How life was today

Again, it was a cold day in the Kosovan capital. Like yesterday, you had that chilly fog hanging over the city. It was also a test for my lungs, because not smoking seems not to be an option, the cigarette fog hanging around inside every cafe or restaurant. But the most important things that happened, the 'news of the day', must be that I had an interview with Muhamet Hamiti, senior political advisor to the Kosovan president, Fatmir Sejdiu.


"Minerals, a very young population and agriculture are the three main opporunities for an independent Kosovo", Hamiti says. "But you can only create a healthy economy if you are independent, so Kosovo needs its final status. That will be better for us." When I ask him when Kosovo will be independent, he replies: "Soon in 2008".

Soon in 2008. More specific - I have this from different sources, like OSCE contributors - in February. This is a general rumour that you hear most in Prishtina. The question is; isn't it a bit too soon?
The main threat for an independent Kosovo seems, politically, the reaction of Serbia, that hadn't expected the negociating process to fail. Directly linked to this is the fact that Kosovo also depends on electricity coming from Serbia. "And one of the big failures in creating a stable economy in Kosovo is the fact that the electricity system is too unreliable", according to Hamiti.

"Kosovo is difficult to have an enterprise. Sometimes I bring coffee to shop owners, and I run 200metres for about just 40 eurocent", says Fatmir, who is owning a coffee bar in the centre of Prishtina. But if you can say one thing about Kosovans, it is their sense of optimism. That things will be better within years.

To be continued...