cafebabel.com

Dario Ivkovic: 'people don’t seem interested in roots of Balkan music'

('Ili Pusk\xc3\xa1s',) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:06:49 -0000

Best-known as a member of both the German touring group Shantel & The Bucovina Club Orkestar and French band Les Yeux Noirs, the Serbian accordionist is an electrifying personality onstage. We talk music legends, Balkan beats and why 'girls like guitarists better'

Nikola Djukic: 'Bosnia may have to wait until 2022 for EU membership'

('Tetyana Kostyuk',) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:00:00 -0000

Croatia’s citizens overwhelmingly voted to join the European union on 21 January. Meanwhile, its neighbour Bosnia-Herzegovina has not yet gained candidate status. We talk to Bosnia-Herzegovina’s ambassador in Hungary about what Croatian membership would mean and why Bosnia is different

Croatia EU vote: Swiss, Italian, Slovenian, Czech media react

('euro topics',) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:13:56 -0000

A clear majority of Croatians voted in favour of EU accession in a referendum on 22 January. However, if they want to join the EU it's above all for economic reasons, European commentators write and prophesy that the EU's eastern enlargement is over for the time being

Slovenian journalist: death threats after arms trade trilogy

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:18:09 -0000

In Slovenia, a trilogy published between summer 2011 and spring 2012 has exposed the secrets of the arms trade during the Balkans war and the role of the country's politicians in it. It's been an ache in the sides of those in power and with money and interests whom the book denounces. Co-writer Blaz Zgaga, 38, may be in hiding but he won't stay down

Ivana Simic Bodrozic and co: more women on Croatia literary scene

('sladana perkovic',) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:28:30 -0000

The Zagreb-based poet and writer's coming-of-age drama Hotel Zagorje is the theme of a literary event in Paris. Though her debut novel stays true to a tradition in contemporary Croatian fiction, the 29-year-old gets her audience in a flurry with the book's themes of war, women, the past and an inevitable future together

Heartbreaking Movies Of Staggering Bosnian Conflicts

('sladana perkovic',) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 17:33:54 -0000

Sixteen years since the end of conflicts, Bosnia is becoming the ‘promised land’ for moviemakers from Hollywood and Europe starving for a real commercial war story. Is the tragic Bosnian story finally beginning to make money?

I like Mostar: are there really no tourists who want to go to Bosnia?

('Monica Mircescu',) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:37:19 -0000

Mostar and I go back a long way. Ours is the story of a missed encounter – in 1998. Fast forward to September 2011: cafebabel.com organises the annual network meeting in Dubrovnik. On learning that the city is only 150 kilometres away from Mostar, I decide to revisit the city I never reached

Balkan basketball: Macedonia honour and no 'hate thy neighbour' syndrome

('shadow',) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:30:00 -0000

In 1991 SFR Yugoslavia won the 'Eurobasket' gold medal and ended its existence as the second most successful country in basketball championships (after the soviet union). Twenty years on, all of Yugoslavia's ex-republic national teams have met for the first time at the same event. The riveting European basketball championships have reunited a region and end in Vilnius on 18 September

Liv Holm Andersen: 'Danes like to lose their sense of security'

('Elina Makri',) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:02:04 -0000

She talks and laughs with Mediterranean hand gestures and speaks a bit of Greek, but don't be fooled. The 24-year-old is actually one of Denmark’s youngest politicians, a candidate for the Scandinavian’s country’s second smallest party Radikale Venstre in elections on 15 September. In Athens, we talk Europe, the Balkans and learning from Spain

Skopje’s ‘Albanian neighbourhood’ in Old Bazaar, Çarshia

('Anisa Ymeri',) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:03:26 -0000

There are essential traces of the history of Albanians and Macedonians, evidence of survival and revival after the Balkan or world wars. Skopje’s ‘Albanian neighbourhood’ is in a corner where the çarshia (bazaar) lies below the citadel, says Anisa Ymeri

Digging out Macedonian documentary film and its female directors

('Annie Rutherford',) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:40:58 -0000

Did you know that it was a Macedonian team who did the visual effects for Martin Scorcese’s The Aviator? Or that the George Clooney-vehicle The Peacemaker was also partly filmed in Macedonia? Twenty years after Macedonia gained independence from Yugoslavia, we discover there are actually new angles on the Balkan country's claim to fame

Book trade faces bust in Balkans

('Ruth Halkon',) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:21:44 -0000

‘Remaining indifferent to books means recklessly impoverishing your life,’ said Yugoslavia’s best known author, Ivo Andric. Fifty years after he won his Nobel prize, people across the former Yugoslavia are in danger of ignoring this health warning

Serb general and 'Bosnia defect' Jovan Divjak under arrest since March

('AdeleK',) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:11:45 -0000

As Bosnia commemorates the Srebrenica massacre of 8, 000 Bosniaks in 1995, the former Serbian general Jovan Divjak is being held in Austria for crimes that he undoubtedly did not commit. He defected to the Bosnian army at the beginning of the 1992-1995 war. The president of the French association Confrontations Europe is convinced that European democracy is being tested in the Balkans right now

Can contemporary art change 'new capitalist' Tirana?

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:00:00 -0000

Far from having a ‘pan-Balkan’ culture and being under the influence of a consumerist society, the Albanian capital is exploring new ways of expressing itself. Whilst politicians are tripping on the urns and ignoring blank canvases (literally), local artists are boosting a non-existent contemporary scene

Albanophobia: land for Harry Potter villains?

('shadow',) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:34:14 -0000

Pop culture won’t cease to derive from stereotypes and prejudice. One Serbian journalist, who tentatively packed her bags for Tirana, finds out whether this is a revealing sign of ever-present albanophobia or anti-albanianism

Croatian writer Olja Savicevic: 'We have never lived in a normal society'

Tue, 31 May 2011 12:21:40 -0000

The writer from Split, 36, recently published her debut novel 'Goodbye Cowboys' in German. Her award-winning short stories and poetry have been translated in over ten languages. We talk war, youth and why she one day hopes to speak about the 'tragedy' of her family 'more openly'

Under EU status pressure? Ratko Mladic arrested in Serbia: live from Belgrade and Sarajevo

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Thu, 26 May 2011 17:03:55 -0000

The alleged war criminal and genocide suspect, 69, will answer international charges of genocide, extermination and murder after his arrest and extradition to the UN war crimes tribunal. As the EU parliament’s president Jerzy Buzek welcomes this ‘good news for Serbia, for the stability of the region’ and for ‘Serbia's EU accession process’, two Serbian and Bosnian twentysomethings react with relief

Croatia’s writers and playwrights: no post-war no-hopers

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 25 May 2011 15:00:00 -0000

It’s impossible for the moment to imagine a literature and theatre scene in Croatia which does not blend in the story of Yugoslavia’s collapse. The wounds are too fresh, holding back the development of a certain maturity. One young generation of playwrights and writers between Zagreb and Split literally put the streets on their stages and pages, as they move between the daily quest for an identity and the desire for renewal

Zagreb’s Miss Independents

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Thu, 19 May 2011 17:32:58 -0000

The higher educated woman in Zagreb is close to the 'western model' of female independence. In the Croatian capital a Serbian journalist meet feminists, students, musicians and actresses who she says are moving away from the ‘traditional’ – at least from a Balkan perspective

Is gay OK in catholic Croatia?

('bistra andreeva',) — Tue, 03 May 2011 13:15:55 -0000

The Balkan cliché of a traditional patriarchal society of machos is stable. We have all heard what happens every time the Serbs decide to have a Gay pride parade. But we are in Croatia now – a country that does not even count itself Balkan anymore, and which adopted a same sex partnerships bill in 2003

Gaddafi, Tito, UN: Libyan crisis impact on Balkans

('Elaine Jordan',) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:15:00 -0000

Over the past few days many comparisons have been made between the Libyan war and the Balkan crisis of the nineties as western powers come up with the same humanitarian arguments they used then to justify their intervention in Libya now. But what is the connection? A closer look at the double standards and political games played during bombing campaigns

Small money, big things: four film and art initiatives in Kosovo

('Jovana Zivkovic',) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:34:24 -0000

The economic climate ensures the making of only one film financed by centre for cinematography per year, whilst exhibition opportunities are spare. Young Kosovars are working where they believe they can help – in society, with ordinary people

Life as a journalist in Montenegro: punchbags and missionaries itching to do their job

('Carol Howard',) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 15:30:00 -0000

Physical threats or threats of court action, unstable salaries and a lack of recognition. In a country which only ranked 104th on the 2010 world press freedom index compiled by reporters without borders (RWB), the journalist’s profession entails quite a number of downsides. This is one of the many paradoxes in Montenegro, for given the lack of political opposition the journalist is also the sole representative of the public interest. So they tell us

Vox-pop: Being a young journalist in Montenegro

('Jovana Zivkovic',) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:57:19 -0000

I want to intern at a fashion magazine. I want to stop the assassinations of Montenegro's journalists. I want to wake the people up to the freedom that they have. Three twentysomethings from the capital, Podgorica, explain honestly why they chose journalism in a sometimes bleak Balkan world

Visa liberalisation: cripes! Are Bosnians going to swamp EU?

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 19:00:00 -0000

The news comes mid-afternoon on 8 November: the EU’s given the green light for Bosnia and Albania to travel in the 25 countries of the Schengen zone without a visa from mid-December! It has brought a smile back on a number of Bosnian faces who have tired of queuing in front of the embassies

Are Balkan women more promiscuous?

('Milena Stosic',) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 14:45:08 -0000

It's official: more women are approaching men in the dating stakes and a recent book in Serbia reveals a more liberal attitude. So is the Balkan woman moving towards a western, less conservative European model? We hear from Balkan guys and girls

'Free', 'partly free', 'not free': press freedom in Europe

('Andrew Burgess',) — Wed, 12 May 2010 10:30:00 -0000

American NGO Freedom House uses three categories to rank the degree of press freedom in countries across the world. On 3 May 2010, world press freedom day, each region of Europe learnt its category: the press in western Europe is 'free', central Europe is 'partly free' and in eastern Europe the press is 'not free'. But there are signs that the trend could change

Three Croatian journalists to remember on world press freedom day

Mon, 03 May 2010 12:45:35 -0000

When renowned sports journalist Zarko Susic died a natural death aged 95 on 26 April, it was almost a shock that his passing wasn't suspicious. The US-based watchdog Freedom House ranks Croatia 85th in the world for its lack of press freedom

Anderlecht, Molenbeek, Schaarbeek: spot the crime in Brussels

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:21:47 -0000

Petty crime and unemployment rates (17.6%) are high in inner city Brussels, which registers a low violent crime rate in Europe. Nevertheless, police arrested 12 Belgian Albanians linked to a crime gang on 15 February*, whilst certain districts remain dangerous. Is this down to the crisis?

Dismantled: five myths about Kosovo

('Martin W\xc3\xa4hlisch',) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:46:31 -0000

On 17 February, Europe’s youngest country celebrates its second anniversary. Presumably, most still wouldn't find Kosovo on a map. We regularly read about its soldiers, organised crime and demand for visas. Two roommates in Prishtina – a Kosovar and a German – share their most striking and basic common observations

Art in Slovenia: Eclipse is an 'open vagina nibbling at things'

('Kristina Bozic',) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:16:42 -0000

The anonymous art collective admit they don't 'fit the norms': they use everything from pigs’ heads to world war weaponry to get across their message of social criticism. Ten years on, the female duo from Ljubljana have just finished the final works for their new exhibition '10 – Of Blasphemy We Are Guilty'. We discuss erotic nudes, kitsch art and their being questioned by police for offending the catholic church

Sofia's directors and playwrights boom despite barebone budgets

('Darren Thompson',) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:57:13 -0000

In Bulgaria there are no cultural policy programmes and the crisis has consumed the ministry coffers. Filmmakers like Kamen Kalev, playwrights and other creative minds demand government transparency and methods to support their enterprising spirit. Part one of a five part 'EU crisis on the ground' city series

Young, Roma and European: 'my children's lives will be better than mine'

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:06:53 -0000

While the problems of Europe’s biggest minority seem endless, the EU aims to offer some hope despite ‘much talk and little action.’ Testimonies from Roma Europeans, European Roma

Albania: polit-tourism between coves and concrete beach bunkers

('Andrew Christie',) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0000

At the confluence of the Adriatic and Ionean Seas lies Albania, Europe’s last undiscovered paradise is now looking to tourism to stimulate its economy and is hoping for a better image in the west after having joined Nato and put in an EU bid. 20 years after the fall of the dictatorship, Albania is developing into a hidden gem for independent travellers

Bulgaria: energy in transition

('Darren Thompson',) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:15:00 -0000

Bulgaria was the member state most affected by the gas crisis of January 2009. It is currently dealing with problems of corruption, the old dependence on Russia for energy, questions of national pride and 'the stupid decisions' in Brussels - not forgetting ecology

Theatre: Balkans’ not dead, from Paris to Skopje via Pristina

('Joss Corner',) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:30:00 -0000

The Theatre de Syldavie company presents a sparse play in which the muslims and christians of Macedonia attempt to understand one another: - 'Blood Wedding’, or the re-writing of a great Balkan classic

Baby soldiers and peacekeeping in Kosovo: why choose the army?

('Alexandra Baxter',) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:31:53 -0000

Tomi, a lively and remarkably blond 24-year-old Finn, speaks candidly about the six months he spent in Kosovo as a volunteer in the NATO-UN peacekeeping campaign. Along with 105 other young compatriots, among them four girls, he was deployed to the Balkans to serve for the UN

Anne-Marie Autissier: ‘Albania was the North Korea of its time’

('Helen Moorhouse',) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:00:00 -0000

The French senior lecturer at the Institute of European Studies and former cultural attaché to Albania, 50, has her finger in every pie with one common factor: a cultural Europe

Bosnia and Herzegovina: no gas makes for cold homes in Sarajevo

('Andrew Christie',) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:48:42 -0000

The countries of the former Yugoslavia are being hit especially hard by the dispute over gas between Russia and Ukraine. Above all, residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia are having to wrap up warm: both countries are running short of gas supplies. Many homes in Sarajevo are still cold; electric heaters have sold out

Italian poet Pasolini, rage and Sarajevo

('Helen Swain',) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:57:16 -0000

Sometime between 1 - 2 November 1975, Pier Paolo Pasolini was killed. He became a vehicle for peace messages during the Poetry International Festival held in Sarajevo from 3 - 5 October 2008

Sarajevo: ethnocracy wins the October elections

('Sarah Gray',) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:28:14 -0000

Results won’t be known until 4 November, after 54.48% of the population voted a month earlier. The country’s tripartite presidency will be shared by Nebojša Radmanović, Haris Silajdžić and Željko Komšić

Riots, reactions in Montenegro and Macedonia after recognising Kosovo

('Gojko Keselj',) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:49:12 -0000

Whilst over 400, 000 Albanians celebrated openly in Macedonia, Montenegros’ 15, 000 were silent after the former Yugoslav states recognised their neighbour. Unilateral independence was declared eight months ago

Kosovo discontent in Serbia

('Sarah Gray',) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:00:00 -0000

Feeling that they are nothing more than a transition generation, young Serbs are losing interest in politics. But the lively debate goes on in bars and restaurants. Final diary from a three-part travel series

Serbia’s Radovan Karadzic, prisoner bus line number 73

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0000

How the war criminal was arrested in Belgrade on 21 July, and happens in Serbia now

Irish ‘no’: not a no to EU candidate Croatia

('Sergej Zupanic',) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0000

The historical vote against the Lisbon treaty after a referendum on 13 June puts a halt to further expansion in the European Union. But we will be meeting the EU’s 28th member in 2010

Serbia: rising nationalism imperils Mladic, Karadzic hunt

Thu, 08 May 2008 08:00:00 -0000

Where will the ballot results place Serbia in its snap election on 11 May, and what consequences will it have for the hunt for the Bosnian Serb fugitives?

Babelblogs: little princes and book fair bombs

('Susannah Readett-Bayley',) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Some European member states don't get much attention, but are often worth a detour. Our multilingual community blogs take you there

Macedonia in images: names, Tito and David Morales

('Nikos Chrisikakis',) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

After a Greek veto on its joining NATO during the annual summit in Bucharest on 2 - 4 April, the country could still be on track to start EU membership talks by the end of 2008 if it meets the relevant criteria. View from the lens

12:08 - East of Pristina

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

In the Serb enclave of Gracanica, young people are becoming aware that a good future involves teenage crushes, good friends and weekends

Young Europeans on love, brothels and Beach Boys in Kosovo

('Pim de Kuijer',) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Despite the lack of vegetables and electricity, or precisely because of it, young Swedes, Dutch and French Europeans enjoy working in this remote, recently independent, spot of Europe