(Andrea
Saula)
Nikola Radas: The essence is that we want to
open a dialogue in a simple way. Just to put one Serbian and one Albanian text
on a same page. We want Albanians to know what Serbs thinks and vice versa. We
know that people don’t think in the same way but they should know what the
other one thinks – it is a beginning.
And that was the initial idea to set into motion a new
publication for Kosovo, explains its editor in chief, Nikola Radas. “Dialogue
for Kosovo” is a bilingual publication highlighting Kosovo politics and daily
problems of its communities.
Hello and Welcome. This is UNMIK on AIR program.
NGO workers with the “Group for Interdisciplinary
Projects” based in Belgrade and the “Council for Defense of Human Rights and
freedoms”, based in Pristina met one year ago in Brezovica where they decided
to launch a joint publication. As Nikola Radas, editor and Chief of “Dialogue
for Kosovo” says: there is a great need to improve broken interpersonal
relationships amongst communities in Kosovo.
Nikola Radas: Considering what was the
development after Kumanovo Military Technical Agreement in June of 1999 and all
disagreements between international and local governance in Kosovo as well with
the Serbian government, we thought that the role of media could be more active,
especially in bringing together common people. We would like to bring to common
people all these stories about the dialogue between politicians.
A New year’s message from the
Kosovo Government’s President Ibrahim Rugova opens the first bi-lingual issue.
In the editor’s opinion, Radas is introducing readers to a complicated
political environment in Kosovo. Rugova emphasizes the importance of Standards
for Kosovo and concludes that its realization will help the return of displaced
people and assist the improvement of the security situation in Kosovo. Rugova
writes also that Standards for Kosovo will help Albanians to achieve a better
economic and social environment in order to get political status. But most of
the texts in “Dialogue for Kosovo” are dedicated to the daily life and problems
people in the region face.
Nikola Radas: There is a big mistrust of the
governments.. Both sides are stalked and at this point besides efforts of the
International community it’s hard to see any efficient intermediary. But we
hope that some daily existing problems will force the authorities to find a way
to be in accord that would be in the interest of people of Kosovo. That people,
such as people, in Serbia live very difficultly.
And that’s where Radas sees the role of publication
“Dialogue for Kosovo”
Nikola Radas: Formally publishers are two
NGOs, one from Belgrade and “Council for defense of human rights and freedom”
from Pristina. This is one ad hock short-term media project. As most important
it depends on donations. Also regarding its news educative profile, it is
supposed to last for two or three years till the situation settles down, till
normal life for all comes returns to Kosovo and till displaced persons, that
are in Serbia and Montenegro, return to Kosovo.
Radas admits it was hard to find donations to get the
project off the ground. Help for the first issue was offered by “Press now”, a
foundation from Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Just recently the first magazine-format, color, bilingual
issue of “Dialogue for Kosovo” was presented in Pristina. It drew a lot of
media attention.
Nikola Radas: I spent a whole day in
Pristina, being guest to different media and on a press conference. I’m delighted
and encouraged by the reception but now we have to materialize all of that in
order to continue. In Belgrade I hope we’ll make a presentation during next
week with the help of UNHCR.
This and future issues of the Albanian and Serbian bilingual “Dialogue for Kosovo” will also be circulated outside of Pristina in cities like Prizren. Again, Radas:
Nikola Radas: Distribution is going through
NGOs. Publication is free of charge. It is absolutely non-profit publication.
There are a lot of NGOs both in Serbia and Kosovo that are involved in these
issues. Something will be done through UNMIK offices and local information
centers with Tarik Jasarevic and some other people. Also UNHCR will help. That’s
simply a technical problem and not as complicated. We’ve finished distribution
in Serbia already. Now, we’re working on Kosovo.
Some of the authors highlighted in the premier issue
of “Dialogue for Kosovo” are: Gezim Badzaku, Bedget Shala, Refki Aliju, Andrija
Igic, Anika Krstic and Eda Radoman. Editor in Chief, Radas hopes that these and
other notable writers, thinkers and politicians will contribute articles on a
regular basis in the future maintain the initial interest generated with the Magazine’s
debut.
And that is all for this edition of UNMIK on AIR.
Thanks for listening and stay tuned for more.