I mentioned this in another thread, but I would like to reiterate it in a separate topic in case anyone from LC's management or band happens to drop in on this site:
There are thousands of Leonard Cohen fans in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Kosovo, who are not easily able to get visas to travel to the EU (or anywhere else, for that matter) for concerts and other fun things. A concert in Belgrade, Zagreb, or even Sarajevo (though I doubt promoters here could handle it) would fulfill the greatest wishes of LC's Balkan fans.
I know Belgrade has been rumored, but never confirmed. I hope LC and his management will consider such a date, if they get a reasonable offer from the promoters.
I speak from experience, as my wife is a citizen of B-H, and we hardly managed to get a visa for her to come to the concert in Lucca.
Appeal for Balkans date
Appeal for Balkans date
1988 & 1993: Washington, DC / 2008: Lucca, Italy / 2009: Belgrade, Serbia
Re: Appeal for Balkans date
Well, i didn't really know that you need a visa for Italy! There was plenty of Slovenians and Croats in Lucca, I heard the familiar language from everywhere. Can you go to Bucharest? (Or no - it's also EU?)
I can say only that Zagreb show was proposed by at least one local promoter but too late for the Fall leg of 2008 tour. Not any news about rumoured September shows in Belgrade and Ljubljana (I guess those cities simply couldn't compete with offers for extra dates in Vienna...). But you know, the tour will continue into 2009... So let's keep fingers crossed
I can say only that Zagreb show was proposed by at least one local promoter but too late for the Fall leg of 2008 tour. Not any news about rumoured September shows in Belgrade and Ljubljana (I guess those cities simply couldn't compete with offers for extra dates in Vienna...). But you know, the tour will continue into 2009... So let's keep fingers crossed

Leonard Cohen Newswire / bookoflonging.com (retired) / leonardcohencroatia.com (retired)
Re: Appeal for Balkans date
Yes Tom, Slovenia is in the EU so they can travel, and Croatian citizens (including most Croats in BiH) can also travel to the EU without restriction, but most of your neighbors (and former countrymen) are not free to travel. Visas are required to go almost anywhere, and can be denied for any number of reasons.Tom Sakic wrote:Well, i didn't really know that you need a visa for Italy! There was plenty of Slovenians and Croats in Lucca, I heard the familiar language from everywhere. Can you go to Bucharest? (Or no - it's also EU?)
1988 & 1993: Washington, DC / 2008: Lucca, Italy / 2009: Belgrade, Serbia
Re: Appeal for Balkans date
Didn't know that
Let's keep our fingers crossed, then.

Leonard Cohen Newswire / bookoflonging.com (retired) / leonardcohencroatia.com (retired)
Re: Appeal for Balkans date
I simply have to join Mark's appeal for a concert somewhere in former SFRJ - Belgrade, Zagreb, Sarajevo!
For me personally, that would be my biggest youth dream come true! Sorry for being emotional, but that's how it is....
For me personally, that would be my biggest youth dream come true! Sorry for being emotional, but that's how it is....