Travelling

Switzerland and Austria.

Posted on 15. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

Its 16th June 2010 ,I am in Zurich,Switzerland.I came yesterday on 15th June 2010 from Lahore by emirates airlines,its not my first vist I am coming here since 2003 when i visited the Radiology department of regional hospital of Lugano as a visiting fellow and met Prof.Guido C. Robotti who was the head of radiology department at that time.Yesterday I arrived to Zurich airportand from there I came to main railway station of zurich.I came out of station building an dtook a tax for Raiffeisen where I had to deposit tuition fee of six postgraduate students of LUDES University situated in Lugano Switzerland, I won’t say unfortunately as I believe everything is from Allah,the creator decides everything in our good fortune,therefore when the bank refused to take the amount which was in USD as they told me that account in USD(foreign currency account) is in Lugano city therefore either I change this money in to local currency(Swiss fanks) and bring university’s Swiss Frank account or travel to Lugano and deposit the USD directly into their account.Without wasting time I decided to go to Lugano as I had been to lugano more than 20 time before,I walk towards main station and took a train for Lugano at 3.45pm which reached there at 6.45pm.Before taking train when I arrived to main stationI went to a resturant in basement of the station and took a cup of Capituno where I met a waiter Mr Jameel from Karachi,Pakistan (I believe he told me truth,if not it does not affect my personal account with the Creator).

My Visit to Kosovo

Posted on 15. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

Kosovo – Political Profile
Area: 10,887 square kilometres (4,203 square miles)
Capital: Pristina.
Terrain: Varied.
Climate: Temperate.
People
Nationality: Adjective–Kosovo national.
Population (2000 est.): 2.1 million.
Ethnic groups: 90% ethnic Albanians, 6% ethnic Serbs, 2% Bosniaks, Gorani, 1.5% Roma, Ashkali, Egyptians, 1% Turks.
Religion: The majority ethnic Albanian population, as well as the Bosniak, Gorani, and Turkish communities, and some of the Roma/Ashkalia/Egyptian communities are adherents of Islam. The ethnic Serb population is largely Serb Orthodox. Approximately 3% of ethnic Albanians are Roman Catholic.
Languages: Albanian (official), Serbian (official), Roma, Turkish (official only in municipality of Prizren), Bosniak, English.
Education: Adult literacy rates (2004 est.): 94.12% (men 97.30%, women 91.30%). Enrollment (2003 est.)–96% of children ages 7-15 enrolled in primary school.
Health: Infant mortality rate–23.7/1000. Total fertility rate, births per woman (2000 est.)–2.7. Life expectancy (2003 est.)–75 years.
Government
Type: Republic.
Constitution: The Kosovo Assembly approved a new constitution on April 9, 2008. It came into force on June 15, 2008.
Branches: Executive–president (head of state); prime minister (head of government). Legislative–unicameral Assembly (120 seats, 4-year terms; 100 seats generally elected, 10 seats reserved for ethnic Serbs, 10 seats reserved for other ethnic minorities). Judicial–Supreme Court.
Subdivisions: 30 municipalities.
Economy
GDP (2007 est.): $4 billion.
Per capita GDP at PPP (2007 est.): $1,755.
GDP composition by sector: Agriculture 25%, industry 20%, services 55%.
Agriculture: Products–Fruits and vegetables (potatoes, berries), wheat, corn, wine, beef.
Industry: Mineral mining, energy, telecommunications, forestry, agriculture, metal processing, construction materials, base metals, leather, machinery, appliances.
Income and employment (2001 est.): 53% of the Kosovo labor force is unemployed; 50.3% of Kosovo’s citizens live below the poverty line, and 12% live in extreme poverty.
History
Kosovo has been inhabited since the Neolithic Era. During the medieval period, Kosovo became home to many important Serb religious sites, including many architecturally significant Serbian Orthodox monasteries. It was the site of a 14th-century battle in which invading Ottoman Turks defeated an army led by a Serbian Prince named Lazar.
The Ottomans ruled Kosovo for more than four centuries, until Serbia acquired the territory during the First Balkan War in 1912-13. First partitioned in 1913 between Serbia and Montenegro, Kosovo was then incorporated into the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later named Yugoslavia) after World War I. During World War II, parts of Kosovo were absorbed into Italian-occupied Albania. After the Italian capitulation, Nazi Germany assumed control over Kosovo until Tito’s Yugoslav Partisans entered at the end of the war.
After World War II, Kosovo became an autonomous province of Serbia in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (S.F.R.Y.). The 1974 Yugoslav Constitution gave Kosovo (along with Vojvodina) the status of a Socialist Autonomous Province within Serbia. As such, it possessed nearly equal rights as the six constituent Socialist Republics of the S.F.R.Y. In 1981, riots broke out and were violently suppressed after Kosovo Albanians demonstrated to demand that Kosovo be granted full Republic status.
The Kosovo Conflict and NATO Intervention
In the late 1980s, Slobodan Milosevic propelled himself to power in Belgrade by exploiting Serbian nationalism and the question of Kosovo. In 1989, he eliminated Kosovo’s autonomy and imposed direct rule from Belgrade. Belgrade ordered the firing of most ethnic Albanian state employees, whose jobs were then assumed by Serbs.
In response, Kosovo Albanian leaders began a peaceful resistance movement in the early 1990s, led by Ibrahim Rugova. They established a parallel government funded mainly by the Albanian diaspora. When this movement failed to yield results, an armed resistance emerged in 1997 in the form of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). The KLA’s main goal was to secure the independence of Kosovo.
In late 1998, Milosevic unleashed a brutal police and military campaign against the KLA, which included widespread atrocities against civilians. As Milosevic’s ethnic cleansing campaign progressed, over 800,000 ethnic Albanians were forced from their homes in Kosovo. Intense international mediation efforts led to the Rambouillet Accords, which called for Kosovo autonomy and the insertion of NATO troops to preserve the peace. Milosevic’s failure to agree to the Rambouillet Accords triggered a NATO military campaign to halt the violence in Kosovo. This campaign consisted primarily of aerial bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (F.R.Y.), including Belgrade, and continued from March through June 1999. After 78 days of bombing, Milosevic capitulated. Shortly thereafter, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1244 (1999), which suspended Belgrade’s governance over Kosovo, and under which Kosovo was placed under the administration of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), and which authorized a NATO peacekeeping force. Resolution 1244 also envisioned a political process designed to determine Kosovo’s future status.
As ethnic Albanians returned to their homes, elements of the KLA conducted reprisal killings and abductions of ethnic Serbs and Roma in Kosovo. Thousands of ethnic Serbs, Roma, and other minorities fled from their homes during the latter half of 1999, and many remain displaced.
Kosovo Under UN Administration
The UN established the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), under the control of a Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG). In 2001, UNMIK promulgated a Constitutional Framework that provided for the establishment of Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG).
Under UNMIK’s guidance, Kosovo established new institutions (both at the municipal and central levels), held free elections, and established a multi-ethnic Kosovo Police Service (KPS). The KLA was demobilized, with many of its members incorporated into the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC), a civilian emergency services organization. UNMIK gradually turned over more governing competences to local authorities.
In March 2004, Kosovo experienced its worst inter-ethnic violence since the Kosovo war. The unrest in 2004 was sparked by a series of minor events that soon cascaded into large-scale riots. Kosovo Serb communities and Serbian Orthodox churches were targeted in the violence.
After many years of international administration, Kosovo Albanian authorities continued to press the international community to begin a process to define Kosovo’s future status.
In October 2004, Kosovo held elections for the second 3-year term of the Kosovo Assembly. For the first time, Kosovo’s own Central Election Commission administered these elections, under Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) guidance. The main ethnic Albanian political parties were the same as in the 2001 elections, but with the addition of the new party ORA, led by Veton Surroi, and two new Kosovo Serb parties: the Serbian List for Kosovo and Metohija (SLKM) led by Oliver Ivanovic, and the Citizens Initiative of Serbia led by Slavisa Petkovic. In contrast to the previous Kosovo Government, this election produced a “narrow” coalition of two parties, the LDK and AAK. The December 3, 2004 inaugural session of the Kosovo Assembly re-elected Ibrahim Rugova as President and Ramush Haradinaj as Prime Minister.
In March 2005, Haradinaj resigned as Prime Minister after he was indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY); Haradinaj voluntarily surrendered to authorities and traveled to The Hague to face charges. (Haradinaj was acquitted of all charges on April 3, 2008.) The Kosovo Assembly subsequently elected Bajram Kosumi (AAK) as Prime Minister; Kosumi’s resignation in March 2006 led to his replacement with Agim Ceku. After President Rugova’s death in January 2006, he was replaced by Fatmir Sejdiu.
Kosovo’s Status Process
In 2005, a UN envoy, Norwegian diplomat Kai Eide, was appointed to review progress in Kosovo. Eide reported that there was no advantage to be gained by further delaying a future status process.
In November 2005, the Contact Group (France, Germany, Italy, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) produced a set of “Guiding Principles” for the resolution of Kosovo’s future status. Some key principles included: no return to the situation prior to 1999, no changes in Kosovo’s borders, and no partition or union of Kosovo with a neighboring state. The Contact Group later said that Kosovo’s future status had to be acceptable to the people of Kosovo.
Kosovo – Political Profile
Area: 10,887 square kilometres (4,203 square miles)Capital: Pristina.Terrain: Varied.Climate: Temperate.PeopleNationality: Adjective–Kosovo national.Population (2000 est.): 2.1 million.Ethnic groups: 90% ethnic Albanians, 6% ethnic Serbs, 2% Bosniaks, Gorani, 1.5% Roma, Ashkali, Egyptians, 1% Turks.Religion: The majority ethnic Albanian population, as well as the Bosniak, Gorani, and Turkish communities, and some of the Roma/Ashkalia/Egyptian communities are adherents of Islam. The ethnic Serb population is largely Serb Orthodox. Approximately 3% of ethnic Albanians are Roman Catholic.Languages: Albanian (official), Serbian (official), Roma, Turkish (official only in municipality of Prizren), Bosniak, English.Education: Adult literacy rates (2004 est.): 94.12% (men 97.30%, women 91.30%). Enrollment (2003 est.)–96% of children ages 7-15 enrolled in primary school.Health: Infant mortality rate–23.7/1000. Total fertility rate, births per woman (2000 est.)–2.7. Life expectancy (2003 est.)–75 years. GovernmentType: Republic.Constitution: The Kosovo Assembly approved a new constitution on April 9, 2008. It came into force on June 15, 2008.Branches: Executive–president (head of state); prime minister (head of government). Legislative–unicameral Assembly (120 seats, 4-year terms; 100 seats generally elected, 10 seats reserved for ethnic Serbs, 10 seats reserved for other ethnic minorities). Judicial–Supreme Court.Subdivisions: 30 municipalities.EconomyGDP (2007 est.): $4 billion.Per capita GDP at PPP (2007 est.): $1,755.GDP composition by sector: Agriculture 25%, industry 20%, services 55%.Agriculture: Products–Fruits and vegetables (potatoes, berries), wheat, corn, wine, beef.Industry: Mineral mining, energy, telecommunications, forestry, agriculture, metal processing, construction materials, base metals, leather, machinery, appliances.Income and employment (2001 est.): 53% of the Kosovo labor force is unemployed; 50.3% of Kosovo’s citizens live below the poverty line, and 12% live in extreme poverty.HistoryKosovo has been inhabited since the Neolithic Era. During the medieval period, Kosovo became home to many important Serb religious sites, including many architecturally significant Serbian Orthodox monasteries. It was the site of a 14th-century battle in which invading Ottoman Turks defeated an army led by a Serbian Prince named Lazar.The Ottomans ruled Kosovo for more than four centuries, until Serbia acquired the territory during the First Balkan War in 1912-13. First partitioned in 1913 between Serbia and Montenegro, Kosovo was then incorporated into the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later named Yugoslavia) after World War I. During World War II, parts of Kosovo were absorbed into Italian-occupied Albania. After the Italian capitulation, Nazi Germany assumed control over Kosovo until Tito’s Yugoslav Partisans entered at the end of the war.After World War II, Kosovo became an autonomous province of Serbia in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (S.F.R.Y.). The 1974 Yugoslav Constitution gave Kosovo (along with Vojvodina) the status of a Socialist Autonomous Province within Serbia. As such, it possessed nearly equal rights as the six constituent Socialist Republics of the S.F.R.Y. In 1981, riots broke out and were violently suppressed after Kosovo Albanians demonstrated to demand that Kosovo be granted full Republic status. The Kosovo Conflict and NATO InterventionIn the late 1980s, Slobodan Milosevic propelled himself to power in Belgrade by exploiting Serbian nationalism and the question of Kosovo. In 1989, he eliminated Kosovo’s autonomy and imposed direct rule from Belgrade. Belgrade ordered the firing of most ethnic Albanian state employees, whose jobs were then assumed by Serbs.In response, Kosovo Albanian leaders began a peaceful resistance movement in the early 1990s, led by Ibrahim Rugova. They established a parallel government funded mainly by the Albanian diaspora. When this movement failed to yield results, an armed resistance emerged in 1997 in the form of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). The KLA’s main goal was to secure the independence of Kosovo.In late 1998, Milosevic unleashed a brutal police and military campaign against the KLA, which included widespread atrocities against civilians. As Milosevic’s ethnic cleansing campaign progressed, over 800,000 ethnic Albanians were forced from their homes in Kosovo. Intense international mediation efforts led to the Rambouillet Accords, which called for Kosovo autonomy and the insertion of NATO troops to preserve the peace. Milosevic’s failure to agree to the Rambouillet Accords triggered a NATO military campaign to halt the violence in Kosovo. This campaign consisted primarily of aerial bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (F.R.Y.), including Belgrade, and continued from March through June 1999. After 78 days of bombing, Milosevic capitulated. Shortly thereafter, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1244 (1999), which suspended Belgrade’s governance over Kosovo, and under which Kosovo was placed under the administration of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), and which authorized a NATO peacekeeping force. Resolution 1244 also envisioned a political process designed to determine Kosovo’s future status.As ethnic Albanians returned to their homes, elements of the KLA conducted reprisal killings and abductions of ethnic Serbs and Roma in Kosovo. Thousands of ethnic Serbs, Roma, and other minorities fled from their homes during the latter half of 1999, and many remain displaced. Kosovo Under UN AdministrationThe UN established the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), under the control of a Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG). In 2001, UNMIK promulgated a Constitutional Framework that provided for the establishment of Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG).Under UNMIK’s guidance, Kosovo established new institutions (both at the municipal and central levels), held free elections, and established a multi-ethnic Kosovo Police Service (KPS). The KLA was demobilized, with many of its members incorporated into the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC), a civilian emergency services organization. UNMIK gradually turned over more governing competences to local authorities.In March 2004, Kosovo experienced its worst inter-ethnic violence since the Kosovo war. The unrest in 2004 was sparked by a series of minor events that soon cascaded into large-scale riots. Kosovo Serb communities and Serbian Orthodox churches were targeted in the violence.After many years of international administration, Kosovo Albanian authorities continued to press the international community to begin a process to define Kosovo’s future status.In October 2004, Kosovo held elections for the second 3-year term of the Kosovo Assembly. For the first time, Kosovo’s own Central Election Commission administered these elections, under Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) guidance. The main ethnic Albanian political parties were the same as in the 2001 elections, but with the addition of the new party ORA, led by Veton Surroi, and two new Kosovo Serb parties: the Serbian List for Kosovo and Metohija (SLKM) led by Oliver Ivanovic, and the Citizens Initiative of Serbia led by Slavisa Petkovic. In contrast to the previous Kosovo Government, this election produced a “narrow” coalition of two parties, the LDK and AAK. The December 3, 2004 inaugural session of the Kosovo Assembly re-elected Ibrahim Rugova as President and Ramush Haradinaj as Prime Minister.In March 2005, Haradinaj resigned as Prime Minister after he was indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY); Haradinaj voluntarily surrendered to authorities and traveled to The Hague to face charges. (Haradinaj was acquitted of all charges on April 3, 2008.) The Kosovo Assembly subsequently elected Bajram Kosumi (AAK) as Prime Minister; Kosumi’s resignation in March 2006 led to his replacement with Agim Ceku. After President Rugova’s death in January 2006, he was replaced by Fatmir Sejdiu. Kosovo’s Status ProcessIn 2005, a UN envoy, Norwegian diplomat Kai Eide, was appointed to review progress in Kosovo. Eide reported that there was no advantage to be gained by further delaying a future status process.In November 2005, the Contact Group (France, Germany, Italy, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) produced a set of “Guiding Principles” for the resolution of Kosovo’s future status. Some key principles included: no return to the situation prior to 1999, no changes in Kosovo’s borders, and no partition or union of Kosovo with a neighboring state. The Contact Group later said that Kosovo’s future status had to be acceptable to the people of Kosovo.

The Ahtisaari Process
In November 2005, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan appointed Martti Ahtisaari, former president of Finland, to lead a future status process. Special Envoy Ahtisaari’s diplomatic efforts addressed a broad range of issues important to Kosovo’s future, including decentralization of local government, protecting Kosovo’s cultural and religious heritage in Kosovo, economic issues, and safeguarding the rights of minorities. Over the course of 2006 and early 2007, Ahtisaari brought together officials from Belgrade and Pristina to discuss these practical issues and the question of status itself.
Ahtisaari subsequently developed a comprehensive proposal for Kosovo’s future status, which set forth a series of recommendations on Kosovo’s democratic governance and substantial protections for minorities. Ahtisaari also recommended that Kosovo become independent, subject to a period of international supervision. He proposed that a new International Civilian Office (ICO) be established to supervise Kosovo’s implementation of its obligations under the Ahtisaari Plan. A European Union (EU)-led rule of law mission (subsequently named EULEX) would also be deployed to focus on the police and justice sector, while a NATO-led stabilization force would continue to provide for a safe and secure environment. Pristina accepted the Ahtisaari recommendations, but Belgrade rejected them.
On April 3, 2007, Ahtisaari presented his plan to the UN Security Council. Due to Russian opposition, the Security Council could not reach agreement on a new Security Council resolution that would pave the way for the implementation of the Ahtisaari recommendations.
After several months of inconclusive discussions in the Security Council, the Contact Group agreed to support a new period of intensive engagement to try to find an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina on Kosovo’s status. A “Troika” of representatives from the European Union, the Russian Federation, and the United States, began this effort in August 2007. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon asked them to report on their efforts no later than December 10, 2007. The German ambassador to the United Kingdom, Wolfgang Ischinger, represented the EU; Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko represented the Russian Federation; and Ambassador Frank Wisner represented the United States.
After an intense series of Troika-led negotiations, including a high-level conference in Baden, Austria, the Troika’s mandate ended in December without an agreement between the parties. In its final report, the Troika explained that it explored with the parties every realistic option for an agreement, but it was not possible to find a mutually acceptable outcome.
Independence
Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008. In its declaration of independence, Kosovo committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Ahtisaari Plan, to embrace multi-ethnicity as a fundamental principle of good governance, and to welcome a period of international supervision.
The United States formally recognized Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state on February 18. To date, Kosovo has been recognized by a robust majority of European states, the United States, Japan, and Canada, and by other states from the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Shortly after independence, a number of states established an International Steering Group (ISG) for Kosovo that appointed Dutch diplomat Pieter Feith as Kosovo’s first International Civilian Representative (ICR).
As part of its commitment to the Ahtisaari Plan, the Kosovo Government rapidly enacted after independence laws on minority protection, decentralization, special protection zones for Serb cultural and religious sites, local self-government, and municipal boundaries.
The Kosovo Assembly approved a constitution in April, and it entered into force on June 15, 2008. ICR Feith certified that the constitution was in accordance with the Ahtisaari Plan. At the time of certification, ICR Feith also congratulated Kosovo on a modern constitution that “provides comprehensive rights for members of communities as well as effective guarantees for the protection of the national, linguistic and religious identity of all communities.” More information on the role of the ICO in post-status Kosovo can be found at: http://www.ico-kos.org/. On December 9, 2008, the EU rule of law mission, EULEX, reached initial operating capability by deploying over 1,000 police, judges, prosecutors, and customs officers throughout Kosovo. As EULEX ramped up, UNMIK ended its police role in Kosovo and scaled back its presence drastically, as directed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.
Government and political conditions
On June 15, 2008, Kosovo’s constitution came into force. Under the Constitutional Framework, the President of Kosovo is the head of state and serves a term of 5 years with the right to one re-election. The Prime Minister is the head of government and is elected by the Kosovo Assembly.
The unicameral Kosovo Assembly consists of 120 seats, 10 seats of which are reserved for ethnic Serbs, and 10 seats for other minorities (4 seats for the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities (RAE), 3 seats for the Bosniak community, 2 seats for the Turkish community, and 1 seat for the Gorani community). Three of the remaining 100 seats are also held by minority members (for a total of 13). All members serve 4-year terms. Jakup Krasniqi (PDK party) is President of the Assembly.
The main political parties in Kosovo include the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), formerly led by Ibrahim Rugova and now led by Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu; Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), led by Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci; and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), led by former KLA commander Ramush Haradinaj. Kosovo held its first parliamentary elections in November 2001. After significant political wrangling, politicians agreed to establish a coalition government in March 2002, with Bajram Rexhepi (PDK) as Prime Minister and Ibrahim Rugova (LDK) as President. In the same year, the Kosovo Assembly began to function and pass its first laws. Beginning in 2003, UNMIK began transferring governing competencies to these ministries.
On November 17, 2007, Kosovo held parliamentary and municipal elections. These elections were deemed free and fair by international observers. The PDK gained 34.3% of the vote, the LDK gained 22.6%, the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) won 12.3%, the Democratic League of Dardania (LDD) won 10%, and the AAK won 9.6%. Smaller minority parties also made some small gains. These elections led to a coalition between the LDK and the PDK and to the elevation of Hashim Thaci as Prime Minister of Kosovo. Under pressure from Belgrade, most Kosovo Serbs again boycotted the vote.
In June 2008, UN Secretary General Ban decided to “reconfigure” UNMIK and reduce the size of the UN presence in Kosovo, effectively ending the UN’s role as administrator of Kosovo and welcoming EU deployment of its Rule of Law Mission (EULEX). As Ban stated in his report to the Security Council, “UNMIK will no longer be able to perform effectively the vast majority of its tasks as an international administration.” The EU will gradually assume increasing responsibility in the areas of policing, justice, and customs throughout Kosovo.
The Kosovo judicial system started adapting to the new legal charter on June 15, 2008. Supreme Court judges and prosecutors, district court judges, and municipal courts judges already appointed by the SRSG will continue to serve in their posts until the expiry of their appointment. After the transfer of rule of law functions to the Government of Kosovo, the Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) will propose to the President of Kosovo candidates for appointment or reappointment as judges and prosecutors.
Lt. General Sylejman Selimi was named Commander of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) on December 19, 2008. NATO has now begun the process of accepting certain members of the KPC, as well as new recruits, to voluntarily join the KSF. Initial KSF training is expected to begin in February 2009.
Principal Government Officials
President–Fatmir Sejdiu
Prime Minister–Hashim Thaci
Foreign Minister–Skender Hyseni
Economy
Kosovo’s economy has shown significant progress since the conflict of the 1990s; it is, however, still significantly dependent on the international community and the diaspora for financial and technical assistance. Remittances from the diaspora, located mainly in Germany and Switzerland, account for about 30% of GDP.
Kosovo’s citizens are the poorest in Europe, with an average annual per capita income of approximately $1,800, about one-third the level of neighboring Albania. Most of Kosovo’s population lives in rural towns outside of the capital, Pristina. Inefficient, near-subsistence farming is common, the result of small plots, limited mechanization, and lack of technical expertise.
As a result of international assistance, Kosovo has been able to privatize 50% of its state-owned enterprises (SOE) by number, and over 90% of SOEs by value. Privatized companies have been able to increase sales sevenfold and attract more than 450,000 Euros (approximately $688,500) in new investment. Technical assistance to the Kosovo Electricity Corporation (KEK) has helped improve procedures for billings and collections, increased revenues, strengthened internal accounting procedures and controls, and rationalized budgeting and investment planning. The installation of bulk meters at the sub-station level is facilitating greater accountability for collection performance at the district level. The U.S. Government has cooperated with the World Bank to prepare a commercial tender for the development of new generation and mining capacity. The Government of Kosovo has created a plan to improve the performance of the energy sector by building and privatizing the New Kosovo (Kosovo C) power generation plant and by privatizing the distribution and supply divisions of KEK.
Economic growth is largely driven by the private sector, mostly small-scale retail businesses. The official currency of Kosovo is the Euro, but the Serbian dinar is also used in Northern Kosovo and other areas where ethnic Serbs predominate. Kosovo’s use of the Euro has helped keep inflation low. Kosovo has maintained a budget surplus as a result of efficient tax collection and inefficient budget execution. In order to help integrate Kosovo into regional economic structures, UNMIK signed (on behalf of Kosovo) its accession to the Central Europe Free Trade Area (CEFTA) in 2006. In February 2008, UNMIK also represented Kosovo at the newly established Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).
Some of the commodities that Kosovo exports are: mineral products, base metals, leather products, machinery, and appliances. Its main export partners are countries that are members of CEFTA. Some of the products that it imports include: live animals and animal products, fruit and vegetable products, minerals, food products, base materials, machinery, appliances and electrical equipment, textiles and related products, wood and wood products, stone, ceramic and glass products, and chemical products. Its main import partners are the EU, Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Albania. On July 11, 2008, representatives from 37 countries and 16 international organizations met in Brussels for a donors conference, pledging approximately $1.9 billion (including $400 million from the United States), in support of the socio-economic reform priorities Kosovo has expressed through its Medium-Term Expenditure Framework for 2008-11.
Trade and Industry
Kosovo has been laying the foundations of a market-oriented economy for the past eight years but is still struggling to develop viable and productive domestic industries. Kosovo has one of the lowest export/import rates in the region. In 2007, Kosovo imported $2.3 billion in goods and services and exported only $151 million, resulting in a trade deficit close to 65% of Kosovo’s GDP. This deficit is largely financed through foreign assistance and remittances from Kosovo’s diaspora. Kosovo’s leading industries are mining, energy, and telecommunications.
Agriculture
Agricultural land comprises 53% of Kosovo’s total land area and forests 41%. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization, 741,316 acres of land are under cultivation and 444,789 acres are upland pasture. The majority of agricultural land is privately owned (80%), providing subsistence farming for individual households. Although Kosovo’s agricultural sector is generally characterized by small farms, low productivity, and the absence of advisory services, agriculture contributes around 25% of Kosovo’s overall GDP. Agriculture is the largest employment sector in Kosovo, providing jobs for 25% to 35% of the population, primarily on an informal basis. The agricultural sector also accounts for 16% of total export value and remains an important creator of national wealth, although Kosovo is still an importer of many agricultural products, which accounted for 24% of overall imports ($448.7 million) in 2005. Forestry in Kosovo is minimal; wood-processing and wood products (flooring and furniture) are industry contributors, although not yet in significant numbers.
Religions in Kosovo
The Republic of Kosovo is a secular state and is neutral in matters of religious beliefs.
The Republic of Kosovo ensures the preservation and protection of its cultural and religious heritage.
Freedom of belief, conscience and religion is guaranteed.
Freedom of belief, conscience and religion includes the right to accept and manifest religion, the right to express personal beliefs and the right to accept or refuse membership in a religious community or group.
No one is required to practice or is prevented from practicing religion nor shall anyone is required to make his/her opinions and beliefs public.
The Republic of Kosovo ensures and protects religious autonomy and religious monuments within its territory.
Religious denominations are free to independently regulate their internal organization, religious activities and religious ceremonies.
The three main religious denominations in Kosovo are:
The Islamic Community of Kosovo
The Catholic Church
The Serbian Orthodox Church
Kosova Facts and Figures
Formal Recognitions Data:
65 out of 192 United Nations (UN) Member States (33.85%)
3 out of 5 UN Security Council (UNSC) Permanent Member States (60%)
22 out of 27 European Union (EU) Member States (81.48%)
24 out of 28 NATO Member States (85.71%)
33 out of 47 Council of Europe (COE) Member States (70.21%)
35 out of 56 OSCE Member States (62.5%)
15 out of 57 OIC Member States (26.32%)
6 out of 22 Arab League Member States (27.27%)
7 out of 7 G7 Member Countries (100%)
(and by 7 out of 8 G8 (G7 + Russia) Member Countries or 87.5% )
Countries that formally recognize Kosova make up 71.94% of the World’s Total nominal GDP
Kosovo State Symbols
The state symbols of the Republic of Kosovo are: the flag, the emblem (Coat of Arms) and the anthem and are used according to Law Nr. 03/L-038.
Flag and Coat of Arms
Republic of Kosovo flag and coat of arms. Color specifications and vector formats available for download.

My Visit to Iran

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

The name of Iran comes from an ancient term “a-eer-ya-nem va-ee-jo” in Avesta, the holy book of Zoroastrianism, meaning the land of the Aeers’. This term refers to a certain plateau which the Indo-Iranians, a branch of Aryans selected for their settlement. By passage of time, the term “Aeer” changed to “Er” and later to “Ir”. “Er” or “Ir”, in the ancient languages of the time, meant NOBLE. The official name of our country in the Sassanid period (400-600 A.D.) was Iranshatr or Iranshahr. “Shatr” or “Shahr” means country. Thus Iranshahr means The Country of The Nobles.
Iran which has an area of 1,648,000 km2, and 64,878,000 (1994 est.) population is one of the most strategically located countries in the world. Just as a clue, Iran’s population tops the total population of all the other Persian Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, UAE and Jordan! Iran occupies the entire 2,440 km eastern coast of the Persian Gulf that borders six other oil-rich Gulf states. Iran also borders Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey and Iraq, and shares its 740 km coast line Caspian Sea with Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Russia.

FOR DETAILS ABOUT SHIRAZ; CLICK
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiraz

MY EXPERINCE;
MY FINAL COMMENTS ABOUT THIS VISIT;

My Visit to Russia

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

Introduction To Russia
Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy, was able to emerge from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th centuries) and to gradually conquer and absorb surrounding principalities. In the early 17th century, a new Romanov Dynasty continued this policy of expansion across Siberia to the Pacific. Under PETER I (ruled 1682-1725), hegemony was extended to the Baltic Sea and the country was renamed the Russian Empire. During the 19th century, more territorial acquisitions were made in Europe and Asia. Repeated devastating defeats of the Russian army in World War I led to widespread rioting in the major cities of the Russian Empire and to the overthrow in 1917 of the imperial household. The Communists under Vladimir LENIN seized power soon after and formed the USSR. The brutal rule of Josef STALIN (1928-53) strengthened Russian dominance of the Soviet Union at a cost of tens of millions of lives. The Soviet economy and society stagnated in the following decades until General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91) introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to modernize Communism, but his initiatives inadvertently released forces that by December 1991 splintered the USSR into 15 independent republics. Since then, Russia has struggled in its efforts to build a democratic political system and market economy to replace the strict social, political, and economic controls of the Communist period. While some progress has been made on the economic front, recent years have seen a recentralization of power under Vladimir PUTIN and an erosion in nascent democratic institutions. A determined guerrilla conflict still plagues Russia in Chechnya

My Visit to Hong kong

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

My Visit to Sri Lanka

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

My Personal Experience
Introduction to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, island republic in the Indian Ocean, off the Southeastern coast of India, a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar. Sri Lanka is somewhat pear-shaped, with its apex in the North. The greatest length from North to South is about 440 km (about 273 mi); the greatest width is about 220 km
Sri Lanka’s coast, particularly the West, South, and Southeast, is palm-fringed and indented by lagoons and inlets. The more rugged Northeastern coast contains Trincomalee Harbor, considered one of the best natural harbors in the world.
The natural resources of Sri Lanka are chiefly agricultural, but most of the land is not easily cultivated. Sri Lanka’s economy is predominantly based on agriculture. The chief exports are tea and rubber, followed by coconut products, clothing, graphite, and precious and semiprecious stones. Foodstuffs, mainly rice, flour, and sugar, make up a significant share of imports

My Visit to Newzeland

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

New Zealand is a country of incredible beauty, with stunning landscapes and rare ecological and environmental treasures. When you visit you will understand why its pure and unspoilt scenery was used in all its glory in the Lord of the Rings movies as it’s a country where there are no artificial special effects – just raw natural beauty. Discover a land of towering glaciers, awesome volcanoes, spectacular geysers, geo-thermal treasures, majestic mountains and turquoise seas lapping enticing beaches… perfection

My Visit to Lebnan

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions since 1991 and the end of the devastating 16-year civil war. Under the Ta’if Accord – the blueprint for national reconciliation – the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government. Since the end of the war, the Lebanese have conducted several successful elections, most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have extended central government authority over about two-thirds of the country. Hizballah, the radical Shi’a party, retains its weapons. Syria maintains about 16,000 troops in Lebanon, based mainly east of Beirut and in the Bekaa Valley. Syria’s troop deployment was legitimized by the Arab League during Lebanon’s civil war and in the Ta’if Accord. Damascus justifies its continued military presence in Lebanon by citing Beirut’s requests and the failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta’if Accord. Israel’s withdrawal from its security zone in southern Lebanon in May 2000, however, has emboldened some Lebanese Christians and Druze to demand that Syria withdraw its forces as well.

My Visit to Oman

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

The Sultanate of Oman is a place of unrivalled natural beauty and cultural richness. Even in its modernity, Oman remains distinctly Arabic and offers many unique old-world wonders.
As the oldest independent state in the Arab world, Oman has a wealth of archaeological and historical marvels, including ancient walled cities, forts and mosques.
Oman’s education infrastructure has grown dramatically in recent years thanks to the country’s rapid economic growth. Oman has also become an up and coming tourist destination, with untouched coastline, beautiful rolling deserts and mountain forests.
Omanis are extremely proud of the unprecedented number of World Heritage UNESCO classified sites in their country including the home of the rare Green Sea Turtle, R’as Al-Hadd and the ancient city of Dhofar with its tombs dating back over 3,000 years.
In terms of climate, temperatures regularly peak at 40 degrees celsius during July and August.

My Visit to Belgium

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

The Ancient Celts

Beginning in 57 BC, Julius Caesar extended the power of Rome into the region of Europe that is now Belgium. The people he encountered there were the Belgae, one of the various Celtic tribes of early Gaul, and the Romans dubbed their new province Gallia Belgica. In the fourth century AD, with Rome in decline, control of Gaul was ceded to the Franks, a Germanic tribe that the weakened empire employed as mercenaries. As the Franks flourished, they decided to dispense with their Roman employers. By 431, they had established an independent dynasty, the Merovingian, with its capital at Tournai. Soon after, under Clovis I (c.466-511), the Merovingians succeeded in pummeling the last of the Romans in Gaul. They held large parts of present day France and Belgium as well as southwestern Germany. Clovis also adopted Christianity, thus gaining the support of the Church.

After Clovis’ death the Merovingian kingdom began to fragment, and the Frankish lands did not come together under single rule again until the reign of Pepin III (the Short) in 751. Pepin deposed the last of the Merovingians and founded the Carolingian dynasty, which is named after his son Charlemagne.

Charlemagne succeeded his father in 768 and ruled for almost a half century, creating during that time an empire that covered nearly all of continental Europe, with the exception of Spain and Scandinavia. In 800, Pope Leo III crowned him Emperor of the West. Although Charlemagne spent much of his reign conquering and subduing various parts of Europe, he also did much to foster commerce and the arts. The beginnings of organized trade along Belgium’s rivers was one result of his reign, as was the preservation of classical learning and the arts.

On Charlemagne’s death, his empire was divided, and familial feuding led finally to the Treaty of Verdun in 843. Under the terms of the treaty, three of Charlemagne’s grandsons split the empire between them. West Francia, under Charles the Bold, formed the basis of France. The Middle Kingdom was given to Lothair, though it would soon fragment. East Francia, under Louis the German, became the basis of Germany. West Francia included the narrow strip of land north and west of the Scheldt river in today’s Belgium. The remainder of present-day Belgium was included first in the Middle Kingdom, under Lothair, but it gradually came under the sway of the German kings.

My Visit to Netherland

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

Julius Caesar found the low-lying Netherlands inhabited by Germanic tribes—the Nervii, Frisii, and Batavi. The Batavi on the Roman frontier did not submit to Rome’s rule until 13 B.C. , and then only as allies.
The Franks controlled the region from the 4th to the 8th century, and it became part of Charlemagne’s empire in the 8th and 9th centuries. The area later passed into the hands of Burgundy and the Austrian Hapsburgs and finally, in the 16th century, came under Spanish rule.
When Philip II of Spain suppressed political liberties and the growing Protestant movement in the Netherlands, a revolt led by William of Orange broke out in 1568. Under the Union of Utrecht (1579), the seven northern provinces became the United Provinces of the Netherlands. War between the United Provinces and Spain continued into the 17th century but in 1648 Spain finally recognized Dutch independence.
The Dutch East India Company was established in 1602, and by the end of the 17th century, Holland was one of the great sea and colonial powers of Europe.
The nation’s independence was not completely established until after the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648), when the country’s rise as a commercial and maritime power began. In 1688, the English Parliament invited William of Orange, stadtholder, and his wife, Mary Stuart, to rule England as William III and Mary II. William then used the combined resources of England and the Netherlands to wage war on Louis XIV’s France. In 1814, all the provinces of Holland and Belgium were merged into one kingdom, but in 1830 the southern provinces broke away to form the kingdom of Belgium. A liberal constitution was adopted by the Netherlands in 1848. The country remained neutral during World War I

My Visit to Norway

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

Norwegians, like the Danes and Swedes, are of Teutonic origin. The Norsemen, also known as Vikings, ravaged the coasts of northwest Europe from the 8th to the 11th century and were ruled by local chieftains. Olaf II Haraldsson became the first effective king of all Norway in 1015 and began converting the Norwegians to Christianity. After 1442, Norway was ruled by Danish kings until 1814, when it was united with Sweden—although retaining a degree of independence and receiving a new constitution—in an uneasy partnership. In 1905, the Norwegian parliament arranged a peaceful separation and invited a Danish prince to the Norwegian throne—King Haakon VII. A treaty with Sweden provided that all disputes be settled by arbitration and that no fortifications be erected on the common frontier

My Visit to Denmark

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

Denmark lies between 54° and 58° of latitude north and 8° and 15° of longitude east. In addition to Denmark itself, the kingdom also includes the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
Denmark consists of the peninsula of Jutland and c. 407 islands, of which c. 79 are inhabited (2009). Of these, the largest and most densely populated are Zealand on which the capital of Copenhagen is situated, Funen and the north Jutland island.

My Visit to Malaysia

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

Malaysia as a unified state did not exist until 1963. Previously, the United Kingdom had established influence in colonies in the territory from the late 18th century. The western half of modern Malaysia was composed of several separate kingdoms. This group of colonies was known as British Malaya until its dissolution in 1946, when it was reorganized as the Malayan Union. Due to widespread opposition, it was reorganized again as the Federation of Malaya in 1948 and later gained independence on 31 August 1957.[11] Singapore, Sarawak, British North Borneo and the Federation of Malaya merged to form Malaysia on 16 September 1963. Tensions in the early years of the new union sparked an armed conflict with Indonesia, and the expulsion of Singapore on 9 August 1965.

During the late 20th century, Malaysia experienced an economic boom and underwent rapid development. It borders the Strait of Malacca, an important international shipping crossroad, and international trade is integral to its economy. Manufacturing makes up a major sector of the country’s economy. Malaysia has a biodiverse range of flora and fauna, and is also considered one of the 17 megadiverse countries.

Mylasia

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

Malaysia (pronounced /məˈleɪʒə/ or /məˈleɪziə/) is a country in Southeast Asia consisting of thirteen states and three Federal Territories, with a total landmass of 329,845 square kilometres (127,354 sq mi).The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government. The population stands at over 28 million. The country is separated by the South China Sea into two regions, Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo (also known as East Malaysia).Malaysia borders Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei.It is near the equator and has a tropical climate.Malaysia’s head of state is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,an elected monarch, and the head of government is the Prime Minister. The government is closely modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system.
Malaysia as a unified state did not exist until 1963. Previously, the United Kingdom had established influence in colonies in the territory from the late 18th century. The western half of modern Malaysia was composed of several separate kingdoms. This group of colonies was known as British Malaya until its dissolution in 1946, when it was reorganized as the Malayan Union. Due to widespread opposition, it was reorganized again as the Federation of Malaya in 1948 and later gained independence on 31 August 1957.Singapore, Sarawak, British North Borneo and the Federation of Malaya merged to form Malaysia on 16 September 1963.Tensions in the early years of the new union sparked an armed conflict with Indonesia, and the expulsion of Singapore on 9 August 1965.
During the late 20th century, Malaysia experienced an economic boom and underwent rapid development. It borders the Strait of Malacca, an important international shipping crossroad, and international trade is integral to its economy.Manufacturing makes up a major sector of the country’s economy.Malaysia has a biodiverse range of flora and fauna, and is also considered one of the 17 megadiverse countries

Myanmar

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar, is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia or Indochina. The country is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest and the Bay of Bengal to the southwest with the Andaman Sea defining its southern periphery. One-third of Burma’s total perimeter, 1,930 kilometres (1,199 mi), forms an uninterrupted coastline.

My Visit to Bahrin

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

BAHRAIN
The town of Bahrain is situated 66 km from Saidu Sharif and is 10km from Madyan. It is another popular riverside resort, with bazaars worth exploring for their handicrafts. The surrounding area has beautiful valleys and is suitable for hiking. The mosques and buildings are worth seeing for wooden carved pillars and other fixtures

My Visit to India

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

My Visit to Somaliland

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

Somaliland is an autonomous region, which is regarded by all countries as being part of Somalia located in the Horn of Africa. Those who call the area the Republic of Somaliland consider it to be the successor state of the former British Somaliland protectorate. Having established its own government within Somalia in 1991, the region’s self-declared independence remains unrecognized by any country or international organization.
Geography
Somaliland is situated in northwestern Somalia in the Horn of Africa. It lies between the 08°00′ – 11°30′ parallel north of the equator and between 42°30′ – 49°00′ meridian east of Greenwich. Somaliland is bordered by Ethiopia in the south and west, Djibouti in the northwest, the Gulf of Aden in the north, and, internally, by Puntlandin the east (another Somali region that also claims some of the territory claimed by Somaliland).

Languages
Most people in Somaliland speak the region’s two official languages: Somali and Arabic. Article 6 of the Constitution of 2001 designates the official language of Somaliland to be Somali, though Arabic is a mandatory subject in school and is used in mosques around the region. English is also spoken and taught in schools.
Religion
Somalis are entirely Muslims, belonging to the Sunni branch of Islam and the Shafi`i school of Islamic jurisprudence,
Clan system
There are about 3.5 million people in Somaliland. Somali society is organized into clans, which range from 5,000 to over 50,000 in size. The largest clan in Somaliland is the Isaaq. The second largest clan in the region, and that of the current president, is the Gadabuursi Dir. Other clans with a presence in Somaliland include the Issa, Gabooye, and Harti Darod (such as the Warsangali and Dhulbahante). The Warsangali and Dhulbahante mostly reside in southern Sool, some parts of Eastern Sanaag, and a small part of south-eastern Togdheer, while the Isaaq are concentrated in the regions of Maroodi Jeex, Sanaag, Sool, Awdal, Togdheer, and Saaxil. The Gadabuursi inhabit the western part of the region, in Awdal and parts of Gabiley.
The clan families are divided into lineage units, typically ranging from 2,500 to 10,000 members. It is possible for Somalis to know how they are related by simply giving their name and clan membership. Clan discrimination in Somaliland is highly forbidden and all clans are considered equal by the Government of Somaliland.
Marriage
Most Somalis in the region choose to marry whomever they desire as long as they are Muslim. In the case of arranged marriages, brides can be much younger than the grooms. Marriage to a cousin from the mother’s side of the family (of a different lineage) is traditionally favored to strengthen family alliances, but this practice is not as common as before. Virginity is valued in women prior to marriage. In addition, divorce is legal in Somaliland.
ARTS
Celebrations come in the form of religious festivities, two of the most important being Eid ul-Adha and Eid ul-Fitr which marks the end of the fasting month. Families get dressed up to visit one another. Money is donated to the poor. Other holidays include June 26 and May 18, which celebrates Somaliland’s independence from Britain and Somalia; however it is unrecognised by the international community.
In a nomadic culture, where one’s possessions are frequently moved, there is little reason for the plastic arts to be highly developed. Somalis embellish and decorate their woven and wooden milk jugs (Somali Haano, the most decorative jugs are made in Ceerigaabo) and their wooden headrests, and traditional dance is important, though mainly as a form of courtship among young people. The traditional dance known as the Ceeyar Somaali in the Somali language is Somaliland’s favourite dance.
Also, an important form of art in Somaliland is henna painting (Mehndi) (Somali: Xenna). The Henna plant is widely grown across the region and it wasArab merchants and settlers that first brought the art of henna painting in early Somaliland. During special occasions, a Somali woman’s hands and feet are expected to be covered in decorative mendhi. Girls and women usually apply or decorate their hands and feet in henna on joyous celebrations like Eid, weddings etc. The henna designs can be very simple to highly intricate. Unlike Pakistani, Indian or Bangladeshi henna designs, the Somali and Arab designs are more modern and simple compared with the latter. Traditionally, only women apply this body art, as it is considered a femininecustom.
Henna is not only applied on the hands and feet but is also used as a dye. Somali men and women alike use henna as a dye to change their hair color. Mostly, elderly men with grey hair apply this procedure because black hair dye is forbidden in Islam. Women are free to apply henna on their hair as most of the time they are wearing a hijab.
The main cities and towns in Somaliland:
Hargeisa (Hargeysa), capital
Burco (Burao)
Berbera
Boorama (Borama)
Ceerigaabo (Erigabo)
Dilla
Laascaanood (Las Anod)
Gabiley
Baligubadle
Zeila (Saylac)
Odweyne
For More Details Please Click This Link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somaliland
MY EXPERINCE:
MY FINAL COMMENTS ABOUT THIS VISIT:

My Visit to USA

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

My Visit to Canada

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

My Visit to Sudan

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling
sudan

Malaysia

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

Malaysia (pronounced /məˈleɪʒə/ or /məˈleɪziə/) is a country in Southeast Asia consisting of thirteen states and three Federal Territories, with a total landmass of 329,845 square kilometers (127,354 sq. mi). The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government. The population stands at over 28 million. The country is separated by the South China Sea into two regions, Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo (also known as East Malaysia).Malaysia borders Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei. It is near the equator and has a tropical climate. Malaysia’s head of state is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, an elected monarch, and the head of government is the Prime Minister. The government is closely modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system.
Malaysia as a unified state did not exist until 1963. Previously, the United Kingdom had established influence in colonies in the territory from the late 18th century. The western half of modern Malaysia was composed of several separate kingdoms. This group of colonies was known as British Malaya until its dissolution in 1946, when it was reorganized as the Malayan Union. Due to widespread opposition, it was reorganized again as the Federation of Malaya in 1948 and later gained independence on 31 August 1957.Singapore, Sarawak, British North Borneo and the Federation of Malaya merged to form Malaysia on 16 September 1963.Tensions in the early years of the new union sparked an armed conflict with Indonesia, and the expulsion of Singapore on 9 August 1965.
During the late 20th century, Malaysia experienced an economic boom and underwent rapid development. It borders the Strait of Malacca, an important international shipping crossroad, and international trade is integral to its economy. Manufacturing makes up a major sector of the country’s economy. Malaysia has a biodiverse range of flora and fauna, and is also considered one of the 17 megadiverse countries.

Switzerland

Posted on 15. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

Its 16th June 2010 , I am in Zurich, Switzerland. I came yesterday on 15th June 2010 from Lahore by emirates airlines, its not my first visit I am coming here since 2003 when I visited the Radiology department of regional hospital of Lugano as a visiting fellow and met Prof. Guido C. Robotti who was the head of radiology department at that time. Yesterday I arrived to Zurich airport and from there I came to main railway station of Zurich. I came out of station building and took a tax for Raiffeisen where I had to deposit tuition fee of six postgraduate students of LUDES University situated in Lugano Switzerland, I won’t say unfortunately as I believe everything is from Allah, the creator decides everything in our good fortune, therefore when the bank refused to take the amount which was in USD as they told me that account in USD(foreign currency account) is in Lugano city therefore either I change this money in to local currency (Swiss fanks) and bring university’s Swiss Frank account or travel to Lugano and deposit the USD directly into their account. Without wasting time I decided to go to Lugano as I had been to Lugano more than 20 time before, I walk towards main station and took a train for Lugano at 3.45pm which reached there at 6.45pm.Before taking train when I arrived to main station I went to a restaurant in basement of the station and took a cup of cappuccino where I met a waiter Mr. Jameel from Karachi, Pakistan (I believe he told me truth, if not it does not affect my personal account with the Creator).

My Visit to Somaliland

Posted on 14. Feb, 2011 by admin in Travelling

Geography

Somaliland is situated in northwestern Somalia in the Horn of Africa. It lies between the 08°00′ – 11°30′ parallel north of the equator and between 42°30′ – 49°00′ meridian east of Greenwich. Somaliland is bordered by Ethiopia in the south and west, Djibouti in the northwest, the Gulf of Aden in the north, and, internally, by Puntlandin the east (another Somali region that also claims some of the territory claimed by Somaliland).

Religion
Somalis are entirely Muslims, belonging to the Sunni branch of Islam and the Shafi`i school of Islamic jurisprudence,

Clan system
There are about 3.5 million people in Somaliland. Somali society is organized into clans, which range from 5,000 to over 50,000 in size. The largest clan in Somaliland is the Isaaq. The second largest clan in the region, and that of the current president, is the Gadabuursi Dir. Other clans with a presence in Somaliland include the Issa, Gabooye, and Harti Darod (such as the Warsangali and Dhulbahante). The Warsangali and Dhulbahante mostly reside in southern Sool, some parts of Eastern Sanaag, and a small part of south-eastern Togdheer, while the Isaaq are concentrated in the regions of Maroodi Jeex, Sanaag, Sool, Awdal, Togdheer, and Saaxil. The Gadabuursi inhabit the western part of the region, in Awdal and parts of Gabiley.

The clan families are divided into lineage units, typically ranging from 2,500 to 10,000 members. It is possible for Somalis to know how they are related by simply giving their name and clan membership. Clan discrimination in Somaliland is highly forbidden and all clans are considered equal by the Government of Somaliland.

Marriage
Most Somalis in the region choose to marry whomever they desire as long as they are Muslim. In the case of arranged marriages, brides can be much younger than the grooms. Marriage to a cousin from the mother’s side of the family (of a different lineage) is traditionally favored to strengthen family alliances, but this practice is not as common as before. Virginity is valued in women prior to marriage. In addition, divorce is legal in Somaliland.

ARTS
Celebrations come in the form of religious festivities, two of the most important being Eid ul-Adha and Eid ul-Fitr which marks the end of the fasting month. Families get dressed up to visit one another. Money is donated to the poor. Other holidays include June 26 and May 18, which celebrates Somaliland’s independence from Britain and Somalia; however it is unrecognised by the international community.

In a nomadic culture, where one’s possessions are frequently moved, there is little reason for the plastic arts to be highly developed. Somalis embellish and decorate their woven and wooden milk jugs (Somali Haano, the most decorative jugs are made in Ceerigaabo) and their wooden headrests, and traditional dance is important, though mainly as a form of courtship among young people. The traditional dance known as the Ceeyar Somaali in the Somali language is Somaliland’s favourite dance.

Also, an important form of art in Somaliland is henna painting (Mehndi) (Somali: Xenna). The Henna plant is widely grown across the region and it wasArab merchants and settlers that first brought the art of henna painting in early Somaliland. During special occasions, a Somali woman’s hands and feet are expected to be covered in decorative mendhi. Girls and women usually apply or decorate their hands and feet in henna on joyous celebrations like Eid, weddings etc. The henna designs can be very simple to highly intricate. Unlike Pakistani, Indian or Bangladeshi henna designs, the Somali and Arab designs are more modern and simple compared with the latter. Traditionally, only women apply this body art, as it is considered a femininecustom.

Henna is not only applied on the hands and feet but is also used as a dye. Somali men and women alike use henna as a dye to change their hair color. Mostly, elderly men with grey hair apply this procedure because black hair dye is forbidden in Islam. Women are free to apply henna on their hair as most of the time they are wearing a hijab.

The main cities and towns in Somaliland:
Hargeisa (Hargeysa), capital
Burco (Burao)
Berbera
Boorama (Borama)
Ceerigaabo (Erigabo)
Dilla
Laascaanood (Las Anod)
Gabiley
Baligubadle
Zeila (Saylac)
Odweyne