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Europe: AL, BY, HR, SL, I, F, SB, H, PL, SK, D, NL, BiH, FYROM, TR, L, B, RU, BG, GE, AZ
Asia: TR, SY, IR, PK, IN
America: USA

Africa: MAR, RM

 

 

31. Kosovo

 

 

Kosovo is a strange place. It hides many contradictions. It is the place where hypocracy is translated into real life. People are people, everywhere, so it is also a nice place, helpfull and friendly. Maybe Kosovo is the only place in Balkans where the mass psychology made the people think positive. At the end, they are the only nation in former Yugoslavia that gained something from that dreadfull civil war that destroyed the countries of former yugoslavia. They have gained their independence. No need to explain that indenpendence and freedom comes at a high cost. The country of Kosovo is a state in on infusion. Without the international community it would collaps imeadiately. The state hardly functions. All other countries on Balkans could build up something from what was left. And since prewar period was a good period, some good things were left. Kosovo had to start from cratch, including mapping roads, cables and sewering, registrating properties, houses and land, setting up a securitysystem with courts, army and police, and so on.
A masive job extra complicated by the fact dozens of international organizations need to have something to say as well. Probably also a little bit extra complicated by the fact the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) has it's base in tribal clans strongly related to trafficing drugs, weapons and women. Corruption at not far away. Bureaucracy disfunctiones, independent business succes can be dangerous.

And the people in Kosovo?? I met quite some people that grew up in Yugoslavia as young and progressive people of the world. They have found their way in Kosovo and beyond. Local people live with the idea that freedom has its price, and since they have to pay that price anyway, let's enjoy the freedom.
Somehow introvert, somehow full of confidence.
In general it is hard for younsters of Kosovo to meet the world: people from countries nearby are not so much interested, people from further away usually only come to have the very well paid jobs at the international authorities or NGO's, and Kosovar people can not travel easily to many countries due to the fact Kosovo is not recognized by most countries.
We have invited a number of artists and we are very sure we will be back in order to complete the Kosovar selection and make nation wide presentations.

So... more stories are coming up
03-2014

 

Name : countryside
Objectives : relax and enjoy
ilometer : 3801 at this journey

Many times we travelled Kosovo, but aways we travelled this boring, dangerous and ugly road between Mitrovica and Prishtina. Now we finally go and see the countryside. Kosovo is a high plateau with massive mountains in the west, near Albania and Montenegro.

 

 

Name : Mitrovica
Objectives : make a film about a divided city

Two brave man from Slovenia took the challenge to film in the divided city of Mitrovica. A city devided by the past and abondoned by the future. We added silence and stories.

 

Name : Skenderaj
Objectives : sightseeing

At a memorial of victims of the war. I'm not fan of such a places. Since I am an outsider of the conflict that took place, I prefer to visit locations that cemmemorates al victimes and not just those of one side. It gives me the idea the problem is still there even if the will to go and shoot and kill is gone for the moment.

Name : Zars Mountains
Objectives : Fresh air

High up ar Zars Mountains we eat sausages and I brought some friends to enjoy the reality of counsciousness.

 


Name : prishtina
Objectives : Invite artists

prishtina is booming, liak emost modertate big cities in the world. Overwelmed with people from the countryside prishtina almost doubled its inhabitants since the end of the war.

 

Name : jakup Ferri
Objectives : see him doing his thing

Jakup is a fantastic young artist with roots in many places. Here we are at some local dressmakers who make his drawing in their traditional techniques.

Name : New Born
Objectives : present Show Your Hope

One of the finest spontaious presentations we did was in the center of town in prishtina. the location is called NEW BORN, due to the massive sculpture of letters saying this. there were hundreds of spectators and als many artists took time to come and have a look.

 

Name : Artsts connection
Objectives : prepare a Kosovar selection

Meeting Agron Muliqi and Ilir Huharreni helped a lot to start up the Kosovar selection. Very nice people introduced by Natali Nikolovska, one of those few artists in Macedonia who does show interest in the countries nearby.
Skopje to prishtina is only 80 kilometer. In Holland, where I live, people do this distance very day to go to work or they do this on weekdays in the evening in order to see a concert or visit friends.
Anyway, great start up in Kosovo.