You wouldn’t be able to publish what I really think

I did this interview Monday for Shpat Blakcori of Kosovo’s TV1:

Q: How do you comment that the Government of Kosovo has taken some measures to ease the situation in the north, but European Union has not removed the measures against Prishtina?

A: You wouldn’t be able to publish what I really think. It is time to stop the nonsense of hyper-pressuring Pristina while allowing Belgrade to encourage attacks on Kosovo police and KFOR peacekeepers, boycott Kosovo elections, and mobilize its military forces. 

Q: Do you think that the image of Kosovo has been damaged by measures from the US and the EU?

A: Yes, unquestionably. Neither Brussels nor Washington has made a secret of their distaste for the current authorities in Kosovo. How you could be more concerned with which buildings the mayors work from rather than about attacks on KFOR police and NATO peacekeepers is inexplicable.

Q: Prime Minister Kurti says that the dialogue mediated by the European Union is not balanced. What is your view on this?

A: It has not been balanced for the last year or more. I am glad that the American and European parliamentarians have spoken up against the imbalance.

Q: Do you think that with the upcoming local elections whenever they take place in the north of the country, Serbian List will continue to have full control as in the past?

A: I imagine so. Vucic shows know sign of easing up on his control of the north. That is what Brussels and Washington should be worried about. He is playing Russia’s game, not the West’s.

Q: In your opinion, what should be done to have more pluralism in the northern part of Kosovo?

A: Pristina needs to reach out to the north and do what it has done successfully with at least some of the Serbs who live south of the Ibar: convince them that they will be better off cooperating than defying. I am not seeing enough effort of that sort, though more may go on in private than I know about.