Swiss Review 3/2018

7 Swiss Review / May 2018 / No.3 Ten years ago, Kosovans also cele- brated their independ- ence on the streets of Switzerland, such as here in front of the Federal Palace in Berne. Photos: Keystone The fight for independence has to be continued every day. On the big stage of global politics, the Kosovans are sup- ported by the USA and extremely influential Western Eu- ropean states, while Serbia is backed by Russia. So far, more than 110 countries – including Switzerland – have accepted Kosovo as an independent state, and the Balkan republic is now also a member of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Olympic Com- mittee. Above all, the nation has enjoyed success in the fields of sport and music. Judoka Majlinda Kelmendi, who is now 26, wrote history at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio when she won a gold medal on only the second day of the event. Other Kosovan idols include Rita Ora and Dua Lipa. These young women – who are referred to as “our daugh- ters” by young and old alike – come from Pristina, but grew up in London and are stars on the global music scene. Ora gave a concert in Pristina on the anniversary of independence, and Lipa has announced one for early August. In summer, Kosovo is overrun with “Schatzis”. “Schat- zis” have become a permanent fixture in the Albanian lan- guage. This is the name given to Kosovans who live abroad but flood into Kosovo in their hundreds of thousands dur- ing July and August. They visit their families, spend their hard-earned money from the West, buy apartments and build houses. The “Schatzis” are very conspicuous. The boys are cool guys with gel in their hair, ripped jeans and tight T-shirts. The girls wear plunging necklines, big sun- glasses, mini-skirts and high heels, which are highly in- appropriate on Kosovo’s potholed streets. When the “Schatzis” come to Kosovo, the courting season begins. Fu- turemothers-in-law go in search of brides, future fathers- in-law visit restaurants that could host flamboyant wed-