Since I last blogged seriously, a few things have happenned.

Kosovo now has the last UN head...before it gets an EU head. The German Joachim Ruecker took over from his previously-held position at the EU pillar of UNMIK that is in charge of economy and things such as electric power (KEK), telecom (PTK), and privatisation through KTA. EU mission in Kosovo is expected to be involved in similar duties and more. From this perspective, an UNMIK head with this kind of background and also German is an excellent choice. As far as Ruecker the man is concerned, I'm not overwhelmed with his track record in Kosovo, though it's possible that the problems he presided over were also some of the toughest to crack. His pledge "to make it his priority to give Kosovo's two million people 'a clear perspective'" is good, but I will wait and see the performance before making up my mind on this choice.
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From other news: the meeting the alternative leader of Kosovo Serbs Oliver Ivanovic with Kosovo's Prime Minister Agim Ceku was largely ignored in the press. It is the first such meeting with the PM Serbs consider a "war criminal" in a warrant still out in Serbia. Ivanovic seeked respect for Serbs in the institutions in exchange for Serbs returning to them. How many K-Serbs will follow Ivanovic remains to be seen when Ivanonic actually goes back parliament.
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Integration might actually start with basketball. Basketball is the hottest sport in Kosovo. Stadiums of 3-4000 people are often full of standing and singing fans. But basketball matches are definitely bound to become more exciting with the addition of a Serb team from Mitrovica to the first league. "Bambi" will have to play its games in the stadium located in the southern part of the city with majority Albanian. This is the second Serb team to join a Kosovo league, with the less visible handball (for Americans out there, yes there is such a sport) league being the other one to have a Serb team. Most of the basketball fans at their site were welcoming of the move, and were curious to see the atmosphere. Some though were grumbling about the fact that Serb team will catapult directly to first league.
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Division of Kosova trial balloon has been launched again. This time it was Sandra Ivkovic of the Belgrade's office for Kosovo doing it on BBC, and a member of her party immediately bringing it down.

The Institute for Peace Vice President told daily Građanski List that Belgrade does not want to encourage Kosovo Serbs to participate in regional institutions and return to Kosovo, because they do not want an integration of the Kosovo Serbs, they want a division of territory.(B92)