33 Countries of Origin’ Profiles

9 requires more formal and conservative dress, while wandering around the country has few rules since the people are quite liberal Muslims. If in doubt, dress on the more conservative side. Sports and recreation Skiing, football (soccer), basketball, wrestling, table tennis, and judo are among the sports popular in Kosovo. However, because Kosovo‘s independence was not universally recognized, the International Olympic Committee a nd a number of other international sports organizations denied Kosovar applications for membership. In the early 21st century, ski resorts were under repair following years of neglect and war damage. Kosovo created a network of protected natural areas, including Sharr Mountains National Park, located along the border with Macedonia. Media and publishing Freedom of the press was enshrined in the 2008 constitution. The publicly funded broadcaster Radio Television Kosovo provides television and radio programming, primarily in the Albanian language. There are also a number of privately owned television and radio broadcasters. The major newspaper is the Albanian- language Koha Ditore (―The Daily Times‖); other Albanian publications include Zëri (―The Voice‖), Kosova Sot (―Kosovo Today‖), and Epoka e Re (―The New Epoch‖). The Serb community relies on Serbian-language media f rom local outlets as well as from Serbia. FOOD Justin Dodge Culinary Influences Kosovo's menu is based on the seasons as heavy dishes are more common in winter than in summer and in the summer the ripe fruits and vegetables tend to dominate the cuisine. However, meat has historically been expensive so most dishes are based on beans, peppers, and dairy products no matter the season. Also staying true to their historic roots, most food today is still prepared in traditional fashion, primarily by roasting it.