German Press: Political blockade in Kosovo, fears of jihadists' return

German media on financial damage to the political blockade in Kosovo, as well as the fears that exist in Balkan countries following the return of jihadists and the lack of resocialisation programmes.

Two months after parliamentary elections, Kosovo still does not have its own government. In an analysis of the Swiss newspaper “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” (14.08) has failed several times the new parliament's constitutionalisation.

“The situation of ♫x1> in Kosovo does not mean that life has been suspended in Kosovo and that the public follows developments in Pristina by trembling. The summer season brings as each year tens of thousands of Kosovars to their homeland, who visit relatives or take vacations on the Albanian coast... ... and for Kosovo such visitors are important because at their own expense they give life to tourism and gastronomy... but although life continues, the political blockade costs Kosovo” very financially, writes “Zürcher Zeritung”.

Government with broad support is needed

“Nue Zürcher Zeitung” refers to a figure mentioned by renowned businessman Bexhet Pacolli, under which Kosovo has lost $138m from monetary funds, because institutions do not function. Not only political camps are extremely hostile, in addition to chronic economic problems and social difficulties, are to resolve sensitive regional policy issues, which can only provide a broad-backed government”, the paper writes.

NZZZ also pays attention to dialogue with Serbia and to resolving the issue of association of Serbian municipalities, stressing that Kosovo needs an internal discussion here.

The “needs to move ahead of compensation between Belgrade and Pristina, in such a case, Kosovo needs a strong government. If new elections are going to improve the situation, this is unknown”, the NZZ writes.

While the German newspaper “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” under the title “Gihad entourment” (14.08) pays attention to fears of the return of fighters who have gone to fight for the so-called Islamic subx4> “State of Islam” in Balkan countries. For years, trends that make the return of traditional Islam evident in the Balkans, writes FAZ. One sign of this is that mosques outside the influence of the Muslim religious community, where a radical Islam is preached.

Some of these also serve as recruiting centres for IS fighters and women, brides of warriors joining the Islamic State... This does not only concern Balkan countries. When Western countries with effective institutions themselves hardly know what happens at their mosques, then this is worth more to the countries of the Balkans with weak administration”, writes “Frankfurter Allgeene Zeitung”.

What happens to jihadists after prison?

Concern has also raised a hateful article published in the number of harvests of “Rumiyaah” of the IS, the Bosnian language edition. It calls for killing moderate Muslims and such muftis before their wives and children. FAZ quotes the article saying “that we swear to God, that God does not value anything more than killing those who have corrupted his faith and want to destroy from within Islam. ”

Such warnings concern authorities even because part of the jihadists has returned to Balkan countries, writes FAZ. The “Judicial processes in Kosovo, Serbia, have really ended with high sentences. But security experts note that nothing has been done to prevent the radicalisation of other prisoners. There is also no concept of effective monitoring of terrorists released from prison or resociating”, writes “Rumiyah”. / DW/