The leaders of Serbia, Macedonia and Albania say they want a Balkan mini-Schengen. Their project is thoroughly wrong — in its name and content.
Southeast Europe is the most historic region of the continent. It was originally named Europe to …
Yugoslavia: Death of a Nation
The bitter history of Old Europe must never repeat itself. Yugoslavia: Death of a Nation by Laura Silber and Allan Little is one of the most acclaimed books on the violent dissolution of the former European federation.
Penguin Books has …
“Love” by Ali Podrimja
It is time to love each other,
for you to have faith in me when I say: Courage,
for me to have faith in you when you say: Courage.
Many traps you concocted for my stubborn head,
many weapons were …
The Albanian School of Venice
It felt like my feet were walking on their own. My inner map brought me here.
The map of my heart. Tears rolling down my face in front of the door of Scuola degli Albanesi of Venice established in 1442 …
Our silent tongue
June 1989, Zagreb — I was riding on a tram with my father. We were sitting in silence, and I can to this day see his smiling eyes with sunny rays around them, his head held high.
We decided not …
North Macedonia should elect minority candidate as president
Law professor Blerim Reka is running against two candidates from the Slav majority. But while ethnic Albanians make up about a third of the population, reasons to choose Reka are more numerous.
This month will be the sixth time that …
Letter to Serbia
Dear Serbia,
What have you done to Ukshin Hoti?
Where is his final resting place? What did you do to his body?
Do you remember his eyes of an ancient philosopher and his aquiline nose?
What did he say …
Fatos Arapi’s “Homeland”
“Homeland” by Fatos Arapi (1930–2018), Albanian poet
Homeland is hurt, is hurt,
Like April with a saddened soul,
Homeland is the cross, the cross,
You hold it – and it holds you whole.
Homeland is the promised place,
You tread …
When Havel talked about Kosovo
“There is no civil society; political parties are fragmented and unable to agree on pasic principles,” said former President Václav Havel, who led the movement for democracy in Czechoslovakia. He was a staunch support of Kosovo’s freedom and independence.
Dissident, …
Rex the Expat/Immigrant
— a short story —
I’m telling my friend here about an expat living in Cascadia—or Cascadie, as you call it in French? Rex Dunguy. He’s traveled the world, and was one of the people who toppled communism in …