Serbia Arrests Karadzic

After years of being one of the most wanted people in Europe, Radovan Karadzic was arrested late Monday evening in a suburb of Belgrade.  Karadzic served as president of the breakaway Republic Srpska.  His top general Mladic still remains at large after nearly 12 years on the run.  The arrest was welcomed a sign that Serbia is still willing to work with the West despite differences on Kosovo's independence.  Some wonder what comes next, if the arrest will help Serbia join the EU, if someone has a lot of explaining to do, or perhaps it's just too late to really make a difference.

Kosovo's corruption watchdog has released a damning report of the government's over-spending on non-essential areas, corruption, and conflict of interest.  One example of the government's lack of fiscal responsibility is the spending of Euro 1.3 million in three months on lunch/dinner by government officials.  The total yearly budget of the Kosovo government is a mere Euro 700 million.

MTCowgirl's Kosovo News

• Hundreds queu as Kosovo begins taking applications for passports
• US vows to help Kosovo get more recognition
• Serbia returns ambassadors to Europe
• Ombudsperson finds Kosovo human rights unsatisfactory
• UNMIK SRSG to visit Serbia

MTCowgirl's Interesting Articles/Commentary

• Don't be afraid of Kosovo
• Chinese & other immigrants call Kosovo home
• Kosovo: Tale of fledgling and hawks

Belated Happy 4th of July

I couldn't help but chuckle at a recent article in the Kosov@ Post about 4th of July celebrations in Pristina. The author of the article talks about how many countries celebrate 4th of July to express their gratitude to the US and that Kosovo is one of those countries. Honestly, I don't think that anyone outside the US except other Americans celebrate the 4th of July and it's a bit interesting to see other people celebrating the Independence Day of my country. I'm sure that someone from Germany or South Africa would find it just as odd if I held a celebration for their independence days...but I can't say that I don't appreciate the vigor in which the Kosovar people appreciate the assistance that the US has provided over the years. Also mentioned in the article is something called the "American Corner in Pristina" which is located near the National Library (that funky building that supposedly looks like a human brain from the air). As an American, I never even knew we had a corner in Pristina or even what an American corner is...but I'll be checking into it when I get back that's for sure.
I again have to put a mention in for Pacific Rim Bistro & Wine Bar in Dragodan for providing a kick-@$$ American-style buffet for my friends on the 4th. They simply can't stop raving (and rubbing it in that I missed it!) about how good the food was and how much they enjoyed the meal. As I've been doing research for my articles (oops, I wasn't planning on tying this blog to the newspaper but it wouldn't be easy to keep it separated for long...I'm the restaurant reviewer for Kosov@ Post), I've been frequenting Pacific Rim to try the different food and so far, two thumbs way up for excellent food. I think that I won't need to feel homesick for American food anymore and Tom's Korean Kalbi is almost as good as Mom's (but you know no one ever does it as good or better than Mom!).

MTCowgirl's Interesting Articles/Commentary

• Message from PM Thaci on anniversary of constitutional statement
• What Cyprus, Bosnia, and Kosovo can teach us
• Kosovo Ho!, a reaccounting of a trip through the Balkans in the 70's
• Newborn, symbol of Kosovo
• Vetevendosje complains about ICO & EULEX
• German automotive manufacturer to open plant in Kosovo

UN Begins Re-Configuration

The new SRSG, Italian diplomat Lamberto Zannier, of UNMIK announced last week that the mission will begin reconfiguration and transition of the police and justice to the EULEX mission under the umbrella of the UN.  The Security Council has not ruled on changing the mission's mandate as outlined in Security Council Resolution 1244.  Serbia warned UN Secretary-General against any reconfiguration of the mission without the approval of the Security Council and Serbia.
I will be heading home to the US for a couple weeks on Friday but as I normally can't live without the internet for very long, you can count on a couple updates while I'm away :)  Smokey will be going back to the "doggy prison" as I call it and staying at the Kosovo Dog Shelter near the airport.  Volunteer vets Petra & Toni are again visiting for the summer so watch out for charity events to support the shelter and their efforts!

MTCowgirl's Kosovo News

• Kosovars trust KFOR, then KPS, then TMK/KPC, and last the judiciary
• Kosovo and Macedonia start border demarcation process
• Deputy of Trade dismissed after heated parlimentary quarrel
• Kosovo Serbs form parliament in North

MTCowgirl's Interesting Articles/Commentary

• Kosovo should just say no to UN
• Russia wants to divide Europe through Kosovo
• New Kosovo Serb Parliament raised concerns for EU
• Kosov@ Post celebrates launch
• Kosovo autonomy debate rages, an interesting view from Czech Republic
• Kosovo should play it cool
• UNDP finds Kosovo judiciary is unsatisfactory

Kosovo prisoners go on hunger strike

Approximately 560 prisoners in Kosovo are continuing on their second day of a hunger strike in protest over the Kosovo government's failure to pass a "promised" amnesty law that was due to go into force following independence as well as difficult conditions (thought that was what prison was supposed to be!).

A powerful explosion ripped apart a vehicle belonging to a Serbian KPS officer in northern Kosovo in the early hours of the morning.  An investigation is on-going and no injuries were reported.  On Saturday, a bullet-ridden vehicle and body of a Serbian KPS officer was found in northern Kosovo.  This was the second deadly shooting case in a matter of days in the north.

A Montenegrin was reportedly arrested and insulted by Pristina KPS after being removed from Gebo Club for wearing a hat with his national symbols.  The Albanian KPS officers allegedly questioned the chairman of a Kosovo association for Montenegrins if he supported Ramush or Thaci.  A case is due to be filed against KPS and the club for discrimination and intolerance.

MTCowgirl's Interesting Articles/Commentary

• Meddling midwives threaten birth of new nation
• Building trust in Kosovo
• "The Hunt" by Carla del Ponte
• Serb police officer looks towards future
• After Kosovo independence, Balkans has bright future

MTCowgirl's Kosovo News

• Albanians call for more security in North
• Spain lobbies against Kosovo independence
• UN Secretary-General to endorse EULEX mission

A Little Competition

Many years of not having a decent English language newspaper there are now two papers being published!  The first I mentioned last week and the other one came out on the 14th called Pristina (Prishtine?) Insight.  It appears that Pristina Insight is backed by BIRN which I have always liked for their investigative pieces and balanced reporting.  As we say, a little competition is never a bad thing and it's great to have some quality reporting in English, not just a rehash of translated text from local papers!

It was pointed out to me that while I mentioned Tokyo Restaurant in the blog I didn't have the information in the Restaurant listing so I've updated with some of my favorite menu items and will work on expanding the information next week for both Tokyo and a new restaurant I've recently discovered (I've been driving by for some time but never actually went in!)  There also is an excellent wine bar and Bistro (Pacific Rim Bistro & Wine Bar, 47 Ismail Qemali Street) in Dragodan just down the street from me (I'm thinking just as dangerous as Pinocchio but at least a little more of a walk!)  The menu is diverse with a mixture of Asian, Mexican, and American favorites.  The wine menu is huge and they have many good selections.  They also seem to have a large selection of different beers from local to imports.  I can quickly see Pacific Rim jumping to the top of my favorites!

MTCowgirl's Kosovo News

• Kosovo President vows to work with extended UN mission
• Italian diplomat to take over as new UNMIK SRSG
• Security Council set to discuss Kosovo
• Serbs engage in deadly shoot-out
• Kosovo to open nine (9) embassies

Special Price for you, my friend!

With the gradual deployment of EU personnel to Kosovo and the local population aware of the generous living allowance rates, the rental prices in Kosovo has started to increase bring about the old saying "special price for you, my friend" when people are searching for flats.  In the last months, one international found that some landlords have jacked the prices in Dragodan from 500Euros/month to nearly 900E/month which is literally insane.  And many landlords in Kosovo would rather chew on their shoe that negotiate for a lower rent for those expecting long-term assignments opting to keep their flats empty and forgoing a lower rental payment in hopes that that one sucker born every minute will come along and rent the place for the exorbitant amount they are asking.  Luckily not every landlord is out to make a quick dime and with so many people leaving the mission it really is a renter's market so when looking for a flat, remember that there are plenty of places available and if the landlord isn't willing to negotiate it's probably best to move on and look for a better deal (one of the greatest criticisms of Americans is that we often don't negotiate the rents and we tend to spoil the landlords into thinking that everyone is a sucker and will pay more than necessary!  The other big criticism is that we tip too much...but I still leave at least 10% when I get really good service.)

With a relative lack of excitement, the Kosovo constitution came into effect yesterday, two days short of four months after the unilateral declaration of independence.  In what was supposed to mark a handover from the UN to the EU there are still doubts as to when the UN will leave as the EU has failed to establish their mission north of the Ibar river due to strong opposition by the Kosovo Serbians in the area.

MTCowgirl's Kosovo News

• NATO states agree to train Kosovo forces
• Turkey blocks KFOR-EU cooperation
• UN Chief gives EU bigger role
• Kosovo Montenegrians demand more recognition
• Kosovo applies for FIFA membership

Border Backs Up after Closure

The Blace border on the Macedonian side has backed up with truck traffic after the seizure of hazardous dimethyldisulfide.  The border is reported to have a sweet, pungent scent and authorities are trying to figure out what to do with the trucks.  Kosovo wants to send it back but Macedonia will not let the truck pass through until the materials are stored correctly. Several police officers came down sick after exposure to the toxic chemical but according to the KPS spokesperson it was due to food poisoning (somewhat difficult to believe!)  When driving down to Greece, there must have been at least 100-150 trucks on the Macedonian side of the border and none-too-happy to be stuck there.
 
MTCowgirl's Kosovo News - Related to Toxic Shipment

• Hazardous trucks stir concerns in Kosovo
• Border crossing closed down due to hazardous substances
• Dangerous chemical substance found at Blace Border
• Macedonian police ill after exposure to toxic cargo