Dive into the archives.
- Serbia Chooses
This weekend’s elections in Serbia brought a sigh of relief to those all over the EU. Boris Tadic was victorious over nationalist Tomislav Nikolic. While most news outlets are emphasizing Serbia choosing Europe and pro-Western, it would behoove them to remember that with regard to Kosovo, the entire country is of one mind. Tadic, who [...]
- The Big Day Looms
While Americans ponder Pearl Harbor Day, December 7th, Europe is pondering December 10th, the day that will finally end negotiations over Kosovo and either on which, or shortly after which, Kosovo is expected to unilaterally declare independence. While around 15,000 NATO troops will remain in Kosovo to maintain peace regardless of what happens, a great [...]
- Could Kosovo Make or Break Europe?
Almost two decades after the Cold War and with some looking to Europe to play a larger role in world affairs, a pesky little province of two million just refuses to go away. Eight years after the Kosovo War in which NATO troops largely consisting of the US and Germany intervened to protect Kosovar Albanians [...]
- Counting on European Cowardice
Reading the news daily can often be as funny as the comics section. Today was no exception when I came across the following article in Der Speigel’s English edition:
Serbia Says Use of Force Is an Option in Kosovo
Kosovo’s Albanian-dominated government seems set to declare its independence from Serbia. Some Western governments appear to back this [...]
- Outmaneuvering Russia
An interesting development in the forever-stalled final status of Kosovo. Back in July, RFERL reported that the issue may be moved from the UN to the Contact Group for the Balkans, formed back during the war in Bosnia.
However, the move to turn to the Contact Group may be inspired less by the hope of reviving [...]
- The Serbian Lone Ranger
1389 still casts a long shadow over the Balkans from Belgrade to Prishtina. Today, The Battle of Kosovo is commemorated in Serbia and to give away the ending, the Serbs lose. Yet, what is the importance of a major loss in a seemingly obscure place and time? After all, Americans celebrate July 4th and not [...]
- Brown Nosing or Policy Change?
Similar to Russia, Serbia has little attractive power and although weak, is always able to play the spoiler in the Balkans. Kosovo is an especially thorny issue which threatens to leave relations between Balkan states poor for years to come. However, in a change of course, Serbia, which has refused to cooperate with the Hague [...]
- The Cost of Kosovo
To the casual visitor in Kosovo, independence is everywhere. Shop owners and taxi drivers wax on about freedom and independence. Every third building is spray painted with Kosovo’s semi-official graffiti saying “Jo Negociata! Vetëvendosje!” meaning “No negotiations! Independence!” On the ground, the province has been operating as a de facto independent state since NATO’s intervention [...]
- Kosovo Update with Pics
Peja, Kosovo
I decided to stay in Peja overnight and take a morning bus to Podgorica, Montenegro where I’ll connect going on to Kotor. Here are a few pics from Kosovo:
Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) exhibit in the Pristina museum.
That’s right, welcome to Bill Clinton Blvd.
Prizren’s picturesque old city.
Gutted orthodox church on the hills above Prizren.
I just [...]
- Last day in Kosovo
Day 73 in Pristina, Kosovo
Yesterday I woke up early and headed out to the bus station to catch one of the many buses going southwest towards Prizren. It lies in the German KFOR zone which becomes rather obvious by the many German armored vehicles along the roads, German flags and the big KFOR base outside [...]
