Kosovo

Election in Kosovo

2010-12-12T05:11:00.000-08:00

Kosovo votes for first government since declaring independence

By the CNN Wire Staff

Current PM Hashim Thaci has campaigned on a platform of reform and visa liberalization.

(CNN) -- Voters in Kosovo are electing their first new government since declaring independence from Serbia.

The snap poll pits outgoing Prime Minister Hashim Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo against the Democratic League of Kosovo, led by Isa Mustafa, and various smaller parties.

Kosovo, which has strong links to predominantly Muslim Albania, declared independence in February 2008. Serbia and Kosovo's Serbian minority, among others, refuse to recognize the declaration, and Kosovo is officially administered by the United Nations.

Ethnic Serbs are expected to boycott the poll.

It was forced when Thaci lost a confidence vote November 2.

Thaci campaigned on promises of reform and visa liberalization with the European Union within 15 months.

Other political parties promised a better economy, while freer travel to the EU was also on their agendas.

The elections are the second ones run by Kosovo's own election commission. It ran mayoral and municipal elections in November 2009. International agencies ran Kosovo's elections for nine years before that.

The Kosovo government estimates the country's population at more than 2 million, with an estimated 92 percent Albanian, 5.3 percent Serbs, and 2.7 percent other groups.

Serbian-Albanian sectarian tension boiled over there as the former Yugoslavia broke up in the 1990s.

After the brutal civil war in Kosovo in the late 1990s -- which pitted Kosovo Albanian insurgents against Serb security forces and Belgrade-backed Kosovo Serb paramilitaries -- a U.N. mission and a NATO-led peacekeeping force began operating in the region.

Kosovo's independence has been officially recognized by 72 countries.

Polls opened Sunday at 7 a.m. (1 a.m. ET) and will close 12 hours later. Results will take at least 24 hours, election officials say.

More than 1.6 million people are eligible to vote, with a choice of 29 political parties competing for the 120-seat Parliament, according to the Central Election Commission. A handful of seats are reserved for ethnic Albanians, Serbs, Bosnians, Turks and other minorities.

Election materials were delivered Saturday under heavy police security to 2,000 polling stations in 37 municipalities, CEC head Valdete Daka said.

The CEC has prepared 114 mobile teams for the the flashpoint town of Mitrovica, which is ethnically divided between Albanians and Serbs.

The European Union and NATO will be paying close attention to Kosovo's ability to carry out elections, with Kosovo aspiring to join both international organizations.

The European Union and United States have called on Kosovo to hold fair and democratic elections as a test of its progression toward the EU.

For more international affairs commentary on all 200 nations see Daltonsbriefs - the original blog featuring ideas and debate on global affairs by Steve Dalton

DR Congo talks with all sides

2008-11-15T15:05:00.001-08:00

UN mediators beginning to see some openess on both sides to talks in impending crisis in DR Congo. It's my uninformed opinion that the groups that started the Rwandan massacres, snuck into DR Congo years ago and like Al Queda in Afganistan they are the true problem. Remains to be seen if my guess is close to true

clipped from english.aljazeera.net

DR Congo rebels ready for talks

General Laurent Nkunda, the Congolese rebel leader, has said he is ready to negotiate with the government in Kinshasa without any pre-conditions to end fighting in the east of the country.

Ahead of a planned meeting with Olusegun Obasanjo, the UN envoy visiting DR Congo, Nkunda told Al Jazeera on Saturday that he was "asking only for direct negotiations".

Nkunda's remarks came as Obasanjo met Joseph Kabila, the country's president, in a bid to stop fighting between government troops and rebel forces.

After meeting Kabila in the capital Kinshasa, Obasanjo, a former Nigerian president, travelled to Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu, where he said he would hold talks with Nkunda, who heads the National Congress for the Defence of People (CNDP).

Another recognition for Kosovo

2008-10-31T11:59:00.000-07:00

I just haven't had the chance to get over here much lately, with real estate and mortgage markets beginning to recover and of course this darn election.

News today that Malaysia has recognized Kosovo moves the entire movement forward another step closer to the day that Kosovo is seated at the United Nations. Will they have South Ossetia, Taiwan, and Chechnya sitting next to them when they get there? I hope so

Malaysia Recognises Kosovo Independence - BalkanInsight.com

from Kosovo - Google News

Malaysia Recognises Kosovo Independence
BalkanInsight.com, Serbia - 2 hours ago
31 October 2008 Pristina _ Malaysia has recognised Kosovo’s independence, Kosovo’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

Kosovo bloggers praise recognition

2008-10-20T06:46:00.001-07:00

I didn't even know how to find Kosovo bloggers, so first off this was a helpful article in finding local area bloggers to subscribe and read.

clipped from www.setimes.com

Kosovo bloggers welcome Montenegro and Macedonia's recognition

Xheki, an Albanian from Montenegro, says he will celebrate the recognition of Kosovo by Montenegro together with his Montenegrin friends.

"Thank you, Montenegro," writes Kujtimi from Kosovo. "It's good news, but Montenegro had its own interests [in recognising Kosovo independence], because it intends to become part of the EU," says Bekimi from Pristina.

Blogger Visari is thanking the Albanians in Macedonia and Montenegro for their contribution to the recent diplomatic victories.

"Bravo, Skopje," exclaims Naser Prapashtica, while Velson writes: "Macedonia, after all, recognised the independence of Kosovo. I am so happy for this recognition."

Kosovo Albanian bloggers, in turn, cheered Djukanovic. "Bravo, Milo Djukanovic for your courage and clear vision for the people and the state you lead," exclaimed Kosovo blogger Fisi.

Kosovo recognition by more nations

2008-10-09T12:21:00.001-07:00

Support may be slowly building, but building it is, for Kosovo to retain its announced independence. Sure, Serbia will continue to complain and allies China and Russia will try to use the situation to gain an upper hand in their problematic regions. But for today, Kosovo looks like a nation, sounds like a nation ... Must be

clipped from www.newkosovareport.com

Montenegro recognizes Kosovo

Montenegro announced today that it has recognized Kosovo as a sovereign and independence state, intending to build strong diplomatic ties with the newly born nation.

The recognition comes just one day after only a third of UN members backed Serbia's initiative to ask the International Court of Justice for a legally non-binding opinion on Kosovo's coordinated declaration of independence.

Macedonia is also expected to recognize Kosovo within a few hours tonight once the emergency parliamentary session in Skopje is over.

Many other countries are expected to recognize Kosovo in the coming days.

While UN sits on hands - Kosovo

2008-10-08T11:47:00.001-07:00

Portugal becomes 22nd EU state to recognise Kosovo

8 October 2008 | 14:34 | FOCUS News Agency

Lisbon.Portugal on Tuesday (7 October) afternoon announced its official recognition of Kosovo as an independent state, becoming the 22nd EU country to make the move, EU Observer reports.
"It is in the interests of the Portuguese state to proceed today to the formal recognition of Kosovo," the country's foreign minister Luis Amado told the national assembly's foreign affairs committee.
"We are convinced that the independence of Kosovo has become irreversible," he added.

Is Kosovo like South Ossetia

2008-08-13T18:54:00.000-07:00

I knew this would be asked from Andrew Sullivan

It is true that, by their actions in Iraq, Bush and Cheney have ceded any claim to the moral high ground as far as a response to Russia's involvement in Georgia is concerned, but I think that the difficulty of the US position goes back farther than that -- to the policies of NATO expansion in general, and our policies regarding Kosovo in particular, that began with Bush I and Clinton.

Kosovo, like South Ossetia, is a minority province in a state that resulted from the breakup of a communist "confederation" of states.

New Errors in Georgia

from Cato-at-liberty by Justin Logan

While the wire services bounce back and forth between declaring that Russian forces are attempting to hold Gori or leaving Gori, President Bush has made a statement that promises to embed the United States more deeply in the conflict, and French President Sarkozy has signed a cease-fire deal that gives the Russians much of what they want and will be hard to square with, for example, Senator McCain’s position.

How similar are Kosovo and South Ossetia?

2008-08-08T08:23:00.000-07:00

As we in the United States awoke this morning an amazing contradiction was unfolding.

On the one hand, the world was watching the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics where 205 countries (or 204 since I think one country forgot to register correctly with the authorities) were gathered ... with leaders including our President Bush in attendance.

On the other hand, reports began to circulate four or five hours ago of a Russian versus Georgian battle opening in South Ossetia. Now, our national security position for the last decade has been to contain Russia with expansion of the EU, NATO, and independence for Kosovo taking strong strategic importance.

But, I do have to pause momentarily and ask: What is actually going on in South Ossetia? Is this a similar problem that arose in Kosovo? Do we have a separatist movement of mainly Russian ethnic people attempting to break away from Georgia? Were the Georgians involved in ethnic cleansing? Why were there Russian "peace keepers" in the region?

Update from Washington Post Georgian Troops move to retake South Ossetia:

"South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another breakaway part of Georgia, have enjoyed de facto independence since the early 1990s when they broke with Georgia following short wars. Saakashvili has long pledged to restore Georgia's sovereignty in the two areas, which enjoy close relations with Russia, but not diplomatic recognition.

Most residents of South Ossetia, which has a population of about 70,000, hold Russian passports. And Georgia has long claimed that Russian peacekeepers back separatists in both South Ossetia and Abkhazia."

I could be wrong, but my money says there's more than meets the eye here. If you have better background, I'd sure love links or comments.

More Background on further research, from BBC News:

"What triggered the latest crisis?
Tension has risen since the election of President Saakashvili in 2004. He offered South Ossetia dialogue and autonomy within a single Georgian state - but in 2006 South Ossetians voted in an unofficial referendum to press their demands for complete independence.
In April 2008 Nato said Georgia would be allowed to join the alliance at some point - angering Russia, which opposes the eastward expansion of Nato. Weeks later, Russia stepped up ties with the separatists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia."

In addition as recently as Sunday it appears that Russian "peacekeepers" were killed, by someone, and Russians suggest it was Georgian incursion to retake the province.

Writer: Kosovo most stable democracy

2008-08-04T05:06:00.000-07:00

From: New Kosovo Report
Those of you somewhat familiar with Kosovo will find odd my claim that Kosovo has the most stable government in the Western Balkans, and that since independence it has become even more so. While reasons for this are several fold, and not all of them ideal, Kosovo can be proud of this achievement and the positive consequences from such a fact.

Kosovo government consists of a coalition of the two largest parties: center-left Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and center-right Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). While PDK is far from the absolute majority, the constellation of second and third tiered political forces makes PDK and its leader Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi kingmakers in the Kosovar politics.

Kosovo News Today

2008-06-28T14:08:00.000-07:00

Serbs in the north formed their own parliament - this could be a problem in the future if the Albanian majority decides to crack down.

Kosovo Serbs to form own parliament, Tadic slams UN force ...
Sofia Echo, Bulgaria - Jun 23, 2008
Serbian representatives elected in Kosovo at the May 11 2008 Serbian elections, will form their own parliament in Northern Mitrovica on June 28, ...

United Nations looks to continue pulling out of Kosovo and turning over control to local authorities and Europeans. Similar to Iraq, the pullout has to be gradual to allow authorities to learn to run the country peacefully

UN's Ban signals he will press on with Kosovo plan
National Post, Canada - Jun 20, 2008
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon signaled on Friday that he would press ahead with a plan to gradually cede key UN roles in Kosovo, ...

Let me state again, for the record, I have not bee in Kosovo and probably don't understand the real life issues, but surely there has to be a way for a small area to return to Serbia and feature mostly Serbs and in return Serbia agree to recognize the newest nation in the world.

Indiana troops home from Kosovo

2008-06-22T18:42:00.001-07:00

Indiana National Guardsmen of the 178th return from KosovoMuncie Free Press, IN - 17 hours ago... at about 6 pm The 178th, headquartered in Lawrence, spent nearly a year on deployment, including mobilization training, in support of Kosovo Force. ...

Serbs in Northern Kosovo aren't playing along

2008-06-15T17:04:00.000-07:00

Serbian parliament in Kosovo to be formed on June 28
Focus News, Bulgaria - 25 minutes ago
The Serbian parliament in Kosovo will be constituted on June 28th as a result of the parliamentary and local elections held on the Serbian territory on June ...

On the day that Kosovo officially begins it's new independent government, Serbs announce plans to form parliament in Northern Kosovo.

I know it's emotional, and the comments on both sides here on this site tell me this isn't an easy solution situation. But, can't a deal be struck wherein a few small areas of Kosovo are drawn back into Serbia in return for recognition of Kosovo and acceptance into the UN?

UN begins allowing Kosovo and EU to take over

2008-06-12T21:22:00.001-07:00

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has unveiled plans to reconfigure the UN mission in Kosovo, including a transfer of many of its responsibilities to the European Union.

In a report on activities of the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Ban said: "Pending guidance from the Security Council, it is my intention to adjust operational aspects of the international civil presence in Kosovo" and cited the need for "a practical adjustment to the structure and profile of UNMIK".

UNMIK has run the territory since 1999, when a NATO bombing campaign ended a Serb crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists.

The report was issued as newly independent Kosovo said Thursday that it would adopt a constitution at the weekend that will herald a changeover in the international powers that have run it for the past decade.

Pristina's move angered Serbia and Russia which strongly oppose Kosovo's unilateral secession from Belgrade.

Kosovo - with an overwhelmingly ethnic Albanian population - unilaterally declared independence from Serbia on February 17. It has been recognised by more than 40 countries, including the United States and most members of the European Union.

Ban made it clear that unless the council decides otherwise, council resolution 1244, adopted in 1999, would "remain the legal framework for the UN's mandate, whose practical implementation will depend on evolving circumstances."

His report, sent to the 15-member council, said the European Union would over a period of time, "gradually assume increasing operational responsibilities in the areas of international policing, justice and customs throughout Kosovo."

"It is understood that the international responsibility of the United Nations will be limited to the extent of its effective operational control," he added.

Functions to be carried out by UNMIK would include, among other things, "monitoring and reporting, facilitate, where necessary and possible, arrangements for Kosovo's engagement in international agreements, facilitate dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade on issues of practical concern."

The UN secretary general noted since it was created nine years, UNMIK had seen the scope of its activities "reduced significantly".

"Following the entry into force of Kosovo's constitution, in my assessment UNMIK will no longer be able to perform effectively the vast majority of its task as an interim administration," Ban said.

"In keeping with the European Union's expressed willingness to play an enhanced operation role in Kosovo in the area of the rule of law, I intend to move forward with practical arrangements to enable the European Union to enhance its operation role in this sector," he added.

The European Union launched a vast police and justice mission in February just before Kosovo declared independence from Serbia but its deployment has ground to a halt in the face of Serbian and Russian opposition.

Russia has demanded that any changes be made by the UN Security Council, where it has veto powers.

Moscow on Thursday called for the German head of the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to be removed because of what it called "scandalous" plans to curtail the mission.

Other Reads:

Daltonsbriefs International Briefs

What role will EU and UN take after June 15th?

2008-06-09T11:57:00.000-07:00

From Balkan Insight:

Kosovo expects within a few days a notification from the United Nations chief on the future of its mission in Kosovo, President Fatmir Sejdiu says.

Sejdiu said there must be clarity over the future international presence in Kosovo, after its constitution enters into force on June 15. “We expect an answer over the next couple of days,” Sejdiu told media in Pristina, “although we have not received a direct letter, it is expected that the UN Secretary General will make an address on the issue.” Ban Ki-Moon is expected to inform authorities in Kosovo and Serbia over how the current UN Mission in Kosovo, UNMIK will reconfigure.Based on the proposal for Kosovo’s ‘supervised independence’ devised by former United Nations envoy, Martti Ahtisaari, a mission led by the European Union must be established in Kosovo to supervise the rule of law, as a successor to the current UN mission, whereas the UN’s responsibilities must be transferred to the Kosovo government.

But Russia, which backs Serbia in opposing Kosovo’s independence, is against the deployment of the EU’s mission known as EULEX, calling for the continuation of UNMIK’s mandate arguing EULEX seeks to formalise Kosovo’s independence. The majority of Kosovo Serbs are also opposed to the mission.This has seen the UN reluctant to leave Kosovo and EULEX delay the full deployment of its mission as the transitional period, which was envisaged to have lasted three months since February 17 when independence of Kosovo was declared, is over.

Ban’s letter is expected to notify the authorities of the continuation of UNMIK in Kosovo with a different role, as well as a proposal for the mission to coexist with EULEX for a transition period. Sejdiu said that Kosovar authorities do not want to speculate over the future mission, but they “will cooperate with both EULEX and UNMIK for as long as they work together.”

Armenia doubles size of Kosovo force

2008-06-09T11:55:00.000-07:00

YEREVAN, Armenia: The smallest ex-Soviet republic is doubling the size of its peacekeeping contingent in Kosovo, Europe's newest state.
Armenia sent a company of 70 troops to Kosovo on Monday. They will replace the 34-person Armenian platoon now serving there.
About 17,000 NATO-led peacekeepers are deployed in Kosovo amid persistent tension between Serbs and the ethnic Albanian majority nearly a decade after a U.S.-led NATO air war stopped attacks by Serb forces against Albanians.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February. But Armenia has not recognized Kosovo's independence.

Why haven't they recognized Kosovo yet? Is this force going to contribute to the Russian desire to roll back the recognition?

Full statehood on June 15

2008-06-09T07:03:00.001-07:00

The Balkanization Of Europe
Focus News, Bulgaria - 1 hour ago
On June 15, Kosovo will announce full statehood. But NATO is allowing Serbs to turn northern Kosovo into a new law-free zone for criminal activity. ...

More Kosovo Recognition

2008-05-21T12:11:00.000-07:00

Czech Republic recognises Kosovo independenceSofia Echo, Bulgaria - 2 hours agoCzech Republic prime minister Mirek Topolanek told journalists that his country had decided to recognise Kosovo as independent and to establish diplomatic ...

Serbia Leaves Regional Summit over KosovoBalkanInsight.com, Serbia - 19 minutes ago21 May 2008 Belgrade _ Serbia’s delegation has pulled out of a key regional summit in protest after Kosovo’s Foreign Minister turned up. ...

Greater Albania the Dream

2008-05-19T05:08:00.000-07:00

Is that really what Kosovoans want? After all this mess to get separate from Serbia, do they really want to become part of another country?

Kosovo new party aiming ‘Greater Albania’ emergesdtt-net, Belgium - 1 hour agoDtt-net.com – A new political party of Ethnic Albanians in Kosovo is created with its main goal of unification of “all Albanian regions” into one country ...

Some good news from Serbia

2008-05-18T17:59:00.000-07:00

Maybe just maybe both Serbia and Kosovo will be better off with some capitalism and democracy.

Serbia Democrats plan to privatise or protest
from AlertNet Newsdesk
Source: Reuters (Recasts, adds quotes) By Simon Shuster KIEV, May 18 (Reuters) - Serbia's Democratic Party will speed privatisations if it manages to form the country's next government and plans mass street ...

Kosovo Independance News

2008-05-17T21:18:00.000-07:00

Bulgaria to have an ambassador in Kosovo by the year end: Deputy ...Focus News, Bulgaria - 15 hours agoHowever, he said that he cannot tell when this would happen as it all depends on the formation of the new government in Serbia, the developments in Kosovo, ...

Kosovo still in limbo three months after independenceGulf Times, Qatar - 8 hours agoPRISTINA: Three months after proclaiming independence, Kosovo’s transition to full statehood is threatened by unwavering Serbian and Russian opposition to ...

Bangladesh may recognize KosovoWeekly Blitz, Bangladesh - 1 hour agoNew state in Europe, Kosovo may get recognition from Bangladesh soon. A source in Bangladeshi foreign ministry told Weekly Blitz that, recently US Secretary ...

Serbs manipulating Serbs

2008-05-15T11:59:00.001-07:00

Kosovo Serbs 'Manipulated by Belgrade'BalkanInsight.com, Serbia - 19 hours ago14 May 2008 Belgrade _ Serbia’s decision to hold local polls in Kosovo “was a manipulation of the Serbs there,” a Kosovo Serb leader claims. ...

I am the first to admit, I know little or nothing about the whole situation, but from an outsiders perspective it sure seems like there's a deal to be cut. Give Serbia a couple small territories in return for recognition of Kosovo?

I know I'm naive, but someone tell me I'm wrong

UN sides heavily with Kosovo

2008-05-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

UN Pans 'Illegal Kosovo Serb Politicians'BalkanInsight.com, Serbia - 2 hours ago14 May 2008 Pristina _ The UN says it will not work with Kosovo Serb representatives elected in ‘illegal’ elections in Kosovo. “It's a question of legality. ...

Couldn't there be a deal cut, wherein Serbia could get back a couple small areas of mainly Serb communities, in return for recognizing Kosovo? Am I naive?

More complicated issues - religion

2008-05-13T11:25:00.000-07:00

The Medieval Serbian Monasteries in KosovoBalkan Travellers, Bulgaria - 2 hours agoIf there were anything understandable about the Serbs' despair at losing Kosovo, it would be their grief over the medieval monasteries that now remain ...

A deal brewing for Kosovo?

2008-04-26T06:06:00.001-07:00

Would Serbia allow Kosovo full recognition in return for a northern province? I don't live there, but sounds like a decent idea.

clipped from www.sofiaecho.com

and Kosovo prime minister Hashim Thaci addressed
a UN Security Council that was deeply divided on Kosovo.
Thaci described Serbia’s plans to hold elections in
Kosovo territory as illegitimate, while Tadic called
for new negotiations on Kosovo’s status and
expressed Serbia’s determination to go
ahead with its elections plans.
Photos: REUTERS" />

Serbia’s defiant plan to include the territory of Kosovo in its May 11 elections has emerged as a pressing issue as the dispute over Kosovo’s status moved to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

The UNSC met behind closed doors on April 21 to discuss a regular quarterly report on Kosovo by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) chief Joachim Ruecker. A key point that has angered Serbia is the report’s apparent acceptance of Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence on February 17 as a fait accompli.

at least one of Kosovo’s neighbours – Macedonia – seemed to be coming to terms
with the UN’s controversial acceptance of the new reality, when Macedonian and
Kosovo representatives discussed border demarcation issues.

American University - Kosovo Class

2008-04-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

American University in Kosovo Training New Generation of Leaders
By Stephen Kaufman

The American University in Kosovo (AUK), about to witness the commencement ceremony of its second graduating class, expects its latest alumni soon will be making their marks as entrepreneurs and leaders, and will help develop the economy of Europe's newest country.
The 110 students are graduating from what AUK President Chris Hall describes as a unique institution in Kosovo. Thanks to a close partnership with the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York state, their degrees carry international recognition. AUK is the country's only private nonprofit university and also the only institution that conducts its classes in English.
"That fact allows us to be the only institution here that is multiethnic," Hall said. "We have Serbian and Bosniak kids. We just issued a letter of acceptance to our first Roma applicant to come next year. This is possible, obviously, because we teach in English."

Hall said that when the university was founded in 2003, its principle mission was to help develop Kosovo's economy by training its future entrepreneurs and managers. With an average age of 22, Kosovo's population is the youngest in Europe, and many have left the country for job opportunities elsewhere. But Hall sees many opportunities for educated Kosovars.
Most in the class of 2008 are likely to have jobs lined up already, he said. "If we can feed 100 or so good business-oriented, professionally trained people with a good American degree into the economy here, in this small country of 2 million people, that will make a significant difference over time."

Hall said more than 80 percent of AUK's first graduating class of 57 students has stayed in Kosovo after leaving the school and going straight into good jobs.
"Our mission is to support the economic development in Kosovo and quite frankly, when we graduate a student and they see it as a ticket out of Kosovo, that means we've failed," he said. But many young Kosovars feel they are in a position to help establish a brand new country "and that really means limitless opportunities for creative and entrepreneurial young people."

PLANS TO EXPAND INTO PUBLIC-SERVICE TRAINING

Hall said the university recognizes that an important part of building a strong economy is having good government, media and civil society. In 2007, AUK added a major in media and communications studies and plans to add a school of public policy in the coming year.
"I'd love to see more of our students go into public service [and] I think that that will happen," he said. Kosovo's government has placed civil service reform as one of its priorities as it seeks to update and consolidate institutions that were inherited from its Communist past, and make them more competitive.

"As those reforms are implemented, I can see government being a much more attractive career for our students and that's part of the reason we are interested in a school of public service, in terms of preparing people for that professional approach to governing," Hall said.
AUK students are required to perform two 400-hour internships as a condition of graduation. Besides making potential career contacts, many gain experience working in domestic and international nongovernmental organizations and in the news media. Hall also said scholarships offered by Kosovo's Finance Ministry pay tuition in return of a commitment to work for the ministry for two years after graduation.

Other stories today on Kosovo:
UN chief calls on Kosovo's rival ethnic groups to refrain from ...
Spain should recognize Kosovo
Slovakia still unwilling to recognise Kosovo