Kosovars pay the price of corrupt government for visas

Radio Free Europe: Kosovo and Serbia, with the European Union's mediation, are entering the final phase of dialogue for normalisation of relations. The two sides aim to reach a legally binding agreement. Do you expect this agreement to result in mutual recognition?

Robert Austin: I am optimistic about what is expected to happen in the coming months. Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, has made it clear that he wants to achieve something in this direction. The biggest challenge is the Kosovo side. Who in Kosovo is able to make historic agreements? Kosovo has made many compromises in the last decade, and in the coming months, there may be new compromises and other benefits for Serbs in northern Kosovo.

Radio Free Europe: What compromises can the agreement produce?

Robert Austin: I don't think anyone from the international community, especially the European Union, who is mediating dialogue, and the United States, who is not playing much of a role, wants to see some territorial solution to ethnic problems. But, obviously, last decade's negotiations on the fate of the Serb minority in Kosovo have given them priority. I can say that knowledge will be traded with more advantages for them.

Radio Free Europe: Kosovo politicians are divided. The opposition there does not want dialogue to be led by President Hashim Thaci. Part of the opposition also opposes forming the Serb majority municipalities' association. What would you advise Kosovo politicians?

Robert Austin: Every government in Kosovo must accept that past agreements, such as that of Brussels, have brought it in as a losing party. These agreements have not been ahead of the Ahtisaari Plan, under which Kosovo's independence has been declared. Kosovo negotiators, in fact, have no international credibility. They are not the right people for negotiations, and this is a challenge for Kosovo. So my advice is: you need better negotiators and you have to think about Kosovo's sovereignty in the longer term and stop making deals that undermine the country's sovereignty.

Radio Free Europe: But, on the other hand, Serbia currently balances between Russia and the West. Would she have to choose one day?

Robert Austin: I think the Russian factor is overrated. When you see Russia, what does it have? Practically nothing but cheap oil and cheap gas. I think Serbia's future lies in the European Union. This reflects Serbian public opinion as well.

Radio Free Europe: But this week, Greek media reported on the expulsion of several Russian diplomats from Greece under suspicion of having made efforts to undermine the name agreement between Athens and Skopje...

Robert Austin: See, the future is very clouded now; even the European Union faces many challenges. But I am the optimistic one who believes the future of the Western Balkans is in the EU. There is no plan B, there is only European future within the European Union, there is no alternative for Balkan states. It is still a long process, not just for Kosovo, but for the entire region. I don't blame the EU for that. I see Balkan countries say it is Europe to Europeanize us. In the Balkans, serious reforms have failed. I blame governments in Belgrade, Tirana, Pristina, Podgorica, Sarajevo, Skopje for slowing down the process. It is time for Balkan countries to show they are committed.

Radio Free Europe: In the context of integration processes, freedom of movement is an important element, but only Kosovo is currently left out of the visa liberalisation process. Do you think the European Union will lift visas for Kosovo by the end of this year?

Robert Austin: For my surprise, I am optimistic about visa liberalisation for Kosovo, but still, the ball is at the Government of Kosovo. Unfortunately, ordinary Kosovo citizens pay the price they have a government, which is widely perceived as criminalised or incompetent government. So the process has been resolved. Moreover, why the visa liberalisation process has been linked to some issues that have nothing to do with it, such as the border with Montenegro. The Kosovo government has a bad reputation that has done great harm to Kosovo citizens and the visa liberalisation process.

Radio Free Europe: What exactly do you think when you say that about the Government of Kosovo?

Robert Austin: I think that the image of the Government of Kosovo, in global perspective, is not positive. It is a criminalised government, a corrupt state that is unable to address serious issues of rule of law. But this is not only for Kosovo, there are other Balkan countries that can be said of. But, Kosovo pays the highest price, in the sense that there is still no visa liberalisation.