the socio-political issues in the Balkans are infamous Winston Churchill
Balkans are infamous Winston Churchill
Balkans are infamous Winston Churchill himself once said that the Balkans
himself once said that the Balkans
himself once said that the Balkans produce more history than they are able
produce more history than they are able
produce more history than they are able to consume and he certainly wasn’t wrong
to consume and he certainly wasn’t wrong
to consume and he certainly wasn’t wrong as a person from the Republic of Kosovo
as a person from the Republic of Kosovo
as a person from the Republic of Kosovo I know this only too well I live within
I know this only too well I live within
I know this only too well I live within this overwhelming consumption of history
this overwhelming consumption of history
this overwhelming consumption of history every day of my life and I think I speak
every day of my life and I think I speak
every day of my life and I think I speak for all of the Balkans when I say that
for all of the Balkans when I say that
for all of the Balkans when I say that enough is enough we’re full there are
enough is enough we’re full there are
enough is enough we’re full there are currently three main ethnicities which
currently three main ethnicities which
currently three main ethnicities which exist in the Balkans the Slavic the
exist in the Balkans the Slavic the
exist in the Balkans the Slavic the Hellenic and the Albanian which is my
Hellenic and the Albanian which is my
Hellenic and the Albanian which is my ethnicity
ethnicity
ethnicity however this coexistence can be
however this coexistence can be
however this coexistence can be described as anything but peaceful
described as anything but peaceful
described as anything but peaceful there’s many different reasons for this
there’s many different reasons for this
there’s many different reasons for this but I think they can all be conveniently
but I think they can all be conveniently
but I think they can all be conveniently summarized into one fundamental issue
summarized into one fundamental issue
summarized into one fundamental issue self-identification you see we all have
self-identification you see we all have
self-identification you see we all have a very different understanding and
a very different understanding and
a very different understanding and belief as to what happened hundreds and
belief as to what happened hundreds and
belief as to what happened hundreds and thousands of years ago in the Balkans
thousands of years ago in the Balkans
thousands of years ago in the Balkans who were here who was here first who our
who were here who was here first who our
who were here who was here first who our ancestors and which piece of land
ancestors and which piece of land
ancestors and which piece of land belongs to who and all of these theories
belongs to who and all of these theories
belongs to who and all of these theories directly contradict one another and as a
directly contradict one another and as a
directly contradict one another and as a result we can never really feel
result we can never really feel
result we can never really feel completely comfortable that we
completely comfortable that we
completely comfortable that we understand our heritage and our identity
understand our heritage and our identity
understand our heritage and our identity for many of you in the audience the
for many of you in the audience the
for many of you in the audience the natural process of understanding your
natural process of understanding your
natural process of understanding your person in your background was a lengthy
person in your background was a lengthy
person in your background was a lengthy yet achievable aspect of your lives in
yet achievable aspect of your lives in
yet achievable aspect of your lives in the Balkans this is a luxury which we
the Balkans this is a luxury which we
the Balkans this is a luxury which we simply do not have this issue is best
simply do not have this issue is best
simply do not have this issue is best epitomized in my country the Republic of
epitomized in my country the Republic of
epitomized in my country the Republic of Kosovo or a 95% ethnic Albanian
Kosovo or a 95% ethnic Albanian
Kosovo or a 95% ethnic Albanian population shares its land with a 1 to 2
population shares its land with a 1 to 2
population shares its land with a 1 to 2 percent
percent
percent ethnic Serbian population who due to
ethnic Serbian population who due to
ethnic Serbian population who due to previous conflicts and disagreements
previous conflicts and disagreements
previous conflicts and disagreements haven’t always gotten along now I always
haven’t always gotten along now I always
haven’t always gotten along now I always thought that the people in the Balkans
thought that the people in the Balkans
thought that the people in the Balkans and in Kosovo lacked the bravery the
and in Kosovo lacked the bravery the
and in Kosovo lacked the bravery the strength and the capability to put their
strength and the capability to put their
strength and the capability to put their differences aside and bring about what
differences aside and bring about what
differences aside and bring about what the Balkans has longed for for over a
the Balkans has longed for for over a
the Balkans has longed for for over a thousand years P
thousand years P
thousand years P and stability that was until I went to
and stability that was until I went to
and stability that was until I went to visit my Serbian neighbor in Kosovo so
visit my Serbian neighbor in Kosovo so
visit my Serbian neighbor in Kosovo so whilst for no more than 20 eggs and the
whilst for no more than 20 eggs and the
whilst for no more than 20 eggs and the solution to this thousand-year-old
solution to this thousand-year-old
solution to this thousand-year-old crisis became crystal clear having
crisis became crystal clear having
crisis became crystal clear having entered his land with a level of
entered his land with a level of
entered his land with a level of apprehension and admittedly discomfort I
apprehension and admittedly discomfort I
apprehension and admittedly discomfort I thought I’d present myself with the
thought I’d present myself with the
thought I’d present myself with the utmost respect and so I started and I
utmost respect and so I started and I
utmost respect and so I started and I say strauss-kahn Shah
say strauss-kahn Shah
say strauss-kahn Shah Kaku C which in Serbian means hello
Kaku C which in Serbian means hello
Kaku C which in Serbian means hello neighbor
neighbor
neighbor how are you and to my surprise he
how are you and to my surprise he
how are you and to my surprise he responded meanwhile him in there it to
responded meanwhile him in there it to
responded meanwhile him in there it to see it which in Albanian means I’m good
see it which in Albanian means I’m good
see it which in Albanian means I’m good thank you
thank you
thank you how are you I was surprised and so I
how are you I was surprised and so I
how are you I was surprised and so I quickly responded oh sorry uh are you
quickly responded oh sorry uh are you
quickly responded oh sorry uh are you Albanian he said no no he said I’m a
Albanian he said no no he said I’m a
Albanian he said no no he said I’m a Serbian he said but you are my neighbor
Serbian he said but you are my neighbor
Serbian he said but you are my neighbor and you don’t know how to speak anymore
and you don’t know how to speak anymore
and you don’t know how to speak anymore Serbian and he just did so we need to
Serbian and he just did so we need to
Serbian and he just did so we need to carry on the conversation now baby I
carry on the conversation now baby I
carry on the conversation now baby I appreciate that thank you and I started
appreciate that thank you and I started
appreciate that thank you and I started I said I need 20 eggs and I was
I said I need 20 eggs and I was
I said I need 20 eggs and I was wondering if I could buy them off you
wondering if I could buy them off you
wondering if I could buy them off you and he said yeah absolutely
and he said yeah absolutely
and he said yeah absolutely twenty oaks 20 yolks not one more or one
twenty oaks 20 yolks not one more or one
twenty oaks 20 yolks not one more or one less it was a weird thing to call them
less it was a weird thing to call them
less it was a weird thing to call them and to be quite frank I thought was a
and to be quite frank I thought was a
and to be quite frank I thought was a weight Serbian thing I ignored it and
weight Serbian thing I ignored it and
weight Serbian thing I ignored it and carried I said yeah I mean as long as
carried I said yeah I mean as long as
carried I said yeah I mean as long as that means I’m getting take I’m getting
that means I’m getting take I’m getting
that means I’m getting take I’m getting 20 eggs I’m a happy man he said sure
20 eggs I’m a happy man he said sure
20 eggs I’m a happy man he said sure take a seat he came back later with a
take a seat he came back later with a
take a seat he came back later with a carton of eggs but I could see from the
carton of eggs but I could see from the
carton of eggs but I could see from the side that one of them was missing I
side that one of them was missing I
side that one of them was missing I didn’t say anything I didn’t want to
didn’t say anything I didn’t want to
didn’t say anything I didn’t want to aggravate this situation between me and
aggravate this situation between me and
aggravate this situation between me and him I picked up the eggs
him I picked up the eggs
him I picked up the eggs I made my payment and just as I was
I made my payment and just as I was
I made my payment and just as I was about to leave his land he said hey one
about to leave his land he said hey one
about to leave his land he said hey one second stop turn around he said there’s
second stop turn around he said there’s
second stop turn around he said there’s an egg missing from your carton
an egg missing from your carton
an egg missing from your carton I pretended to be surprised although
I pretended to be surprised although
I pretended to be surprised although really I had a noticed but it’s fine
really I had a noticed but it’s fine
really I had a noticed but it’s fine nineteen eggs will do us just fine I’m
nineteen eggs will do us just fine I’m
nineteen eggs will do us just fine I’m pretty sure they’re more than enough I
pretty sure they’re more than enough I
pretty sure they’re more than enough I said no I promised you 20 yolks take a
said no I promised you 20 yolks take a
said no I promised you 20 yolks take a seat and I’ll bring you the last egg I
seat and I’ll bring you the last egg I
seat and I’ll bring you the last egg I took your seat he comes back with an egg
took your seat he comes back with an egg
took your seat he comes back with an egg but you made a really weird request he
but you made a really weird request he
but you made a really weird request he said this last egg eats at last again I
said this last egg eats at last again I
said this last egg eats at last again I thought it might be another way Serbian
thought it might be another way Serbian
thought it might be another way Serbian say yes sure okay I put it in the top
say yes sure okay I put it in the top
say yes sure okay I put it in the top right-hand side of the
right-hand side of the
right-hand side of the Martin distinguished it from the rest I
Martin distinguished it from the rest I
Martin distinguished it from the rest I thought I’d ID it lost but I was so
thought I’d ID it lost but I was so
thought I’d ID it lost but I was so confused how am I in this man to
confused how am I in this man to
confused how am I in this man to individuals who completely disagreed
individuals who completely disagreed
individuals who completely disagreed with one one one another on our
with one one one another on our
with one one one another on our fundamental views about our identity
fundamental views about our identity
fundamental views about our identity able to engage in a civilized
able to engage in a civilized
able to engage in a civilized conversation when neither of us felt
conversation when neither of us felt
conversation when neither of us felt offended or challenged in those moments
offended or challenged in those moments
offended or challenged in those moments I was not an Albanian and he was not a
I was not an Albanian and he was not a
I was not an Albanian and he was not a Serbian we were neighbors in need of one
Serbian we were neighbors in need of one
Serbian we were neighbors in need of one another and that was all that seemed to
another and that was all that seemed to
another and that was all that seemed to matter i extrapolated the experience and
matter i extrapolated the experience and
matter i extrapolated the experience and i questioned why can’t the nations of
i questioned why can’t the nations of
i questioned why can’t the nations of the balkans do the same thing the
the balkans do the same thing the
the balkans do the same thing the Balkans are on the doorstep of the
Balkans are on the doorstep of the
Balkans are on the doorstep of the European Union and we all have really
European Union and we all have really
European Union and we all have really serious intentions of one day becoming
serious intentions of one day becoming
serious intentions of one day becoming Member States but what we do not seem to
Member States but what we do not seem to
Member States but what we do not seem to understand is that the roots of this
understand is that the roots of this
understand is that the roots of this common aim is one and the same for all
common aim is one and the same for all
common aim is one and the same for all of us we will either embark on that
of us we will either embark on that
of us we will either embark on that journey hand in hand with our faithful
journey hand in hand with our faithful
journey hand in hand with our faithful neighbors by our side or we will etch
neighbors by our side or we will etch
neighbors by our side or we will etch our names into the history books
our names into the history books
our names into the history books permanently as a region which was never
permanently as a region which was never
permanently as a region which was never able to do the right thing I came back
able to do the right thing I came back
able to do the right thing I came back to the last two eggs in the carton and I
to the last two eggs in the carton and I
to the last two eggs in the carton and I picked up the second to last one but it
picked up the second to last one but it
picked up the second to last one but it looked weird it was small it was light I
looked weird it was small it was light I
looked weird it was small it was light I hid it against the worktop opened it and
hid it against the worktop opened it and
hid it against the worktop opened it and nothing came up I felt cheated
nothing came up I felt cheated
nothing came up I felt cheated humiliated surely this farmer who’d
humiliated surely this farmer who’d
humiliated surely this farmer who’d worked on a farm for decades knew that
worked on a farm for decades knew that
worked on a farm for decades knew that there was nothing in this egg and he
there was nothing in this egg and he
there was nothing in this egg and he tried to pull the wool over my eyes
tried to pull the wool over my eyes
tried to pull the wool over my eyes I picked up the last egg I didn’t open
I picked up the last egg I didn’t open
I picked up the last egg I didn’t open it that one that he requested me to keep
it that one that he requested me to keep
it that one that he requested me to keep until last I went to him and angered I
until last I went to him and angered I
until last I went to him and angered I said you take your egg back I don’t want
said you take your egg back I don’t want
said you take your egg back I don’t want it I call your bluff he smiled with a
it I call your bluff he smiled with a
it I call your bluff he smiled with a broken heart he picked up the last egg
broken heart he picked up the last egg
broken heart he picked up the last egg hit it against his knee and opened it
hit it against his knee and opened it
hit it against his knee and opened it and out of that final egg fell two yolks
looked at me and he said did I not
looked at me and he said did I not promise you 20 yokes I did not respond
promise you 20 yokes I did not respond
promise you 20 yokes I did not respond he continued and said oh neighbor when
he continued and said oh neighbor when
he continued and said oh neighbor when the Sun rises in Kosovo are we not both
the Sun rises in Kosovo are we not both
the Sun rises in Kosovo are we not both warmed up by its heat when it rains do
warmed up by its heat when it rains do
warmed up by its heat when it rains do we not both get wet
we not both get wet
we not both get wet do we not drink water from the same well
do we not drink water from the same well
do we not drink water from the same well and as our food not grow in the same
and as our food not grow in the same
and as our food not grow in the same soil how could I ever harm you without
soil how could I ever harm you without
soil how could I ever harm you without harming myself I realize now that the
harming myself I realize now that the
harming myself I realize now that the Balkans are not incapable of finding
Balkans are not incapable of finding
Balkans are not incapable of finding solutions to their problems we simply
solutions to their problems we simply
solutions to their problems we simply choose not to we’ve created these
choose not to we’ve created these
choose not to we’ve created these theoretical borders around ourselves
theoretical borders around ourselves
theoretical borders around ourselves which was supposed to protect us from
which was supposed to protect us from
which was supposed to protect us from our perceived enemies and yet all we’ve
our perceived enemies and yet all we’ve
our perceived enemies and yet all we’ve managed to do is isolate ourselves from
managed to do is isolate ourselves from
managed to do is isolate ourselves from our neighbors what I say now is the time
our neighbors what I say now is the time
our neighbors what I say now is the time let’s make that almighty choice and
let’s make that almighty choice and
let’s make that almighty choice and build a future that the Balkans can look
build a future that the Balkans can look
build a future that the Balkans can look forward to and not need to be afraid of
forward to and not need to be afraid of
forward to and not need to be afraid of let’s show the world what we are willing
let’s show the world what we are willing
let’s show the world what we are willing to do for our neighbors ladies and
to do for our neighbors ladies and
to do for our neighbors ladies and gentlemen this talk has been about my
gentlemen this talk has been about my
gentlemen this talk has been about my neighbor a man with whom I completely
neighbor a man with whom I completely
neighbor a man with whom I completely disagree whose views offend me and
disagree whose views offend me and
disagree whose views offend me and directly contradict my own and yet I am
directly contradict my own and yet I am
directly contradict my own and yet I am proud to say in front of you and
proud to say in front of you and
proud to say in front of you and potentially in front of the whole world
potentially in front of the whole world
potentially in front of the whole world that he is the best neighbor a man could
that he is the best neighbor a man could
that he is the best neighbor a man could ever ask for who through no more than 20
ever ask for who through no more than 20
ever ask for who through no more than 20 yokes showed me the solution to the
yokes showed me the solution to the
yokes showed me the solution to the Balkan crisis thank you
Balkan crisis thank you
Balkan crisis thank you [Applause]
”
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