“Need broad consensus for marking the border with Montenegro”

Ratification of Kosovo's border agreement with Montenegro requires a broad consensus by politicians, both from the ruling coalition and the opposition, says Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Enver Hoxhaj. At a discussion at the Johns Hopkins University Centre for Transatlantic Relations, Hoxhaj said the Western Balkans have become a geopolitical chess game, where there are interference of external factors like Russia.

On Monday, the Kosovo government will discuss the demarcation of the border with Montenegro, one of the most difficult and controversial issues in Kosovo. The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo itself, which is now part of Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj's coalition, has in the past rejected the border agreement.

Its approval is the European Union's main condition for visa liberalisation with Kosovo. Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Enver Hoxhaj says optimisticly that parliament will approve the agreement. The government, he adds, is expected to provide more details on the next steps on the issue.

“This shows that there is a new time plan on how to move forward on this topic, and I believe that Kosovo MPs will vote on the agreement because it is important for visa liberalisation for Kosovo citizens. The issue of marking Kosovo's border with Montenegro needs a broader consensus and greater support. After all, both the ruling coalition and opposition have a responsibility for the country, and I believe certain political subjects will positively reflect”.

Another important issue for Kosovo in its integration process in the European Union is the fight against corruption. National Security Adviser at the White House, H.R. McMister at a meeting this week with the region's foreign ministers called on them to intensify the fight against corruption and organised crime in the region. On this issue Hoxhaj stressed that rule of law remains one of the Kosovo government's greatest goals.

Even in Kosovo-American bilateral reports, but also within the framework of the European reform agenda, I believe that over the next few years there will be even greater progress as concrete steps are laid out under the European agenda that will directly influence law enforcement of”.

Regarding the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Hoxhaj said he must have a limited timeline.

President Thaci and we as governments think that dialogue should be limited to time and content. Kosovo's only goal in the dialogue is membership of Kosovo in the UN and mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia. Without this precondition we do not think there should be participation in dialogue on technical topics. This is the essence of our strategic approach to dialogue”.

Despite the region's clear prospect of Euro-Atlantic integration, Hoxhaj says the region has turned into a geopolitical chess game, where there are interference from external factors such as Russia, which is a major geopolitical and strategic opponent of the West and Balkan countries.

There are concrete examples of Russian intervention. The latest case was the visit of several Kosovo Parliament deputies from the Serbian List to Moscow. We still expect to understand what the agenda of this visit has been, what expectations they have from this visit and what the consequences for Kosovo from this visit are. We are concerned that Russia through economic, diplomatic, commercial means is trying to negatively affect Kosovo and the region. Above all, we are concerned about how Serbia has become a platform of extending and expanding Russian influence in the region”.

Despite numerous challenges, Kosovo must intensify efforts to strengthen its state institutions and move forward in the Euro-Atlantic integration process, Hoxhaj says. / VoA