New Kosova Report

Columns

Blackbird

I said, “Surely the world is getting better.”

She frowned and began listing the reasons why I was mistaken. She was probably right, having lived and worked in Kosovo for many years longer than I, but I was only half paying attention, thinking at the same time about what it was to grow up wanting to work for the United Nations. We were seated with a man from Nepal, an Irish woman, an Algerian, an Italian, three or four Serbs, two Americans and more. Between those different people there was little agreement on any subject, but we weren’t really trying either. The sound of fireworks and automatic gunfire in the streets had increased until it was nearly a solid wave of white noise, broken only occasionally by tiny explosions of silence.

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The same old song

Blackbird

There are a few things I like to talk about when we drink. Like everyone, I like to gossip about the people we know. I like to talk about that attractive woman at the other table. The other thing I like to talk about is art.

But I think we misunderstood each other a bit, because we ended up talking about entertainment, not art. Maybe it’s my fault—I sometimes get the two confused myself. Actually, in hindsight I think we were having two arguments at the same time. This happens a lot to me in Kosovo.

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get in line

Blackbird
Dear NewKosovaReport, I am sorry, but I will not be able to submit my column on time this week. I had a terrible day, and I no longer feel inspired to write. It’s too bad: I had so many things to say. I know I’m letting you down. I offer the following explanation not as an excuse, but in the hopes that you will find it in your hearts to forgive me. Read More Add Comment (3)

Saving Kosova

Columns

Kosova’s political leaders and the non-governmental organizations that brought 30,000 people into the streets on November 19 to protest the UN’s “six point plan” should be supported by everyone who cares about the future of Southeast Europe. The implementation of the six-point plan—based solely on Belgrade’s recommendations about customs, border control, police, the judiciary, Serb religious sites, and the deployment of EULEX in Kosova—would threaten Kosova’s sovereignty, undermine its independence, and end the chance for lasting peace and stability in the Balkans for decades to come. Rejecting the six-point plan was the right message to send to the international community. Let us hope that it is not too little too late.

Caveat emptor

Blackbird

corruption, from the Latin “corrumpo” - to break up, destroy, annihilate, spoil, weaken

The plan was to get one and a half billion Euros. The Euros were to be spent on building an infrastructure that would be self-sustaining, thereby eliminating the need to ask for more money in the future. The most significant hurdle in the implementation of this plan, everyone said, was corruption.

The city was papered with posters promoting debates about institutional and individual corruption. Politicians made speeches, and t-shirts were printed with anti-corruption slogans. I felt ashamed. I knew that I was the cause of all these campaigns. I was completely corrupt, and I often committed a dozen acts of corruption in a single day before sitting down to watch a movie in the evening.

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