change font size

print version

copyright

Other languages:

BIRN Film Commended at Festival

28 11 2006  


BIRN`s documentary "Does Anyone Have Plan?" was given a special mention by the Human Rights and Democracy jury at the Balkan Black Box festival in Berlin.

In the city that once seemed frozen forever in the Cold War stand-off between the East and the West, there were two screenings of the film about the future status of Kosovo and it's implications for ordinary people in the wider region.

The fall of the Berlin wall proved that no situation is beyond despair. In the debate that followed the first screening of the documentary on November 21, hope for Kosovo was expressed as well - despite the intricate issues that are stalling the current negotiations led by the UN`s special envoy Martti Ahtisaari.

The audience in Berlin was aware of the fact that Germany will be holding the EU presidency for the first six months of 2007 and therefore will be in a key position not only to help broker a deal but also to start implementing it. The EU is expected to lead the new mission in Kosovo. A representative of the German ministry of foreign affairs was present at the debate - as were Marieluise Beck, Izabela Kisic, Bahri Cani and the film's director Lode Desmet.
The debate was organised with the support of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung. Over a hundred people attended.

The main concerns expressed were about the complexity of the deal that needs to be made; the implications of granting Kosovo independence to the status of other regions in the world that are asking for greater autonomy; Kosovo`s internal preparedness for independence; and the tensions that may arise from further delays in finding a solution.

Another debate after the second screening on November 22 discussed the way in which political parties from the German left deal with the Kosovo question. This debate was attended by some 30 people.