Kosovo marks 10th anniversary of independence, but still isolated

Kosovars' dream of the republic came true in 2008, while free movement in the Schengen area is being held hostage by state leaders

The institutional leaders have never hesitated to give deadlines for the free movement of Kosovars, creating false expectations in the people.

The champion of promises of liberalisation was no doubt Hashim Thaci.
This remained only one of the prime minister's promises at the time.
His statements reinforced them daily. Before citizens, sometimes with guarantees said it is not his promise but Brussels' promise.

For many years Thaci's words repeated to his subordinates.
After a few years, when Hashim Thaci from the position of first government becomes the subordinate of Isa Mustaf, as deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister, changes course and tone.
He starts to accuse the EU severely. He says he is becoming Kosovo's bureaucratic institution is becoming unfair.
He had even gone so far as to threaten protests in front of the EU office in Pristina.

Harsh began to become Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, but he too continued his predecessor's tradition, promising visa removal soon.

But when he saw that the EU does not move until Kosovo has met the conditions, he said he does not need a visa when people are isolated.

Mustafa forgot that a large part of the blame why Kosovo remained the only isolated country in the Balkans, he and his party had it, makes KTV known.
Mustafa called corruption and organised crime perception in Kosovo, until his party's deputies went against the demarcation agreement, unable to make the numbers in the Assembly to pass the deal with Montenegro as the key criterion for liberalisation.

However, 2016 again revived Kosovars ' dim hopes.
The positive recommendation for visa liberalisation for Kosovo was seen as the end of isolation.

Minister Bekim Colak celebrated with champagne that day in his office this news from the European Commission.
This euphoria continued. A day after, citizens waited in line to file biometric passports, believing that Kosovo really is finally breaking up isolation.
The EU did not change the criteria for liberalisation, and leaders continued the declarative fight with Europe.

Another prime minister came to repeat the old lie.
Ramush Haradinaj, just after taking office, said liberalisation will take place for three months.
Kosovo is counting today.

Severe criticism of the EU, Hashim Thaci took them with him to the presidency.
As president of the republic, he proved strict with the European Union, even saying he had accepted the Special Court's making in exchange for visa liberalisation and membership in heavy international organisations.
His fierce fight did not stop him further.

The following day, Albanian President Ilir Meta called for a visit, asking him for passports to all Kosovars who remain isolated.
But this passport was not made for all citizens, it was made only for political leaders.
Nearly each of the top leaders in the country has the Albanian passport, with which it can move without visas to Europe.

And citizens continue waiting in line before embassies... Months of waiting for a term and a visa.
With complaints of unconventional treatment at embassies.
They are continuing even today, when Kosovo is celebrating 10 years of state.

The seal of Kosovo's isolation, even after 10 years of independence, gave the European Commission only two weeks ago, when Kosovo did not become part of the enlargement plan, KTV reports.
Fighting corruption and organised crime, as well as voting the demarcation agreement, are non-competitive criteria.

All leaders came up with another round of criticism against the EU for taking little out of what they expected.

The most honest of all was the current Minister of Integration, Gift Hoxha.
Thus, citizens continue to dream of a passport that breaks borders and steps on Europe as long as a flight ticket is in their pocket.
On this 10th anniversary, citizens will remember what was called the largest post-war exodus in Kosovo, the massive flight of buses through Serbia.
These images will remain synonymous with the frustration of Kosovars with life in cages, while we now live 18 years in freedom.