Life is unfair, so you need a strategy

Bledë Krasniqi from Television Tëvë 1, based in Prishtina, Kosovo, asked questions. I responded:

Q: As an expert on the issues of the Western Balkan, how have you seen the frequent visits to Kosovo and Serbia by the US emissary for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, and the EU emissary, Miroslav Lajcak? Are these visits an indication that the final agreement between the two countries is near the end?

A: The envoys are trying to deliver a substantial  agreement, but I’ll be happily surprised if they deliver a “final” one.

Vucic is not committed to stabiliity

Q: Escobar said that the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, is committed to regional stability? Do you agree with this statement?

A: No, I don’t agree. I think Vucic is committed to what he calls the Serbian world, in other words de facto greater Serbia. This threatens instability in both Bosnia and Kosovo [I should also have said Montenegro].

Why not ten minutes?

Q: The United States of America has asked the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, to postpone the implementation of the decision on the issue of license plates for another 10 months. In your opinion, should Kosovo take such a step?

A: Ten minutes is too long in my view. What is the reason for this American request?

No, the dialogue won’t end this year

Q: Do you believe that the Kosovo – Serbia dialogue will end this year? If so, under what conditions? Do you see relations between the two countries as tense recently?

A: Relations are certainly tense. I doubt the dialogue will end this year.

Yes, to the Association with conditions

Q: Should Kosovo establish the Association of Serbian Municipalities?

A: Yes, but only as part of a package that includes recognition and only with two conditions: 1) reciprocity for Albanian communities in Serbia and 2)  compliance with the Kosovo Constitutional Court criteria.

Q: If the Association of Serbian municipalities is conditioned by the internationals, should the leaders of Kosovo accept this condition or do they have to look for other solution.

A: See my response above.

Q: Recently, the European Commission has also asked Kosovo to implement the Association without delays and obstacles? Should this count as a condition for visa liberalization?

A: I hope not. 

Life is unfair

Q: Is it unfair to Kosovo the non-liberalization of visas by the European Council?

A: Yes it is unfair, but life is often unfair. Kosovo needs an improved strategy for getting what it wants from the EU.