Archive for July, 2010

Press freedom in Macedonia

Saturday, July 31st, 2010

This is not a positive blog about Macedonia; actually this is a real sad one: It is about press freedom, and I think this is an important condition for a real democracy.

Yesterday a good contact wrote me something about Macedonia and the Macedonian railways. He wrote me about the fact that today an agreement was signed between the railway companies of Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia. The Macedonian Railways were invited, but they did not respond to the invitation. The result is that they will sign the agreement and that Macedonians will not be there. Result can be that Macedonia will miss some important EU and World Bank grants for modernization of their railways which is desperately needed.

He also sent me an article about this subject which you can find here: http://www.vesti.alfa.mk/default.aspx?mId=37&eventId=25601

Of course you can translate this article with Google translate.

Remember, Macedonia and their railway line Tabanovce-Gevgelija is part of corridor X, main corridor in Europe between Vienna and Greece. Will the Macedonian Railways (=MZ Makedonski Zeleznici) be isolated and become corridor X a missing link? Does the European Union know about this?

More important thing he wrote in his message is that he wrote that 7 (!) journalists were fired by the Macedonian TV-channel 5, because they expressed their critics about the current economy policy of the current (VMRO=Macedonian nationalist) Macedonian government.

Press freedom is a key condition to democracy and Macedonia as a candidate member of the EU should respect that. Due my network of friends I did verify this story and at this moment unfortunately it seems true. I will not say that the press freedom in the Netherlands is perfect, but firing 7 (!)  journalists who did criticizes  the government seems for me too much. Actually it shocked me, because people who know me, they know that I love Macedonia.

What will be next? Prime Minister Gruevski explaining in Brussels that it is a mistake? That they misunderstood it all and that he has nothing to do with it? Firing seven journalists who were criticizing him?  That the Macedonian Railways did not received the invitation?

A decent government does not interfere into the media, a decent government take accountability for their policy and if the media does respond negative to it you have to explain the opposite, that is democracy and for sure not make your opposite side silent by force….

Posted in Balkan region, Macedonia | 2 Comments »

Kosovo “did not violate international law”…

Saturday, July 24th, 2010

Yesterday the international court of justice the Hague (not the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia =ICTY) gave their final advisory verdict about the case Serbia versus Kosovo. Hisashi Owada, president of the International Court of Justice, said that international law contained no “prohibition on declarations of independence” and consequently that Kosovo’s declaration “did not violate international law.”

This must be a though verdict for Serbia, but not only for Serbia, but also for countries with minorities within their borders like for example Spain, Russia or Bosnia-Herzegovina. Their minorities could be triggered now by this verdict, in theory, to declare independence. The future in these matters is very uncertain now, because territorial integrity cannot be guaranteed anymore (Serbia claimed that the declaration of independence of Kosovo was against their territorial integrity).

It is strange that a Balkan conflict has again consequences on world stage: it feels like if 1389 (battle on the blackbird field/Kosovo Polje, which the Ottoman Empire gave the opportunity to advance in Europe), 1914 (the murder on the Archduke of Austria, Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, start of WOI), or 1991 (the start of the des-integration of Yugoslavia) is today: A conflict on the Balkan is not predicted, but it can never be excluded: what will the Serbs in Bosnia or Kosovo will do, the Albanians in Macedonia, the Macedonians in Bulgaria, the Hungarians in Romania? What will the people do in the Caucasus or in other parts of the world?

Besides the things I wrote above , this verdict leads also to a lot of personal human tragedies: I feel sad for those (the displaced Kosovo Serbs) who lost yesterday, because they have lost their dream and that is the dream of returning “home” one day. On the other hand I cannot deny the reality of Kosovo, because it is there and the Kosovars are happy about the verdict: maybe for them they can start to work on their future. Question is will it be a common future with the Serbs from Kosovo?

The situation is really complex and maybe that ‘s the reason why the judges came to this verdict. The contradictory is that this verdict does not really solve the problem: Officially Kosovo is still a UN-protectorate under UN-resolution 1244. This verdict is strengthening the independent Kosovar government, but the situation stays officially as it was.  Nobody is winning with this situation, not the Kosovars and neither the Serbs: I personally hope the situation will be much more clear, maybe an EU-integration can be the resolution? The way to EU-integration will be a long one and a lot  needs to be done to be on the right track. May future will give the answers….

Just a question : what I have to tell those kids (refugees from Kosovo), to whom I gave a presentation about the Netherlands last May in Kraljevo? Can those who are responsible for the whole Kosovo situation look them straight in the eyes ?

Another interesting blog to read about this subject is this one: Kosovo and ICJ rule – a view of one Internally Displaced Person from Kosovo

Picture from http://worldfrontpage.com/kosovo_grenade

Posted in Balkan region, Yugoslavia | 2 Comments »

Nice….

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

About one month ago I got a request from a media agency in Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina). The request was if they could use a picture of me,which they found on my website. Of course I wrote them back, no problem, you want the original size?  So after i sent the picture I waited and during my holidays I got an e-mail back that they used my picture. My picture (and name)  is now on the front page of  the Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council on regional co-operation in South East Europe. (website: http://www.rcc.int)

Yes I feel some sort of pride :-) , because  it is always nice to get some recognition :-) and it encourages me to continue with photographing , traveling and maintaining my website. I took the photo on the 1st June 2009 between  Bijeko-Polje and Kolašin (Montenegro) from the last car of the express train from Belgrade to Bar and so now it is on the annual report of the Regional Cooperation Council of Southeast-Europe :-) .


Posted in "Daily" live in the Netherlands, Balkan region | No Comments »

The World cup final: Netherlands-Spain

Sunday, July 11th, 2010

Normally I am not interested in football, but during an European championship or now a World Championship football I like it to see the matches. During my trip through Germany-Lithuania and France I watched of course also in orange: I have to say I got only nice reactions !!!

This evening it is of course the evening of the final Netherlands-Spain and I have to admit , I am a little nervous. We will see what happen…..Here some pictures of an “orange supporter” traveling through NW-Europe :-)

Kiel (Germany): With the Russian navy from Kaliningrad….Hamburg (Germany): With a German friend of me….Hamburg (Germany): With German ladies…
Vilnius (Lithuania): Watching NL-Slovakia with a Slovakian lady:
Saint-Fulgent (Vendée-France): After NL-Brazil with the pub owner:

And my personal opinion ;-)

May it be a beautiful evening :-)

Posted in "Daily" live in the Netherlands, Holidays :-) | No Comments »

Back after a trip of +/- 5200km

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

I have traveled 5200km through Northwest Europe and since Monday I am back. I got a cold and went sick, but I am doing better now :-) The trip was amazing: I did so many great things, I saw so many beautiful things and  of course I was really happy to see my friends.

In twelve days I have been in Germany (Kiel), Lithuania (Vilnius and Ukmerge) and France (Vendée) and I have really good memories…. Pictures can be found here. Thanks to all those who made it happen :-)

Posted in Holidays :-) | No Comments »