Former Czech diplomat blames Kosovo leaders for lack of recognition

Karel Schwarzenberg, one of the key figures in Czech politics in the past few decades, interrupted me from the beginning of our talk on the 10th anniversary of Kosovo's independence.

“has spent a lot of time”, he says laughing, as he prepares to give his opinion about the journey of a state which, when serving as Czech Foreign Minister in 2008, had decided to recognise, despite powerful controversy from a part of the political scene in his country.

Ten years later, he now says Kosovo is marking “positive developments”, but that “has still much work to do for Kosovo to be admitted as a respected country in international politics.

In addition to fighting corruption and building infrastructure to universities and schools, as he mentions the former diplomat, currently MP at the Czech Parliament, says all states must face their past.

When it comes to citizenship, each country faces great difficulties, and I see no reason why Kosovo is excluded from this rule”, he says in a conversation with Radio Free Europe held in Prague.

In 2008, just two days after Kosovo's declaration of independence, former Prime Minister Schwarzenberg had shown the will to recognise its independence.

“We will see how many European countries will recognise Kosovo, and how the Government of Kosovo will behave. We will make the decision based on these facts. That's why I'm not going to mention any date in particular we're going to work with facts, and not the date”, he said on February 19, 2008. (source: radio.cz).

His decision was rejected by several political parties, including former President Vaclav Klaus. In fact, even Czech incumbent Milos Zaman, who was re-elected to this position a few weeks ago, considered closer to Russia, is not recognised as a supporter of Kosovo's independence.

But most people have accepted independence. Independent Kosovo is not a problem for the majority of Czech”, Scherzenberg now says. “Not a political problem”.

As experienced dams, there is no dilemma that international recognitions are important to a state.

Speaking of the five EU nations that have not yet recognised Kosovo -- Spain, Greece, Romania, Cyprus and Slovakia -- says some of these countries have <x0-minutes strong -- and cannot accept the principle that part of their citizens can declare independence.

But, according to him, Kosovo should not offer “reason” to postpone their decision to recognise independence.

There will be [the possibility for change in the attitude of these states] when the last reason to postpone this decision goes away. As I told you earlier, you're still offering reasons to be ignorant. And, of course, when those reasons become negligible and when you have full relations with Belgrade, then these countries will accept”, he says.

But according to him, all of this can take time.

“is not a thing that can happen since tomorrow”, he says.

Lessons Kosovo Can Learn From Chekhia

The Czech Republic, which since the end of World War II had been under the influence of the former Soviet Union, is considered a developed state, with unemployment numbers not exceeding 5 percent. The country is a member of the European Union and NATO.

Asked about what Kosovo can learn from Czech experience, Schearzenger says countries should be taught to speak and co-operate with each other and face the past.

As an example, it mentions the relationship between his country and Germany, and it says there was a time when Czechs mainly talked about Nazi crimes against them “but we didn't talk much about what we did to Germans”.

This has now changed in the last 25 years, and we have successful dialogue and co-operation with the Germans. Because they talk about what they did, and we now talk about what we did in the past”, he says.

In this context, asked whether the Specialised Chambers to try the possible crimes of former KLA members is the way for Kosovo to face the past, he says the real “” is the right way.

You try to find the truth, even when it's unpleasant. It's imperative”.

Look, when we're lying about the past, we distort our political behavior”, he insists.

On the other hand, he says corruption must be eliminated and the country developed.

“focus on development of the country, less on the status” itself.

If you're rich and stable like Switzerland, no one will question status”, he explains.

Serbia's EU membership after all “criteria” are met

Schearzenger has a mixed attitude regarding developments in the Western Balkans in the past few years.

“Some appropriate steps, but some other wrong”, he explains.

In this case, he says there have been problems in Macedonia because of the name dispute with Greece, which have slowed EU integration, but there have been no similar developments in Bosnia either. The more optimistic attitude gives for Albania, where it says there has been very good development.

Asked about the possibility of Serbia and Montenegro joining the EU in 2025 As recently mentioned by senior European Commission officials, he says a country should be accepted if it has fulfilled all criteria.

Any state should be accepted when ready. When the EU says a country has met all the conditions, then it must be accepted”, it says.

Asked whether with the fulfillment of all conditions means that Serbia should fully normalise its relationship with Kosovo, he says: “I told you, if they meet the conditions”.