American Ambassador Haradinaj sucks on the idea for the Conference: Would Open Independence Issue

For the number one United States of America in Kosovo, Philip Kosnett, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj's idea of an international conference is not hit.

In the interview of KTV, he has said this would open many doors.

“opens the door for discussing issues already set, including Kosovo's independence. It could include other parties that would only complicate the work”, Costett said.

Kostett has spoken smoothly about the tax, said her provisional suspension is the only vital step to further the process of dialogue with Serbia.

He has said the US government believes 2019 is the year when the comprehensive agreement between Kosovo and Serbia can be reached.

He has said he agrees with Haradinaj when he says Kosovo is a sovereign country, and that the US supports it. But not all sovereign decisions of friendly countries, according to him, like the United States.

My friendhood, friendly countries will have disagreements about things, but we will react when these affect our interests. So we believe that peace, prosperity, stability in the Balkan region is not only a matter for the countries of the region, but also for the United States. So our interests are also at stake”, Costnett said.

Here is a full interview:

Interactive: Welcome to KTV, Ambassador Costnet. Thanks for being here.

Costett: It's good to be here, Jamie. Thank you for the invitation.

Interactive: Thank you very much. It has already been two months since you returned to Kosovo. How have these two months been for you?

Costett: They were extraordinary. It has been a wonderful privilege to return to Kosovo as an American ambassador, and it is exciting to see all that progress the people of Kosovo have achieved for 15 years. In particular, I am impressed by all these young people I meet: full of energy, educated, who may be successful throughout the world but who have chosen to stay in Kosovo to build a better future for the country.

Interactive: There have been many political events since they took office. Today you have had an important meeting with the president, the prime minister and the chairman of the assembly. The demand remains for suspension of the tax against Serbia. What's out of this meeting?

Costett: It was a very useful, constructive, and sincere encounter. If you'll excuse me, I'll be right back. I want to remind your audience what the United States wants for Kosovo. What we want for Kosovo and other countries in the region is peace, prosperity and justice. Over the past 20 years, I think it is fair to say, that the US has done more than any other country to support our Kosovo friends in building a new country, building democracy, building institutions of rule of law, to support Kosovo's quest for security. T'i mentioned just two examples from when I came here: The US has actively supported the transition of the Kosovo Security Force because we think that Kosovo as any other country in the world has a right to self-defense.

Also, we have announced the new compact programme of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which is just one way the US is offering assistance to Kosovo's economic development. So we believe that a powerful, peaceful, prosperous Kosovo, with justice for all its citizens, is good not only for Kosovo, but also for the US.

We think that to achieve progress in rule of law, in economic development, in regional stability, it is vital that dialogue with Serbia resume as soon as possible. That brings us to the tax issue. I have to say, there's been some confusing and misinformed stories. Just before I came here, I read that the US has threatened with economic sanctions against Kosovo. I want to assure people once more that it's not. This is not the way the US wants to deal with its friend, Kosovo. However, I believe what we ask from Kosovo is a bold leader. It is very easy to decide that there is reason to postpone negotiations with Serbia. We don't think this is in the interest of Kosovo, Serbia or the United States. We think the system is working; the process is working. The establishment of the state delegation is a very positive sign and something I am doing as an American ambassador is that I am holding meetings with opposition parties that have not yet decided to join the state delegation process because we think it is important that opposition parties engage with the state delegation, even if they are not ready to join him officially. They need to speak to the delegation heads to clarify the concerns of their electors, the wishes of their electors. Because we think it's important that efforts to negotiate with Serbia be a process of national unity where all of Kosovo's voices are heard. And this was a very long introduction to your question.

Interactive: What is your exact request for the tax?

Costett: We believe that Kosovo would temporarily have to suspend the tax for a certain period of time and sincerity, that would lead to expectations that Belgrade would take constructive measures on its part. And I mean, I don't talk about the European Union, but I believe both the US and the European Union are engaged with Serbia to make sure that if Kosovo takes this step to temporarily suspend the tax HINA that Serbia will react constructively. And I say that, Jamie, because the dialogue process is not just in the interest of Kosovo or America. It's also in Serbia's interest. I know the history of the region; I understand all anxiety, all doubts about the process, but we believe that the temporary suspension of the tax is the only vital step to move the process forward.

Interactive: And the reaction by Prime Minister Haradinaj is that it is the sovereign decision of a sovereign country. It has nothing to do with the United States and it will keep that decision in force. Do you have any deadlines for waiting for the government to take the next steps?

Costett: The prime minister is certainly right when he says Kosovo is a sovereign state to make its foreign policy decisions. We respect that. This does not mean that the United States must be reconciled or listed with all decisions that Kosovo or any other friendly government makes. This is normal. Friendly governments, friendly countries will have disagreements about things, but we will react when these affect our interests. So we believe that peace, prosperity, stability in the Balkan region is not only a matter for the countries of the region, but also for the United States. So our interests are also at stake. We have resisted to give any deadlines because we are not trying to order the Government of Kosovo, but we strongly believe the removal I say again, the temporary suspension of the tax as soon as possible will push this process forward. If that does not happen, I think we risk losing the moment completely, which would be very harmful to the people of Kosovo as well as to the people of Serbia, as well as to the United States and the European Union. So many things are in question here. It is not the question whether Kosovo has a right to keep the tax, but whether it is a good decision for Kosovo, as well as for the United States.

The U.S. government believes 2019 is the year when a comprehensive agreement can be reached”

Interactive: What's the moment? Do your administration believe the agreement is close, as President Thaci says?

Costett: Yes, we do. The American government believes 2019 is the year the comprehensive deal can be reached. What do I mean by a comprehensive deal? An agreement that does not only focus on what you hear all the time about the possibility of overhauling the border for possibility, but, I think, in an agreement addressing a wide range of things that have shared Kosovo and Serbia. President Trump, as many of your viewers may know, personally engaged in this process. He believes this is the moment. So does the European Union. And we think that a comprehensive agreement should pave the way for mutual recognition of Kosovo and Serbia and for full participation of the two countries in the Western system. A lot of things are being questioned here, and pushing will not be convenient for anyone.
Interactive: What is acceptable to your administration? Will you allow both countries to agree and then examine that agreement and see if it is compatible with your interests?

Costett: Thank you. We have repeatedly said: we are not trying to write down the negotiation scenario. We think it is important that Kosovo and Serbia enter into open-minded negotiations so that they will be able to find creative solutions without restrictions on what they can talk about. You know, if Washington and Brussels have lists of topics that Kosovo and Serbia negotiators cannot talk about, I think that would make it very difficult. As a negotiator, I want to have the opportunity to discuss a series of things with people across the street. And as I have said before, we will see what agreement the governments of Kosovo and Serbia that are acceptable to their people and then we will see what our reaction will be, but we really want to encourage conversation about a series of things. I think that's one of the reasons we're happy with the process of the state delegation. Many voices, many views, with a wide range of responsibilities.

Interactive: So, it's nothing that's on the table, even border fixing?

Costett: It's not up to us to say what's not on the table. The United States only supports this EU-mediated process, but we are not one of the parties. The sides are Serbia and Kosovo; it is up to them to decide what they will talk about and what the last agreement will look like. It would be inappropriate for us to say that you cannot speak of A, B, and C. It would be inappropriate for the European Union to say the same.
“Friendly governments, friendly countries will have disagreements about things, but we will react when these affect our interests”

Interactive: But, you're willing, President Trump spoke of a ceremony at the White House, something like a peace deal, right?

Costett: That's right. President Trump has said that if Serbia and Kosovo reach agreement, we would gladly mark this, organise a ceremony to celebrate it. More important than the ceremony and photography at the White House is the fact that the United States of America is committed to working with Kosovo and Serbia to ensure that this agreement is indeed implemented and that all fulfill their promises.

The international conference would open many doors, even for Kosovo independence”

Interactive: Prime Minister Haradinaj has sent letters, as has other ambassadors, where he also calls for an international conference on Kosovo. Would your administration support that?

Costett: Not now. We think the problem is not in the process. The process of meetings between Serbia and Kosovo under the supervision of the European Union functions fully and the United States of America is closely involved in this process without sitting at the table. As some Kosovo analysts and leaders have mentioned, the idea for the international conference now opens many doors, opens the door to discussing issues that have already been decided, including Kosovo's independence. It could include other parties that would only complicate their work.

Interactive: Like Russia?

Costett: Like that, for example. So we think that the current process is functioning quite well. The heads of the state delegation have just had a great meeting in Brussels with European Union officials. We think... we just have to postpone the process forward and I want to repeat it, because we know that your viewers are concerned about it, we expect Serbia to act constructively and push the process forward because it is also in its interest.

“The US will be concerned, deeply disappointed if Kosovo makes peace impossible in the Balkans”

Interactive: In one of your embassy's recent remarks, you have said there is no say that there will be no consequences for the manner of the actions of the country's leaders. You ruled out economic sanctions, but could there be consequences in Kosovo- USA? If not for Kosovo, could there be for any individual?

Costett: I'm not interested in talking about individual personalities. Let's talk politics. If Kosovo develops such policies that make it difficult or impossible to move forward, to build peace, prosperity, justice in the Balkans, then the US will be worried about it; we will be deeply disappointed by something like that. I mentioned earlier the close co-ordination between Kosovo and the United States for economic development, for security... It is inevitable that the United States and Kosovo must work together to maintain that relationship. It's like marriage, you have to respect each other's needs, each other's perspective. If Kosovo no longer needs the US, but I don't think that's what Kosovo citizens think. I think Kosovars really want to maintain close relations with the United States. But if Kosovo decides this is not important, you know... to see what happens in the future.
But that is not what some politicians say, most of them are interested in maintaining this close relationship with the United States.
Absolutely, I think there's a lot of drama now. I would even go so far as to say that this is an artificial drama, even an artificial crisis. There is a very simple way to maintain the very strong relationship between Kosovo and the United States, and that is to make sure that our policies remain on a line. And nothing matters more in this context than trying to seek peace, prosperity and justice for Kosovo and its neighbours. The tax removal, the provisional suspension of the tax, will turn attention to Serbia. It will be up to Belgrade to take constructive steps with the United States and the European Union watching.

Interactive: Prime Minister Haradinaj wants something in return to remove the tax?

Costett: Our view is that the most efficient way to move forward is to suspend the tax now, and then Kosovo and Serbia with Americans and Europeans involved in conversations can decide what the next steps are. We can go back to this circle, but we are not asking Kosovo to remove the tax forever, we are asking him to suspend it temporarily. And in the end, we don't have time to get into a long debate about the economy, but the fact is that taxes have a very short impact. Companies adapt; governments adapt; individuals adapt, so even though I understand the emotional burden that people receive from taxing, you need to adapt to new circumstances. Kosovo leaders are very capable of demonstrating courage and flexibility to move this process forward and we think that's what people deserve.

Interactive: In fact, the government may fall. Would that complicate tax and dialogue things with Serbia?

Costett: You will never hear me speculate about what form the Kosovo government would have to have. The development of Kosovo's democracy is remarkable and the United States is proud to have something to do with it. It is up to the people and Kosovo leaders to decide what the government will look like; what will happen next. We won't play that game; we won't step on that mud.

Interactive: Last question for KSF. You said you helped and clearly your support was crucial to voting in the Assembly. NATO will decide very soon on its commitment to the KSF. I want to know what US engagement with KSF will look like in the future?

Costett: I am convinced that the United States will continue to support Kosovo in its efforts to build law enforcement, security and justice institutions. I will not speculate about the specific way it will be continued further, but I just want to reiterate that the US has no desire to change the nature of its partnership with Kosovo. It is up to the people and Kosovo leaders to decide what direction they want to take.
Interactive: Ambassador Costet, thank you so much for talking to KTV.

Costett: Thank you. It was a pleasure.

/Time.net