KFOR's "Decongestants for Nasal Congestion"

Reporter, Banja Luka, Srpska, B-H, April 27, 2001

That KFOR is "taking care of" the remaining Serbs living in Kosovo is further confirmed by testimony of a passenger who traveled on the bus from Strpce to Belgrade. Upon arriving in the capital, the slightly confused Kosovo traveler told Reporter: "A KFOR soldier got onto our bus, smiled and began passing out this paper. So now they're reporters, too, not just soldiers. But just look at what's written here! It's not like we Serbs are so stupid that we don't know what to do for a cold." The information service of KFOR has gone to the trouble to prepare an overview of "most important" information for the Serb population that travels through Kosovo in escorted convoys written in the Cyrillic alphabet. (The newspapers only arrive in the southernmost Serb enclave on Tuesdays and Fridays with the convoys from central Serbia.) This time there was mention of the historic meeting at the border between the Yugoslav Army and international forces in Kosovo, tuberculosis, pregnancy and smoking, colds and flu, hoof-and-mouth disease as well as hot political items. Thus on the last page of the newsletter one could find news of the beginning of the pre-election campaign in Montenegro and information that the former Yugoslav president was arrested. However, most amusing of all were suggestions for home remedies for the flu. KFOR's advice: "Take decongestants for nasal congestion!" If anyone knows what they are, they'll no doubt take them; the rest should ask KFOR what this means or just make some hot tea.

Translated by S. Lazovic (April 25, 2001)