B92's Insider stands ground on Kosovo series

In the new series dubbed Patriotska Pljačka (Patriotic Pillage), aired every Monday on B92 TV, the audience will learn how individuals, under the guise of patriotism, became rich by taking advantage of the state money that is allegedly appropriated for Kosovo citizens.

“This is not about whether Serbia should allocate money for the Serbs in Kosovo, this is about the fact that the money has not been going to those who really need it for years and why all governments from 2000 until today failed to investigate all the abuses that are taking place and where all the money is going to,” Insider author Brankica Stanković says.


Thanks b92 for telling the truth as is. I wonder where the likes of Zoran and others stand is, on this masterpiece of investigative journalism?

Ardi, I don't know about Zoran, or any other Serb commentator here, but I say great work to this Insider team. I hope every single individual, both in BG and Mitrovica, is exposed and dealt with as a criminal. Just because I am against an independent Albanian KiM, does not mean I am for corruption, from any side. I do not see the correlation, Ardi.

I saw it and wasn't surprised at all. "Money talks, patriotism walks". It was good reporting by the way.

I don't want to put the cart before the horse, but I can't help but feel a little excited about this story. And common sense would tell anyone that there has to be a lot of truth in what she's saying. Corruption is a fact of life, and when a government pumps loads of money into an irredentist region that largely sits beyond its political control, heaven only knows what can happen. It's pretty well known that Kosovo has been a thoroughly corrupt region going back to the 1990s -- on both sides of the ethnic divide. In fact, a lot of criminal enterprises are partnerships between Serbs and Albanians.

On a side note, it was amusing to read her remarks about the abundance of conspiracy theorists in Serbia. It's about time we heard this from a Serb!

Also funny that B92 has apparently been accused of being tools of not only the DS, but also SNS and DSS. Hey, maybe there's such a thing as indpendent media in Serbia after all! Dare I say that we're seeing signs of progress?

Is brave reporter fight against criminal mafia Serbia State.
Kosova must offer asyl if request from reporter.

We appreciate it, but it's nothing new for us. Most of us have known for decades that Kosovo is a great place for anyone to get rich off the misery of others. We do it, and you do it. Hell, you currently elect the very people who steal from you :)
(Balkan Anthropologist, 28 September 2012 18:22)

WRONG, this story is about Serb on Serb, and has nothing to do with Albanians. It is you choice to to get to the bottom of the truth.

I feel sorry for the local Serbs caught in this manipulative game of criminal gangs. This is why we need co-operation from central and local governments to work together and do their job makings people’s lives a bit better. Flying nationalistic banners and inciting hate favours nobody but criminal crooks and their thriving businesses. But what does Serbian gov do? They ignore the Kosovans. They want this problem to carry on. They want Kosovo to fail.

I’ll tell you another story.From 15 years Greek state pays 300 Euro per month thousands of Albanian pensioners in order to declare that their families belonged to the Greek minority in Albania. In this case were European tax payers that pay for Greek chauvinist goals. Now that Greece collapsed banned these pensions, and I believe that the number of Greek minorities will decrease significantly in Albania. Too expensive nationalism in Balkan :)

Thanks b92 for telling the truth as is. I wonder where the likes of Zoran and others stand is, on this masterpiece of investigative journalism?
(Ardi Asllani, 28 September 2012 17:39)

We appreciate it, but it's nothing new for us. Most of us have known for decades that Kosovo is a great place for anyone to get rich off the misery of others. We do it, and you do it. Hell, you currently elect the very people who steal from you :)

WRONG, this story is about Serb on Serb, and has nothing to do with Albanians. It is you choice to to get to the bottom of the truth.
(Ardi Asllani, 28 September 2012 20:16)

You're right. It's up to you guys to handle the Albanian on Albanian as well as the Albanian on Serb side of the story. And I'm sure you'll get around to investigating your own crimes one of these decades when journalists no longer need to fear for their lives uncovering all of Kosova's dirty little secrets. Let us know when you want to get started. We've got lots of information we could share with you :)

-“This is not about whether Serbia should allocate money for the Serbs in Kosovo, this is about the fact that the money has not been going to those who really need it for years and why all governments from 2000 until today failed to investigate all the abuses... where all the money is going to,” Insider author Brankica Stanković says.-

OK, everyone knows what I think of their media (plus the many many times that we are politically censored) so I don't need to repeat it here.

I am aware that Brankica is considered one of the better and braver journalists in Belgrade, and I won't criticize her directly, certainly not here. She has enough just to stay working and alive in that nice society. and everyone knows it.

But if this is supposed to be something new -- the unending corruption in holy northern mitrovica, the thriving, multi-ethnic mafia, the role of the Belgrade regime in promoting the criminality -- is this supposed to be a surprise in any way? no, thank you very much. but i suppose the devil is in the details.

But I personally am still waiting for a brave journalist there to tackle the difficult "secrets" -- the remaining mass graves of albanian bodies (incl the one by raska), the truth about the mass burning of albanian bodies in 1999, the many, many war criminals still walking the streets of belgrade. these truths are a bit harder (there) and less palatable. but i expect REAL journalists to have some integrity and not just play the same old games. Get it?
hvala.

This sounds very good, maybe it will open the eyes of some Serbs.

But

"Such disgraceful accusations against us are made exactly by those who are afraid that their business will be threatened. They are not interested in Kosovo, they are interested in how to make the biggest possible profit under the guise of patriotism."

Keep in mind that whole Kosovo is based on that: Criminal groups who benefit from the unstable and uncertain situation and make profit only for themselves. Not only several Serbs in the North, but several members of mafia gangs in the south, too, who suddenly are able to play 'politicians' and 'government' and abuse state and donor money and protect the drug mafia.

Thanks b92 for telling the truth as is. I wonder where the likes of Zoran and others stand is, on this masterpiece of investigative journalism?
(Ardi Asllani, 28 September 2012 17:39)
--
My friend, I've lived in Serbia for 5 years now and I'm well aware of the level of corruption going on, which is a common problem in the Balkans. The DS were dirty rats when it comes to corruption and it is reflected in what was going on in KiM and other parts of Serbia. I have my doubts it will be cleaned up anytime soon but it is one of the election promises of the SNS, so I'm watching closely.

As for B92 supporting certain political parties, now there is no denying it. It was obviously supporting the DS for quite some time and even members of the current and former governments recently admitted the DS was controlling the media.

I have my suspicions regarding the timing of this reporting and B92's excuse but we will wait and see. Cleaning up corruption should help Serbia but replacing one kind of mafia with another (i.e. Western control) will just change one thief to another.

Finally, if you are an Albanian then Mister, you guys have far more serious problems with crime and corruption. I wouldn't even bother criticising Serbia.

Another Serbian myth dismantled.

(Peggy, 29 September 2012 01:23)
Ironic how differently we view the corruption in Serbia and Kosovo or rather in Albanians in Kosovo and Serbs in either Serbia or Kosovo.

650 a day! Wow!

Kosova must offer asyl if request from reporter.
(Adem, 28 September 2012 19:53)

She doesn't need it. She's not under any threat.
People seek asylum from Kosovo. No one seeks asylum in Kosovo.

"Thanks b92 for telling the truth as is"

Ardi Asllani

Oh, so now B92 is telling the truth. When they write something negative about Kosovo or albanians are they telling the truth then as well?

Poor these old serbian in the south that they got nothing from their 'mother state'of Serbia. they didn't even know what to say.. Serbs and Albanians when it comes to the curroption they are same as if they were made from one mother.
Mr. V Kostunica from Belgrade and Mr. N Hurgulica from Prishtina both with one mission; millions of euros in their pocket.
poor ordinery Serbians and Albanians struggling to feed their children PATRIOTISM ON TV - CLEAN MONEY ON FIELD. KOSOVO IS SERBIA OR KOSOVO IS ALBANIA.

Whether Serbian or Albanian parts of Kosovo, there are many mafia groups there including international ones. Many profit from the misery of others, whether Serb, Albanian, Roma, etc. And not just criminal groups. Also so called white-collar business people, old-boys networks and former internationals such as Albright and Clark. Drugs trade, weapons trade, people traficking, organ trade, you name it.
One thing unites criminals and it is profit and they use patriotism as a weapon. The world is an uglier place than we can imagine and humans are the cheapest commodity.

It's obvious the DS had their dirty hands in this corruption pot so lets hope the current government cleans it up (as promised).
(Zoran, 29 September 2012 13:32)

Absolutely everone knows that the infestation in the north is product of Kostunica. It was him who had and still has the direct saying in this region. Only one over four districts belong to the DS. So spare us with your lies. The report is the very proof that the claims, that it is about "the fight for Kosovo", are a large pile of horse dung and it is time to remove it, once and for all.

650K Euros per day for 12 years equals 2,487,000,000.
I wonder how much went into Thaqi's pocket!

Absolutely no surprise
here is the first part (in Serbian)
prvi deo:
link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycHvgw6oMPE

robbie from frisco says, "but i expect REAL journalists"

YAWN ...

Exactly what he is not! Look who is judging ... Lol!!

This from a chronically frustrated wanna-be who often resorts to name-calling. What a wack-job from frisco.

Ardi, I don't know about Zoran, or any other Serb commentator here, but I say great work to this Insider team. I hope every single individual, both in BG and Mitrovica, is exposed and dealt with as a criminal. Just because I am against an independent Albanian KiM, does not mean I am for corruption, from any side. I do not see the correlation, Ardi.
(ecoman, 28 September 2012 19:00)
==================================

I agree. Independent Kosovo is an entirely different matter to corruption in Serbia and how some use Kosovo to steal.
Unfortunately corruption is in every part of the world and Serbia is no different. We will never be able to stamp it out completely but if we can get some and reduce it, it will be worth the time and effort.
I will try to get my hands on this doco. I really want to see it.
No matter which party, which politician is caught in the net we need to know.
I congratulate B92 for having courage to deal with this.

Absolutely no surprise
here is the first part (in Serbian)
prvi deo:
link:
[link]
(bUrHo, 29 September 2012 06:43)
--
LOL!!!! What a sensationalist bit of reporting. Why interview DS thieves who are sore losers and attempting to brush themselves clean? My goodness, this is about corruption not patriotism. Patriots don't support corruption, so attempting to link corruption to patriotism and barricades is a complete joke. The DS are as corrupt as they come but are certainly not patriots.

There is nothing wrong with giving Serbs in KiM financial assistance as that is a good way to keep them there. The DS have been involved in this corruption for some time and it was well known that Serbian and Albanian criminals were co-operating in KiM, with full knowledge of the DS

After watching, I am not surprised at all that B92 has had a lot of criticism. Did you get some third rate Hollywood producers putting this together? Poor, sensationalist attempt. What's with all the dramatic music in the background? My advice, tackle crime and corruption but don't link KiM, patriotism and other matters to it. And finally, it is obvious once again the B92 supports the DS in this report.

So keep the alternative roads open, keep the financial assistance going but stop the corruption. It's obvious the DS had their dirty hands in this corruption pot so lets hope the current government cleans it up (as promised).

My advice, tackle crime and corruption but don't link KiM, patriotism and other matters to it.
(Zoran, 29 September 2012 13:32)

I agree... if in committing crimes and corruption there is any hint of apparent patriotism for KiM then those crimes should actually be encouraged :)

Thanks b92 for telling the truth as is. I wonder where the likes of Zoran and others stand is, on this masterpiece of investigative journalism?
(Ardi Asllani, 28 September 2012 17:39)
--
My friend, I've lived in Serbia for 5 years now and I'm well aware of the level of corruption going on, which is a common problem in the Balkans. The DS were dirty rats when it comes to corruption and it is reflected in what was going on in KiM and other parts of Serbia. I have my doubts it will be cleaned up anytime soon but it is one of the election promises of the SNS, so I'm watching closely.

As for B92 supporting certain political parties, now there is no denying it. It was obviously supporting the DS for quite some time and even members of the current and former governments recently admitted the DS was controlling the media.

I have my suspicions regarding the timing of this reporting and B92's excuse but we will wait and see. Cleaning up corruption should help Serbia but replacing one kind of mafia with another (i.e. Western control) will just change one thief to another.

Finally, if you are an Albanian then Mister, you guys have far more serious problems with crime and corruption. I wouldn't even bother criticising Serbia.

Kosova must offer asyl if request from reporter.
(Adem, 28 September 2012 19:53)

She doesn't need it. She's not under any threat.
People seek asylum from Kosovo. No one seeks asylum in Kosovo.

Is brave reporter fight against criminal mafia Serbia State.
Kosova must offer asyl if request from reporter.

Absolutely no surprise
here is the first part (in Serbian)
prvi deo:
link:
[link]
(bUrHo, 29 September 2012 06:43)
--
LOL!!!! What a sensationalist bit of reporting. Why interview DS thieves who are sore losers and attempting to brush themselves clean? My goodness, this is about corruption not patriotism. Patriots don't support corruption, so attempting to link corruption to patriotism and barricades is a complete joke. The DS are as corrupt as they come but are certainly not patriots.

There is nothing wrong with giving Serbs in KiM financial assistance as that is a good way to keep them there. The DS have been involved in this corruption for some time and it was well known that Serbian and Albanian criminals were co-operating in KiM, with full knowledge of the DS

After watching, I am not surprised at all that B92 has had a lot of criticism. Did you get some third rate Hollywood producers putting this together? Poor, sensationalist attempt. What's with all the dramatic music in the background? My advice, tackle crime and corruption but don't link KiM, patriotism and other matters to it. And finally, it is obvious once again the B92 supports the DS in this report.

So keep the alternative roads open, keep the financial assistance going but stop the corruption. It's obvious the DS had their dirty hands in this corruption pot so lets hope the current government cleans it up (as promised).

Thanks b92 for telling the truth as is. I wonder where the likes of Zoran and others stand is, on this masterpiece of investigative journalism?
(Ardi Asllani, 28 September 2012 17:39)

We appreciate it, but it's nothing new for us. Most of us have known for decades that Kosovo is a great place for anyone to get rich off the misery of others. We do it, and you do it. Hell, you currently elect the very people who steal from you :)

WRONG, this story is about Serb on Serb, and has nothing to do with Albanians. It is you choice to to get to the bottom of the truth.
(Ardi Asllani, 28 September 2012 20:16)

You're right. It's up to you guys to handle the Albanian on Albanian as well as the Albanian on Serb side of the story. And I'm sure you'll get around to investigating your own crimes one of these decades when journalists no longer need to fear for their lives uncovering all of Kosova's dirty little secrets. Let us know when you want to get started. We've got lots of information we could share with you :)

This sounds very good, maybe it will open the eyes of some Serbs.

But

"Such disgraceful accusations against us are made exactly by those who are afraid that their business will be threatened. They are not interested in Kosovo, they are interested in how to make the biggest possible profit under the guise of patriotism."

Keep in mind that whole Kosovo is based on that: Criminal groups who benefit from the unstable and uncertain situation and make profit only for themselves. Not only several Serbs in the North, but several members of mafia gangs in the south, too, who suddenly are able to play 'politicians' and 'government' and abuse state and donor money and protect the drug mafia.

We appreciate it, but it's nothing new for us. Most of us have known for decades that Kosovo is a great place for anyone to get rich off the misery of others. We do it, and you do it. Hell, you currently elect the very people who steal from you :)
(Balkan Anthropologist, 28 September 2012 18:22)

WRONG, this story is about Serb on Serb, and has nothing to do with Albanians. It is you choice to to get to the bottom of the truth.

In the new series dubbed Patriotska Pljačka (Patriotic Pillage), aired every Monday on B92 TV, the audience will learn how individuals, under the guise of patriotism, became rich by taking advantage of the state money that is allegedly appropriated for Kosovo citizens.

“This is not about whether Serbia should allocate money for the Serbs in Kosovo, this is about the fact that the money has not been going to those who really need it for years and why all governments from 2000 until today failed to investigate all the abuses that are taking place and where all the money is going to,” Insider author Brankica Stanković says.


Thanks b92 for telling the truth as is. I wonder where the likes of Zoran and others stand is, on this masterpiece of investigative journalism?

"Thanks b92 for telling the truth as is"

Ardi Asllani

Oh, so now B92 is telling the truth. When they write something negative about Kosovo or albanians are they telling the truth then as well?

I saw it and wasn't surprised at all. "Money talks, patriotism walks". It was good reporting by the way.

-“This is not about whether Serbia should allocate money for the Serbs in Kosovo, this is about the fact that the money has not been going to those who really need it for years and why all governments from 2000 until today failed to investigate all the abuses... where all the money is going to,” Insider author Brankica Stanković says.-

OK, everyone knows what I think of their media (plus the many many times that we are politically censored) so I don't need to repeat it here.

I am aware that Brankica is considered one of the better and braver journalists in Belgrade, and I won't criticize her directly, certainly not here. She has enough just to stay working and alive in that nice society. and everyone knows it.

But if this is supposed to be something new -- the unending corruption in holy northern mitrovica, the thriving, multi-ethnic mafia, the role of the Belgrade regime in promoting the criminality -- is this supposed to be a surprise in any way? no, thank you very much. but i suppose the devil is in the details.

But I personally am still waiting for a brave journalist there to tackle the difficult "secrets" -- the remaining mass graves of albanian bodies (incl the one by raska), the truth about the mass burning of albanian bodies in 1999, the many, many war criminals still walking the streets of belgrade. these truths are a bit harder (there) and less palatable. but i expect REAL journalists to have some integrity and not just play the same old games. Get it?
hvala.

robbie from frisco says, "but i expect REAL journalists"

YAWN ...

Exactly what he is not! Look who is judging ... Lol!!

This from a chronically frustrated wanna-be who often resorts to name-calling. What a wack-job from frisco.

I feel sorry for the local Serbs caught in this manipulative game of criminal gangs. This is why we need co-operation from central and local governments to work together and do their job makings people’s lives a bit better. Flying nationalistic banners and inciting hate favours nobody but criminal crooks and their thriving businesses. But what does Serbian gov do? They ignore the Kosovans. They want this problem to carry on. They want Kosovo to fail.

Ardi, I don't know about Zoran, or any other Serb commentator here, but I say great work to this Insider team. I hope every single individual, both in BG and Mitrovica, is exposed and dealt with as a criminal. Just because I am against an independent Albanian KiM, does not mean I am for corruption, from any side. I do not see the correlation, Ardi.

I don't want to put the cart before the horse, but I can't help but feel a little excited about this story. And common sense would tell anyone that there has to be a lot of truth in what she's saying. Corruption is a fact of life, and when a government pumps loads of money into an irredentist region that largely sits beyond its political control, heaven only knows what can happen. It's pretty well known that Kosovo has been a thoroughly corrupt region going back to the 1990s -- on both sides of the ethnic divide. In fact, a lot of criminal enterprises are partnerships between Serbs and Albanians.

On a side note, it was amusing to read her remarks about the abundance of conspiracy theorists in Serbia. It's about time we heard this from a Serb!

Also funny that B92 has apparently been accused of being tools of not only the DS, but also SNS and DSS. Hey, maybe there's such a thing as indpendent media in Serbia after all! Dare I say that we're seeing signs of progress?

Whether Serbian or Albanian parts of Kosovo, there are many mafia groups there including international ones. Many profit from the misery of others, whether Serb, Albanian, Roma, etc. And not just criminal groups. Also so called white-collar business people, old-boys networks and former internationals such as Albright and Clark. Drugs trade, weapons trade, people traficking, organ trade, you name it.
One thing unites criminals and it is profit and they use patriotism as a weapon. The world is an uglier place than we can imagine and humans are the cheapest commodity.

Ardi, I don't know about Zoran, or any other Serb commentator here, but I say great work to this Insider team. I hope every single individual, both in BG and Mitrovica, is exposed and dealt with as a criminal. Just because I am against an independent Albanian KiM, does not mean I am for corruption, from any side. I do not see the correlation, Ardi.
(ecoman, 28 September 2012 19:00)
==================================

I agree. Independent Kosovo is an entirely different matter to corruption in Serbia and how some use Kosovo to steal.
Unfortunately corruption is in every part of the world and Serbia is no different. We will never be able to stamp it out completely but if we can get some and reduce it, it will be worth the time and effort.
I will try to get my hands on this doco. I really want to see it.
No matter which party, which politician is caught in the net we need to know.
I congratulate B92 for having courage to deal with this.

I’ll tell you another story.From 15 years Greek state pays 300 Euro per month thousands of Albanian pensioners in order to declare that their families belonged to the Greek minority in Albania. In this case were European tax payers that pay for Greek chauvinist goals. Now that Greece collapsed banned these pensions, and I believe that the number of Greek minorities will decrease significantly in Albania. Too expensive nationalism in Balkan :)

My advice, tackle crime and corruption but don't link KiM, patriotism and other matters to it.
(Zoran, 29 September 2012 13:32)

I agree... if in committing crimes and corruption there is any hint of apparent patriotism for KiM then those crimes should actually be encouraged :)

650 a day! Wow!

Another Serbian myth dismantled.

650K Euros per day for 12 years equals 2,487,000,000.
I wonder how much went into Thaqi's pocket!

Absolutely no surprise
here is the first part (in Serbian)
prvi deo:
link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycHvgw6oMPE

(Peggy, 29 September 2012 01:23)
Ironic how differently we view the corruption in Serbia and Kosovo or rather in Albanians in Kosovo and Serbs in either Serbia or Kosovo.

It's obvious the DS had their dirty hands in this corruption pot so lets hope the current government cleans it up (as promised).
(Zoran, 29 September 2012 13:32)

Absolutely everone knows that the infestation in the north is product of Kostunica. It was him who had and still has the direct saying in this region. Only one over four districts belong to the DS. So spare us with your lies. The report is the very proof that the claims, that it is about "the fight for Kosovo", are a large pile of horse dung and it is time to remove it, once and for all.

Poor these old serbian in the south that they got nothing from their 'mother state'of Serbia. they didn't even know what to say.. Serbs and Albanians when it comes to the curroption they are same as if they were made from one mother.
Mr. V Kostunica from Belgrade and Mr. N Hurgulica from Prishtina both with one mission; millions of euros in their pocket.
poor ordinery Serbians and Albanians struggling to feed their children PATRIOTISM ON TV - CLEAN MONEY ON FIELD. KOSOVO IS SERBIA OR KOSOVO IS ALBANIA.