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Kosowo: Spojrzenie z ulicy
Poziom:
Temat: Historia i kultura
Kosovo has seen much progress since its declaration
of independence in 2008.
One of the most visible signs is the construction
boom in the capital Pristina.
Apartment high-rises like these have sprung
up all over town. But many of them stand empty.
They’re far beyond the reach of most people
in a country where the average income is around
250 euros a month.
Pristina’s first shopping mall is as modern
as any other in Europe. But again for most
locals this mall is just a glimmer of what
the future may hold in store for them.
How to jump-start the economy is the biggest
concern on people’s minds as they head into
2012.
Kosovo has the highest unemployment rate in
Europe. 45 percent, almost 75 among young
people.
At a second hand car market on the outskirts
of Pristina we meet Fatmir.
He’s returned to his home town after having
worked in Germany for the last few years.
“I’m unemployed at the moment. I worked
in a restaurant, then I had my own business
but due to the crisis in Europe it failed.”
Fatmir has come back with a car which he’s
looking to sell.
“Most cars here come from Germany. For a
second hand car like this you have to work
for a year in Kosovo. But if you make a bit
on the side, like by selling used cars or
whatever you can get by.”
By working in Germany Fatmir was able to send
back money to support his family. According
to UN estimates 1 in 5 households in Kosovo
are dependent on remittances. The country’s
economic growth is one of the lowest in the
Balkans. Fatmir is becoming impatient. The
border dispute with Serbia hasn’t helped
he says, as it’s obstructing trade.
“Kosovo is a beautiful country and the KFOR
soldiers or NATO soldiers are very welcome
here. But I must say that now after 10 years
many people are becoming impatient. Because
they associate many of the problems they still
face today with international organizations.
At first they were all very interested in
helping Kosovo and then they started to lose
interest and only now we are getting a bit
more attention again, but not because of us,
only because Serbia wants to become an EU
candidate.”
For a long time NATO’s peacekeeping mission
in Kosovo received hardly any media attention,
as the security situation remained calm. Troop
numbers were steadily reduced to their current
level of about 6000.
But since July last year Kosovo has been in
the headlines again. A row between Belgrade
and Pristina over trade and control of disputed
border crossing points triggered clashes in
the north of Kosovo between local demonstrators
and KFOR peacekeepers.
In November some 30 KFOR soldiers were injured
as they moved to clear a roadblock.
Many Kosovars feels KFOR should do more to
clear the roadblocks and enforce the freedom
of movement.
“We Albanians feel put at a disadvantage
recently by the way the EU and KFOR have been
tolerating the troubles in the north. Many
feel that if we as Albanians had caused half
as much trouble with blockades then NATO and
the EU would have intervened more forcefully.”
But NATO says it does not take sides and vows
to remain impartial.
“You notice yourself that it’s very quiet
here in the south and there’s no violence
in the north between Serbs and Albanians,
there’s no violence.”
My KFOR guide tells Fatmir that the mission
is focused on deescalating tensions and promoting
dialogue. A principle they both agree is the
only way forward.
“We have been neighbors for a long time
and we have to live together, nothing else
is going to work. We have to accept them and
they must accept us. We are still learning
and we hope that NATO will continue to support
us. Despite our current problems right now
we will never forget what NATO has done for
us. We think democratically, democracy has
arrived here.”
Just a year ago Europe’s youngest democracy
held its first general election.
Like much of the progress in this country
it was marred by allegations of fraud.
Besides its economy Kosovo’s democratic
institutions still need support for some time
to come, if the country is to realize its
dream of a future within Europe.
“We have a dream of becoming a part of Europe
again; geographically we are already but not
officially right now. But we dream of belonging
to Europe again one day like others in the
Balkans.”
I’m Mike Muehlberger reporting for the Natochannel
from Kosovo.
