Two historic radios, in Kosovo, try as they can to have a social role, to transmit news but also entertainment programs.
The only difference between the two radios is that one is Serbian and is chosen as an update channel by the Serbian minority, the other is followed by the Albanian majority.
Serbian radio is located in the village from which it takes its name, Gorazdevac. The few houses that make up the enclave overlook "Piazza Italia", a large space that, as the name suggests, was built and paved by the Italian forces of NATO's Kfor mission. Next to the houses, there is a clinic, the post office, a municipal office.
"We are active from the 2000, but without Kfor's help we would not be alive yet. It is the Italians who have provided us with the technical means to carry out good quality broadcasts, ”explains Radovan, a collaborator and deputy director of the radio, who as a journalist also produces short television services which he then sells to local broadcasters.
His is the last service on what happened to the Serbian-Orthodox monastery of Decani, when one of the entrances was smeared with writings extolling the KLA, the liberation army of Kosovo that was guilty of the "purges" against the Serbs.
"They are ignoble acts that take us back in time and steal our future," says the journalist.
On the spot it did not arrive immediately, because it does not have a car available, and it had to leave immediately because it feared some violent act against it by the Albanian visitors of the sacred place.
Despite these difficulties, radio Gorazdevac manages to move forward and is very heard and loved by the Serbian community.
"After all, in Kosovo the Serbs listen only to news coming from Serbian channels and therefore to make radio information for our community there is only us and RTK in Pristina", the deputy director says.
To broadcast for the Albanian community, instead thinks radio Peja. Even in this case, the only modern equipment in a building with a spartan and internally bare appearance, was provided by the Italian contingent of KFOR.
The historical director, Xhavit Husai, tells a story that takes decades. The language used for the broadcasts, which until the 99 was the Serbian, after giving way to the Albanian, in the 2000 (with the return of the Serbs who fled after the war) began to "speak" Serbian again.
Now Radio Peja is a multi-ethnic radio. "We broadcast in Albanian, Turkish and Bosnian," says the director. Common difficulties, therefore, that do not discourage those responsible for the two radios from the desire to take care of the next electoral round for the renewal of the Parliament. This will take place next June 8th. The opinion on the elections is also common.
"There is hope for a new season for Kosovo. But we have had too many disappointments in the past and now, therefore, we are cautious in making predictions. We only hope to put behind us a past of violence and reciprocal oppression, "comment the two journalists, demonstrating that, at least in this case, the different ethnicity does not alter the possible judgments.
Daniela Lombardi
(in the photo - by the author - the deputy director of radio Gorazdevac)
