Serwer talks about Kosovo, says special withdrawal would be disaster action!

Kosovo has achieved good “on the 10th anniversary of independence, creating the basic institutions of an independent and sovereign state”, says Daniel Serwer, professor at John Hopkins University in Washington.

But, according to him, it takes another “10 years before we say the state is complete and completely consolidated”.

Wednesday, interview for REL, he stresses that the “withdrawal of the Special Tribunal legislation will be catastrophic action for Kosovo”.

REL: Next week Kosovo marks the 10th anniversary of independence. How do you evaluate the achievements in this period?

Serwer: I think Kosovo has good achievements. It has created fundamental institutions of an independent and sovereign state. It has the government, its parliament, the Constitutional Court, it has municipalities, while the decentralisation system is very effective. However, the road ahead is still long... Probably another 10 years, before we say the state has been completely complete and consolidated.

Big challenges are integration of the northern part, building a minimum security force, which will protect the country's territorial integrity -- at least for a short time -- and frankly, a system of powerful and independent justice. All of this takes a long time to get there.

REL: Kosovo is the only country in the region without visa liberalisation with the European Union. One of the main EU conditions for Kosovo is ratification of the demarcation agreement with Montenegro. But, it seems, there is no majority in the Kosovo Assembly for this ratification. How do you see this situation?

Daniel Serwer: I'm in favor of the Demarketing Agreement. I don't think anything really loses its approval. I think it was a big mistake to postpone ratification and hope it moves forward.

But look, parliament is democraticly elected and has the authority not to approve this agreement, and I have to respect it as well. But if you ask me... my advice is: do this job because Kosovo much more benefits with visa liberalisation than anything it can lose with demarcation.

Radio Free Europe: A few days ago, the European Union has announced the new strategy, aimed at encouraging Western Balkan countries for EU integration. But, of course, there are criteria that must be met on the part of the Balkan states. How you see the likelihood of these states, including Kosovo, to be EU members after several years.

Serwer: I think the odds are good, as many as these countries have readiness to make efforts to qualify for the EU. What Brussels has done with the new strategy is reopening the political window. It has been closed in the past five years, as the EU has said it will not accept new members by 2020. Now they say that for those countries that qualify, Brussels is prepared to continue accession, starting in 2023, and a two-year period for all member states governments to ratify accession agreements.

This is an extraordinary opportunity. I don't know when the window can be closed again. My advice to all Western Balkan countries is to get ready as soon as possible. That means, not only the adoption of necessary legislation, but the resolution of issues with neighbours.

Radio Free Europe: What are Kosovo's chances on this road?

Daniel Serwer: Kosovo's countries exist, whatever Kosovo decides. But if it continues to block demarcation of the border with Montenegro, then the work of attracting the Special Tribunal legislation, then it will prevent Kosovo from being able to take advantage of the new EU enlargement strategy.

More than anything else, Kosovo needs to continue with processes for visa liberalisation and in some way qualify as soon as possible to run.

REL: You just mentioned the Special Court case. Kosovo leaders and MPs have been criticised by representatives of Western countries for the initiative to withdraw legislation for the Special War Crimes Court. But the situation is still unclear. Some say this is the biggest crisis in reports between the leadership of Kosovo and Western allies, including the United States. Do you agree with that assessment?

Serwer: I think Kosovo has strained its reports with the United States and with its friends in the EU. Kosovo is a small country... a small country needs friends. If the enlargement strategy, which the EU has just declared, is not favourable, as it could have been, is because Kosovo has no more support from its friends to act against what Spain is trying to do.

Therefore, you need to maintain good relations with your friends so that things will turn out as it is right.

The withdrawal of legislation for the Special Tribunal will be catastrophic action for Kosovo.

REL: Mr. Serwer, there are reports and statements that Russia is exercising influence in several Balkan countries. In what countries is this happening?

Serwer: It is very clear that this is happening in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in Republika Srpska, where the Russians are having significant successes. Also, it is happening within Serbia. They tried in Montenegro, even those in Montenegro tried coups, but largely failed.

They are still working in Macedonia, despite the deep defeat they suffered with the inauguration of the new government in Macedonia. Look, Russia doesn't care about the Balkans. The Russians are trying to block each new NATO member, block every new EU member, and they do so at a low price.

Their investments in the Balkans are not large... they essentially do not provide external assistance to the Balkans. They do this with minimal investments in money and even in time.

It is terrible to see Balkan people come under the influence of the view that Russia presents any alternative to the EU. It does not represent such alternatives.