Suomalainen media ja Kosovo

Kansainvälinen tuomioistuin (ICJ) antoi 22. heinäkuuta neuvoa-antavan päätöksen, jossa se totesi, että Kosovon helmikuussa 2008 tekemä itsenäisyysjulistus ei ollut kansainvälisen lain vastainen. Suomalainen media julistikin heti seuraavana päivänä, että kv-oikeus vahvisti Kosovon itsenäisyyden. Myös HS:n haastattelema kv-oikeuden asiantuntija oli samoilla linjoilla, ja saman lehden nuori ulkomaantoimittaja kirjoitti kirkasotsaisen lukiolaisen tavoin kolumnissaan, kuinka Kosovon status on [...]

Image branding a la Kosovo

So, it was Kosovo’s turn to call a PR agency to polish her tarnished image. Following in Croatia’s footsteps, Kosovo decided to rely on an image campaign instead of tackling the many existing problems. For five million Euros Saatchi&Saatchi came up with the perfect slogan: Kosovo - The Young Europeans.
There sure is a large young [...]

Back in the headlines

My dear home town was recently worth a Human Rights Watch statement. In addition, the town which is my responsibility was also mentioned in that report (as well as the work of the international community).
Today I see my hometown achieved recognition by Reuters. Cool!

Novo Brdo / Novobërdë

Novo Brdo / Novobërdë is where I started my work here in Kosovo. Today I went back there in order to enjoy the best NB has to offer: silence, fresh air, and a bit of hiking. In addition to the countless hills and beautiful roads, NB has a few touristic sights; like the old fortress, [...]

Black Hawk Dow… Up

Before coming to Kosovo, I knew Black Hawks mainly from Mark Bowden’s book, and the subsequent Ridley Scott film, Black Hawk Down. As you may guess I’m talking about the Sikorsky UH-60 helicopter - the type that was shot down in Mogadishu and in the end lead to the withdrawal of the American troops.
In Kosovo [...]

Uutisissa

Hip hei, nykyinen kotikaupunkini ylitti viimein(?) uutiskynnyksen myös Suomessa. Hesari kertoi osin virheellisessä uutisessaan miten Silovon kylän asukkaat ovat tuskastuneet eloonsa ilman sähköä. Sähköttömyys on nyt jatkunut jo yhdeksättä päivää. Yksi seuraamus tilanteesta on se, että kantaravintolamme “Kirjasto” on joutunut lopettamaan ruokatarjoilun, koska ilman kylmälaitteita se ei voi toimia.
Jaa, miksei serbeillä sitten ole sähköä? Useimmat [...]

Speeding

I have to drive because of my work. My careful estimation is that I drive about 280 km every week, and all of that is work-related. When you drive a lot it sometimes happens that you are stopped by the police for one reason or another.
One day, not so long ago, I was pulled over [...]

Vetëvendosje

Self-determination, or Vetëvendosje as it’s better known, is one of the few real popular movements here in Kosovo. It reflects the feelings of the civil society and people, and not so much those of political leaders and their clientele, or followers. But what is more important is that the movement is very critical of the [...]