Dardania.de - Shiko Postimin Tek

Arb · 09-02-08, 11:40

Why should anybody visit Kosovo these days and what would be the unusual things to deal with?
by Krenar Gashi
If you by any chance decide to come to Pristina these days, then first thing you will notice when entering the city from the airport is not going to be the huge Bill Clinton picture in the Bill Clinton Boulevard. Usually this would be the case. But these days, a strange well-designed red billboard will be the first object to drag your attention.

“20% discount for citizens of countries who recognise Kosova’s independence”, says a billboard of one of city’s hotels. Similar ones are placed all around the capital of the territory that is waiting to become an independent state in the upcoming days.

Pristina

Now, in Kosovo, days matters more than ever! Dates matter too! The Prime Minister Hashim Thaci claims that he knows the date when Kosovo’s Assembly will declare independence. Many citizens believe him. Some others don’t.

The counting down for independence, or for pavaresia as Albanians call it, has started in a very strange way: without knowing the deadline. But hey, everything about Kosovo is so unique. Sui Generis - the diplomats would say.

If by any chance you are about to visit Kosovo in the upcoming days, and YES - Kosovo is an interesting place to visit after all, you might find yourself into another sui generis trouble.

It has nothing to do with security issues, as everybody from the western world would probably assume. It’s much simpler indeed. You might not have a place to crash.

Lodging in Kosovo became a sudden problem. Tens of new, most of them jerry-built, hotels in Kosovo’s capital Pristina are full. In hotels which would never be using more than 10% of their capacities, one can hardly book a room nowadays.

And it’s not that hard to find out who these guests, coming out of blue, could be. In a small phone-based survey that a colleague of mine did, it appeared that about 90% of the guests in Pristina’s top five hotels are foreign journalists. And all of them are planning to stay in Kosovo at least between February 1st and 15th. Hum! Interesting!

Similar case happened on December 10th last year, the date that the international community had set as deadline for the negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia over Kosovo’s political status.

They came here, spent few days, and went home. Some of them were able to do some reports, but many others who were seeking for troubles, tensions, radical groups and bloodshed went home disappointed.

This time it will be different. Some journalists will be looking to report the independence happening, celebration, concerts, joy and fireworks, while others will be running after the so called CNN-images – stories of inter-ethnic clashes, Serbs fleeing Kosovo and dark side of independence.

But despite their aims and reports, they will be still using the hotels. Thus for, in case you’re one of those who would still like to come to Kosovo, you should either rush with your booking, either rely on an old traditional Albanian hospitality and decide to knock on somebody’s door at the last minute, asking for them to host you.

And if you reached this line in this blog, you should by now understand that Kosovo is the place to be in February. If you cannot find any better reason to come, just think of the fact that countries don’t become independent every day. Use this chance!

09-02-08, 11:40	#44
Arb Anëtarësuar: 09-10-04 Vendndodhja: Little Dardania, NEW YORK Postime: 11,439	Titulli: Shtypi i huaj rreth Kosovës Why should anybody visit Kosovo these days and what would be the unusual things to deal with? by Krenar Gashi If you by any chance decide to come to Pristina these days, then first thing you will notice when entering the city from the airport is not going to be the huge Bill Clinton picture in the Bill Clinton Boulevard. Usually this would be the case. But these days, a strange well-designed red billboard will be the first object to drag your attention. “20% discount for citizens of countries who recognise Kosova’s independence”, says a billboard of one of city’s hotels. Similar ones are placed all around the capital of the territory that is waiting to become an independent state in the upcoming days. Pristina Now, in Kosovo, days matters more than ever! Dates matter too! The Prime Minister Hashim Thaci claims that he knows the date when Kosovo’s Assembly will declare independence. Many citizens believe him. Some others don’t. The counting down for independence, or for pavaresia as Albanians call it, has started in a very strange way: without knowing the deadline. But hey, everything about Kosovo is so unique. Sui Generis - the diplomats would say. If by any chance you are about to visit Kosovo in the upcoming days, and YES - Kosovo is an interesting place to visit after all, you might find yourself into another sui generis trouble. It has nothing to do with security issues, as everybody from the western world would probably assume. It’s much simpler indeed. You might not have a place to crash. Lodging in Kosovo became a sudden problem. Tens of new, most of them jerry-built, hotels in Kosovo’s capital Pristina are full. In hotels which would never be using more than 10% of their capacities, one can hardly book a room nowadays. And it’s not that hard to find out who these guests, coming out of blue, could be. In a small phone-based survey that a colleague of mine did, it appeared that about 90% of the guests in Pristina’s top five hotels are foreign journalists. And all of them are planning to stay in Kosovo at least between February 1st and 15th. Hum! Interesting! Similar case happened on December 10th last year, the date that the international community had set as deadline for the negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia over Kosovo’s political status. They came here, spent few days, and went home. Some of them were able to do some reports, but many others who were seeking for troubles, tensions, radical groups and bloodshed went home disappointed. This time it will be different. Some journalists will be looking to report the independence happening, celebration, concerts, joy and fireworks, while others will be running after the so called CNN-images – stories of inter-ethnic clashes, Serbs fleeing Kosovo and dark side of independence. But despite their aims and reports, they will be still using the hotels. Thus for, in case you’re one of those who would still like to come to Kosovo, you should either rush with your booking, either rely on an old traditional Albanian hospitality and decide to knock on somebody’s door at the last minute, asking for them to host you. And if you reached this line in this blog, you should by now understand that Kosovo is the place to be in February. If you cannot find any better reason to come, just think of the fact that countries don’t become independent every day. Use this chance!