This Op-Ed that originally appeared in Kosovo 2.0 in English & Albanian. 

Against the constant chatter of corruption, questionable leadership, and failing government structures, there is one clear bright spot in Kosovo:
the juvenile justice system. Thanks to a concerted effort, Kosovo has put in place fundamental building blocks towards a just and equitable juvenile justice system. With further reform, Kosovo can be the juvenile justice leader in the region.

This weekend marked the end of election season in Kosovo. The upstart, oppositional party Vetëvendosje won an upset victory in Pristina making Shpend Ahmeti the first non-LDK party mayor since independence.

Vetëvendosje, wow.
Will this victory permit
Negotiation?

Who started the Yugoslavian Wars?

Croatia: Warmongering Serbs.

Serbia: Nationalist Croats.

Albanians: Milošević.

Slovenia: What Yugoslavia?

Macedonia: What war?

                                                                                         Montenegro: What did Serbia say?

                                                                                         Bosnia: Does it Matter?

Last week, Turkey's Prime Minister said "Turkey is Kosovo, and Kosovo is Turkey." Once the Serbian government voiced outrage over this disregard for their perceived sovereignty, the Turkish government walked back their comments.

"Turkey is Kosovo," Erdogan obtusely declared
"What we need is a field of blackbirds over there"
Serbia outraged (when are they not?)
They consider Kosovo their soul, over a decade ago lost
                                                         Taken by land and moral attrition 
                                                         Kosovo is not North Ireland, and Serbia is not Britain

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia, a government run in triplicate
Can't even issue a birth certificate
Everyday a child is born
to a bureaucracy forlorn
Making American Republicans look heaven-sent

The Serbs and the Albanians all at the table
We’ve seen this before as if it’s a fable

The armies are silent, now just the pen
Is the weapon that can bring this conflict’s end
The EU and others sit around flustered
“It’s so easy” they say “just get up the muster
to buck your public’s discord, dismay
                                                         so we can get in front of the cameras and display
                                                         a final agreement to ease all your problems
                                                        peace and stability, we totally solved ‘em”