Kosovo facing Serbian diplomatic offensive to withdraw recognitions

As Kosovo is getting ready next month to mark the 10th anniversary of the country's declaration of independence, on the other hand Serbia has warned diplomatic offensives, not only to block new recognitions of the state of Kosovo, but also to ensure the withdrawal of some of these recognitions.

Kosovo Government officials and international law connoisseurs estimate that the offensive of Serbian diplomacy against the state of Kosovo and its recognition has been ongoing, since the declaration of independence in 2008, but that it has already become more visible and controversial in the media.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister in the Government of Kosovo Anton Berisha -- speaking of Radio Free Europe -- estimates that Serbia's actions are completely contrary to the spirit of Brussels dialogue, to normalising relations between the two countries.

Serbia, at the introduction of the 10th anniversary of Kosovo's declaration of independence, to relating this event, has begun an even more intense action, although it has never stopped, over the contesting recognition of Kosovo's citizenship as well as a sort of protagonism allegedly that Kosovo is an issue belonging to Serbia and that it has in its hands other states to attract recognition of Kosovo<1>, Berisha said.

The “of course that is, first of all, in full opposition to the spirit of dialogue in Brussels”, he stressed.

Meanwhile, Africa Hoti, professor of International Law at the University of Pristina, told Radio Free Europe that since Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence, Serbia, incapacity of actual interventions and governance with Kosovo, has had an objective to prevent and impose various barriers to the recognition process for Kosovo.

This has probably been achieved to a large extent because, in recent years, a dramatic decline in recognitions is shown, and this decline has made them feel a little more powerful, playing even with very foul bureaucratic games, which are almost unknown in international law”, estimates Hoti.

Now, not only is the progress of recognitions for Kosovo blocked, but some states have already begun to withdraw their recognitions -- a practice which is not recognised in international law and does not happen by serious and consolidated states”, Hoti said.

On the other hand, authorities in Serbia have talked about possible indicators that Egypt could consider attracting recognition of the state of Kosovo.

Kosovo Deputy Foreign Minister Anton Berisha expresses the opinion that, despite what Serbian officials may say, serious states, including Egypt, do not get involved in such situations.

The “is a serious state, which has a state tradition and I don't believe Egypt is a puppet state, which, whenever Serbian officials make a statement, that it imposes on them or owes us. I believe that we will continue with our pace of approach even with different states of Europe and the world, in this case even in Africa, despite Serbia's” positions, Berisha said.

He has added that despite the fact that any recognition is important, for Kosovo remains of particular importance to achieving recognitions by the five European Union countries, which have so far not recognised.

But, Professor Africa Hoti says developments in political processes within Kosovo, as well as the country's foreign policies, have overshadowed the process of achieving recognition. Although according to him, it cannot be said that because of political crises in the country, international allies have given up helping achieve recognition for Kosovo, however, as he says, Kosovo authorities should not have the illusion that only allies should be engaged on the issue of recognition.

“If a powerful foreign policy of Kosovo has been missing, that at least make the pressure or eventually keep in constant contact with our friends, asking them to extend their hand where the Kosovo hand cannot reach, then it is perfectly natural that even our strategic partners, with some form of rest or to slow down the pace of walking before”, Hoti stressed.

However, for opinion in Kosovo still remains “mister” whether the Republic of Guinea-Bissau and the Republic of Suriname have drawn their recognition of Kosovo or not. Belgrade authorities have confirmed this, while authorities in Pristina have not provided any confirmation. On the list of recognitions published on the Kosovo Government's Foreign Affairs Ministry website, 115 countries, including those two states, figure.