MTCowgirl's Kosovo Blog

A minor 4.8 magnitude earthquake centered near Istog/Zubin Potok (depending on the source) occurred yesterday at approximately 1435 hours.  Minor building damage has been reported at schools and the Mitrovica Districit Court and Police Station prompting the closure of the buildings until a safety inspection can be carried out.  Both UNMIK and EULEX evacuated staff from buildings for some time after the quake.

NATO and KSF have reported that the temporary freeze on cooperation has ended following a disagreement on KSF display of weapons at a KLA Commemoration ceremony.  According to a statement released by KFOR, KSF will continue to be able to carry weapons at ceremonial occassions with the agreement of the KFOR commander.  KFOR also reiterated that KSF does not have a military or defensive role as that task is being handled by NATO at this time.

MTCowgirl’s Kosovo News

• World Bank gives Kosovo its first loan
• US pulls 570 troops out of Kosovo as NATO restructures
• Kosovo, Belgium sign investment protection agreement
• New wave of threats against journalists in Kosovo
• UNMIK SRSG wants to tackle simple problems first
• Kosovo’s first census coming in 2011
• Haradinaj points finger at Thaci for corruption

MTCowgirl’s Interesting Articles/Commentary

• Albin Kurti, Guardian of Flame of Kosovo Nationalism
• Tension between recognizing and relativising war crimes
• Kosovo, the “Forgotten” Conflict
• Curtain yet to rise on Kosovo’s Stand-up Comedy
• Balkans:  Operation Sledgehammer busted

Following the involvement of armed KSF members in the 5-7 March Nights of Fire, a commemoration of the Kosovo Liberation Army, NATO has announced that it has suspended its support of the Kosovo Security Forces.  Reportedly, KSF had agreed with NATO to participate without weapons but later violated the agreement when members of a honor guard appeared armed in violation of the agreement and the non-military status that KSF was founded upon last year.  NATO also protested the usage of its flag during the commemoration as the organization has taken a neutral stance towards Kosovo’s declaration of independence.  Kosovo leaders have reacted to the announcement calling for clarification and chiding NATO in saying “nobody should expect Kosovo not to behave like a sovereign state“.

On the lighter side, I’m happy to welcome London Taxi Service to the streets of Pristina.  Now officially my favorite taxi service, London Taxi Service has taken the streets of Pristina by storm, drawing both praise and criticism.  Taxi drivers from established companies have complained because the municipality has done little to curb illegal taxis and they accussed the municaplity of giving preferential treatment because of the alleged company ownership by the President’s son.  But all the politics aside, I have found London Taxi Service to be both very prompt and just as affordable as all the other legitimate taxi services.  Plus there’s something special about pulling up to your house or dinner in the stylish London cabs!  Give them a call at 044 300 300

The Society for Families of Kidnapped and Missing Persons in Kosovo have accussed former UNMIK SRSG and current French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, of insulting Serb victims after he called a Voice of America reporter “insane” following questions on alleged organ trafficking.  According to news on the incident, Kouchner responded to a question on alleged organ traficking in Kosovo by laughing at the reporter and telling the reporter he was “sick” and that “People who talk about things like that are bums and murderers“.  The incident has been reported to the International Federation of Journalist and the Serbian association of journalists have requested an explanation from France concerning Kouchner’s unprofessionalism.  Perhaps most shockingly in Kouchner’s response, he appeared to have little knowledge of the case of human organ traficking at the infamous “Yellow House” which is reported to have happened while Kouchner was SRSG in Kosovo.

MTCowgirl’s Kosovo News

• Kosovo rules out status talks with Serbia
• Gallup poll registers optimism and challenges in Kosovo
• UNMIK SRSG meets with Serb Minister for Kosovo
• Kosovo appoints Ambassador to Macedonia
• Kosovo and Bulgaria sign energy deal

A recent study has shown that 150,000 people in Kosovo live on just 0.45 Euros per day or 14 Euros per month. This puts 7% of Kosovo’s population living below the line of extreme poverty which is considered to be those living on just 0.93 Euros per day. In the survey, when asked how much they needed to live each month, 52% said that they could live on 120 Euros per month, eight times what they are currently receiving.

MTCowgirl’s Kosovo News

• Albin Kurti refuses to show in EULEX court
• Serbia issues arrest warrant for Kosovo Archbishop
• Kosovo bus crashes in Austria, killing 6
• EU Foreign Policy Chief urges help for Kosovo economy

For now the streets are unnaturally quiet and clear of traffic but as people begin to stir later, Kosovo will see one of its biggest street parties of the year as they celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the declaration of independence.  As usual, with celebrations in Kosovo celebratory gunfire (aka “Happy Fire”) is expected and the US Embassy has issued an advisory cautioning citizens to take precautions. 

MTCowgirl’s Independence News

• Two years in, Kosovo Albanians more sober on independence
• Aljazeera Blog:  Happy Birthday, Kosovo
• Kosovo optimistic on EU prospects
• Kosovo celebrates, Serbia wants new negotiations
• Kosovo marks anniversary of independence

While the power situation in Pristina has been stable with virtually no power outages this winter, residents of Prizren and Vucitrn have not been so lucky.  The past couple of days groups of up to a couple hundred protestors have gathered to demonstrate against KEK’s disconnection of their power.

MTCowgirl’s Kosovo News

• EU divisions on Kosovo get deeper
• West wants Kosovo to stop relying on donors
• EULEX postpones Albin Kurti trial
• Kosovo visa liberalization tied to repatriation of illegal immigrants

Ultra-nationalist and hardliner Archbishop Artemije, the leader of the Orthodox Church in Kosovo, has been removed from his post due to accusations of the embezzlement of millions of Euros from the church and aid organizations over the past several years.  Artemije is widely known for his anti-Western and ulta-nationalistic views.  In an interesting twist to the story, monks supporting the newly appointed Bishop Atanasije clashed with monks supporting Artemije on Sunday when he tried to enter the Gracanica monastery. 

Them are fighting words!!!  The Speaker of the Kosovo Assembly, Jakup Krasniqi, has made statements that if Northern Kosovo refuses to integrate with Kosovo then why don’t ethnic Albanians in Southern Serbia (Presevo Valley) secede and join Kosovo.  The statement is made in reference to plans to create a new municipality in the North of Kosovo.  Already Serbia has reacted to the statements by Jakup calling it war-mongering and asking the international community to condemn the statements.

Also in Presevo Valley, an Albanian police officer and his family were injured in an apparent car bombing.  A police spokesperson has called the bombing a terrorist attack.

MTCowgirl’s Kosovo News

• COE says Kosovo repatriations must stop
• Integration strategy to be sent to Belgrade, according to Feith
• Kosovo & EULEX to create corruption, organized crime task force

MTCowgirl’s Interesting Articles/Commentary

• EasyJet adds Kosovo as a destination
• Kosovo’s Alternate Outdoor Destination – Boge
• Kosovo Tourism:  Belgrade vs. Pristina on Strepce
• Serbian Media:  Most Albanians support Greater Albania
• The legal labyrinth of Kosovo

Vetevendosje is commemorating the 2nd anniversary of the deadly 10 February 2007 riot where two of the organization’s demonstrators were killed.  Starting from 1000 hours, Vetevendosje activists are expected to meet in Podujevo and Pristina a the graves of the late protestors and hold a photo exhibition in the Pristina stadium.  Most organizations have released security advisories to avoid the area during the demonstration although the 1st anniversary passed without incident.

From their website, Vetevendosje describes themselves as “a community of people that refuse to submit, and intend to achieve and realize self-determination for the people of Kosova”.  The website chronicles most of the movement’s activities over the years from throwing rotten eggs at politicians  to material damage of organizational vehicles.  The group also operates a Facebook page where you can become a fan of the organization.

After a couple months of wondering if Kosovo was going to have a normal cold, snowy winter, the answer has come in the form of a mini-blizzard dumping several centimeters of snow in the past 24 hours after a brief rainstorm that turned to ice overnight.  The Dragodan hill currently is near impossible to pass as drivers slowly slide downhill out of control.  Winter/snow tires are a luxury that most people cannot and do not purchase during the winter here so seeing traffic during a snowstorm as it is now is quite an interesting event!!!  Somewhat surpassing Dragodan in the snowstorm entertainment department is Sunny Hill.

In the past few weeks in an effort to crackdown on parallel structures, Kosovo authorities have been arresting and tossing Serb officials out of Kosovo.  Approximately two weeks ago the Serbian Kosovo Minister, Goran Bogdanovic, was detained and escorted to the border after engaging in political meetings with Serbs.  One point of contention however is that Bogdanovic is actually a Serb born in Kosovo.  Yesterday, five Serb officials were arrested and escorted to the administrative line.

Ethnic tensions are on the rise with the recent explusions of Serb officials from Kosovo and the Kosovo government’s plans to integrate the North.  Authorities in Pristina have been working with the EU’s International Civilian Office (ICO) to come up with a plan to integrate Northern Kosovo and get rid of parallel institutions.  EULEX, which should be noted to not fall in the same category as ICO, has said that the integration plan is not an EU strategy.  UNMIK which has the UN Kosovo Team in the North has stated that it was not consulted in developing the plan for integration.

In other news, EULEX has summoned Vetevendosje leader, Albin Kurti, to court to face charges stemming from the deadly riots in February 2007.  In turn Vetevendosje slammed EULEX for not dealing with parallel structures and lacking will to prosecute Serbs.

Many Kosovo Albanians have applied for new biometric passports issued by Serbia after the application of the white schengen visa rules.  While Kosovo has started to issue new passports, they are not included in the white schengen zone and must obtain visas to travel to Europe.

In other news, Kosovo Montenegrins are working to gain minority status in Kosovo.  There are currently two political parties representing Montenegrins and they are seeking to be officially recognized as a minority in Kosovo and to establish better diplomatic ties between Kosovo and Montenegro.  Serbia recently withdrew their ambassador to Montenegro following the establishment of diplomatic ties with Kosovo.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon delivered his report on Kosovo to the Security Council last week and called on Serbia & Kosovo to focus on cooperation rather than status issues.  Serbian president Tadic will address the council on January 22nd in a meeting focused on Kosovo.  Meanwhile UNMIK has announced that it will further downsize by June 2010 by cutting 60 positions bringing the total mission size to approximately 440 staff.