Week Ten: Mirupafshim and Good Bye

And just like that, my time in Kosovo ended. I submitted my recommendation reports and my summaries of cases. The President of the Court gave me a certificate and a signed cloth-bound copy of the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. We talked-- about the founding of the Court, her time and impressions of William and Mary, and what I had learned. And then, I left. In ten weeks, I learned about the structure of the Constitutional Court,  post-conflict peacebuilding and governance, gender equality and anti-discrimination, and emerging legal technologies. I got first-hand experience working with code law, as opposed to the common law I am used to. I learned about ten Albanian words and four Serbian.

Would I spend the rest of my life in Kosovo? Maybe-- based on my experiences there, I would not rule it out. English is widely spoken, and soon I would have enough Albanian to order for myself in restaurants and perform basic tasks. But then again, I wouldn't need to. Right up until I entered the airport, my new friends followed me and smoothed out any inconvenience I faced. I hope someday I can return the favor; however, American visas (even tourist ones) are hard to come by in Kosovo, and I have no idea when we will meet again. The hospitality shown to me in my short time there and the brilliant young minds I met will forever hold a place in my heart. 

From a practical perspective, I cannot predict the future of the Republic of Kosovo. Unlike the United States, it has the case law of the European Court of Human Rights to guide it, giving it some degree of legal certainty. But will they finally be able to join the EU?  The US and most of the West are staunch allies, but it is unrecognized by the UN, EU membership is on hold indefinitely, and tensions externally and internally with Serbia and other ethnic communities remain high. The spirit behind the Constitution and government of Kosovo is very idealistic and hold elements of the highest democratic ideals. The spirit of Kosovo has existed since before democracy was even a concept. International and domestic efforts will keep the Republic of Kosovo and the values it represents standing for as long as possible. The spirit of Kosovo, and the history of the region, will probably last as long as there is human civilization.