Engel: US Must Turn Focus on Kosovo, Serbia

Radio Free Europe: Dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia has stalled since Kosovo has taxed 100% products imported from Serbia in November last year. It seems neither Pristina nor Belgrade wants to take any step forward. Do you see any light at the end of the tunnel?

Eliot Engel: Yeah. I think dialogue is always important and I think it can break many barriers. I hope and encourage both sides to start negotiations. If there is no talks, no progress, no movement. We have to move, this is a long-standing situation, even before the fee. I don't think it's fair to blame the fee. It is important that the Government of Serbia realises that it is the independent state of Kosovo, and this independent state will remain. And so, I hope Serbia and Kosovo have good relations, which would benefit both countries and benefit the region. I would like to see both countries accepted into the European Union and think one should help the other. I don't think there should be any barriers. When you talk, you break many barriers. Our hope is to have talks without preconditions.

REL: How do you explain the steadfast stand of the Government of Kosovo? Despite calls from the European Union and the United States, Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has refused to withdraw the tax...

Engel: I talked to him. He strongly believes that Kosovo goods, perhaps not all, are not allowed in Serbia's market. If something, for example, is produced in the Republic of Kosovo, it cannot be sold in Serbia. Mr Haradinaj, whom I have talked with, thinks there are taxes on all Kosovo goods, which are not allowed to enter Serbia. So he feels that by setting the fee (for Serbia's goods), the situation is equal. This is his performance. [President of Serbia, Aleksandar] Vuciq, of course, has a different interpretation.

REL: Is Vucinq using the tax as an excuse not to continue negotiations with Kosovo?

Engel: I think both parties should sit (and talk) as soon as possible, and neither of them should use excuses not to talk. If we go this way, we don't have any problems. We know what the cases are. Kosovo independence is something that cannot be undone. Belgrade must agree. But, Belgrade also has legitimate needs and desires. I hope, as I said before, that both countries will be admitted to the EU. Any excuse not to talk is one step backwards. Both sides should talk.

REL: But, it seems, both sides expect initiatives from the United States, more than from the European Union. How has the process of dialogue reached this point?

Engel: I fear that the United States' participation and attention in this important issue have come to second, because of other things the Trump administration is dealing with. There's already a huge debate about migration, a large number of people coming to our borders from Central America. This I think has surpassed the situation in the Balkans in terms of America's attention. I think the United States should give more attention to these differences between Albanians and Serbs. I think the United States trusts both sides. I hope we will spend more time on this issue, just as the preliminary administrations did. With [presidents] Bill Clinton and George W. Bush has invested a lot of energy in the Balkans, but now not so much. I think this is wrong.

REL: Is it wrong to expect a new American initiative in September? I am mentioning September because Serbia's Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic, has said that maybe in September we can see a new US initiative. He said that two weeks ago.

Engel: He might know something I don't know. I haven't talked to the president about this, or the Secretary of State or the National Security Councilman. I have wanted to come to the Balkans first and talk to people from all sides. I had an appointment with Vucinqi yesterday (v.j. on July 3rd. This isn't the first time we've talked. I think the talks were good, honest. We do not agree on everything, but we agree that progress should be made in this matter. I will also go to Kosovo and, when I return to Washington, I hope I can inform the administration of what I have heard.

REL: What is your message about the possibility of changing borders between Kosovo and Serbia?

Engel: I am very, very schematic about changing borders in the Balkans. I think the problem here is when you start changing borders, where does it end? I don't think you can change borders only with Serbia and not think that Republika Srpska would also want to change its borders. I'm afraid that if this case opens, it can be converted into Pandora's box. And we are all aware of the wars that have occurred in the Balkan region for all these years. I'm very aware of that. I don't think it's as easy as it looks.

REL: Why did you decide to visit the Presevo Valley?

Engel: I've never been there, even though I've been in the region many times. I want to hear their views. When I go to Kosovo, I always try to meet the Serb community. So I thought it would be good to meet the Albanian community in Serbia.

REL: In February of this year, you have said that mutual recognition of Kosovo-Serbia is necessary. But it is clear that this solution is not possible, among other things, because of Serbia's Constitution. What possible solution between Kosovo and Serbia is real to expect at the moment?

Engel: I think Serbia should agree that it has lost Kosovo, that Kosovo is no longer part of Serbia, that it is another ethnic group, that it is different from 1999. I think he should agree with that. If he disagrees, he cannot expect peace. And that applies both to Serbia and Kosovo. I hope Belgrade will be more interested in the future of people in the Balkans. Serbia is certainly an important country and can become leaders in the region. I think he can lead and do a good job. But if you claim that nothing happened in 1999 or after, this is not a good way to start. As for the Constitution [of Serbia, in which Kosovo figures as part of Serbia], it is not carved into stone. The US Constitution has changed from time to time. We have ways and processes to change it. Serbia's Constitution will also have to change, because Kosovo is really no longer part of Serbia. There are one and a half million Albanians and a small percentage of Serbs, out of whom some do not want to live there anymore. We just have to face the new reality. The sooner Belgrade understands this, the better it will be for all.

REL: Are you surprised at the negative headlines in Serbian media that were read Wednesday, the day you came to Belgrade? On the front of the newspaper Vesernje Novosti writes "Syp Eliot Engel, creator of lies about Serbia." How do you feel about that?

EngelI think that's a lie. I think it's the only lie I've heard here. I had a really good meeting with Mr. Vuchy yesterday. We also met at my office in Washington. We had honest talks, even though we didn't always agree. I still respect his leadership, even though I don't always agree with him. But I think it's a powerful personality that works intensively for his country. I think there will always be people who will create problems.

Peace is done with opposers. Money is not about allies. And I think Kosovo and Serbia should achieve peace among themselves and if I can help in any way, I am ready. If anyone thinks I can't help you, that's fine. I think that people in Kosovo, where Albanians are majority, also have the right to fight for themselves, while Serbia has the right to be powerful leaders in the region. So I think dialogue can break many barriers and I want the two sides to sit down and talk.

I've always had good talks with Mr. Vuciq, even though we didn't agree on everything, but they were respectful talks. I hope that all the people in the region, including Serbs in Serbia, will give everything themselves to make progress. Unfortunately, there will always be people who will return to the past and hinder any progress we make. However, I think that everyone knows that dialogue is very important and that we should move on and Serbia and Kosovo become EU members.

REL: After Vuciq met you, he said you talked about the Bytychi brothers. Is there any progress in this case?

EngelUnfortunately no, there is no progress. We know what happened, we're pretty sure what happened, we know who did it, but there seem to be obstacles to the investigation. I think the Bytyci case was supposed to be resolved a long time ago. It's a terrible tragedy, everyone's been killed. It has been a deliberate murder, and I think that Serbian authorities have to solve it as soon as possible. Mr. Vuciq knows my concern about the Bytychi brothers' case. We talked about this in Washington and now Belgrade. I think this is also a situation that needs to be solved so that it can move on. On the contrary, nothing will be resolved. In all these disputes, we must make progress. The Bytyci family should have this case over and we should help.

REL: I believe you know that one of the highest Serbian police leaders in the period of the 1990s, Goran Radosavlevq Guri, according to some sources, is the prime suspect in this crime. He is a member of the Vuciki party. How do you comment?

Engel: The only comment is that this case should be resolved as soon as possible, which seems to be possible only for Mr. Vuciq, who can decide whether to solve it or not. I hope that my calls and other people to him will have weight and will understand that what is right to do is good for Serbia as well. This case must end, for now it is like those open wounds that never heal. That's not fair to the Bytyci family and nobody. So, I encourage Mr. Vuchy because I believe only he can make a move.