Eliot Engel: Serbia cannot join the EU without recognising Kosovo

The Balkans were at the centre of a session of the American Congress House Foreign Commission. This was also the last session for the region led by Commission Chairman Eliot Engel, who has been paying attention to the Balkans for decades.

Members of the American Congress, former Balkan officials and experts stressed the region's common challenges and the need for American engagement.

Commission Chairman Democrat Eliot Engel said the Balkans has marked progress, including in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“Although we have done so much, not only do we not close issues in those two countries, but throughout the region, which requires American leadership and closer co-operation with our European partners”, Engel said.

One of those issues is the relationship between Kosovo and Serbia, and Congressman Engel says that in essence it is the recognition of Kosovo.

The most important thing is that Serbia should look forward. Kosovo is independent. He never comes back. Honestly, the deadlock of Kosovo's recognition by countries of the world and its membership in the United Nations, except that it undermines Serbia because its bid to join the European Union will not be approved until it recognises Kosovo”, Engel said.

While Engel stressed that all those who committed war crimes must be punished, he added that Serbia is not being held accountable.

It seems that Serbia, the party responsible for most war crimes, is facing practically no domestic pressure or the international community to place those responsible for justice. At the same time, Kosovo, the victim of war, is obliged to create a hybrid court with a prosecutor and international court”, he said, adding that if it were a country like Denmark, we would think something is very wrong.

Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary of State, said she considers her greatest achievements, the role of the United States in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

She said the new administration's foreign policy, run by Joe Biden in the Balkans, should be based on co-operation with the European Union. She said this foreign policy should include fighting corruption and a regional approach not to countries separately.

“The United States and the EU must work together to support initiatives helping Kosovo, Bosnia and others establish economic ties with Europe and neighbours, while also encouraging necessary political reforms”, she said.

Regarding Kosovo, Mrs. Albright said it should be recognised internationally, including becoming a member of the UN, and stressed that this membership should not become subject to veto by Belgrade.

Daniel Serwer, professor and director of American Conflict Management and Foreign Policy Programmes at Johns Hopkins University, said the essential precondition for resolving the remaining Balkan problems is re-agency of America in the region, in co-operation with European allies.

The recent competition between the United States and the European Union, which has demonstrated that it cannot do the job alone, prevented progress. As part of its global reconfirmation to democratic values, President Biden must consult Europeans and announce a joint vision for the Balkan region”, he said.

American engagement necessary for Kosovo- Serbia

He singled out dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade as the issue where greater American engagement is needed, adding that the main goal of the United States should be mutual recognition and exchange of ambassadors.

“President Biden and Chancellor Merkel must make this goal clear and pressure EU members who have not recognised Kosovo, to declare they will recognise Kosovo no later than Serbia. UN membership will require Americans to convince Russia and China not to veto”, he said.

Even Janusz Bugayski, an expert at the Jamestown Foundation in Washington, said the Biden administration should convince these five countries to recognise Kosovo.

The aim of Serbia-Kosovo talks should be to create a map for inter-state recognition. This is the only sustainable solution that will free both countries to pursue their aspirations towards EU integration and economic development. Dialogue without a clear goal distracts and paralyses both sides”, he said agreeing with Mr. Serwer that without American involvement, the EU is a weaker, more divided and less influential conversationator.

Bugajski said the meeting at the White House in September with the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo in September re-ange Washington into dialogue, but...

“The US cannot focus solely on economic factors and neglect major political and diplomatic decisions. Economic relations will not normalise if political and diplomatic relations remain abnormal”, he said.

Coping with Russia, China and Turkey's intervention

The most influential Republican in the Commission, Michael McCaul, said the people of Kosovo deserve to live in a fully independent and democratic country that is fully integrated into the international community, and Serbia must demonstrate that it sees its future in the West. He added that country should be distanced from Russia and China.

Unfortunately, while the United States and its European allies try to help the Western Balkans build a safer, more prosperous and democratic future, Putin's regime is pursuing a programme of devastating goals, creating division and fostering ethnic tensions”, he said.

Former State Secretary Albright said he shares concern over Russia's role.

The particular thing that's happening is that the Russians are putting into practice in Serbia, the things they are doing in other parts of Central and Eastern Europe, which means that they are working to undermine democracy there and then to remove countries from the West and are using the tactics of KGB agents”, she said.

Analyst Serwer said the Biden administration and the EU should increase pressure on Belgrade over Russian intervention.

“If Vucic continues to prefer autism and animation with Russia and China, Americans and Europeans will have to wait for the day when Serbia will commit to true democracy in the country and better relations with its neighbours”, he said.

Panelists and Commission members also expressed concern over Turkey's intervention in the region and wider in foreign policy.

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Prof. Serwer, acknowledges that President Biden will have bigger problems than the Balkans, but added that few regions in the world promise better results in exchange for American engagement.

“In co-operation with Europeans, the US can save the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the two potential allies Kosovo and Bosnia and help Serbia rid its legacy of autocratic and war. President Biden must support those who are prepared to make Europe complete and free and oppose those who block progress”.

The session was the last Congressman Engel holds in connection with the Balkans, before leaving Congress and following in the direction of the Commission by Gregory Meeks. All speakers praised his role in decades regarding the region. At the end of his speech, Engel called for completion of the work that was started when he first entered Congress.

Let's stay with the people of this region. And let us lead the international community and complete the mission to introduce every Balkan country into the heart of Europe”, he said. /voa/