Short description:
Elvana Shala is a Goodwill Ambassador for Kosovo at the International Human Rights Commission, representing Kosovo’s public diplomacy internationally while also working on human-rights projects for marginalized groups, especially people with disabilities. She visited Vienna for the Zero Project Conference at the UN office and met the Speaker of the Austrian Parliament during an official program. Her appearance in a beret with “UÇK” symbols on Kosovo’s Independence Day triggered major media attention and backlash from Serbian associations and the Serbian UN mission, which she says even asked for her removal from the conference.

Timestamps:

• 00:27 – Guest intro: Elvana Shala & her role as Goodwill Ambassador
• 01:00 – Public diplomacy: pushing recognition of Kosovo worldwide
• 02:12 – Recognition talk: countries mentioned & expectations
• 03:10 – Why Vienna: Zero Project Conference & UN Vienna (disability rights)
• 03:45 – The beret: Kosovo Independence Day & “UÇK” symbolism
• 04:18 – Personal link: her uncle’s role (described as a “hero”)
• 05:38 – Austrian reactions: Serbian associations & political context
• 08:52 – UN reactions: Serbian mission tries to politicize the situation
• 10:01 – Removal attempt: request to exclude her from the conference
• 11:50 – Her appeal: don’t mix human rights/public diplomacy with politics
• 12:46 – Minority rights: Serbs in Kosovo vs Albanians in the Preševo Valley
• 14:01 – On the court & Thaçi: she believes he will be free soon
• 15:24 – Past & future: peace, dialogue, and Serbia recognizing Kosovo
• 16:40 – Background: activism from a young age; now in her third term
• 17:40 – Planned official statement to the Speaker of Parliament
• 19:02 – Thanks to the Kosovo embassy in Austria
• 20:16 – Closing: invitation to Kosovo & future Vienna visits

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