Kurti says conflict aims to divide country, former FM wants US to take lead in dialogue

Prime Minister Albin Kurti has called the recent violence in the north of Kosovo a push to divide the country or create a version of Republika Srpska, while former foreign minister Meliza Haradinaj said Kosovo should review EU participation in ongoing dialogue and look to the US to take the lead.

Over the last ten days, significant unrest has occurred in the north of Kosovo, inhabited by predominantly ethnic Serbs. Protests have occurred outside municipal buildings to prevent ethnic Albanian mayors, elected after the mass resignation of Serb officials and a subsequent abandonment of the vote, from entering the premises. 

The conflict resulted in the injury of at least 30 NATO peacekeeping troops, plus journalists, law enforcement and protestors.

Kurti told the media that the conflict aims to push for territorial exchange and the division of Kosovo. Serbia and many of the northern Serbs do not recognise Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence following the 1998-1999 war.

"Those from this failed project have not given up on the form of an idea. But this idea, to come to expression, can only be done through violence. Once, it could express itself through talks for territorial exchange and division of Kosovo. Today this idea can only be expressed through violence, and we are seeing this, and we must repel this, and for this, we need the help of our international partners and friends the United States of America, the European Union, NATO, the Kingdom of United and so on", said Kurti.

He added that it is necessary to ensure the rule of law and constitutionality are enforced throughout the country, including the one-sixth that lies above the Iber River, about the four municipalities that have experienced unrest.

His comments were echoed by former foreign minister Meliza Haradinaj who said she believes the unrest, combined with the request to establish the Association of Serb Municipalities, is an attempt to divide the country and bring the north into Serbia.

She told Euronews Albania that this situation is clear to those in the region but not so much to the European Union.

“The more Serbia aligns with Russia, the more the West treats Serbia with respect and higher tolerance compared to how it treats Kosovo. We listened to all the West’s requirements, refrained from claiming genocide against Serbia, made inconvenient agreements and concessions…but Serbia remains a frontrunner candidate for the EU despite breaking the Ohrid agreement,” she said, adding, “We have seen the West, the EU and the US being silent about it.”

She explained that the “appeasement policy with Russia from the West does not work. We doubt that the appeasement policy will be a wise investment with Serbia because Russia is deeply rooted in the state of Serbia.”

Haradinaj went as far as to suggest that Kosovo should have a strategic review of its participation in the EU dialogue and how the EU treats Kosovo compared to Serbia. “Kosovo should not be held hostage because of EU structural and political issues to achieve lasting peace and mutual recognition,” she said.

The former minister added, “I do not see the point of Kosovo participating in EU-led dialogue anymore, so this could be achieved by US mediation as the US recognises both Kosovo and Serbia as states and it is impartial.”

On the topic of US-EU relations, Kurti agreed there were differences in strategic approach but not in vision and values.

“Sometimes there may be some difference in approach, sometimes there may be some difference in tactical elements, let's say, of the operations that we conduct, and in terms of values, goals, interests, beliefs, visions, we have absolutely no difference with the United States of America. America and the European Union", he continued.

The actions of Kosovo to install mayors in the north resulted in sanctions from the US, including cancelling Kosovo’s participation in the Defender 2023 military exercise, withdrawing help in lobbying non-recognisers and gaining membership to international organisations.

On Friday, Kurti said he is ready to hold new elections in the north with the participation of everyone if the violence stops. Over the weekend, the OSCE said they would monitor the elections if they took place.

"As we have heard from the EU and other factors, there should be comprehensive elections so that the mayors of the municipalities in the north have the necessary legitimacy. Of course, our mission is also ready to help in this direction", said the head of the OSCE mission in Kosovo, Michael Davenport. However, using the word legitimacy was surprising as no international stakeholders have questioned their legitimacy so far.

"Even though the elections were conducted in accordance with the legislation, the situation is not sustainable for the presidents elected by a minimal number of voters. On the other hand, any violence is completely unacceptable,” he added.

Meanwhile, the side effects of the situation are being felt elsewhere in the country as Chairman Memli Krasniqi of the Democratic Party, currently in opposition, said tourists have started cancelling their holidays in fear of visiting a “little Ukraine”.

Similar comments have been heard within neighbouring Albania’s tourism industry as some tourists fear the outbreak of unrest.

Over the weekend, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced he would send more troops to Kosovo, a move welcomed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

(Alice Taylor | Exit.al)