Christopher R. Hill: Americans no longer deal with Kosovo

Deutsche Welle: Ambassador Hill, since last summer we have heard a new way of talking about Kosovo, under which: “we are talking all the time about Kosovo, we are tired, we have other priorities, and we need to find the final solution”. Do you agree?

Christopher R. Hill: I think Kosovo has been a historic issue with which we finally dealt in 1998/99. It seemed to be a problem that would be solved the next day. I don't believe the story that led to Kosovo's problem was understood. Be assured that if you speak to policymakers now in the United States, you will find that they are dealing with issues like North Korea, Iran, Venezuela. Kosovo is not at the top of the issues they deal with. But, I think Kosovo remains an issue that makes Europe not completely free and at peace. Therefore, it is necessary to continue commitment to normalise Kosovo's relations with its neighbours and to ensure that it is safe. For Kosovo's relations with Serbia to be such, allowing both countries to move forward.

Deutsche Welle: This forward movement also includes <x0 final resolution”, under which Serbia's south” joins Kosovo, that Kosovo's north joins Serbia and that Kosovo and Serbia make a Greater Albania”. What final solution is this?

Christopher R. Hill: When it comes to territories, it is always about deep emotions. There are also precedents in other areas. I think exchange of territories is one thing to do when you have no choice. As I understand this concept, it is that north Mitrovica is something that can be balanced with the Presevo Valley. But I would leave territorial issues as the last elements of any agreement. I would put aside the solution with territories and would initially deal with all other problems, which exist between Serbia and Kosovo. If territorial exchange is one thing all sides agree on, then it should include the 1975 Helsinki Accords of O The SEU, of course, can become a mixture. But, I think that at this moment the territorial issue between Mitrovica and the Presevo Valley should be seen more as symptom of the deepest problems, which exist between Serbia and Kosovo. Although we do remember O The SEU, although talking about territorial exchanges, would not address this issue and I would not consider this solution a real end to problems.

Deutsche Welle: How do US-European relations affect resolving such issues in the Western Balkans?

Christopher R. Hill: Since January 2017 we have an administration that follows European issues by having uniform access. I'm very concerned that the Trump administration has allowed this to itself, and in this kind of uniformism has become insignificant in the matter, which I think are important to the US. This includes problems like those that remain in the Balkans. I hope Minister Pompeo understands this matter better than the Texas oil manager Rex Tillerson. But anyway, this is taking longer than it should. This is one of the reasons why Europe has to understand, that this is Europe's clock, and Europe has to deal with this issue realizes that right now the place that should be occupied by the United States is empty.

Deutsche Welle: When it comes to the Kosovo-Serbia conflict, some people have begun to mention the different religions of these two countries. How should religion be viewed in this context?

Christopher R. Hill: We have many problems not only with rising nationalism but also with increasing confederacy, which is very evident in the Middle East. But not just there. When institutions are weak and stay so for years, sometimes civil institutions are deliberately weakened, sometimes weakened by neglect, sometimes because people have other priorities... But when institutions are weak, we see that people seek refuge in the old kinds of loyalty in organizations that, under certain conditions, include religion. I think in history it's not unusual, it happened in the past. But we must not accept it as once and for all in history. We have to deal with it. I don't think it benefits people in Christian countries to accuse Kosovo as a Muslim country, which does not share Christian values with them. I don't believe this is an approach that helps with the problem. I hope it is achieved to understand that the real chance is not to make accusations on religious grounds, but to rebuild secular institutions. We must create secular institutions and view Kosovo as a state, not as a religious culture. I've spent a lot of time in Kosovo and Albania and religion is not what sets people in motion in these countries. People need to think about it and find out what it is that drives people there.

Deutsche Welle: The goal for Kosovo is to enter NATO and for Serbia to enter the EU. How do you get there?

Christopher R. Hill: We have problems connecting to transatlantic access to the Trump administration. In Europe, however, it must be seen that many Americans think that NATO is the fundamental basis of the US alliance and Europe. We need to work harder with NATO. European Union issues are EU issues, but I think some Balkan countries, which aspire to enter the EU, want to enter the EU rather than bureaucracy. In a way, the EU represents a giant bureaucracy and small countries do not feel their voice heard there. I will not tell Europeans how to organise the EU, but I think Europe should see that any country that wants to enter the EU should be allowed to enter. Same for NATO. If we take a look at the perception that progress has been made, but we should also be aware that the EU's decision to slow down enlargement has been inroads for many countries, and there are countries that even say they do not want to enter the EU. I think the European Union was the best thing that could happen to Europe in centuries. People should be proud of the EU, and continue to hold it as a destination for countries like Serbia and Kosovo.

Deutsche Welle: Ambassador Hill, you have been a special envoy to Kosovo and have worked many years in the Balkans. What is your personal opinion of Kosovo? We know that during Obama's administration, there was the thought that Balkan countries need time. Has the time been beneficial?

Christopher R. Hill: Time is good if you use it. The time given to the Balkan countries was to become more qualified to join the EU and NATO. In a way, the Obama administration wasted its time. Now, the Trump administration is not only wasting time, it is completely uninterested about some of these issues. We are where we are now, and we must see how to move forward. My opinion is that Kosovo would do the best for its people, if it co-operates in the region, create good relations with its neighbours and qualify as a country for EU accession. I am very sorry that in 2019, there are still five European countries that do not recognise Kosovo. I know why, because each of these countries has their own Kosovo. Not only Spain, but other countries have situations similar to Kosovo. I don't understand how this happened. I would like to see an independent Kosovo, as an independent state because its people wanted to be independent, but an independent state must be accepted by neighbours and from all over Europe. There's a lot of work to be done. Let us mention Macedonia's issue, for many people, was an issue that seemed unable to be resolved, but was resolved. That's very positive. Many things Macedonians were forced to accept, such as putting prefix in the official name, was difficult for many people. But we must see these things with inspiration and devotion. My colleagues were killed in the Balkans. We must take it from the devotion of these people and resolve this matter. At Denver University, we dedicate ourselves to these issues, to ensure that Americans, not just those living in Washington, understand the responsibility we have in the world and realize that you cannot exist alone in the world. We need friends and allies.