Saturday, April 1, 2023
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Columns

Let’s talk: The Kosovo town using language to bridge divides

AFPbyAFP
June 26, 2019, 12:30 am
in Columns
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

By Nicolas Gaudichet and Ismet Hajdari

In eastern Kosovo, a small town is trying to encourage dialogue between its Albanian and Serb communities by starting with the basics: language.

This year in Kamenica, a municipality where 10 percent of the population is ethnic Serb, the local government launched free language courses in hopes of breaking down the mistrust that still divides the two groups across much of Kosovo.

There is a practical element, too. 

ADVERTISEMENT

"I am learning Serbian because I live here, work here and have Serb customers who do not speak Albanian," says Suna Zajmi, a 32-year-old Albanian pharmacist who has been taking the classes.

Strahinja Vasic, a 25-year-old local Serb civil servant, is learning Albanian because he lives in a "neighborhood where they are in the majority, with only six Serb families."

"And it's also useful for my work," he adds.

Albanian and Serbian are both official languages in Kosovo, a former Serbian province, which is 90 percent Albanian but still home to around 120,000 Serbs. 

Yet bilingualism has become increasingly rare since Kosovo broke away from Serbia in the late 1990s, a war that ossified bitterness between the two groups.

Previously, when Kosovo was part of the former Yugoslavia, it was obligatory for Serbs and Albanians to learn each other's languages in school.

Now education is mostly segregated, with each community having its own schools or curriculums.

In the divided city of Mitrovica, for example, where tensions remain high, some NGOs use English as a common language to connect young people.

Practical not political

So far, 40 Serbs and 18 Albanians have taken courses offered this year by Kamenica's City Hall. Fifty others are on the waiting list for the next semester.

The basic course lasts three months and consists of 40 lessons of 45 minutes each.

"But we did not apply this strictly as my students insisted on staying more, so we did around 60 minutes for a lesson," said Serbian teacher Teuta Kastrati.

The program was launched with support from the British Embassy and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which is also working on building an online Albanian-Serbian dictionary.

The two languages bear absolutely no resemblance, with Serbian hailing from Slavic origins while Albanian represents a unique branch of the Indo-European language family, making it distinct from every other modern European language.

Learning a language should not be a "political" issue but a "practical" one, said Svetlana Rakic, of the IOM.

People "understand its usefulness… but often do not have the opportunity," she added.

Kamenica's 30-year-old mayor Qendron Kastrati says the municipality's history has helped make it a good starting point for uniting communities.

Its 30,000 inhabitants suffer from the same high unemployment rates and economic problems plaguing the rest of Kosovo.

But their community was spared the worst of the violence of the 1998-99 war, which claimed 13,000 lives, mostly ethnic Albanians. 

There was also a smaller exodus of Serbs afterwards than in other areas. 

That means families in Kamenica are not looking for missing persons, an issue that still haunts many in Kosovo, says the mayor.

And in Kamenica, Serbs and Albanians often live side by side, unlike in other areas where communities tend to keep to different villages or neighborhoods.

No miracle

In another gesture of inclusivity, the Albanian mayor chose a 35-year-old Serb, Bojan Stamenkovic, as his deputy.

Stamenkovic, who speaks fluent Albanian and is teaching it to his community, considers himself "a Serb patriot who wants to help his community."

That is only possible by "integrating with the Kosovar system," he says.

Elsewhere in Kosovo, most Serb politicians align exclusively with Belgrade, do not speak Albanian and only engage in minimal cooperation with the government. 

When Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic was murdered in Mitrovica in 2018, his bilingualism was noted as an exception among Kosovo's political class.

Supporters saw it as a rare quality that gave him an ability to build bridges, while Serb detractors spurned his use of Albanian as unpatriotic. 

Stamenkovic insists that "the mayor and I didn't perform a miracle" in Kamenica.

"Inter-ethnic tolerance was there. We have just taken another step forward so that young people can have an exchange and find a common language on common issues", like "economic underdevelopment, unemployment", he said.

Kastrati, the Serbian teacher whose mother is Bosnian and father ethnic Albanian, lauds the project for running against "the general tendency to build walls" in Kosovo. 

It has already generated significant interest, "and I am sure it could serve as an example" for other areas if it received political support, she adds.

The next hope is to bring Serb and Albanian teenagers together for joint courses, such as IT classes in technical schools. 

It "is the beginning of a success story," says Stamenkovic.

"If we want to build true coexistence between ethnic groups, we must learn each other's language."

Tags: KosovoOliver IvanovicSerbiaStrahinja VasicSuna Zajmi
ADVERTISEMENT
AFP

AFP

Related Posts

Hosanna! Our King is here!

byTony La Viña
April 1, 2023, 12:15 am
0
8
Denying Villafuerte justice

"As Lent went on, we lost our enthusiasm for prayer, fasting, and alms giving" Palm Sunday celebrates the triumphant entry...

Read more

Is our membership in the ICC to our advantage?

byRod Kapunan
April 1, 2023, 12:10 am
0
8
Denying Villafuerte justice

"China, India, and Russia are not members of the ICC but they have never been accused of aggression or of...

Read more

The resurgence of medical cannabis

byGem Marq Mutia, MD
April 1, 2023, 12:05 am
0
8
RSA: Mr. Malasakit, the environmentalist

"Cannabis is moving out of the drug dens back into the drug stores and medicine cabinets" Cannabis, or more commonly...

Read more

‘Mr. Biraogo is out-of-the-loop’

byManila Standard
April 1, 2023, 12:00 am
0
8
‘Mr. Biraogo is out-of-the-loop’

30 March 2023 ROLANDO G. ESTABILLIOPublisherThe Manila Standard Dear Mr. Estabillio Good day! This is in reference to the article...

Read more

When homicide becomes murder

byTranquil G.S. Salvador III
March 31, 2023, 12:10 am
0
8
Why literature is relevant

"Premeditation should be evidenced in the execution of a criminal act; it should be ‘receded by cool thought and reflection…...

Read more

Nemenzo, UP radicals behave like they are beyond the law

byLouis "Barok" Biraogo
March 31, 2023, 12:05 am
0
8
Anti-Duterte RTC judges seek appointment to CA

"What the radicals in UP have succeeded in so far doing is to encourage the youth to resort to bullying...

Read more

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • SPIKERS’ TURF: Umandal is best of ‘em all
  • NU stomps UP for 27th straight men’s volley win
  • Trisha, Lady Falcons continue to soar
  • Blu Girls open Asia Cup bid vs. HK, S. Korea
  • Suzuki, Taguchi reign supreme at Southwoods
  • PAL unlocks gateway to Western Australia
  • BPO firm recognized for people-centered policies at work
  • First woman leader at Savemore is a loyal SM employee

Advertisement

Latest News

PAL unlocks gateway to Western Australia

byDarwin G. Amojelar
April 1, 2023, 8:00 pm
0
8
Life insurance firm offers affordable trust investments to Filipinos

Perth, Australia—The flag carrier of the Philippines boosted its presence in Australia, with the opening of a fourth gateway, after...

Read more

BPO firm recognized for people-centered policies at work

byManila Standard
April 1, 2023, 7:50 pm
0
8
BPO firm recognized for people-centered policies at work

For the second year running, Teleperformance earned the distinction as one of Philippines “Best Workplaces™ in 2023, during the Great...

Read more

First woman leader at Savemore is a loyal SM employee

byManila Standard
April 1, 2023, 7:40 pm
0
8
Life insurance firm offers affordable trust investments to Filipinos

It was not too long ago when Genevieve Manalad assumed the highest post at Savemore Market and received the distinction...

Read more

Life insurance firm offers affordable trust investments to Filipinos

byManila Standard
April 1, 2023, 7:30 pm
0
8
Life insurance firm offers affordable trust investments to Filipinos

Investing local and global Unit Investment Trust Funds (UITFs) is now more accessible to Filipinos as Manulife Investment Management and...

Read more

Kiana V sings new mental health anthem for the youth 

byManila Standard
April 1, 2023, 7:20 pm
0
8
The 1975 drops new single culled from acclaimed ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’ album

“I Want To Be Here,” a song made through a collaboration between leading telehealth service KonsultaMD and some of the...

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Technology
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • MS ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Pets
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App