Phillips: Mosque in needless Pristina, Turkey in Kosovo with Islamic agenda

He also talked about how he views the focus of the Trump administration in relation to the Western Balkans.

He has called the idea of building a large mosque in Pristina ridiculous. He said Turkey is trying to extend its influence here using its Islamist and neo-Ottoman agenda

You have been critical of past governments for the way they managed fighting corruption, organised crime and similar. Do you have hope that the new government will succeed?

There is room for improvement and I hope this government will work better. One of the conditions for visa liberalisation is fighting corruption. I believe the current government is committed to this. We have seen in the past that cases of crime and corruption have been too high. It is time for Kosovo to behave as a real state and to see the state-building process in practice. It's not just rhetoric.

You've worked with past American administrations and we know that the world changed when Mr. Trump was elected President. Will American politics change in relation to the Western Balkans in general, and in particular to Kosovo?

It's early to say eight months after the new administration. So far, the Trump administration has focused on major issues, such as Iran and North Korea nuclear programmes. It has not yet touched Russia and its intervention in the elections. Other issues where the US can make the difference, such as the Kosovo dialogue, Serbia, has not been involved. We know that everywhere in the world when there is an empty space, it should be the U.S. to complete. If the U.S. does not fill this space, Russia's neo-imperialist policy, or Turkey's neo-Ottoman Islamist policy, comes to the point of filling that space. None of them are in Kosovo's interest. Kosovars are nationalists, not Islamists. It is completely unnecessary the plan for a large mosque in downtown Pristina. Religion is good, faith is important, but on symbols, Islam has no place in this society.

Are you against building a large mosque in downtown Pristina?

It's a funny idea. Who asked for this? It costs $44m, more than Turkey has called for the privatisation of KEK or Airport. It's an unnecessary waste of money. Let's use this money for social and economic development, education or women's empowerment. I don't know where this came from, or why you're moving on.

The faithful have asked for it after they say that the mosques are full at Friday's prayer, and there is nowhere to pray.

I'm sure we can find another place for them to pray about a $44 million shopping mall mosque.

It will be paid by Turkey.

Yes, Turkey pays the bill. I am not sure that the people of Kosovo are looking for large mosques. They want a place to pray, and that is reasonable. I have no problem with people of any religion that demonstrate their devotion. But this is not a symbol of devotion. It's Turkey's foreign policy instrument. It is an attempt to undermine Albanian national identity and limit the American influence in this region. This mosque has no place in Pristina.

That's what I want to ask you, because you wrote about what you see as Turkey's attempt to have great influence on Kosovo. You say in your articles that most Albanians are Muslims, but they are not religious and are supporters of the West and the United States.

The Albanians I've known over the years, who are too many, are nationalists. They are not Islamists. Turkey tries to extend its influence here by using its Islamist and neo-Ottoman agenda. Do you really think they have the interest of Kosovo citizens in their hearts? Are you using them? T IS IT all this money because they want the social and cultural development of Kosovo Albanians? Of course not! These are Turkish foreign policy instruments to boost its influence. Therefore, this has no place in the Balkans. People here must rise up and establish their sovereignty and independence by the imperialists of Russia and Turkey's Islamists.

The whole influence of Russia and Turkey took place even at the time of President Obama, at least in his second term. Was US interest in the region dim before the Trump administration arrived?

I have publicly said that the Obama administration lost focus, not only from this region, but also from other parts of the world. They stepped back and allowed themselves to gain grounds of interests that are hostile to the US. It was a big mistake to give up the leading US role in Western Balkan countries. What we now see with Russian imperialism and Turkish Islam is a result of the administration's non-responsive Obama's non-responsiveness to American influence.

President Thaci will meet with Vice President Pence this week. Is this positive sign that the White House is open to Kosovo?

It is good that Vice President Pence has become the man to discuss Balkan issues with. These meetings, however, cannot be just for photos and ceremonies. It is important for Hashim Thaci to make requests towards the US. To say we want the US to appoint a top figure to be part of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. We want the US to encourage the EU to create a monitoring system that will report progress in dialogue. Transatlantic co-operation has always been complex for the Western Balkans. This cannot be done without US participation. And Hashim Thaci has an important role to play. He should remind Mike Pencet why the Western Balkans is important, why Kosovo is an important partner for the US. The US does not have many friends in the world, but we do not have better friends than Albanians. And Kurds. Therefore, we must care for the interests of our friends. This is important.

Do you support the Kurdish referendum in northern Iraq?

Yeah, a hundred. I have always said that Kurds in northern Iraq deserve independence. They have a saying: The Kurds have no friends but the mountains. And I say the U.S. has no friends in Iraq except the Kurds. And, we have to accept this reality and work with Kurds for the state-building project to peak, not only with the independence referendum, but also negotiations with Baghdad for a friendly break and a kind of agreement with Iraq and Turkey, so that the region will continue in peace and prosperity.

Should Catalonia be separated from Spain, then?

I'm not an expert in Catalonia, so...

They compare it to Kosovo, so I'm asking.

I believe in power sharing. There are constitutional parts that allow different groups to enjoy their political, national and cultural rights. This, not necessarily by dividing a country. If they can do this and the central government gives them room to realize their national interests, we don't have to share states. But if that doesn't happen, then people have a right to self-determination, and like Kosovo that exercised the right to self-rule, others have to do the same, and for that they have to have US support.

Finally, I want to ask you again when should these final agreements be reached between Kosovo and Serbia?

We need a deadline. We recommend that this be within 18 months, with the possibility of extending even for six months since the date it resumes with high EU participation and US representatives. Mrs. Moghrin has been in his mandate for a few more years. She wants to have an agreement that is stable. The agreement should include recognition of Kosovo by Serbia. If we could do it on Mogher's mandate, that would be great for everyone involved. The sooner the better the longer you go, the harder it gets.