U.S. government doesn't support border correction

Phillips, director of the Peace and Human Rights Building Programme at the Institute for Human Rights Studies at Columbia University, in a callo interview. com said that if President Thaci is saying the American government supports his position, then “ai either misunderstood them, or he's mising”.

Until days ago, Phillips has been engaged in President Thaci's foreign expert team, but has resigned, openly expressing disagreements with the idea of partitioning Kosovo.

Callo. com: Mr. Philips, recently both of our leaders, Hashim Thaci and Ramush Haradinaj, have been to America. Since they've returned, what we know is that they've both met with senior American officials and they both said different things before your government delegation. How do you see this and what you think shows about Kosovo the fact that our president goes to the meeting and says “I am willing to negotiate the borders”, while the prime minister says the “borders are inevitable, we do not want to negotiate this”.

David Phillips: First I didn't share all the meetings, meeting with the Secretary of State was held only by Mr. Ramush Haradinaj. There were other meetings with other State Department officials. It is important to clarify what the U.S. position is when (John) Bolton, the National Security Councilman, said the US wanted the parties to find a deal and then consider support, has not been a support for border correction or division.

Callo. com: Are you sure?

David Phillips: Yeah, I'm sure. I talked to American officials. The American government does not support border correction, it supports finding a common solution that it can assess and that agreement should get support from relevant governments and civil society.

Callo. com: Wait, wait, what officials did you talk to, because our president is saying the opposite of what you're saying?

David Phillips: I won't give names, but I've served as senior adviser to three presidents, keeping in touch with American officials, I've spoken with senior American government officials.

Callo. com: Even with Trump Administration? What I know about you is that you worked for the Democrats' governments. Are you sure you even have contact with Trump Administration?

David Phillips: Yeah, I worked for the Democrat and Republican Administration, I'm glad I cooperated with Mrs. Clinton. I talked to officials at Trump Administration. No one has officially supported the division or correction of borders. So if President Thaci is saying the U.S. government supports his position, he has either misunderstood them or misinterprets them.

Callo. com: Tell me what they support? Let me translate for our audience, if your government is saying that “we're going to support you for what your presidents agree to”. Does that not mean that they are open to accepting correction of borders, separation, whatever you call it? In fact they're open, your government is open to accept this.

David Phillips: John Bolton's statement on the matter has been completely unnecessary. Of course, the United States supports whatever parties agree. First, there must be a deal, and the deal must be written and detailed. It must be approved by the Parliament, and should be supported by civil society. We are still far from any agreement to reach that conclusion.

Callo. com: In fact, today, what we know is that President Thaci is the only one pushing this agreement, it doesn't seem to have the backing of his party, which has come up with a resolution saying that “does not want a change of borders”. The opposition certainly does not support it, there has been a protest that was supported by people who do not support this option. So I am not sure if anyone else in Kosovo supports this option. And of course the prime minister is publicly saying he does not support this option. So where does this lead us as a country and especially in the face of an administration like this of the United States, where both of our leaders go to the State Department and say different things?

David Phillips: So there is no unified position in Kosovo, you are right. Based on the interviews I did, I will not give names, but it has been a broad sample of political party leaders and politicians. No one has supported the correction of borders. Touchdown! Within Quint, there is also no unified position and the American government does not support border correction.

Callo. com: Can you tell me again what the different positions of Quinn countries are. Clearly what we see, but what is said in your discussions? People close to our president say Quinn will change his attitude, Germans will join in helping and supporting changes in the borders. That's what some Thaci aides are telling us, and it's also working with the British. Do you think this will happen?

David Phillips: Effective policymaking is not based on desire, and there is nothing that shows that Germany, the UK or the US will join in supporting the border correction proposal. Unless there's a strong view between Quinn. I don't think Kosovo politicians will find a unified position. Unfortunately, this has caused chaos and dysfunction. And this impression is being manipulated and used by Belgrade to further undermine Kosovo's credibility and question whether the JND opinion, which legally authorised Kosovo as an independent-Sivran state, is still applicable. So this entire ongoing internal debate that Thaci is pushing is being used by Kosovo's opponents to undermine the country. It is time for us to have a consensus, for people to unite and have a dialogue, to come as a common platform. This recent public disagreement is not in the interest of the independent state called Kosovo and supported by the international community.

Callo. com: What we know from the conversations we and you with different sources is that the American administration has asked our president of “becomes creative”, this seems to be the expression that <x2-negotiation and become creative because you need a” deal. Now, you put yourself in the position of this president and tell me what he had to negotiate away, what do we have Kosovo to give in this “final agreement”?

David Phillips: If Belgrade's concern has to do with the level of democracy that will ultimately affect the situation of Kosovo Serbs, if they worry about it, then it's very simple: you can make full decentralisation on the condition that the Kosovo government keeps competencies on specific issues such as justice, police, urban planning, environment, finance, and regulations that will protect cultural heritage that should be a practice that applies to all Kosovo citizens.

Callo. com: Mr. David, Kosovo has signed Ahtisaari's plan, as well as the Association of Serbian municipalities. I ask you, is there anything else I can give you after all this?

David Phillips: All these measures I talked about should be implemented in full, and Kosovo should show seriousness in leading a government that is loanable. It must demonstrate commitment to the principles of Ahtisaari's plan, dedication to its constitution and must fight corruption.