Kosovars Who Fought for Land Are Now Eager to Leave

The New York Times ^ | March 7, 2015 | Alison Smale

[Ravnagora]

STANOVC, Kosovo — The extended Cakaj family has built a few dozen homes here, along Tony Blair Street, between the Dubai supermarket and the French peacekeepers base, in a clannish faith that closeness would bring security. But recently the family of Kosovo Albanians has begun to splinter, as a disastrous economy, static politics and a newly created opening in the border with Serbia have enticed tens of thousands of Kosovars to leave their troubled land in search of opportunity and work.

“My son had no choice,” said Xhevat Cakaj, but to leave their enclave for Germany with his wife and their five girls. They had only one cow, he said, whose milk they sold in a market in nearby Pristina, Kosovo’s capital, and their only other source of income was running a minibus service until the local authorities clamped down.

Squinting to survey the land where his family hid from the Serbs in the 1999 war, he wept at the irony of fate. “No one leaves for pleasure,” said Mr. Cakaj, 64.

Afrim Syla, 48, of Pristina, who makes pancakes for a living and recently had a son join the exodus, concurred: Once, Kosovars were laying down their lives to stay here. “Now,” he said, “we have come to a situation where we leave of our own free will.”

[Ravnagora]

Ping!

[dfwgator]

Now they want go leave to spread their murderous Moon-God Worshipping Cult elsewhere.

[Kenny Bunk]

Of course the Albanians want to leave.

They have stolen everything in Kosovo that there is to steal, including the UN Peacekeepers' vehicles! The brothel business is way down. Extortion and Kidnapping just aren't making the money they should. What's left? People smuggling? And just who's supposed to buy heroin in Kosovo?

Interpol's favorite people! I have a suggestion for a potential destination: how about ....ALBANIA?

[Cowboy Bob]

I guess they ran out of other people’s money...

[Honorary Serb]

Meanwhile, in the Serbian enclaves of Kosovo and Metohija:

http://www.iocc.org/nwsltr/winter2015/winter2015_pg5.aspx

I contribute to IOCC/Kosovo Relief and the Decani Fund regularly. It’s especially a good thing to do for Great Lent.

[Salvey]

Not to mention the ones who come to NJ and open “Italian” restaurants.

[Kolokotronis]

Albanian Moha Medan dogs!

[Kolokotronis]

“I contribute to IOCC/Kosovo Relief and the Decani Fund regularly. It’s especially a good thing to do for Great Lent.”

God Bless you!

[dfwgator]

Even the real Albanians don’t want them.

[Honorary Serb]

Thank you, and God Bless you!

[MadelineZapeezda]

I wish there were a ‘like’ button on here.

[archy]

But recently the family of Kosovo Albanians has begun to splinter, as a disastrous economy, static politics and a newly created opening in the border with Serbia have enticed tens of thousands of Kosovars to leave their troubled land in search of opportunity and work.

Smart for them to get out while the getting is good.