Monthly Archives: August 2014

Who is Going to Stop Besart Berisha from Scoring?

Who is Going to Stop Besart Berisha from Scoring?

In his second game after returning from his injury, the Kosovo-born Besart Berisha struck once again for the second round in a row. Brisbane Roar beat Perth Glory 1-0 on Saturday thanks to Berisha’s only goal, keeping Brisbane at the top of the table. Berisha has now scored 3 goals in 4 games but that number could easily have been higher considering he missed a couple of weeks due to his injury.

Last season he scored 14 goals and was the fourth top goal scorer in Australia, a spot that he shared with Italian legend Alessandro Del Piero. However, Berisha did win the Golden Boot for scoring the most goals during the 2011-2012 season, having scored a total of 21 goals in what was only his first season.

Perth Glory, the team that Brisbane played against today, has never been a  big fan of Berisha. He played the main role during the Grand Final for the 2011-2012 season after scoring both goals in the 2-1 win against them. Today, they were once again hit by the Kosovo-Albanian striker.

Like him or hate him, we can all agree that this guy knows how to score.

Little Erëza Muçolli steals the hearts of the French

 Erëza Muçolli is a little eight year old with a special gift, her voice. Her family, originally from Drenas (Kosovo) had moved to France and have noticed her talent very early on in her life. “She used  to sing before she could even talk” says her father. 

Erëza will most likely be the youngest Albanian appearing on 8th of September in “France got talent” where she will be singing alongside her favorite musical instrument, the piano. Like most of our diaspora, Erëza  is multilingual, thus a lot of her performances are done in Albanian, French and English. 

Original Source : IllyriaPress

The Turkish Yeni Diplomasy Features KosovoDiaspora.org

KosovoDiaspora.org (KD) is a crowdsourcing digital diplomacy and engagement platform that connects Kosovars to the world, and the world with Kosovars. KD uses social and online media to highlight and celebrate achievements of individuals, groups, and organizations related to Kosovo. KD also serves as a tool to nurture existing links between Kosovo and its diaspora community. KD is an independent, non-governmental, and a non-politically affiliated initiative.

KD came to fruition in 2012 as an outcome of the Beyond Remittances: Public Diplomacy and Kosovo’s Diaspora study written by founders of KD, Behar Xharra and Martin Waehlisch. KD believes members of diaspora present an enormous potential for the country. Those living abroad have the passion, drive, financial resources and networks abroad. They have knowledge of their home country as well as familiarity with the cultures, language, life and politics of their present host countries. They represent bridges between Kosovo and the rest of the world, serving on a day-to-day basis as the country’s best ambassadors. Also, KD strives to cooperate with all Diaspora communities, governmental and non-governmental agencies, private entities and individuals to help strengthen the links between Diaspora and our home country, and enhance the image of Kosovo.

KD’s current and past partners and supporters are: the Public Diplomacy Consortium (Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, British Council Kosovo, and the Norwegian Embassy in Kosovo), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Ministry of Diaspora.

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KD presented its launched its re-branded platform at the Kosovo Innovation Center on 21 July 2014.

There were over 100 participants at the event, including the Minister of Diaspora, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, foreign dignitaries, civil society and technology enthusiasts. Initially, the audience was addressed by Liza Gashi, who is the project manager. Miss Gashi emphasized the importance of such a platform and talked of the struggles and achievements in making KD possible. “Unfortunately, a lot of the content about Kosovo is created by media from our neighbouring countries, which have had the tendency to publish content that mainly highlights negative aspects of Kosovo and its image; what we are trying to do is change this through telling the stories of our Diaspora members, and utilizing the fullest of our potential.”. Gashi thanked all the donors and contributors, as well as active supporters for making Kosovodiaspora.org the success story which it has come to be today.

Uranik Begu, Executive Director of Kosovo Innovation Center congratulated the initiative and expressed ICK’s full support for the KD. Begu emphasized that cooperation with the diaspora is an important determinant on Kosovo’s economic sustainability and development due to the fact that the Diaspora is an important agent in attracting foreign direct investment as well as bringing current business practices to Kosovo’s market. The Minister for Diaspora, Ibrahim Makolli, spoke of the potential of the Kosovar Diaspora in fostering not only economic development but also enhancing the image for Kosovo and Kosovars in the countries they live. “I am confident that through this platform, we have opened a new chapter in communicating with our Diaspora, a community that without a doubt presents one of our strongest potentials both financially and culturally”.

Arjeta Emra, the Executive Director of the British Council, presented an array of activities and events the British Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have supported, including the KD, in the field of public digital diplomacy aimed at the 5 European countries, which remain hesitant to accept Kosovo’s independence. Emra is very confident of the results and benefits of digital diplomacy for Kosovo, and is fully supportive of the KD initiative. Petrit Selimi, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, considers KD an important outlet of digital diplomacy for Kosovo and its Diaspora.

Selimi spoke of MFA’s many innovative projects and activities on public and digital diplomacy such as Interfaith Kosovo, an initiative that has gathered over 700 representatives from around the world. He further expressed pride to have invested on KD, saying “Through this platform, the world will know Kosovo as a country, as well as a thriving society.” KD, as a partner of the MFA’s Digital Diplomacy initiative, will lobby in favor of Kosovo’s recognition with a special emphasis on the European Union. KD invites every citizen and people with interest in Kosovo to promote the platform and serve as a cultural ambassador at their host country communities.

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Naim Fejza brings a fresh challenge for the Swiss wrestlers

Naim Fejza is  Apenzell’s twice in a row cantonal champion at “Schwingen”- the Swiss traditional wrestling. Fejza is originally from Peja,  thus makes Shwingen an internationally renown sport now, he became a hot topic throughout Swiss media in 2012 through winning Apenzell’s cantonal championship title.

It is interesting to note that only 1% of the Shwingen  professional athletes have an international background, in other words, 99% of the Shwingers are Swiss. While Naim was born in Switzerland, his ethnic background and his family’s country of origin did make him an interesting pick in the team. His passion for sport does not end with only Shwingen, he is a former judo wrestler and is currently also engaged as a goalkeeper at the BSG Vordeland handball team.

What makes “hwingen his favorite activity is the manly roughness during the wrestling matches that end with a friendly handshake. 

Watch Naim Fejza wrestle and let us know of your favorite diaspora sportsman.

Article Source http://www.albinfo.ch/sq/integrimi/naimi-konkurrenc-zviceran-ve-n-sportin-e-tyre-tradiconal

Diaspora poets rendezvous in Orllan

A one hour long poetry session was held in Orllan where a group of notable poets from the Diaspora community read their most favorable poems. The literary event had its competitive character as well, three of the best poems were awarded by the jury.

140 writers from the Diaspora as well as Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro and Macedonia gathered up at the “Zahir Pajaziti” memorial in Orllan, city of Podujevë on an event organized by the Kosovo Ministry of Diaspora. Poets and creators read their poetry in an hour long event and among them three were selected as the better, the selection was done by a professional jury comprised of artists and writers from Diaspora and all around Albanian speaking communities.

The writers agreed that it is very important that the poems and literary  works presented at the event should be published on an anthology. The event has already become traditional, known as the days of Diaspora starting on 15th of July and closing on 15th of August. The “Days of Diaspora” are characterized with an array of literary works, theatrical plays and poetry.

Dr. Halil Krasniqi to lead the St. Johanes-Hospital-ready

The St. Johanes-Hospital in Germany is a vascular clinic where Dr. Halil Krasniqi, who originally is from Kosovo, now leads the most complicated cardiovascular operations.

The Kosovan is not a stranger to the city of Varel, Germany’s Northern Region. Doctors from the St. Johanes Hospital have been keen to meet Mr. Krasniqi who also noted that he admires the approach this institution takes towards its patients. “From the first day here, I can tell that the patients are taken care of in a very humanly fashion.”

Mr. Krasniqi is yet another example of great integration and inclusion that our diaspora find in their host countries, particularly Germany and Switzerland.

 

The migrant from Far Africa in the “Birthplace Meetings” in Dazhnica

A meeting was held with residents of the village Dazhnica of Kamenica municipality within the Birthplace Meetings “Dazhnica 2014”. Manifestation “Dazhnica 2014” was characterized by various cultural activities: songs, dances, performances, sport competitions, popular games, etc. But the uniqueness of this meeting was the presence of a migrant from this village, Senad Jerlija who had traveled from Zambia of Africa just to attend this annual meeting.

Senad lives and works in Africa and had not visited his birthplace for many years.

Vehbi Jerliu from the Organizing Council of this manifestation said that because many residents and families of this village left these areas years ago, it was so important to maintain a meeting of this kind at least once a year.

Another resident of the village, Hysen Jerliu in his speech said that this meeting allows the new generation to know each other and enables them to recognize the native land of their ancestors.

KosovoDiaspora.org at the Gjilan Regional Fair

August in Gjilan has begun with the Regional Product Fair. Amongst the fruits, pastries, drinks and bicycles, the people passing through the fair could find our kosovodiaspora.org table. Liza Gashi, Valon Xoxa and  Roberto Cancel (from IOM) were there to inform on the past and future projects of the kosovodiaspora.org initiative.

Furthermore the team took the chance to utilize the far reach of the fair and inform as many people as possible on the Diaspora Registry Process initiated by the Ministry of Diaspora. If you have not had the chance to catch us at the fair, please check the https://www.kosovodiaspora.org/?page_id=537 for information on how to register. Kids, elderly, couples and groups of family members swung by our table to curiously check the leaflets and learn of the Diaspora Registry.

 

The fair was initially planned for the 1st of August, however due to bad weather, everything was moved to Saturday. Both the first and second day of the Regional Fair were followed up with evening concerts where crowds of people enjoyed music on the steps of the National Theatre.

Avdijaj, 42 goals and still going strong

 

He has not played a minute in the Bundesliga, but already costs 50 Million Euros. 

Donis Avidjaj is a rising football star, he is expected to start his Bundesliga  season this year with Schalke. The young Kosovar has been the focus of attention throughout a number of German media due to his abilities to score.

As part of the U17 Team (Schalke), Avdijaj scored an astonishing 42 goals in just one season, being ranked close to superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo  and Lionel Messi. Currently, Avdijaj has a 50 million euro contract, making him the worthiest rising talent in Germany.

Here is Avidjaj giving one of the usual Albanian greetings.

And here is Donis Avdijaj doing what he knows how to do best.

Source http://kosovalbaner.com/2014/07/ky-eshte-avdijaj-sulmuesi-me-42-gola-per-stinor/