Summary of the Week 36

From cooling to boiling, and back again. This is a brief summary of political relations in the region. That tensions are high on many other levels is confirmed daily. Even though the first snow of the season arrived this week, it failed to cool overheated tempers.

The planet is overheating, world leaders concluded this week while discussing climate change. More than overheating but less than boiling—that’s how the political circumstances could be described. In other areas, the temperature rarely drops either.

"We could hardly wait to travel," says a woman from Mitrovica who "tested" her visa-free passport this week. She adds, "We lived like we were in a pressure cooker for 30 years."

A bit shorter, but always on the verge of boiling, is how the dialogue lasts. That’s why some new people in Brussels think they have an idea for a refresh.

"It’s not their job," says Dragisa Mijacic, coordinator of the National Convention Working Group for Chapter 35. Even if it were, he adds, he doesn’t know what they could offer.

"Everyone knows the dialogue isn’t going in the desired direction and that a different model is needed. But no model will succeed if the sides refuse to implement what has been agreed," Mijacic says.

Heating up, then cooling down. In such an atmosphere, the whole world—including Kosovo—is following the U.S. elections. The elections of the newly chosen president could once again heat everything up.

"Trump’s approach is to present himself as a problem solver, someone who resolves issues, attempting to achieve large agreements that will be remembered," comments Aleksandar Sljuka from the New Social Initiative.

Until such major agreements are reached, Kosovo is not giving up on its grand plans and substantial armament, despite the risk of triggering new tensions.

Nothing unusual, says military commentator Aleksandar Radic.

"Listen, these are countries that have recognized them, and they see no problem in it. The security force infrastructure is expanding. This is nothing new," Radic states.

The security ring around women in Kosovo, statistics show, should be particularly strengthened. Red flags have long been raised, but so far, there’s no one to cool down or punish the aggressors.

"In any society where there is a prolonged and unresolved conflict, it sadly translates into violence against women," explains Vanja Macanovic from the Autonomous Women’s Center, reminding that violence against women must not be tolerated, whether in Serbia or Kosovo.

Adelina Berisha, an activist from Kosovo, agrees.

"All victims are equally important. All victims are women, and all women are the same. We are sisters, and we should care for each other," says Berisha.

The solution for global warming is far off. The resolution for political boiling remains uncertain. The only thing that could slightly cool overheated tempers this week was the snow.