A reportage in Mitrovica, Kosovo, among Roma. It is bad and is not improving, 15 years after the declaration of independence.
An article about all the others (i.e. non-Serbian) minorities in Kosovo, and mostly on Roma. The situation is still not good, with unemployment, discrimination, and emigration.
The municipality of Prizren in Kosovo decided that Romanes would become an official language of the municipality. This is rather surprising, when one think that many of the Roma living there were expelled after the war and that racism against Roma is still very much prevalent in Kosovo.
The OSCE is launching a new strategy for advancing the rights of Roma in Kosovo. Well, a bit late in the game. No one in Europe did anything when Roma were expelled from Kosovo right after the war.
As long as this has not been acknowledged, these strategies will yield little if any results.
A couple of Kosovo Roma who had been in Germany for many years were facing deportation to Kosovo. They are now allowed to stay.
A few articles in the Balkan press on the celebrations of Erdelezi or Đurđevdan – simply Saint Georges day in the orthodox calendar – which fell on May 6th, and is celebrated by all Roma in the Balkans.
Unfortunately, 20 years after having expelled a large majority of Roma, Kosovo remains Roma averse and racism against the minority is rampant.
The UN was rebuked by its own experts on the issue of the poisoning of Roma refugees in Mitrovica (Kosovo). The issue of reparations is still open.
– U.N. Is Rebuked by Own Expert for Neglecting Kosovo Poisoning Victims. In: The New York Times. 13.03.2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/13/world/europe/roma-un-lead-poisoning.html
The UN has still not compensated Kosovo Roma who were placed in camps that were heavily polluted resulting in serious health problems and malformations. The camps were run by the UN in Mitrovica.
– KOSOVO : LES NATIONS UNIES N’ONT TOUJOURS PAS INDEMNISÉ LES ROMS DE MITROVICA. In: Le Courrier des Balkans. 08.02.2019. https://www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/Kosovo-roms-indemnisations-MINUK
– A la Une: en Bosnie, une chape de plomb est retombée sur la Republika Srpska. In: RFI. 08.02.2019. http://www.rfi.fr/europe/20190208-une-bosnie-une-chape-plomb-est-retombee-republika-srpska
Roma activists market the commemoration of the Holocaust yesterday in Pristina.
– Kosovar Roma Mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day. In: Radio Free Europe. 27.01.2019. https://www.rferl.org/a/kosovar-roma-mark-international-holocaust-remembrance-day/29734258.html
An enquiry of the war crimes committed by the Kosovars during the war against Serbs, Roma, Turks, and other minorities has been launched, and two of the commanders of the Kosovo forces are in the Hague for trial. Let’s see…
– Enquête sur la guérilla au Kosovo: soulagement prudent des victims. In: RTL. 14.01.2019. https://www.rtl.be/info/monde/europe/enquete-sur-la-guerilla-au-kosovo-soulagement-prudent-des-victimes-1091653.aspx
– Crimes de guerre au Kosovo: 2 chefs rebelles en route pour La Haye. In: Le Devoir. 14.01.2019. https://www.ledevoir.com/monde/545457/crimes-de-guerre-au-kosovo-2-chefs-rebelles-en-route-pour-la-haye
– Enquête sur la guérilla au Kosovo: soulagement prudent des victims. In: Le Point. 14.01.2019. https://www.lepoint.fr/monde/enquete-sur-la-guerilla-au-kosovo-soulagement-prudent-des-victimes-14-01-2019-2285567_24.php
Two Albanian Kosovo leaders are on their way to den Haag to be interrogated on potential war crimes against Serbs, Roma, and other minorities. Let’s see if this time something happens.
– Crimes de guerre au Kosovo: 2 chefs rebelles en route pour La Haye. In: RTL. 13.01.2019. https://www.rtl.be/info/monde/europe/crimes-de-guerre-au-kosovo-2-chefs-rebelles-en-route-pour-la-haye-1091453.aspx
A reportage on the impact of the discussions of an eventual swap of land between Kosovo and Serbia – for the Serbs, the Albanians, but also for the Roma.
– Entre Kosovo et Serbie, le spectre d’un échange de territoires. In: Le Temps. 04.01.2019. https://www.letemps.ch/monde/entre-kosovo-serbie-spectre-dun-echange-territoires
The dire reality of some Roma in Kosovo.
– Coins and risks: The harsh reality of Roma beggars in Kosovo streets. In: Prishtina Insight. https://prishtinainsight.com/13687-2-mag/?fbclid=IwAR1TLKhhvYoq7LikgtmRHO_v8obBGiDrhbBmR1Hdm7o555xgG6dXFmk-rms
The 5th Roma film Festival is taking place in Pristina.
– Rolling Film Festival brings Roma changemakers to center stage. In: Prishtina Insight. 14.11.2018. https://prishtinainsight.com/rolling-film-festival-brings-roma-changemakers-to-center-stage/?fbclid=IwAR3XdraMPJiW6h24R8a78SYsplYHMUx0gxec8_Y2nj8PQeAx0yyIL_gq4po
A reportage on the fate of Roma who are expulsed back to Kosovo after having spent more than a decade iN Germany.
Bad.
– Abschiebung in den Kosovo – Härte vor Humanität. In: Deutsche Welle. 26.07.2018. https://www.dw.com/de/abschiebung-in-den-kosovo-härte-vor-humanität/a-44840454
A reportage on the fate of Roma who are expulsed back to Kosovo after having spent more than a decade iN Germany.
Bad.
– Abschiebung in den Kosovo – Härte vor Humanität. In: Deutsche Welle. 26.07.2018. https://www.dw.com/de/abschiebung-in-den-kosovo-härte-vor-humanität/a-44840454
An excellent reportage on the fate of refugees that were forced to go back to their home country from Germany. Especially in Kosovo, their fate is bad.
– Die Heimatlosen. In: Der Spiegel. 21.07.2018. http://www.spiegel.de/lebenundlernen/schule/abschiebung-von-deutschland-in-den-kosovo-die-heimatlosen-a-1217584.html
A seldom mentioned fact: Many Roma in Kosovo were evicted from their houses. 20 years later, they have not recovered their properties.
– KOSOVO : LE CASSE-TÊTE DE LA RESTITUTION DES PROPRIÉTÉS USURPÉES PENDANT LA GUERRE. In: Le Courrier des Balkans. 29.05.2018. https://www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/Kosovo-le-casse-tete-de-la-restitution-des-proprietes-usurpees-pendant-la
A video of an Interview with Kujtim Paćaku, who recently died. He was a Roma journalist and poet from Prizren. The interview was realised 4 years ago.
– Kujtim Paćaku poète rrom du Kosovo. https://vimeo.com/88567555
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