"I believe that the future of Kosovo as part of the Western Balkans is in the European Union. The objective of the EU in Kosovo is to support the Kosovo authorities in developing a stable, viable and multi-ethnic society in Kosovo, cooperating peacefully with its neighbors...more |
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07.08.2010
The 9th edition of the Prizren Dokufest took place this year from 31 July to 7 August
Throughout the last nine years the organisers of Dokufest have established a real European event that promotes openness, cultural diversity and freedom of expression. This year several thousand viewers gathered in Prizren to watch the screening of 200 documentaries and short films from the Western Balkans, Europe and the world.
The office of the EU Special Representative considers in particular the screening of documentaries focusing on Human Rights issues all over the world as an important contribution to trigger awareness and civic engagement among the Kosovo and international audience. At the closing night of Dokufest on 7 August 2010 the EUSR office awarded the Best Human Rights Documentary prize to “Enemies of the People” by Rob Lemkin and Thet Sabath from the United Kingdom. The documentary presents a rare documentation of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia, which broke the silence around one of the most violent regimes in the history of humanity.
The Human Rights jury also gave a special mention to “Tobacco Girl” by Biljana Garvanlieva who offered a poetic confrontation of established social norms and multilayered inequalities in Macedonia.
Dokufest attracts every year an increasing number of international guests and film entries and has become by far the most relevant and influential cultural event in Kosovo.
22.07.2010
The EU welcomes the publication of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. We are studying it with great care.
The advisory opinion opens a new phase. The focus should now be on the future. The future of Serbia lies in the European Union. The future of Kosovo also lies in the European Union. This is in line with the European perspective of the region and the relevant Council conclusions.
Good neighbourly relations, regional cooperation and dialogue are the foundations on which the EU is built.
The EU is therefore ready to facilitate a process of dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade.
This dialogue would be to promote cooperation, achieve progress on the path to Europe and improve the lives of the people. The process of dialogue in itself would be a factor for peace, security and stability in the region.
You can also access the video recording of the statement here: http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/player/streaming.cfm?type=ebs&sid=163804
19.07.2010
Thank you very much, Mr Rector for inviting me once again to be a speaker here today, and I would like to mention that how pleased I am to be here today with my good friend the D/PM, Hajredin Kuçi here on this panel.
This is the third time I speak at this important event in the University of Pristina’s academic calendar. It is the beginning of summer time so it’s a pleasant period for free exchange of ideas and to be in a relaxed mood and I am very grateful to the university for inviting me.
Pristina Summer University is this year celebrating a decade of successful promotion of higher learning in Kosovo. I am of the opinion that its success stems not only from the quality courses it offers, but more importantly for attracting students from all over Kosovo, the Western Balkans region, Europe and the United States.
And this is so notwithstanding the constraints that you mentioned. In particular the constraints regarding the freedom of movement of persons and young students, the lack of space that you mentioned, the lack of resources. But I will tell you and the audience that as Kosovo progresses closer to the EU that academic contacts and cooperation will become more and more possible and that constraints will be lifted. Therefore let’s look towards the future. In my view it is the young people that are one of Kosovo’s most important assets. Of course there are the minerals, the lignite and other minerals that you mentioned, but I believe it’s the young people that are the real engine for change and for growth in the future. Therefore, I especially turn to the Kosovars in this hall when I say: It is you who will take Kosovo forward with your interest, dedication and energy. You are members of a society that is moving forward to its European future – that will ultimately becoming a member of the European Union.
Kosovo is making steady progress to reach this goal, but many challenges continue to hamper the pace of Kosovo’s European agenda. You have all heard about these challenges: improving Rule-of-Law, doing away with corruption at all levels and promoting economic development.
Creating a multi-ethnic society where there is room for everyone is another challenge at the heart of Kosovo’s endeavor to become a peaceful, sustainable, prosperous democracy. I would like to stress the importance of this: Kosovo and as well as other countries in this region has been marred by the curse of interethnic conflict. The ethnic barriers must be bridged, reconciliation must be achieved, and tolerance must be come to norm.
Let me dwell on this for a moment. Diversity is a key value of the European Union and creating a society that ensures the rights and interests of all is fundamental to peaceful socioeconomic development everywhere in the world. I am not talking about a colorless, bland idea of diversity here, where everyone is the same or in which people hid their differences. Differences should be respected, understood, celebrated – all as a prelude to co-operation.
Those of you coming from countries of the European Union will know how powerful cooperation between communities and across borders are. When I came here I looked at all the flags put there on the wall. Most of you won’t see it because you are sitting beneath it, but you can see it from here. Unfortunately the flag of the Netherlands is absent but hopefully that can be repaired soon. But I note the flags of other important countries, the neighbors of Kosovo. The EU is based on cooperation and diversity of its member states and we don’t need to have all the flags here because there are more flags being added. There are 27 member states and of course we are also seeing strong cooperation with other countries outside the EU.
Those of you who come from member states of the EU, you are the children of generations that have built long lasting peace by cooperation across all barriers. Just look around and you will see all good things this has brought about: friendship, business ties, even love affairs, I can not dwell long on this, and some of these love affairs may have not lasted very long, but student exchange is very important and all of this is part of European life. Let me also not forget, maybe there are those of you that come from the United States. You all know that America has offered throughout history a beacon of hope and a new future for success of waves of immigrants coming from Europe, Africa and Asia of all ethnic diversities.
Kosovo can and should learn from the European Union how to move on from the past for the sake of its citizens, especially its youth. Regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations are key to peace, prosperity and economic development and a precondition for joining the European Union, which is Kosovo’s aspiration.
I know that some of you think that it is unfair to Kosovars, for whom it is not so easy to come and visit as it was for you to come here and stay and spent a pleasant summer in Kosovo and the rector already mentioned lack of freedom of movement. But I can say that there is real hope and evidence, through the work of the European Commission and the Government here, that the situation will change for the better soon and that Kosovo youth will be able to travel without any barriers and realize the potential of meeting people and new perspectives outside their own country.
As I said, Kosovo has a European perspective. The EU, at the level of all 27 Member States, remains committed to the European perspective of Kosovo as part of the Western Balkans region and will continue to support with important investments Kosovo’s progress as a stable, democratic and multi-ethnic society.
All 27 member states agree that the EU should play a major role in Kosovo and contribute with important financial and technical resources. This is confirmed by the fact that we have three presences of the EU on the ground here in Kosovo:
- EULEX, the largest civilian mission ever, which has the mission to help Kosovo to undergo much needed reforms in the judiciary and the rule of law;
- the European Commission Liaison Office which advises Kosovo in meeting all legal and governance requirements for making progress towards European integration and also financing many important projects important to the lives of Kosovars, and
- the EUSR that is I myself. I give political advice to the Kosovo authorities on how to make Kosovo’s progress towards EU go faster and smoother.
However, the responsibility for making the right decisions and implementing them lies in the hands of Kosovo’s elected politicians. This goes for progress in all sectors of life, particularly in strengthening the rule of law, efficiently fighting corruption and organized crime, and for promoting dialogue between Kosovo’s different communities.
At the beginning of this speech I told you that is you who will take Kosovo forward. I believe that you can do that already now. You have to be analytical and critical towards your political leaders, critical but of course also respectful, I say to the D/PM before he gets concerned. Critical and respectful towards your political leaders on the basis of their decisions and efforts for a better quality of life; you should question your teachers and seek for better quality in education; you should also question your relatives and friends when you think they are wrong. Of course, you should also work and study hard to become what is expected from you, the generation that will help this country leave behind economic and political hardship, help ensure progress in all aspects of life and earn your place in the European Union. I see you not only as the future leaders of Kosovo and our future partners in Europe, but also the ones who could make positive change right now.
