishtina’s they are continuing their ‘Discrimination’ exactly 13 years since the death of fessor of History at the Dardania district. Pinvestigation into the “The Muslim community had Mother Teresa, the ethnic- University of Prishtina, sale of contraband fuel to The Dardania Mosque was for- made a lawful request to have a Albanian nun born in Skopje, notes: “It is well known petrol stations. mally a shop, sited on the ground piece of land in Prishtina to build Macedonia. that the Muslim com- Two wanted individuals, who floor of a Communist-era apart- a new grand mosque. The authori- Just days after the official open- munity needs new are believed to be abroad, were ment block. ties refused that and we consider ing, the walls of the cathedral buildings. In the era of still being sought on Monday Muslims in Kosovo’s capital city this an unacceptable discrimina- lauded by Sejdiu as a symbol of Milosevic, Islam was after five people were arrested in are not only angry about the poor tion against Muslims,” Agani Albanian religious tolerance, a way of resistance. connection with the major organ- facilities in their existing were covered in graffiti and fly- “Now we can see ised crime probe last week. ers. on Friday at noon All five were remanded in cus- “This year, we will pray that thousands of tody at Pristina Municipal Court Bajram [Eid] in the new cathe- people pray directly on Thursday for 30 days. dral,” is just one example of the in the streets. The Soldiers from the NATO mis- graffiti scrawled across a number Muslim community’s sion in Kosovo, KFOR, are sus- of walls of the city. request is, for me, more pected of selling fuel intended for Nehat Krasniqi, professor of a question of envy: ‘As military purposes from one of Turkish language and history in they are building a their bases to petrol stations. the University of Prishtina, says: church, we want a KFOR said in a statement last “I think that the government must mosque as well’.” week that some soldiers were sus- be just in such matters. We saw the Drancolli says this has pected of having “been involved President [Rugova] marking the developed into “unneces- in the case of fuel smuggling, tax start of the construction of the sary religious rivalry”. evasion, and misuse of economic cathedral and people were wonder- For the small commu- authorisation”. ing here if he would mark as well nity of Catholics in “KFOR condemns all criminal A worshipper at a Prishtina mosque the start of the construction of a Kosovo, estimated at acts and the involved nation has new mosque. 60,000, the building of initiated all appropriate meas- claims. “Every Albanian understands Prishtina’s new cathe- mosques. They are increasingly ures, including disciplinary and Although Prishtina has many that the cathedral is important, dral is evidence that voicing concerns about the criminal investigations.” Ottoman-era and more modern that the headquarters of the Albanians are turning resources pumped into building - But, despite the acknowledge- mosques, those wanting to pray on church should be here in the capi- towards the West. and the location granted to - ment, no troops have been arrest- Fridays and on holy days are tal city. “But this attitude had “Finally: 311 years Prishtina’s new Catholic cathe- ed to date. However, according to often forced outside onto the angered even people who are not after the body of Pjeter dral. media reports in Ukraine, prose- pavement, leading practicing Muslims.” Bogdani was exhumed by Although most Muslims say cutors are preparing cases to calls for a Turks, Prishtina will they have no objection to against suspects suggesting the grand have its cathedral,” says Christianity or the building of soldiers will be tried in their Don Lush Gjergji, a churches, some feel that Catholics homeland. Catholic priest in are benefiting from preferential During 2008 and 2009, three mil- Prishtina and official treatment by the authorities seek- lion litres of fuel of contraband biographer of Mother ing to emphasise links with fuel is suspected of having been Teresa, as he proudly the largely Christian EU. sold to three private petrol sta- admires the new build- In a predomi- tions; AS Graniti in Stime owned ing. nately by Agim and Sali Beqaj, Alb Petrol in Podujevo owned by Idriz Ejupi and Onazis in Prishtina owned by brothers Nazmi and Nexhmi Kastrati. A spokeswoman for EULEX told Prishtina Insight that no KFOR soldiers were currently wanted in connection with the investigation, but added that enquiries were ongoing and did not rule out further action. It has been reported that sol- diers from the Ukrainian contin- gent, based in the southern Kosovo town of Strpce, are sus- pected of involvement in the alleged smuggling operation. Kosovo Serb Dimitrije Davidovic, a suspect who EULEX had been searching for in north Mitrovica, was later discovered to be in a Belgrade prison where he has been held since May on drug trafficking charges. Y KFOR soldiers are protected by M diplomatic immunity which would have to be lifted if any C were to face trial in Kosovo. K Feature October 1 - 14, 2010 13 ‘Mass Grave’ Sites across Balkans Search Launched in Serb Village

By Bojana Barlovac

ar crimes investiga- tors have begun search- Wing a fresh site in a Serbian village believed to contain a mass grave holding the bodies of more than 250 Kosovo Albanians killed dur- ing the 1998-99 war. Investigators from Serbia and the European Union rule of law mission, EULEX, began search- ing ground in the village of Rudnica in southwest Serbia on Thursday after an earlier probe at a different location nearby failed to make any discoveries, officials from Serbia’s War Crimes Prosecutor’s office told Prishtina Insight. Serbian deputy war crimes prosecutor Bruno Vekaric told broadcaster RTS it was hoped the investigation would “put an end” to speculation over what hap- Prishtina’s new cathedral has been welcomed by many, but some Muslims feel angered that plans to build a grand mosque in the city have not received support pened in Rudnica during the Kosovo War. Bogdani, a Catholic Albanian grand mosque also note a polit- invasion there was a church, so to stage religious ceremonies in “Each family must know what Archbishop who fought the ical dimension. they claim ownership,” says the place as part of their claims. happened to its missing ones,” he Ottomans in the Turkish- “The new cathedral in Ramadani, who has organised The row came to an end when the said. Austrian war of 1664-1669, briefly Prishtina is just a political initia- protests against the government. Institute of Monuments cancelled It has not been determined who liberated the city in 1668, before tive,” says Ramadan Ramadani, In city of Shkodra, northern its plans to repair the building. killed the people believed buried his death to the plague. He was imam at the Isa Beg mosque in Albania, a row erupted in 2004 “This is a very old story,” says at the site in the Raska region, then exhumed by Ottoman sol- Skopje, in neighbouring Nehat Krasniqi, professor of but bodies are believed to have diers and fed to dogs in Macedonia. “It has nothing to do “Often, during the winter, we Ottoman studies at the University been unearthed and then re- Prishtina’s square. with religion.” have to pray directly on cold of Prishtina. buried in order to hide evidence His death represented the last “In the 1920s, the Serbian of war crimes committed during time Kosovo’s Catholicism was Shifting power balance snow,” says Sallahudin Church pretended that the grand the rule of Serbian strongman based in Prishtina, as the church Disputes over ownership – spir- Brahimaj, 20, who worships mosque of Prizren was built Slobodan Milosevic. then moved to the city of Prizren. itual or material – of religious using stones stolen from a Aerial imagery has suggested But with the building of the sites and monuments are on the at an improvised mosque in monastery five centuries ago and corpses could be buried in the new cathedral, the capital of increase across Kosovo, Prishtina’s Dardania district. the government tried to destroy area, but the exact location Kosovo has been upgraded by the Macedonia and Albania. the mosque in order to take the remains unknown. Roman Catholic church from Drancolli, Professor of History when the Institute of Monuments, stones. Albanians protested at Samples taken from the site parish to diocese status, says at the University of Prishtina, a government-run institution, that time and one government will be sent to Belgrade for analy- Father Gjergji, and the church explains: “Religious places have announced that it would fund representative was killed. sis to determine whether skeletal headquarters moved back to always been part of shifting repairs to a ruined building in the “At the end, I think that reli- remains are present, Vekaric Prishtina. power balance between religions city, a castle once called the Saint gious objects are the property of said. According to Father Gjergji, as well ethnicities in these areas.” Stefan Church. the community where they are Serbia announced on May 10 Pjeter Bogdani “was a predeces- In Skopje, plans to regenerate Local Muslims protested saying situated and it is up to the com- that, with the help of EULEX, it sor of what we call now the the city centre include building that for them, the ruined building munity to decide what to do with had uncovered a mass grave. European Union”. an Orthodox church. However, was the Fatih Sultan Mosque. them. An investigation at the site Critics of the deci- Muslims claim that the church Pellumb Xhufi, a historian in In Kosovo we have well docu- ordered shortly after by the sion to fund a new will be built on the site of a the capital Tirana, says the build- mented cases when an entire vil- Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor’s cathedral but not a mosque. ing had not been used as a mosque lage was converted to Islam, Office failed to yield results. new “We have shown them photos of for two centuries and underlines including the priest, so the The excavations launched on the mosque that was destroyed by that the Saint Stefan Cathedral church was transformed into a Thursday at a different location an earthquake in 1920, but they also has great spiritual value for Mosque. It is nonsense if some were ordered following a detailed said that before the Catholics. other village then claims owner- study of aerial footage of the Ottoman Both Catholic and ship of the church.” area. Muslim clerics tried Prishtina Insight requested a Meanwhile, investigations response from the Municipality of were also launched on Thursday Prishtina, a spokesman declined at a site in Belacevac/Bellaqevc to comment. in Kosovo, believed to contain the bodies of 25 Serbs killed during the war. “It is important to mention that Veljko Odalovic [President of the Serbian Assembly Board for Missing Persons] and investiga- tive judge Milan Dilparic are present in Belacevac/Bellaqevc, Y where Serb victims are supposed- M ly buried,” Vekaric added. C K If you would like your NGO to appear in 14 October 1 - 14, 2010 our Making a Difference feature, please Guide email [email protected]

Hiking to the old Macedonian Pass Winter is approaching but there are still a few weeks left of crisp clear hiking air awaiting you in the mountains of Dragash

TIME- 7 hours (long hike); 2 1/2 hours (easy hike) STARTING ELEVATION- By Todd Wassel 1,384 meters HIGHEST ELEVATION- 2,265 meters ocated in the southern end of Kosovo, DIFFICULTY- Dragash is an oasis of untouched nat- Hard or Easy (it’s your choice!) Lural beauty and traditional villages sandwiched between the borders of The Route Macedonia and Albania. Ignored by the The path starts on the eastern edge of Yugoslav government, the area never Brod. Enter the town from the Dragash received development money for tourism road and turn left when the road ends. despite its wealth of flora, fauna and cul- Follow the river up past the mosque until tural traditions. you reach the edge of town with the ceme- Luckily, this also spared the region the tery above to the left. communist era concrete hotels and restau- Climb up the steep hill until you see the rants that mar similar regions in Kosovo. source of the river flowing out of the nar- To help spur sustainable eco-tourism to row gorge. the region and highlight an untouched Follow the river and the gorge for about wonder in the Balkans, I’m helping to write 1 hour until you reach a large bolder tow- a hiking guide to the Dragash Region ering over the river. implemented by the United Nations From here climb up the hill to the right Development Programme (UNDP) and until you are above the bolder and you see funded by the Finland government. a path that takes you to a flat area (perfect There is no better way to experience this for camping) and a spring to fill water bot- traditional area than by hiking the old pass tles further on. This where the easy hike to Tetovo, Macedonia. A house in the picturesque village of Brod ends and the longer hike continues. Not only can you walk the old smuggling Follow the path through the valley until Mt Cule (see earlier hiking article at Drive to Prizren and follow the one way paths trodden by horses burdened with it ends at a river. Cross the river and climb www.toddswanderings.com) to your left roads through the city taking a sharp left at heavy oil barrels during the sanctions the mountain following a small goat path and follow the contours of the path and the city centre and following signs for placed on Yugoslavia, but the view into through up to the left of a sharp peak and mountain until you reach Cule. Kukes and Dragash where you will take a Macedonia with its dramatic mountains then around it to the right and then up. Be careful not to go down the steep right hand turn to leave the city. and sheer cliffs is unforgettable. Your goal is the top of the mountain so mountain as it drops suddenly and is dan- Continue on the road to Kukes for about The oil barrels from this period are still feel free to get there any way that makes gerous. Keep on the goat paths and it will 15 km until you come to an intersection used to cover houses and storage areas. sense. Once you reach the top, after a long bring you around the backside of Cule and with signs pointing left to Dragash. This hike is harder and longer than the and steep climb, you will see the top on eventually down to the normal shepherd Turn left and follow this road into the others I have written about but worth every your right. This is where you will see the paths that lead back to Brod. valley for about 30 km until you come to the second. old wagon tracks and the remnants of a From Cule head down and cross a small town of Dragash itself. For those less ambitious the first part of stone rest house. Keep going up to the river and you will see a clear path. Continue through Dragash centre follow- the hike is easy, nestled in a gorgeous river right until you reach a drop off and mag- Just head towards Brod at this point and ing signs for Brod. valley and makes an easy 3 hour round trip nificent views of towards Macedonia you can’t go wrong. Remember part of the The road after Dragash winds its way hike. where Mt. Tito pokes its sharp head into joy of hiking in Dragash is finding your through the mountains for another 20 min- Old Macedonian Pass the sky. own way, which is very easy as no trees utes until you come to Brod, the last town From here you start your return to Brod obstruct your view. along the road. STARTING POINT: by keeping Macedonia on your left and the Y Brod, from the cemetery valley you hiked through on your right far, How to Get There For more information on more hikes in M ENDING POINT: far below. Driving from Prishtina takes about two- Dragash and other great spots to visit in Brod, the Cule hiking path C Make your way until you see the point of and-a-half hours to reach Brod by car. Kosovo go to www.toddswanderings.com. K 15 Feature October 1 - 14, 2010 New Books Help Reconcile Balkan History Quarrels As Kosovo moves to remove ‘inappropriate’ text books for its Serbian students, Prishtina Insight looks at pro- grammes across the Balkans to help erase nationalist history topics from the Ottoman Empire to the of good regional relations is endangered, Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913 and the she continued. Second World War. Stojanovic believes history needs to be However, the Yugoslav wars of the presented as “a discussion”, not as a single By Bojana Barlovac nineties have been omitted, owing to the truth. “There is no one history,” she main- lack of historic distance, authors said. tained. The Serbian edition of the four work- The new workbooks do not aim to offer a Kosovo Ministry of Education com- books, entitled Teaching Modern Southeast new, single truth about past controversies One of the revised text books mission last week moved to remove European History - Alternative Educational but a variety of viewpoints, gained through and ought to discuss all events more open- Atextbooks which included maps of Materials, published by the Center for comments, documents, letters and pictures. ly. “We should not run away from any sen- the Balkans without Kosovo, Serbian songs Democracy and Reconciliation in Southeast Together, they present a diverse picture with violent words and a ‘Music and Art’ sitive topic,” Obradovic added. Europe and Dan Graf, was presented in about how the various nations have seen a book which only includes the Serbian The workbooks also cover the worst bru- Belgrade on September 20. common past through different eyes. national anthem. talities of the Second World War, including The four workbooks have already been The fall of the main Ottoman fortress of The decision drew criticism from Kosovo a chapter on the Holocaust that contains published in Albanian, Bosnian, Croatian, Edirne, in Thrace, in the Balkan War of Serbs, who argued the commission’s deci- confessions and documents from the con- English, Greek, Macedonian and Turkish. 1913, is one such event tackled in this way. sion was an assault on their idenity. centration camps that operated in the Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria are the This historic battle has been differently Vesna Jovanovic, a professor of Serbian region. only former Yugoslav or Balkan countries interpreted by the two countries involved, language and literature in the Middle The books present history as more than that have not introduced the books. with both Serbs and Bulgarians arguing Technical High school in Partesh, told the dates of wars, coronations, assassinations The authors say the books are designed to that their armies broke through the Deutsche Welle news organisations: and political events, delving into the posi- respond to difficult issues, on which teach- Ottoman defences, making them the sole “Simply, with this procedure the Ministry tion of women, the state of culture, and the ers are expected to provide answers to stu- victors. of Education from Prishtina hits our life of ordinary people in wartime. dents in class. The new textbook offers three view- national identity, in language, culture, his- In the volume covering the Ottoman Historian Dubravka Stojanovic, editor of points, one from a Serbian Army Major, tory, geography, and those are things to Empire, there are segments on divorce in the Serbian edition, says comparative Milovan Gavrilovic, describing his own which every nation is sensitive. Bulgaria and Cyprus, then very rare, and analysis of existing history textbooks of army’s victory; a second from the French Others believe the ruling forms part of on the phenomenon of people changing countries in Southeast Europe shows that military attaché in Sofia, whose letter says the region’s movie to tackle the perceptions religion for the sake of love and marriage. all of them, from Slovenia to Cyprus, tend the Bulgarian army seized Edirne; and a of the past with new history texts trying to The workbooks do not deal with the to present themselves in their history books third from a Romanian newspaper article, broaden people’s understanding of bitter 1990s, closing with events such as the May as unique victims, particularly as victims lauding the heroic resistance of the controversies. 1989 declaration in which Slovenians of neighbouring countries. Ottoman Turks. A major initiative on teaching modern declared their ambition to live in a sover- “All the nations have seen history as the Praising the new books, Serbia’s history in the Balkans is aiming to bring a eign state and the violent Serbian-Croatian source and guardian of their national iden- Education Minister, Zarko Obradovic, said new way of thinking about painful histori- football match, which, in retrospect, her- tity,” she said. Through teaching materials, past events needed to be explained in their cal issues. alded the bloody collapse of the Yugoslav governments in the region had repeatedly fullest extent. “Some truths may hurt some Sixty historians from 11 countries in federation. changed facts in accordance to the needs of - but one should not flee from this because Southeast Europe have taken part in the However, later this year, regional histori- the moment, she added. facts have to be faced,” he said. project, which has resulted in the publica- ans are to meet in Thessaloniki, Greece, to As countries reinforce their own identi- Obradovic said the Balkan countries tion of four history workbooks for teachers. discuss the events of the 1990s with a view ties by blackening the images of neighbour- have paid a high price for their unilateral The books tackle a range of controversial to adding a new volume covering this peri- ing nations, the important task of fostering approach to the interpretation of the past od. Although the books do not deal with the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s - whose origins remain contentious - they do contain more recent information about events from 2000 onwards. Four points from Kosovo’s 2008 declara- tion of independence are presented on one page of the textbook while the Serbian par- liament’s reaction to the declaration is placed on the facing page. A suggested question about these issues is for students to cite three arguments in favour of Kosovo’s stance and three in favour of Serbia’s. Students in Serbia will continue learn- ing from the old history books until enough teachers have been trained in new teaching methods so that they can successfully use the books in class. “Some 150 history teachers have been trained so far and another 120 are expected to be trained by the year’s end, which would be 10 per cent of the total number of histo- ry teachers in the country [Serbia],” Stojanovic explained. So far, evaluations of training sessions have shown that Serbian teachers like the books and find them challenging, she added. Only in Serbia will the workbooks serve as required teaching material. “It is not part of the regular programme in other countries but teachers [from other countries] have accepted it as additional teaching material,” said Nenad Sebek, pro- Y gramme director of the Center for M Democracy and Reconciliation in Southeast C Europe, which stands behind the project. Students across the Balkans are seeing their history text books reworked for the better K 16 October 1 - 14, 2010 Food & Drink Metro – An Above Average Spot for Subs

By Fortuna

andwiches, the staple lunch of much of the developed world is not such a devel- Soped tradition in Kosovo’s quickly developing capital city. Metro serves a standard menu of decently Cheese, prosciutto or tuna seem to be the priced sandwiches, 2 Euro, and pasta sal- limit of the known sandwich filling world. ads 4 Euro, with the options of egg-salad, In downtown Prishtina, next to the ‘fancy- tuna, chicken and chicken curry. looking’ Grand Hotel, you can find one of As the salads are already prepared, on the city’s best lunchrooms – Metro. display close to the entrance to instantly This well established café isn’t, unfortu- make your mouth water, it does not take nately, revolutionising the world of midday long for lunch to be served. meals, but it’s one of the best options in The chicken sandwich is good, but not town for a quick lunch. extraordinarily different from those Do not let the rather sober and not partic- served in a dozen other places in ularly inviting exterior of the place stop you Prishtina. from stepping inside. If you are not up for For the pasta salad, we opted for tuna, One of Metro’s fine salads buzzing, overcrowded Pejton, this is a very which was nicely plated and makes a good alternative to seek refuge. definitely enough to assuage that feeling of All in all, Metro offers a friendly, colourful whole. The small eatery offers a practical, not midday hunger. unfussy environment where what you see The delicious marinade disguised that very inspiring interior but the large win- In case you are up for afters, make sure is what you get. All it needs is a bit more the pasta was slightly overcooked. The dows on both sides give the place a fresh and to order one of Metro’s delicious desserts; salad, made up of the usual lettuce, car- variety. light look. it offers an array of muffins and absolute- Two stars rots and beetroot, with olive oil as dress- Metro’s audience varies from internation- ly outstanding apple pie. Metro ing, is very refreshing and forms a tasty als to those London Kosovars who pass the Garibaldi Nr. 3/1 combination with the tuna salad. If not, allow yourself to enjoy the day away sipping espresso and enjoying the It is a not too overpowering lunch but relaxed atmosphere a bit longer and find Prishtina, Kosova view of streets bustling with people. yourself drifting off to downtown London. +377 44 113-000 Where to pick up Prishtina Insight? Prishtina Insight has teamed up with these five excellent venues to offer a limited number of complimentary copies of Kosovo’s only English-lan- guage newspaper. Grab a copy of the publication and settle down with a drink or a meal to read it.

Filikaqa Sports Bar Cavallero Mexican Restaurant

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

Cantina am-pm Restaurant Hotel AFA Te Komiteti Prishtina Insight is Kosovo’s only English-language newspa- Cantina AM-PM, formerly known as Located in a quiet neighbourhood just Te Komiteti’s large trees and a beauti- per. It is available: Mexican Cantina, recently went through a outside the city centre, Hotel Afa can guar- fully garden, which surround the small transfer to new management, and although antee guests a peaceful night while being outdoor terrace, give you an impression On its publication date, hardly noticeable from a distance, the new within walking distance of all the action. of an exclusive place for ordinary peo- every other Friday, delivered to owners have transformed the venue into a The venue has won a host of awards for its ple. And this is exactly what it is. From your door or your inbox for as more grown-up affair with good, cheap food. excellent service to customers and offers a brunch to lunch-time snacks and special little as 10euro for six months. Cantina offers Mexican dishes at reasonable good range of facilities, from an exclusive evening meals, this restaurant offers Visit www. prishtinain- prices, starting from less than 5 euro. Although restaurant and VIP dishes comprising quality, varied ingre- sight.com for more details. the majority of the food is Mexican-influenced, bar to pretty, tranquil dients, combined to perfection. Cesar salad and pizza have been included too. garden. Rooms start at Alongside one of Prishtina’s best ‘mod- From news-stands in Mexican favourites 45 euro for a single, ern European’ Prishtina, Prizren, Peja, served up at Cantina and luxury rooms and style menus, Mitrovica, Gjakova, Gjilan and include tortilla, thicker apartments are avail- you’ll also find a Ferizaj on Saturdays for just pan-friend tortilla, able. The hotel’s rooms good selection of one euro. nacho chips and burri- are well appointed and wine, and great to. Cantina’s also offers comfortable. sangria and cock- From one of our partner a very pleasant area for 15, Rr Ali Kelmendi, tails . organisations (see above). al fresco dining. Sunny Hill, Te Komiteti Grab a drink, meal or a bed for Cantina AM-PM Prishtina Qamil Hoxha the night and enjoy a compli- Rr Qamil Hoxha +381 38/225 226 Street Y mentary copy from Mondays Prishtina www.hotelafa.com Prishtina after publication. M +377 49 710 710 +381 38 24 96 63 C K By Shengjyl Osmani October 1 - 14, 2010 17 in Prishtina Timeout Contact Prishtina Insight if you would like your event to feature or to advertise your venue. Email [email protected] Prishtina Diary

Dossier K starts from September 29, at 6, 8, 10 pm

Dossier K is a sequel to the movie Alzheimer Case, which has won many awards and had been broadcast in more than 30 places. This movie is based on the book of Jeff Garrett and the story takes place in one of Europe’s most densely populated areas. Kosova Infest October 3-10, 2010, International Theatre Festival, 72, Tringe Smajle It is a story of passion, betrayal, revenge and Street, Nr. A/4-1. blind ambition. It deals with the Albanian mafia in Antwerp. Well-known police Started in 2004, the International Theatre Wednesday, October 6, 2010, Vladimir Kosara, detectives have to deal with Albanian gangsters and internal prob- Festival Kosova Infest is hosted annually in Montenegro and Macedonia, lems of the police station. Prishtina the capital of Kosovo. Thursday, October 7, 2010, Memoire de la Nuit, In the first five editions, KosovaInfest has drawn Switzerland, participation from 38 European countries with 42 Friday, October 8, 2010, Beselam, pse me flijo- performances. jne, Kosovo, Saturday, October 9, 2010, Who’s Afraid of 2010 Programme: Virginia Woolf ? Albania Sunday, October 3, 2010 Na Utehu from the Saunday, October 10, 2010, Diary of a Czech Republic, Mandman Germany Monday, October 4, 2010, Babok, Poland, For more information visit Tuesday, October 5, 2010, Seigradi, Italy www.kosovainfest.com.

Nouvelle Vague in Prishtina, October 22, in the backyard of the Youth Centre, Prishtina. Tickets on sale from October 13, 7 Euro each.

SURF Collective is a new Kosovar cultural initiative that aims to bring qualitative global cultural content to the Kosovo public. Contemporary art, comics, graffi- ti, architecture, and last but not least - oh so cool music. Following the successful Morcheeba con- cert this summer, SURF is now bringing another top musical act – Nouvelle Vague. Nouvelle Vague is a French musical collective led by musi- cians Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux. Their songs are innovative cov- ers of punk rock, post-punk, and New Wave songs put to 60s bossa nova-style arrangements. For more information,check out their facebook profile ‘SURF Presents: Nouvelle Vague in Kosova’.

Prishtina Insight is offering two tickets each to the first two people to reply to [email protected] with the correct answer to this ques- tion: “What does Nouvelle Vague” mean in English? Filikaqa, 4 Tuned Cities: Friday, October 1, 2010 is, of Friday, October 1, 2010 @ Dit’e Nat’and Tetris, course, Karaoke night at From October 1 until October 3, Dit’ e Nat’ bookshop and the Prishtina’s favourite sports’ Manipulative Space Tetris will be hosting film screenings and musical performances as part of 4 Tuned Cities Festival. bar. 4 Tuned Cities is an independent film and visual arts festival that will be held in 4 different cities. The film programme, separated into two feature length films and dramatic clusters of short fillms, will be screened for three days. A mix of short fiction, documentary, animation and experi- Hard Rockers mental films will be screened in groups of five to six, put togeth- er to build a dialogue surrounding respective themes. The six Club themes that will be screened are Shattered Walls, Alive and Kicking, Within/Without Borders, Going Underground, Asunder Saturday, October 2, and Life on Real. 2010 Gverr and Madgog Cash & Marry, a documentary about marriage papers, and the feature film Scum, about two totally different lives intersecting in bands Metal live. Gverr an unfortunate event, will be screened at Tetris. will be selling their first For schedule synopsis’ and more info visit: album, Failed Y www.4tunedcities.com Philosophy M No entrance fee. C K 18 October 1 - 14, 2010 Inside Prishtina Ecosovo Green buildings Restored Jewish Cemetery Falls into Disrepair One year after the last vestige of Jewish Prishtina was officially reopened following restoration, the graveyard has returned to its unkempt state and grand plans to trans- form the site into a historic attraction have been dropped through lack of funding

In a USAID-funded project, CHF is working jointly with the municipality to produce Kosovo’s first public building By Dana Landau By Elizabeth Gowing with ground source heat pumps. The school, designed by Kosovo architect Ilir Gjinolli, also has top Prishtina’s Tauk Bahqe he concrete mixers tum- solar panels for hot water, wood in the Velania neighbour- ble their contents slowly, fascias, maximisation of sun- Ahood lies a little-known site Tlike someone turning in light to reduce the need for light- of Kosovar cultural heritage. their sleep. And the buildings ing, a green roof which harvests While it has been listed as one of go up, everywhere – like an envi- rain which is filtered and then the 19 protected monuments in the ronmentalist’s nightmare. used in the school toilets, and a city, few people are aware of the Kosovo’s buildings are defiant. Building Management System unmarked Jewish cemetery hid- Often defiant of planning regula- detecting movement to control den on this unassuming hill over- tions, certainly defiant in the and rationalise lighting and looking Kosovo’s capital. The Jewish cemetery one year after its reopening, looking unkempt face of destruction and burning heating. USAID is contributing The cemetery dates from the which is still a powerful memory Czech Deputy Minister of Foreign of the project the increased public 550 000 euros while Prishtina 19th century, a time when the for much of this land, many of Affairs visited the site in the sum- awareness of Jewish history in municipality is investing a mil- Jewish population in Kosovo and its people. They are frequently mer of 2008, witnessed the deso- Kosovo that the press coverage of lion euros in the project, having the region was plentiful and flour- defiant in the face of good sense, late state of the cemetery after the restoration led to. made the decision to invest in ishing. Today, it is the only too – architects in Kosovo get decades of neglect, and decided The Albanian-Jewish Solidarity this high-quality, long-term ener- reminder of the once thriving paid by the square metre, so it is that something had to be done. Association, founded in 2008 with gy-saving school rather than a Jewish life. not in their interests to design The project was realised in sum- the aim to further cultural larger school for the short term. The younger gravestones dis- sensible-sized houses. mer of 2009 at a cost of 13,000 euro. exchange between the two peoples ‘Yes, in the short term this is play Hebrew engravings that are Unnecessary amounts of con- The restoration of the cemetery and revive Jewish culture in more expensive,’ says CHF’s Ian still legible, indicating the names crete are mixed, unnecessary was celebrated with an opening on Kosovo, however, maintain that Schneider, ‘but we’ll be doing an and dates of the deceased accord- sprawl takes over not only urban October 26, 2009, at which the the work was done in an unprofes- evaluation to show the cost-sav- ing to the Jewish calendar, such as centres but also Kosovo’s beauti- Czech Ambassador, Janina sional manner. ing over the medium- to long- “3 Adar 5656” which is equivalent ful wilderness highlands and Hrebickova, as well as then Specifically, the fact that grave- term. And the cost of electricity to 17 February 1896 in the rolling farmland. Minister of Culture, Valton Beqiri, stones were moved ‘amounts to is set to rise in Kosovo, given the Gregorian calendar. Can there be a green lining to spoke on the importance of pre- desecration’ of the site, according country’s low production and Just a year ago, the Jewish this grey cloud hanging over the serving and protecting a site that to its head Ruzhdi Shkodra. high consumption, so projects cemetery in Velania was hardly Kosovar landscape? bears testimony to a civilisation The association designed a plan like this are going to become a recognisable as a cemetery, most The answer might be yes, if that lived in Kosovo for so long. for restoring the neglected ceme- necessity.’ graves unidentifiable and covered the new construction means an However, only a year after the tery in Velania without moving The project has been designed in grass and garbage. opportunity to incorporate new restoration, the cemetery is again any of the gravestones, consisting to be easy to maintain, with local A project was initiated by the technologies within buildings overgrown with grass, some of the of a pathway through the ceme- support available for the geother- Czech Embassy in Kosovo to which are in themselves respect- stones are out of place and the site tery and a memorial sign. mal heating system ordered from restore the site, however, to this ful of the environment, support- remains unmarked. However, lack of funds put the the Rehau company. The tech- day it is unmarked and unguarded, ive of efforts to save energy and Seventeen stones were moved to plan on hold. In the meantime, the nology, and in some cases even and is used by local youngsters for water. two rows at the top of the hill Institute for Protection of the raw materials are not pro- football. For example, recent European where they were placed on cement Monuments started work on the duced in Kosovo. Valbona Dushi The project, aimed at rehabili- Commission Liaison Office work blocks at ground level, which occa- site. from CHF shows me the lamellat- tating the cemetery, was co- on four Kosovar schools as well sionally attracts curious looks Shkodra states that because no ed pine which makes up much of financed by the Czech Embassy as the Gjilan Regional Hospital, from passers-by. It is this moving outside expertise on Jewish ceme- the building’s structure. ‘These and the Kosovo Ministry of has focused on energy efficiency of stones that also drew criticism teries was sought “great damage are imported’ she says. ‘We used Culture, Youth and Sports and measures such as thermal insu- from the local Albanian-Jewish was done”. to have pine available in Kosovo, implemented by the Institute for lation. The energy consumption Solidarity Association. The association strongly con- but there is so much logging that the Protection of Monuments and in the rehabilitated buildings is Jan Plesinger, deputy head at demned this, including in a letter it’s not possible to get the right the regional museum of Prishtina. expected to drop by at least 40% the Czech Embassy, regrets that to the Minister of Culture. quality of wood from Kosovo any The initiative came after the as a result and they are expected the project could not be prolonged Haxhi Mehmetaj, director of the more.’ to be more comfortable buildings due to lack of funds, and regrets Institute for Protection of It’s a reminder that there is a - winter temperatures should go that funding from other sources Monuments, on the other hand, need not only for green schools, from 14°C to 20°C. In addition, did not materialise. maintains that the gravestones but also green schooling in the pollution caused by the heat- “The Czech budget for develop- had been moved before, possibly Kosovo. In January 400 children ing, such as CO2 emissions, will ment and technical assistance was by a landslide, leaving the archae- will file into their new Green decrease considerably. cut significantly, leaving the ologists unable to identify the School; these are the architects, In the north of Prishtina embassy unable to support any- graves belonging to the respective the energy producers and the another small green miracle is thing but the first two stages of stones. consumers of the future. Let’s taking shape. It is inspired by what had initially been planned as He states that while his institute hope they learn not only in but the green school in the US a four-stage project,” Plesinger was appointed to restore twenty from this inspiring setting. attended by President Obama’s explains. graves, during their excavations, children; this Green School in Nevertheless, he also stresses the team of archaeologists found a Elizabeth Gowing is a founder Kolovica is being built as part of that “ownership of the project is total of ninety graves, more than member of The Ideas American organisation CHF in the hands of Prishtina’s had been expected there. Partnership, a Kosovar NGO International’s project for new Institute for Protection of The stones that were moved working on educational, cultural school buildings and annexes Monuments,” and it would be their were those unidentifiable to a spe- and environmental projects. that will ensure that the city’s job to maintain the site in good cific grave. Responses or suggestions for Y children take lessons in a maxi- condition. They were therefore placed at inclusion in future columns will M mum of two shifts, rather than Despite the poor state of the site the top of the hill in a row, which find her at theideaspartner- C the three or four that currently to this day, Plesinger considers the was perceived as more dignified. [email protected] K paralyse the education system. biggest – and unexpected – success Mehmetaj also plans to publish 19 Inside Prishtina October 1 - 14, 2010 Outside In Vetëvendosje! New blood, Tricky Blood Group

By Kreshnik Hoxha

etëvendsodje’s transformation into a political movement will undoubtedly Vbring new blood to Kosovo’s bleeding This is how the cemetery looked when it was reopened after a 13,000 euro restoration political scene. But, is this particular blood group the one Kosovo really needs? monographs of all the inscriptions on the ised private memorials and conferences, and 3,000 Jews in the whole of Kosovo. With a corroding LDK, a Hague-focused AAK gravestones, based on work by experts who which were met with great interest. Some of these have been buried at the and a self-obsessed PDK, Kosovo is craving for studied the Hebrew inscriptions. Yet this They aim to make the international cemetery in Velania. new faces and ideas that would take the country work remains unfinished for a year now. Holocaust Remembrance Day an official Soon after the Serbian Montenegrin forwards from its vicious circle of stagnation. Meanwhile, the Albanian-Jewish remembrance day in Kosovo. conquest in 1912 some Jews emigrated to For some this translates into Albin Kurti. Solidarity Association has focused its Kosovo has a long, yet little known Turkish territory, though it was the With a history going back to student demonstra- activities on the cultural level through a Jewish history, culminating in the rescue Second World War that brought an end to tions of 1997 and his bitter criticism towards Memorandum of Understanding with the of over 2,000 European Jews in Albania, Jewish life in Kosovo. UNMIK, the Ahtisaari Plan and the govern- Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, many of whom found their way to the During the Second World War, Albania ment’s susceptibility to international interfer- signed earlier this month, for the eventual safe haven through Kosovo. became a remarkable safe haven for Jews, ence, Kurti has been a key player in the dynam- establishment of a Jewish cultural centre There is evidence of arrival of the emerging from the war as the only coun- ics of Kosovo’s politics and of course a catalyser in Prishtina. Jews in Kosovo in the 15th century. try in Europe with a larger Jewish popu- of Hashim Thaci’s ageing process. The association counts a hundred During this time, the Ottoman lands lation than before. 2,000 European Jews His reactions to Ban Ki Moon’s humiliating members, both Albanians of Jewish her- became a refuge place to several waves of found refuge in Albania, where they were Six Point Plan certainly got him more fans, itage and others interested in promoting Jewish refugees from north and west. hidden and protected by the local popula- which will serve as a good capital in next year’s Jewish culture and ties between the two The biggest immigration wave came tion. Many of these found their way to elections now that Vetëvendosje has signalled peoples. after 1492, when roughly 90,000 Jews Albania via Kosovo, aided by officials, its presence on the ballot papers. Apart from promoting cultural and sci- arrived in the Balkans expelled from including the mayors of Prishtina who At the end of the day, they are a different ket- entific exchange, such as arranging for Spain and Portugal following the inquisi- organised the safe passage of hundreds of tle of fish to the other offerings with nuances of collaboration between the University of tion. Jews to Albania. semi-radicalism in their programme. Prishtina and Ben Gurion University in In the mid-19th century, there were Whether or not Jewish life might be They have definitely got some things right, Israel, the association also aims to insti- Jewish merchants in Prizren, 600 Jews in revived through the association’s activi- and one of them is their breathtaking ability to tutionalise the commemoration of the Gjakova, and a Jewish community in ties, and despite the efforts of the Czech influence, appeal and raise awareness among Holocaust in Kosovo. Prishtina. By the end of the Ottoman embassy, the cemetery on Tauk Bahqe the masses in Kosovo. For the past two years they have organ- period there were 305 Jews in Prishtina remains poorly protected and preserved. Can Thaci, Sejdiu and Haradinaj ever claim that they managed to gather thousands of peo- ple and shake the whole of Prishtina upside down as a sign of protest to a big political issue? No. And this is where Albin Kurti can teach them a trick or two. But, Vetëvendosje has a fundamental problem at its core. It has an aversion of and disagrees with the Ahtisaari Plan, strongly supported by Kosovo’s backers, which also paved the way for independence. This might not be a problem for Kurti, because his movement is not as keen on interna- tional interference in Kosovo. However, he must realise that irritating the big players will just replicate the stagnation caused by the current government. A keen Vetëvendosje activist recently told me that the Ahtisaari Plan should be immediately abolished and reiterated that Prishtina should open talks with Tirana for unification as the only tool for ‘stability’ in the Balkans. In my book, this sort of ‘stability’ translates to threat and destabilisation in the region. Yes, Kosovo is undoubtedly sui-generis but its unifi- cation with Albania is definitely a precedent in the region and violates the core principles of the Bar Review: Ahtisaari Plan, upon which Kosovo’s interna- tional recognition has been emerging, albeit slowly. This fundamental problem would also imply P1 – A New Club in Town that should Vetëvendosje become a big factor in forming a coalition after the elections, they will he newest club in venue frequented by the youth ed walls. while it, as almost all venues in never enjoy the corridors of power, because Prishtina, P1 opened its of Prishtina. Apart from the usual club Prishtina, sorts out its licence. their disagreement with the Ahtisaari Plan will Tdoors the night of It stands out from other nights of Hip Hop, P1 also The owner told Prishtina always keep them in the opposition - as all other Bajram and has since then clubs in town for its comfort- promises to organise nights for Insight that it already fulfills 95 potential coalition partners are its backers. been offering music three club able outdoor area open late into special occasions, such as for per cent of the conditions to And this is why Vetëvendosje must ensure nights a week - Wednesdays, the morning. the launch of new music receive the regular permit. their calculations are based on the algebra that Fridays and Saturdays. The interior hosts two bars albums and videos. Y treats Kosovo’s statehood as multi-ethnic from Located next to Gagi Caffe and the usual VIP area, as well P1 is open every night until M an Ahtisaari perspective – a trick that they need and opposite the government as an outdoor bar with decorat- midnight until October 18 C to master before making the big move to politics. building, P1 is the newest K If you would like your NGO to appear in 20 October 1 - 14, 2010 our Making a Difference feature, please NGO Focus email [email protected] NGO Focus: Working Towards a Future Without Fear In Strpce

The project targeted Strpce’s the Network Institution for youth, offering English language Analysis and Development, coop- and CV-writing courses, as well as erating with NGOs in other parts By Inge Baanders teaching people to express them- of Kosovo. selves in a non-violent way To reach a broader audience through theatre- and music work- with its findings and create a he NGO-scene in Strpce, one shops. sense of political inclusion, of Kosovo’s southern munic- In addition, Future Without Future Without Fear has opened Tipalities, is not very devel- Fear responded to the need for a local radio station in which it oped and you can count on one social development by opening a reports on the municipality’s hand those organisations that are community centre, open to all peo- activities. active in this Serb-majority area. ple. Every week, the radio station But one of Strpce’s most active Nowadays, the community cen- offers place for programmes in civic initiatives is Future Without tre has grown to be a hub of social Romany as well. Fear, which has been developing activity, while continuing to offer The NGO also aims to increase projects ranging from running its space for educational opportu- economic opportunities in the radio stations to creating a busi- nities such as English language municipality and is working on One of Future Without Fear’s projects ness centre. courses and discussion groups. opening a business centre which Future Without Fear was estab- Future Without Fear is led by a developing a Youth Action Plan, his partnership with the munici- provides support and advice to lished in December 2000, with the team of five young people, opti- identifying opportunities to pality. local small business enterprises. aim of helping people recovering mistic and eager to move for- improve youth initiatives and He said: “They listen to us and For its current projects, Future from conflict and providing them ward. ways to respond to their needs are open to new ideas.” Without Fear is mainly supported with opportunities to move them- The NGO has retained its focus and problems. It also tries to One of the organisation’s cur- by the Kosovo Foundation for selves and the municipality for- on youth, who, according to the stimulate a sense of community rent activities is monitoring the Open Society, AED and Forum ward to a ‘future without fear’. team, form the foundation of suc- responsibility by developing functioning of the municipal Syd. In 2001, the NGO launched its cessful future development. youth voluntary services. assembly. first project, supported by the In cooperation with the munic- Igor Savic, director of Future To create a stronger voice, For more information contact OSCE, House for Open Heart. ipality, Future Without Fear is Without Fear, is positive about Future Without Fear is part of [email protected] ‘Pioneering’ Students Join New College

By Inge Baanders

new college based in both north and south Mitrovica Abegan its first full academ- ic year this year with 120 stu- dents. The innovative project from the NGO SPARK is, for the first time, offering international accredited diplomas to all communities in the divided city. When asked about the difficul- ties experienced in establishing IBCM, Dr Paul Sudnik, director of IBCM, said: “Every start up has difficulties. I think it’s a great achievement the way we have managed.” SPARK, an independent non- profit development organisation founded in the Netherlands in 1994, acknowledges the strength of young people to lead society for- ward. It also recognises the need to build up the skills of local institu- tions, both economical and educa- tional, “so they can inspire their own population”. Students and staff at IBCM Mitrovica on the first day of school this Monday In cooperation with the majority of whom hold Master’s In February 2010 IBCM started “They are for the first time con- Apart from degrees, IBCM also Lillebaelt Academy of degrees from outside the region, with a pilot cohort of twenty stu- fronted with a Western style of offers part-time courses in busi- Professional Higher Education, including from Poland, Cyprus dents, and on September 27 it offi- learning,” he added. ness, public administration and one of Denmark’s largest business and the Netherlands. cially opened for its first full aca- Commenting on the number of agricultural business. academies, SPARK opened the IBCM offers a generous scholar- demic year. students that have signed up to “At SPARK we empower young IBCM in February this year. ship scheme and aims to attract In addition to the first cohort, IBCM, Dr Sudnik said: “We have and ambitious people to lead their IBCM aims to empower young students from throughout Kosovo another 100 students have regis- some remaining places but overall society into prosperity,” said and ambitious people by offering and Serbia. tered, with numbers divided we are pleased with the response. Yannick du Pont, director of them double degrees in the fields It has constructed two new equally between north and south We are an institution that started SPARK. “The IBCM is an example Y of business administration, pub- buildings with a campus and mod- of the river Ibar. from nothing and naturally need of our mission.” M lic administration and agriculture ern computer facilities for its stu- Dr Sudnik said the students to build trust. In a way, the stu- and environmental management. C dents, both in north and south were “very enthusiastic” and dents that have come forward to For more information visit It employs ten teachers, the K Mitrovica. were pioneers of the project. us are pioneers.” www.ibcmitrovica.eu. opinion October 1 - 14, 2010 21 Time to Upgrade Kosovo Politics Dear Teta ith an early election on the cards, by the Central Election Committee, CEC, Kosovars must stop voting for the whose regulations explicitly say parties Wmyths of political leaders and must have internal elections at least every Mia... instead vote for political programmes that 36 months. guarantee development. According to the party statute, Thaci can- By Krenar Gashi in Prishtina not run for leader as he was already chosen Following the resignation of President twice for the position. Nobody expects any- Fatmir Sejdiu last week, Kosovo looks to be thing less than a statute change before the Teta Mia solves your problems heading towards an early election. internal elections take place, if they take The fragile governing coalition between place at all. Sejdiu’s Democratic League of Kosovo, Undemocratic political parties have dam- LDK, and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci’s aged the parliamentary democracy and par- Are we in an institutional crisis? Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, may liamentary life in Kosovo. As a conse- Kosova, Kosovë soon not even have a majority in parlia- quence, European Commission Progress ear me, Kosova, what on earth ment. Reports have continually noted that it is the makes you think that? This coun- Many of the LDK’s ministers and MPs government that controls the parliament try’s institutions are strong have publicly expressed their opposition to D and not vice versa. enough to weather even the fiercest hur- the coalition between old political foes, Parliamentary committees have become ricane. which was reached only when Kosovo was impotent; parliamentary questions ridicu- My darling Kosova, the governor of about to declare independence in early lous; and the institution of subpoena total- the central bank was arrested a couple 2008. ly useless. In other words, parliament has of months ago, and the architecture of Internal party elections set for December become an institution which serves only to national financial institutions did not mean that some of them will not back validate and justify the government’s so much as creek in the breeze. Sejdiu as they are aiming to challenge him actions. The leader of the main opposition for the party leadership. Debates have been silenced or in the best- party was unceremoniously slammed in Although his resignation and dedication case scenario ignored. Parliamentary The Hague but people were too busy to the party may improve Sejdiu’s position democracy has become a formality as deci- marvelling at the extra metres added to in the LDK, many believe he is not capable sions have been made in the party head- the state’s moral high ground by the of reinvigorating a party that has been con- quarters by party leaders while MPs are International Court of Justice’s adviso- stantly losing voters since 2000. there just to vote, be that in favour or ry opinion delivered the next day to The PDK currently leads the country, against. notice any top soil blown off in the with Thaci as Prime Minister and another Early elections mostly suit the PDK, and wind. PDK MP as Speaker of Parliament and The government building in Prishtina that’s why it’s likely to happen. Being in the So when the president resigns, what therefore also acting president. But this government, they will seek any reason for be established by Shpend Ahmeti a west- of it? Mr Prime Minister, Mr Speaker of brittle Thaci government cannot go on for elections to be held before their mandate is ern-educated policy analyst from civil soci- the Assembly and Acting President, and too long as on top of the political stalemate, over so they can blame the political stale- ety who has been quite critical of the gov- Mr former President himself have all, his cabinet is being investigated for corrup- mate for not fulfilling their promises. ernment. Knowing Ahmeti, I believe he in quick and not at all choreographed tion by the EU rule of law mission, EULEX. Any quick election will help the PDK, will manage to bring together other succession, assured us: Amid the privatisation of key economic some of whose senior officials have been respectable professionals that have not “We are not in an institutional cri- assets and with talks with Serbia just targeted by prosecutors for corruption, been involved in politics so far. sis.” around the corner, Kosovo must go for an with the aim of at least keeping the current Establishing a horizontal leading platform Don’t you believe what the leaders of early election, despite possible criticism position, with more than 30 MPs in parlia- based on internal debate and democracy your institutions tell you? and hesitation from the international com- ment. and promoting a development-oriented It is perfectly possible to run a coun- munity. The opposition Alliance for the Future of political programme may result in them try in a legitimate and democratic man- European countries may not support this Kosovo, AAK, of former prime minister gaining the support of a good portion of ner with a new president. Since the move as it would automatically mean post- Ramush Haradinaj will be less keen on a the voters that abstained last time, most of position of president is owed to the ponement of the already announced talks quick election now that its leader is being whom are young. votes of two-thirds of the 120 deputies between Kosovo and Serbia that the EU will re-tried for war crimes in The Hague. This With the current positions of political in the Assembly of Kosovo, these facilitate. But keeping in mind the possible proves once again that the party is way too forces, new forces on the horizon and the deputies can simply get together and nature of these talks, the Kosovo authori- dependent on its leader whom most mem- crucial period Kosovo is entering, it’s elect a new president. What could be ties have neither the support nor the legiti- bers and voters see as irreplaceable. about time Kosovars started demanding easier? macy to proceed in this process, particular- The other two opposition parties, the concrete programmes from their politi- The current governing coalition was ly now, after the president’s resignation. New Kosova Alliance, AKR, led by contro- cians. No matter whether elections will be strong enough to withstand a stormy And it’s about time we dealt with our own versial businessman Behgjet Pacolli, and held in December, as it currently seems, or night of heavy drinking in Zanzibar last problems first and started thinking and act- Daci’s LDD, have already been pushing for in early 2011, which would be the latest November, and there is absolutely noth- ing as a country – more than two years after elections. option, they will mark a crucial step in ing to suggest that former President we became one. The AKR managed to increase its ratings Kosovo’s state-building process and a Sejdiu was solely responsible for hold- An election now would not only break the by recruiting a respected, young member major switch in the way politics in the ing together this perfect marriage of political deadlock but also represent a of civil society to serve as vice president. country is run. the PDK and the LDK (after all, oppo- unique chance for a major transformation The LDD, on the other hand, has lost some In the last phase of state consolidation, sites attract, don’t they?). of the current political scene which is support as members returned to the LDK. the last thing Kosovo needs, is another These two, together with the SLS, harshly criticised for being undemocratic The LDK’s electorate is unpredictable empty change in government, applauded have 69 seats (am I up to date? A few and tribal. due to the already-announced internal only by appointed puppets in parliament . swapped party mantles recently...), and For 10 years, Kosovars have been voting elections. But if this party pushes for What we need is political maturity which with Mr Pacolli’s nine seats plus a few blindly, based on belief in their political speedy parliamentary elections without translates into party programmes and con- independents, I’m sure the assembly leaders, all of whom have been promoting holding party elections first, and it can do crete policies. can speedily agree on a new president, independence as the cornerstone of their so as it’s still part of the government, it Whoever runs for the new parliament without having to go to a simple-majori- political programmes. will be more a gesture to reinforce Sejdiu’s should let us know loudly and clearly when ty third round. The political parties have a centralised position within the party and will result in they intend to talk to Serbia; how and when And then, with all this support but- leadership, with a close group of people a worse result than during the last elec- they will th proceed with the privatisation tressing the institution of the presiden- gathered around a mythical leader. tions. of our key money-making public assets; cy, there would be no question of our Democracy is purely formal and political What will make the upcoming elections and what they will do to get Kosovo further new president serving a minute less leaders are hardly ever challenged for their more interesting is the announcement of recognitions from other countries. than his or her mandated five-year position. at least two new political forces. The On top of this, parties should explain to term. The last internal elections in the LDK Vetevendosje (Self-determination) radical the electorate what they will do with the So there would be no need at all, were held in 2006 when the party had to movement of the former student leader ‘bad’ percentages: the 45 per cent unem- Kosova, to call early elections when one decide on the successor of its founder and and political prisoner Albin Kurti ployment and 15 per cent poverty that main party has too many leaders and spiritual leader Ibrahim Rugova. announced that they will run in the parlia- haven’t changed for years. another has none, the Central Election Sejdiu won by a small margin over mentary elections, with predictions that Last, but by no means least, education Commission has no budget and needs Nexhat Daci at a party congress that is elections would be held not before late starts at home. Without internal political several months to get up to speed, the remembered for the fistfights among people spring 2011. party democracy, it’s improbable that these Election Complaints and Appeals in suits and ties. Daci walked out and Vetevendosje aims to attract non-voters members can develop the democratic skills Commission has yet to prosecute any- formed his own Democratic League of and a more nationalistic element of the necessary to promote, create or enforce one for electoral fraud from either 2007 Dardania, LDD, damaging the LDK’s elec- population by saying they would not talk to democracy in the country. or 2009’s elections, and negotiations toral performance in 2007. Serbia to settle the problematic northern with Serbia are so pressing. The PDK has had no internal elections Kosovo issues but rather talk to Albania Krenar Gashi, a former investigative Which means, Kosova, that there is since 2005. In 2009, it was quasi-legally about possible unification. reporter, is the research director of Kosovo’s no institutional crisis at all. accredited to run in the municipal elections The second political platform is likely to leading political think tank - KIPRED.

To send a letter to Prishtina Insight, email [email protected]. 22 October 1 - 14, 2010 Interview Ashton: ‘Kosovo-Serbia Talks Must Start Now’ The EU’s top foreign affairs diplomat has told Prishtina Insight that a deal between Kosovo and Serbia is essential in removing obstacles to the countries’ path towards membership of the union. The comments from the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Baroness Catherine Ashton, come after her first meetings with representatives from Prishtina and Belgrade on the issue of the much anticipated negotiations.

decision to forward the application to the Question: What will your role be in mon European standards. I expect this to be Commission for an opinion. Consultations future talks between Kosovo and Serbia? a step-by step process where the two sides among Member States on this issue are will tackle specific issues in a manner in By Lawrence Marzouk ongoing and have intensified lately. I believe Answer: From the EU side, I want to which they both agree to approach them. the Council will return to the issue in the assure you of my personal intention to fol- near future. What matters is that people can low this very closely and my commitment to Question: How important is it for you experience real improvement in their lives. engage directly with President Tadic and that Kosovo and Serbia reach a settle- awrence Marzouk: Serbia’s deci- Getting closer to the EU has many advan- Prime Minister Thaci. However, it is for ment? sion to change its resolution at tages, economically and socially. What most Belgrade and Prishtina to decide on the Lthe UNGA came at the 11th hour, people want is to live in a safe environment, most effective level of participation. The Answer: This is a real opportunity. Above how difficult were the negotiations have a permanent job and have hope for a objective is to produce a genuine dialogue all, it is chance to remove obstacles on the between you and the Serbian President, better future for their children. And experi- and therefore the level should be the right path towards the EU. The dialogue has the Boris Tadic? ences from previous enlargements show one to reach this aim. One can of course support of Belgrade, Prishtina and the EU that the EU can provide for this. imagine different issues discussed at differ- and could be a big boost for regional cooper- Catherine Ashton: I welcome the decision ent levels. ation in the Balkans. It has the potential to by President Tadic. It was not an easy deci- Question: How confident are you that generate genuine and functioning coopera- sion but it was the right one. The resolution talks will take place between Kosovo Question: Do you believe that Kosovo’s tion. Something that is essential for the is a good common basis for looking to the and Serbia this autumn? status should be among the issues dis- region’s European perspective. But as said future. The closure of the ICJ process in the cussed by the two sides or should the before, the most important thing is that peo- UN General Assembly opens a new phase. Answer: Over the coming period we will talks focus solely on technical issues? ple can experience real improvement in engage in consultations with our partners Should issues such as special status for their lives. Question: Serbia’s decision to change and the two sides to seek their views and the north of Kosovo or territorial the resolution has been interpreted as a agree with them on how to proceed with the exchange be ruled out from the start? Question: Can Kosovo or Serbia sign that Serbia has decided to choose offered dialogue. EU integration is a long- become members of the EU without its future in the EU over Kosovo. Do you term process and therefore it is important Answer: The aim of the dialogue it to pro- resolving this dispute? agree with this interpretation? And will that the dialogue can start now. The sooner mote cooperation, achieve progress on the Serbia’s EU integration be sped up as a the better of course, but we will also need to path to Europe and improve the lives of the Answer: The EU has offered to facilitate result of its compromise over the resolu- make sure that it is well prepared. I am hav- people. It is on this basis - on issues that are this dialogue. The aim here is for the parties tion? ing first opportunities in New York to meet encompassed under the European agenda - to move towards the EU and remove obsta- representatives of Serbia and Kosovo, as that Belgrade and Prishtina should discuss. cles on their predestined path to the EU. Answer: For Serbia and Kosovo the future well as other international partners such as There are many areas where there is a need However, it’s Prishtina and Belgrade’s dia- Y lies within the European Union. We have the United States, in order to listen to their to promote cooperation and to develop a logue. Ultimately it is down to them to find M received Serbia’s application to join the EU views. working relationship. Many areas where the solutions that will bring them closer to C and the next step is for the Council to take a there is a need to apply and agree on com- the EU. K October 1 - 14, 2010 23 Classified Contact Prishtina Insight if you would like to advertise Email [email protected]

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