Vlora Citaku returns to Washington as ambassador, appointment process stalled

She had even organised farewell meetings in Washington and had returned to Pristina, but was forced back to Washington, as government coalition partners have not yet decided who would replace her.

Kosovo Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed for THE REL that Ambassador Citaku, who will represent Kosovo until the appointment of the new ambassador, is still in office in Washington, as scheduled in the decree of its withdrawal signed by the president.

Based on the president's decree, it remains on the job until the new ambassador is appointed, but if the same can no longer exercise this post, then a charge-loaded é must be appointed. According to official data, at the Kosovo Embassy in Washington there is only one diplomat.

Next to Washington, both Brussels, London and Tokyo have been on duty for a long time since Kosovo has not yet appointed new ambassadors after the mandate of previous diplomats expired.

In the foreign ministry, they say that “is at the conclusion of consultations on the selection of new ambassadors” and that the whole process is under way in advance legal procedures.

Mrs. Melisa Haradinaj-Stubla guarantees a fair, transparent process, in full respect of legal and constitutional procedures. And most importantly, each of its decisions will be taken in full consultation with the country's prime minister, as the law and Constitution” predicts, Foreign Minister Bul Salihu's political adviser said.

However, it has been taught by government officials, that the process has stalled and that there may hardly be <x0-> appointments during this year”.

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Political Science Professor at Pristina University Ibrahim Gashi estimates that the state should be more serious in treating friendly states as dignified.

“This is the largest responsibility of the Government of Kosovo, regardless of which government, that countries such as London, Brussels be kept in charge of long-term work”, Gashi estimates.

He even says that such actions are producing consequences, referring to Japan's case.

“We have kept Japan, a Kosovo friend, for more than a year with a job load. That's exactly this negligence, or humiliation, has influenced Japan to abstain from Kosovo's quest for membership in an international organisation. This is the result of our government's failure to maintain good relations”, estimates Professor Gashi.

“to save diplomacy degradation”

Kosovo's first ambassador to Washington, Avni Spahiu, says that at this stage of American administration change, it would be necessary to complete this process.

“Talk about the key position in Kosovo's diplomacy and it is urgent that we have our ambassador to Washington, where we will have a new administration, as the ambassador needs to contact and start working with this incoming administration, both in a biltaal way, but also for the diplomat's work in a broader sense”, Spahi says.

He stresses the need for the new US ambassador to be apolitical.

The party's “limits the activity of an ambassador, because it is always reserved for the leader of his own party that belongs to him rather than to the foreign ministry. So, I think it's important that it be non-party and be professionally prepared”, Spahiu adds.

Professor Ibrahim Gashi fears the fragility of the ruling coalition will produce dignified representation for Kosovo.

I'm not very optimistic about the recent impasses in the Foreign Ministry, which is probably due to the dissonance between the government coalition. I'm skeptical and I'm afraid that even in the concrete case of appointing a proper ambassador to Washington, I hope it doesn't happen, but there may be unhindered appointments and somehow degradation of the level of representation in terms of the diplomat's profile that could go there”, Gashi estimates:

The tradition of good representation in Washington and thinking beyond party interests” should continue.

But, in the MPJD, they insist that Kosovo has adequate representation:

“Exactly, there is no gap in Kosovo's representation in these states. In Washington, Brussels, London and other countries are our diplomats, as well as those in charge of jobs, some with a career of ambassadorship, who are carrying out all the pre-priced tasks”.

In October of this year, Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Minister Melza Haradinaj- Stublla had reported to the Parliamentary Commission for Foreign Policy, where he had promised there would be decisions soon to appoint new ambassadors.

One of the appointments that caused the fuss was that of Astrit Zemaj, brother of Health Minister Armend Zemaj, in the exercise of the ambassador's post in Brussels after the end of Bernard Nikaj's mandate. Zemaj was the ambassador, and was appointed to this position for member states, even though Kosovo legally cannot accredit ambassador to the EU, due to non-recognition by five Union member states.

Named Diaries

Legal procedures for appointing new ambassadors take time. Following the Foreign Ministry proposal, which takes place in co-ordination with the prime minister, the names for ambassadors are sent to the Kosovo Parliament's Foreign Policy Commission. This commission then sends the names to the Presidency, where the decree is followed by the president of the Republic. But that is not all. The pleased state should give consent to the new ambassador, the procedure that may take months.

Since declaring independence, Kosovo has opened diplomatic missions on all continents.

However, the Foreign Ministry has often been the target of numerous criticisms, following reports of diplomatic appointments to the family of persons engaged in politics.