10.5.2007 by CrniLabudovi.

50% der Kosovaren Jugend will auswandern

Half of youth in Kosovo seek emigration

07/05/2007

Kosovo has one of the most youthful populations in Europe — more than half is under 25, and the figure is growing. With little opportunity at home, many are pinning their hopes elsewhere.

By Blerta Foniqi-Kabashi for Southeast European Times in Pristina – 07/05/07

Many young people in Kosovo have trouble finding a job. [Getty Images]

Along with economic woes and continuing uncertainty about status, Kosovo faces another serious problem: most of its young people want to leave. According to a UNDP report published last month, more than 50% of Kosovo’s youth want to emigrate. Given that youth make up more than half the overall population, that’s a sobering figure.

The UNDP surveyed 1,200 persons between the ages of 15 and 29 — including 800 Albanians, 200 Serbs and 200 other minorities.

“Youth in Kosovo encounter a large part of Kosovo’s economic and social problems — which explains to a large extent why they feel reluctant to participate or even live here,” says the UNDP representative in Kosovo, Frode Mauring.

Kosovo’s young will be crucial to building the future, Mauring says. Currently, however, they are vulnerable, impoverished, disempowered and lacking good role models.

The UNDP report on the province is the third of its kind. It analyzes youth problems and opportunities, the role of youth in the development processes in Kosovo, and issues related to education, employment, decision making, civil cohesion, and participation in society as a whole.

It provides data on such factors as youth poverty, levels of unemployment, and readiness to emigrate. The statistics are meant to be used by policymakers and development agencies as they seek to boost young people’s chances of a better life.

“The report analyzes their problems and opportunities from a human development standpoint,” Mauring says.

Individual stories demonstrate the sense of hopelessness that many of Kosovo’s young feel when they look at the prospects around them.

“The government is responsible for working to ensure a development perspective and a better future for these young people who give a great joy to us,” says Prime Minister Agim Ceku. [Getty Images]

“I am not working, because I don’t have any opportunity,” Milaim Bilalli, 24, of Pristina told Southeast European Times. In his view, jobs in Kosovo are only available to those with the right connections. “My father is a teacher, and he doesn’t have power like the parents of some others.”

Lulzim Berisha, a 25-year-old mathematical sciences student, has a bleak view of the prospects ahead. “How can I be an optimistic man?” he asks. “Maybe I can find a job as a teacher, for instance, but I’ll get only 180 euros per month … what can I do with such a salary?”

Those working for UNMIK institutions are more hopeful, because they believe they will find a job in the future EU structures in Kosovo. “UNMIK is going, but the EU is coming,” said one young person who asked to remain anonymous. “I believe that I can find a job.”

Having worked for UNMIK since 1999, he is less inclined to be pessimistic. “I will not emigrate even if I get more money, because my Kosovo is my birthplace,” he said.

His friend, who works for the OSCE, also says she feels more secure. “I believe the OSCE mission in Kosovo will stay, because Kosovars are not yet ready for democratisation and some other sectors where the OSCE is leading the way.”

Not everyone, though, can land a job with an international organisation. More common is the experience of someone like Mentor Gashi, a 27-year-old who says he has been looking for work, without success.

“If I can’t find [a job], this summer I will try to go to my brother, who works in Germany,” he told Southeast European Times

The figures in the UNDP report have alarmed Kosovo’s political leadership, which sees mass numbers of Kosovars wanting to leave at the very time when the province’s future is being decided. Kosovo leaders are appealing to young persons to change their opinions, look at the long-term perspective and have hope that their outlook will improve.

“The government is responsible for working to ensure a development perspective and a better future for these young people who give a great joy to us,” says Prime Minister Agim Ceku in a statement appended to the UNDP report. “Youth employment, strengthening of youth NGOs, informal education, youth participation and integration, education and health prevention are some of the domains of our activities,” he adds.

At the same time, Kosovo leaders say, the prospects for economic improvement cannot be separated from the political issue of status. Until that is settled, Kosovo will face huge barriers to attracting investment, opportunities will remain scarce, and the region — not to mention Europe as a whole — will continue to face a pressure cooker in its midst.

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10.5.2007 by CrniLabudovi.

Serb police detain former Scorpions members over attack on journalist

10/05/2007

Eight former paramilitary fighters are being questioned over an April grenade attack on the home of a prominent journalist, Dejan Anastasijevic.

By Davor Konjikusic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade – 10/05/07

A grenade exploded outside Serbian journalist Dejan Anastasijevic’s apartment last month. [AFP]

Serbian police on Wednesday (May 9th) said they have detained eight people in connection with an attack last month on a journalist’s home. The suspects are former members of the Scorpions paramilitary unit — the same group involved in a videotaped execution of six Muslims from Srebrenica in 1995.

Two hand grenades were placed outside Vreme reporter Dejan Anastasijevic’s bedroom window in the early hours of April 14th. One went off, the other failed to explode. Although no one was injured, the blast caused extensive damage.

Writing in Time magazine, Anastasijevic suggested that the attack was connected to a recent TV appearance in which he discussed the Srebrenica massacre and the verdict handed down by a Belgrade court against four Scorpions members seen in the execution video.

The men were sentenced to a total of 58 years in prison.

“Like many decent people in Serbia, I was disappointed and somewhat angered by the outcome of the trial, and I expressed those views on television,” Anastasijevic wrote. “I guess that provoked someone in the other camp.”

Srebrenica is “a topic many of my fellow Serbs would prefer to forget”, he wrote.

After the attack, Anastasijevic received outpourings of support from his colleagues and the public. The Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia has been broadcasting daily appeals for the perpetrator to be found and brought to justice.

“This story mustn’t disappear,” says the association’s deputy chairperson, Djordje Vlajic. “It must not become another unsolved mystery. A line should be drawn somewhere and it should be said: Enough is enough!”

Journalists in Serbia have been targeted on several occasions, especially during the rule of Slobodan Milosevic. The newest incident has raised fears that Serbia is drifting back towards violence and “virulent nationalism”, in part because of frustrations over Kosovo and the failure of democratic parties to form a new government.

“There have been 111 politically motivated assaults in the past three months alone, and hate speech is becoming increasingly common in the media and politics. The targets are human rights activists, journalists and politicians who dare to stand up against the nationalists,” according to Anastasijevic.

Criminologist Dobrivoje Radovanovic says the state often turns a blind eye towards ultranationalist organisations, even those with links to crime and a history of violence.

“Such organisations exist in Serbia. They have enough means and followers ready to attack a journalist, if they disagree with his or her opinion,” Radovanovic says.

“An atmosphere has been created, an atmosphere in which maniacs, thieves and scoundrels are encouraged to kill,”said Milos Vasic, a colleague of Anastasijevic’s at Vreme.

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10.5.2007 by CrniLabudovi.

Suspended Romanian president cites “oligarchs” during rally

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10.5.2007 by CrniLabudovi.

Türkischer Präsident will Veto einlegen

Präsident Sezer wehrt sich gegen die geplante Verfassungsänderung, die Direktwahlen ermöglichen soll. Neuwahlen sind im Juli geplant.

Der türkische Präsident Ahmed Necdet Sezer will Verfassungsreform zur Direktwahl des Präsidenten verhindern.

• Hintergrund
  • Türkei: Wahlkampf der Kurden erschwertDas Parlament hat beschlossen, Sonderrechte für formell unabhängige Kandidaten einzuschränken. Das trifft vor allem die Kurdenpartei.
  • Türkei: Neuwahlen als Folge des ChaosDas Verfassungsgericht stoppte die Präsidentenwahl. Hunderte Demonstranten wurden festgenommen.
• Infografik
  • Das politische System der Türkei
• • Türkei wählt am 22.Juli neues ParlamentMit einem einstimmigen Votum segnet das Parlament den Termin im Juli ab. Neuwahlen sollen die politische Krise lösen.

Die bevorstehende Direktwahl des Parlaments führt zu neuen Spannungen zwischen der religiösen Regierungspartei AKP und die säkularen Eliten. Der türkische Präsident Ahmed Necdet Sezer will ein Veto gegen den Beschluss zur Verfassungsänderung einlegen, wonach das Volk künftig den Präsidenten direkt wählen soll.

Der Vorschlag zur Direktwahl war von der regierenden, religiös-konservativen AKP eingebracht worden. Am Donnerstag stimmten 370 der insgesamt 550 Mandatare dafür. Die AKP verfügt im Parlament über 352 Sitze. Unterstützt wurde sie von der Mutterlandspartei ANAVATAN (ANAP). Die größte Oppositionspartei CHP hatte sich vehement gegen das Vorhaben der Regierung gewandt. Ein Veto des amtierenden Staatschefs Sezer gegen den AKP-Voschlag galt von vornherein als wahrscheinlich.

In der Türkei verfügt die Regierung über die exekutiven Vollmachten. Der Präsident kann aber Gesetze mit seinem Veto blockieren und Spitzenpositionen vergeben. Der Präsident kann Gesetze über Verfassungsänderungen nach 15 Tagen Bedenkzeit zur Neuverhandlung an die Nationalversammlung zurückschicken. Sollte er trotz Änderung durch das Parlament weiterhin die Unterschrift verweigern, wäre frühestens nach Ablauf von 100 Tagen eine Volksabstimmung fällig. Dass diese zeitgleich mit den Neuwahlen am 22. Juli stattfinden könnte, wie es Regierungschef Recep Tayyip Erdogan und seine AKP anstreben, halten Beobachter deshalb allein aus Zeitgründen für unwahrscheinlich.

Einziger Ausweg

Einen Ausweg aus der Staatskrise sollen nun Neuwahlen am 22. Juli weisen. Die vorgezogene Parlamentswahl war zwingend geworden, nachdem es Erdogan und seiner islamisch geprägten Partei nicht gelungen war, Gül vom Parlament zum Staatspräsidenten wählen zu lassen. Die politische Krise war durch ein Memorandum des Militärs ausgelöst worden, in dem der Generalstab mit einem Einschreiten gedroht hatte, sollte die in der Verfassung verankerte Trennung von Staat und Religion ausgehöhlt werden.

Sezer bleibt nun bis zur Wahl eines Nachfolgers geschäftsführend im Amt. Er hatte Widerstand gegen die Direktwahl des Präsidenten signalisiert, weil das Parlament aus seiner Sicht darüber nicht hinreichend debattiert hat. Kritiker werfen Erdogan vor, er habe die Reform in dem Wissen durchgedrückt, dass sie vor der Parlamentswahl nicht in Kraft treten könne. Er versuche lediglich, Wähler zu beeindrucken, die Umfragen zufolge mehrheitlich die Direktwahl des Präsidenten befürworten. Die AKP argumentiert dagegen, die Direktwahl trage zur Demokratisierung des Landes bei.

Bisher wird der türkische Präsident für eine einmalige Amtszeit von sieben Jahren vom Parlament gewählt. Mit der Verfassungsänderung ist vorgesehen, das Staatsoberhaupt per Direktwahl für fünf Jahre zu wählen. Eine einmalige Wiederwahl durch die Bevölkerung soll zulässig sein. Mit der Verfassungsänderung will die konservativ-islamische AKP die Blockade bei der Wahl eines Nachfolgers von Sezer durchbrechen. Der von der AKP als Kandidat aufgestellte Außenminister Abdullah Gül, ein ehemaliger Islamist, war am Widerstand des Verfassungsgerichts gescheitert und hatte seine Bewerbung zurückgezogen.

Knapp 70 Prozent sprachen sich in einer Umfrage für eine Wahl des Präsidenten durch das Volk aus. Gegen die Kandidatur Güls und dessen Wahl im Parlament noch vor den Parlamentswahlen waren in der Türkei in den vergangenen Wochen Millionen Menschen, Vertreter säkuarer Gruppen und von Nicht-Regierungsorganisationen auf die Straße gegangen.

Artikel vom 10.05.2007, 20:03 | APA | thu

http://www.kurier.at/nachrichten/ausland/75656.php

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