Photo: Predrag Trokicic
Photo: Predrag Trokicic

A grammar book for developing basic literacy and understanding on a topic, in this case in Serbian-Kosovo relations, is nothing new or unknown: the only problem is that in this case the understanding is unpronounceable, inapplicable, and actually unimaginable. Hence the grammar book. It makes no sense to invoke reason, love, friendship, necessity, obligations and similar abstract concepts, because their unusability has been proven many times. So let’s try.

Kosovo: an independent state, a republic, mostly recognized globally and in the region, backed by a former member of the ever-changing composition of the UN Security Council, namely Albania. As of 2018, Kosovo is a candidate for EU accession. Of the 27 EU members, five do not recognize Kosovo. Kosovo recognizes ethnic minorities, as well as predominantly Serbian municipalities, and is trying to gain more political power in them.

Serbia: an independent state, a republic, recognized globally and in the region, a candidate for EU accession since 2012. It does not recognize the state of Kosovo and considers it part of its territory. Serbia recognizes minorities.

Minority: Serbs are the largest minority in Kosovo. Serbs are an even larger minority in Croatia, but Serbia recognizes Croatia as a state. Serbs do not have minority status in Slovenia, but Serbia recognizes Slovenia as a state.

Serbs in Kosovo: time, and lessons from Croatia (Serbs) and Austria (Slovenes).

Republic of Srpska: it could be a refuge for all free-thinkers, for those who hesitate or refuse to accept any ethnic affiliation, a Yugoslav and cosmopolitan utopia. However, it’s not.

Solution: Serbia must recognize the state of Kosovo and work with it to regulate the status and rights of the Serbian minority. Territorial ambitions, historical pretensions and lyrical-epic fantasy have no place in diplomacy. The exclusion of Kosovo from the agenda of all parliamentary parties means the normalization of political life. Extra-parliamentary Kosovalgia (pain over Kosovo) requires a thoughtful educational program at schools, in the media and in culture in general.

Kurti, Albin: Prime Minister of the State of Kosovo, formerly a staunch nationalist, today a politician who can be influenced from the European and American side. He speaks good English and is very eloquent, ready for conversation, and, thus, for compromise. He works exclusively for the benefit of his country. Replacable, depending on the outcome of elections.

Vucic, Aleksandar: the prime minister or the president of Serbia, depending on the occasion, formerly and currently a staunch nationalist. He speaks intelligible English, but no one outside of Serbia is able to understand him. He can be influenced, briefly, from any side. He works mainly to the detriment of his country. Irreplaceable, regardless of the outcome of elections.

Parliamentary opposition: in Kosovo it works against Kurti, in Serbia it is for Kosovo and, thus, for Vucic.

Rebellion against violence, the government and Vucic: when Kosovo and Kosovalgia sneaks in, the rebellion will disappear.

Responsibility for wars and violence: a word lost in the original language and in all translations. After May 3 and 4, 2023, it has to be found again.

Cultural ties between Serbia and Kosovo: carefully and thoroughly hidden in both countries. The research, however, is rich with results.

I love Kosovo. I love the Albanian language in all dialects. I love the travelogues of Idit Darem, oral descriptions from the poetry of Dora d’Istria, I love the towns of Albanian settlers in the Italian province of Marche (and their language, recorded by Dora d’Istria), I love the poem Skanderbeg by Grigor Parlichev from Ohrid, who wrote in perfect Greek and considered himself a Bulgarian, I love Kosovar dances and Albanian choirs, I love Aleksandar Gavric as Captain Lesi and Bekim Fehmiu as the best cinematic Odysseus. I love tourism and caravan escorts, the smuggling of weapons, precious stones, and fruits, all of which has been the sovereign territory of Albanians in the Balkans since the 17th century. And I don’t like the status of Roma in any country of the former Yugoslavia, including Kosovo. A grammar book like the one I propose would be a good form of education/starter for any of these topics.

Translated by Marijana Simic

Peščanik.net, 07.06.2023.


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Svetlana Slapšak, rođena u Beogradu 1948, gde je završila klasičnu gimnaziju i doktorirala na Odeljenju za antičke studije na Filozofskom fakultetu. Pasoš joj je bio oduzet 1968-73, 1975-76. i 1988-89. Zaposlena u Institutu za književnost i umetnost 1972-88. Predsednica Odbora za slobodu izražavanja UKS 1986-89, sastavila i izdala preko 50 peticija, među njima i za oslobađanje Adema Demaćija. Bila članica UJDI-ja. Preselila se u Ljubljanu 1991, gde je redovna profesorka za antropologiju antičkih svetova, studije roda i balkanologiju (2002-14), koordinatorka studijskih programa i dekanka na ISH (2004-14). Glavna urednica časopisa ProFemina od 1994. Umetnička direktorka Srpskog kulturnoga centra Danilo Kiš i direktorka Instituta za balkanske i sredozemne studije i kulturu u Ljubljani. Predložena, u grupi Hiljadu žena za mir, za Nobelovu nagradu za mir 2005. Napisala je i uredila preko 100 knjiga i zbornika, oko 500 studija, preko 3.000 eseja, nekoliko romana, libreto, putopise, drame; prevodi sa grčkog, novogrčkog, latinskog, francuskog, engleskog i slovenačkog. Neke od novijih knjiga: sa Jasenkom Kodrnja, Svenkom Savić, Kultura, žene, drugi (ur, 2011); Franc Kavčič in antika: pogled iz antropologije antičnih svetov (2011); Mikra theatrika (2011); sa Biljanom Kašić i Jelenom Petrović, Feminist critical interventions [thinking heritage, decolonising, crossings] (ur, 2013); Antička miturgija: žene (2013); Zelje in spolnost (2013); Leon i Leonina, roman (e-izdanje, 2014); Leteći pilav (2014); Kuhinja z razgledom (2015); sa Natašom Kandić, ur. Zbornik: Tranziciona pravda i pomirenje u postjugoslovenskim zemljama (2015); Ravnoteža, roman (2016); Preživeti i uživati: iz antropologije hrane. Eseji i recepti (2016); Kupusara. Ogledi iz istorijske antropologije hrane i seksualnosti (2016); Škola za delikatne ljubavnike, roman (2018); Muške ikone antičkog sveta (2018); Libreto za kamernu operu Julka i Janez, Opera SNG Ljubljana, premijerno izvedena 19.1.2017; Antična miturgija (2017); Muške ikone antičkog sveta (2018); sa Marinom Matešić, Rod i Balkan (2018); Mikra theatrika II: antropološki pogled na antično in sodobno gledališče (2018); Volna in telo: študija iz zgodovinske antropologije (2019); Moj mačkoljubivi život (2021); sa Aleksandrom Hemonom, Mladost (2021); Feminističke inscenacije (2021); Osvetnice, roman (2022); Grožnja in strah: razraščanje sovražnega govora kot orodja oblasti v Sloveniji (2022). Romani su objavljeni na slovenačkom i makedonskom. Dobitnica nagrada Miloš Crnjanski za knjigu eseja 1990, American PEN Award 1993, Helsinki Watch Award 2000, Helen Award, Montreal 2001, nagrade Mirko Kovač za knjigu eseja 2015, nagrade Mira ženskog odbora PEN-a Slovenije 2016, Vitalove nagrade Zlatni suncokret 2017.

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