Whether mis-placed or not, Syria and Kosovo attract a comparison. The hatred of the dictators, the massacres and the rapes look so similar. America-led NATO woke up for Kosovo but looks the other way on Syria. Kosovo won its independence after 9 years of war. Syria is in its third year of bloodbath. Yet there is no end to our sufferings in sight.

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Last August, Mohamed Mufako, a professor at the Albayt University and my father’s friend, recommended me for 31st International Seminar on Albanian Language. The University of Pristine organizes the course for students, professors and researchers studying the Albanian sciences and Albanology across the world. Being neither a researcher on Albania nor a student, my desire to attend the semester was different. I wanted to meet Kosovan Muslims who had borne suffering of the war. I wondered if there is anything Syria can learn from this great nation’s experience to stand on its feet.

The Kosovan varsity did not turn down a Syrian’s request. I met my uncle and his friend who is manger of orientation department at the University of Pristine. I felt home here for I had to speak Arabic not Albanian or English with them. For the first time since I came to Turkey, my Arab identity was being appreciated.

A view of serene and colorful Prizern city, Kosovo. The photograph captures the mood and ambience of the historic metropolis. – Photo by Alexandra Vakhrusheva

An Ottoman-era mosque stands tall in Prizern, Kosovo, amid World Wars and massacres. The Ottoman imprint on Albanian culture is still prominent. – Photo by Alexandra Vakhrusheva

Hotels and cafés line up alongside the Bistrica River, Prizern. European tourist love this Kosovan hideout.– Photo by Alexandra Vakhrusheva

Welcome to a typical Kosovan village in the northern town of Mitrovica, the oldest known settlement in the country. Photo by Alexandra Vakhrusheva

The bridge on Bistrica River, Prizern, has seen many a troop cross it to attack and retreat over centuries. Now tourists spend hours enjoy the view.– Photo by Alexandra Vakhrusheva

Besides others Turkish and Kosovan flags are displayed in a shop for customers’ attention. Love for Turkey is everywhere here.– Photo by Alexandra Vakhrusheva

The Ibar River Bridge, a steel truss crossing the Ibar river in Mitrovica, is an iconic symbol of division between Albanians and Serbs.– Photo by Alexandra Vakhrusheva

As gesture of thankfulness for help in 1998-1999, Kosova installed a 10-foot statue of Bill Clinton in Pristina besides naming the boulevard after him.– Photo by Alexandra Vakhrusheva

Orthodox Christian Church stands tall in Pristine, Kosovo, embodying the historic multi-religious coexistence in the Balkans.– Photo by Chrissy Eland

A typographic sculpture and tourist attraction in Pristina, Kosovo, reads ‘Newborn’ painted with flags of UN member states that recognized it a sovereign nation.– Photo by Chrissy Eland

A view of serene and colorful Prizern city, Kosovo. The photograph captures the mood and ambience of the historic metropolis. – Photo by Alexandra Vakhrusheva

An Ottoman-era mosque stands tall in Prizern, Kosovo, amid World Wars and massacres. The Ottoman imprint on Albanian culture is still prominent. – Photo by Alexandra Vakhrusheva

Hotels and cafés line up alongside the Bistrica River, Prizern. European tourist love this Kosovan hideout.– Photo by Alexandra Vakhrusheva

Welcome to a typical Kosovan village in the northern town of Mitrovica, the oldest known settlement in the country. Photo by Alexandra Vakhrusheva

The bridge on Bistrica River, Prizern, has seen many a troop cross it to attack and retreat over centuries. Now tourists spend hours enjoy the view.– Photo by Alexandra Vakhrusheva

Besides others Turkish and Kosovan flags are displayed in a shop for customers’ attention. Love for Turkey is everywhere here.– Photo by Alexandra Vakhrusheva

The Ibar River Bridge, a steel truss crossing the Ibar river in Mitrovica, is an iconic symbol of division between Albanians and Serbs.– Photo by Alexandra Vakhrusheva

As gesture of thankfulness for help in 1998-1999, Kosova installed a 10-foot statue of Bill Clinton in Pristina besides naming the boulevard after him.– Photo by Alexandra Vakhrusheva

Orthodox Christian Church stands tall in Pristine, Kosovo, embodying the historic multi-religious coexistence in the Balkans.– Photo by Chrissy Eland

A typographic sculpture and tourist attraction in Pristina, Kosovo, reads ‘Newborn’ painted with flags of UN member states that recognized it a sovereign nation.– Photo by Chrissy Eland

Most of the participants, whom I call ‘Kosovo lovers’, had flown in from Europe, the US and the Britain. Out of 120 participants, there were only two Arabs and three Muslims.

Walking in serene Pristine gave me peace of mind for it was so pleasant to be away from volatile Damascus or over-crowded Istanbul. Every now and then, ugly and scary Yugoslavia-era buildings used to strike me as rude reminder from the recent past. While going from my dormitory to the university campus, I had to walk past the National Library of Kosovo, a building that resembles a jail and whose design looks so irrelevant or out of context.

On the way to my first class, a colleague introduced himself as Slobodan. I couldn't hide my shock before he could add, “I am from Serbia.” I was speechless the same way I was when an Israeli introduced herself to me, forgetting all the sensitive issues and ever-lasting tyranny. Later, I learnt that the university had invited around 20 Serbians to the program. Awkward it may seem to me but surely reflects seriousness of Kosovo to build bridges of understanding and peace.

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