Diplomacy in the Far East

In the momentum of recent news for our Western and more strategic partner, the U.S. may not be noticing developments with our eastern partner Japan. This partner that can also become strategic for Kosovo.

Japan has recently established diplomatic relations with Kosovo, establishing a Japanese Embassy in Pristina. Japan's ambassador to Kosovo was appointed Akira Mizutan, who previously served as ambassador to Mozambique. The Japanese Embassy was expected to be officially inaugurated in the spring of this year.

Prior to that, Kosovo's portfolio was covered by Japanese Ambassador with headquarters in Belgrade, Serbia. That representative is said to have been very active in his work on Kosovo. We remember that in July 2016, the first Kosovo ambassador to Japan took office in Leon Malazog.

The History of Relations

Japanese-Kosovare relations have been going on for months on in the upgrade, certainly after years of mutual investment in this. Within the space of just one month in autumn 2019, President Hashim Thaci twice visited Japan, and in both cases was received by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. These visits were in September and October 2019.

On the president's first visit, he held the summit and working dinner with Prime Minister Abe. He also met with Japan's Parliament Speaker, Tokyo Governor and representatives of the business community. The Kosovo delegation also visited a Toyota automaker factory. On his second visit, the president attended the ceremony of the crowning of His Majesty Emperor Naruhio at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, also meeting Emperor Naruhio. Former Kosovo Prime Minister Kadri Wessel also visited Japan in 2019. In 2004 the late former Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi had visited Japan. All this means that Japan has been open and has developed a lot of friendships with Kosovo, prior to independence and so far.

Figures and Interesting Facts That Describe Japan

What are the figures that describe this relationship? In 2014 Kosovo had imported products from Japan for 619 thousand euros, mainly cars and electric equipment. There was no Kosovo exports to Japan. There is no direct investment of Japan in Kosovo, but a total of Japan has so far provided nearly 7m euros in aid to Kosovo.

Interesting facts? The largest European farm of Japanese Shiitake mushrooms found in Kosovo. It's the firm Hirano Mushrooms in Mitrovica. Last year, Kosovo Judokas, led by Majlinda Kelmendi, won 3 medals at the Nippon Budokan competition in Tokyo. A question in these relations, which may have been clarified or worth explaining, was Japan's abstention in Kosovo's U accession vote. NESTO (like that of other Kosovo connoisseur states, South Korea and Poland).

Japan is part of G-8shin, the world's 8 most developed countries. So frequent and long expected by Prime Minister Abe is perhaps the highest level of political and diplomatic engagement of a G-8shi state with Kosovo. Japan, with its high level of economic development, could bring investment, but also many experiences and lessons for Kosovo. So Kosovo will follow its best example and practices.

How do you deepen Kosovo's relations with Japan?

Prime Minister Kurti's government could exploit this momentum of bilateral relations with Japan to deepen them. Let Prime Minister Abe in Kosovo cool in the spring, where all Kosovo leaders around the time of the Embassy's inauguration can be expected. Invited along with him, Japanese businesspeople could be better informed of investment opportunities but also of production in Kosovo. The year 2020, then, should not be just the opening year of the Japanese Embassy. Let Japan's year of significant investment in Kosovo. Kosovo's first exports to Japan. Co-operation also on the military plains with Japan, if there is mutual interest.

Kosovo, more than ever, needs powerful international friends. Serbia has almost traditional friendship with Russia and China. This always raised Serbia's weight against Kosovo's foreign states. Serbia, being more powerful politically and economically, will always receive greater attention and greater care than Kosovo.

By strengthening relations with the US, Kosovo opposes Serbia's weight. Maybe that's not enough. Kosovo may have strategic partner US i n Japan. The friendship of relations with Japan, beyond that with strategic partners in Europe such as Germany, Great Britain, and France, and new partners in Africa and Latin America could change mathematics in favour of Kosovo. Then “press” on Kosovo could be different. Kosovo will be viewed as a stronger state. Most importantly, Kosovo's development, following the Japanese example, for example, can take the necessary momentum.

The last governments must have contributed to this approach with Japan. Let the new government be what we know most, and in many spheres. The cobra bifkthek, famous worldwide and of origin from Japan, would do well with its Shiitaque mushrooms in Mitrovica. Let Kosovo become the European country with the most cobra beef farms.

/The author is a professional in the field of international development and works in the private sector in Washington, D.C. He's bewitched at the international underworld at Columbia University in New York.