Deimel: Document leak undermines court's work at The Hague

Regarding the economic normalisation agreement reached in Washington between Kosovo and Serbia, independent analyst Diemel estimates that all of that “page” could have another game in the background.

Radio Free Europe: Specialised headquarters at The Hague have carried out the first arrest Thursday 24 September. This development occurs five years after the Kosovo Assembly established this court. Another development regarding this court is that of war veterans in Kosovo who say an unidentified person is handing them files from the tribunal. This appears to be a security attack by exposing protected witnesses. How do you see these developments?

Johanna Deimel: This is obviously a security attack. It's a huge and very dangerous scandal for witnesses. Within two months, for the third time in a row, there has been a flow of confidential court records. This undermines the work of the Court and, as I said, of witnesses who are already part of it and those who are willing to cooperate. I am very happy that the Quint (France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States) countries were very clear condemning any attempts to undermine and depreciate the Special Court mission. And maybe because of the flow of these documents, we have the first arrest by the court.

Radio Free Europe: These developments occur many years after the Special Court was established. During this period millions of euros have been spent on its functioning, mainly money from European taxpayers, including yours. Has this delay damaged the court's credibility?

Johanna Deimel: I was one of the critics of this court for the fact that it's been a long time and nothing was happening. But, on the other hand, I have been confident that it would be a careful process and it takes time to identify witnesses to examine documents and conduct interviews. Now, once we have the first act on site, we'll see in the coming months what's going to happen.

Radio Free Europe: Consider the political situation in the Western Balkans. After several years of a kind of status quo, this region has seen significant developments in the last period. I will focus on the Washington agreement signed by Kosovo and Serbia. How do you comment on that?

Johanna Deimel: If I talk about Washington's deal, I can tell you I'm confused. I am puzzled by this show in Washington; by the nomination for the Nobel Prize; by medals; by Lake Trump then by singing for West Virginia in Belgrade. All of this leads to characteristics of a satirical reality. I'm also confused by the video we've seen from the Oval Office in early September, and I was wondering what's really behind all these smoke neighbors and bomb calls America is wonderful, which we've heard from Pristina and Belgrade these days. So, I wondered how Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti allowed themselves to fall into such an unconventional and degrading situation. I really asked myself these questions.

US President Donald Trump, Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti and Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, during the signing of the White House agreement, September 4, 2020

Radio Free Europe: And did you come to an answer?

Johanna Deimel: I'd say maybe this is a scenario and there's something behind the stage that we don't know. There's something going on in the background. It remains to be seen when these economic and financial documents that were signed will materialise. I have doubts that there is something in the background that we do not see and that would offer an explanation for this shadowy turn of Serbia towards the United States. This also changes the tone of the report between Moscow and Belgrade, but this alone in public, I have to underline.

I am not the only one who has concerns about this, there are other analysts as it is, Srecko Latal, who said that with the agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, the balance of powers in the Balkans has changed.

American analysts Janusz Bugajski and Daniel Server have also linked this to developments in Montenegro, saying the country's pro-Western orientation is in question. If we move to Montenegro and see the new government consisting of pro-Serbian and pro-Russian forces, then ask what does this mean for the path to membership in the European Union, then for NATO membership? Could there be a Manhattanxi, where will Montenegro go? Will he become part of the Great Serbia project, as Janusz Bugayski considers? So, putting the mosaic pieces a little different, eventually I came to the idea: Yes, as if Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump have agreed on how to deal with Kosovo and Serbia? Could a completely different territorial exchange occur that could be on the table, namely: that with Putin's consent and Trump, Kosovo will be recognised as independent from Serbia, but as a return, Montenegro will join Serbia?

Radio Free Europe: That sounds very hypothetical...

Johanna Deimel: It's hypothetical, I'm speculating, of course. Like I said at the beginning, I'm really confused about this show (in Washington) all the time I was wondering what's going on? What's really going on?

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vuciq, US President Donald Trump and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti.

Radio Free Europe: I will focus on what you said earlier, changing the balance of power in the Balkans. Explain us a little bit more.

Johanna Deimel: We have seen a strange and powerful return to Serbia's foreign policy in the direction of the United States. This is a complete change in course. That's weird. We are looking at Milorad Dodik's behavior in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which according to some analysts, is looking for new alliances. So we have a shift, eventually we have a shift (of the balance of power in the Balkans). Where this leads I don't know. But I think we should be alarmed.

Radio Free Europe: Dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, mediated by the European Union, has been frozen for a long time. Many agreements that have been reached before have not yet been implemented. Meanwhile, Kosovo and Serbia have held several meetings in Brussels in recent weeks, but there are still no concrete results? There are many voices that say this dialogue is becoming like the one in Cyprus that is lasting for nearly 50 years?

Johanna Deimel: Yes, Cyprus is still an issue for the European Union, taking into account what is now happening with the migrants and blackmail Cyprus is making on the issue. This is a trauma for the European Union. That's why things have to be prevented. In the case of Kosovo and Serbia, we cannot expect that after such a long break, we will immediately have sharp political negotiations. I have to say that it was very interesting when I read the interview of the American ambassador to Kosovo, Philip Costnet and if you read between the lines, and if I have read it correctly, then I can say that the United States is not against the dialogue (of the EU), as he said everyone should have a new approach to the issues. Dialogue is a difficult road and should not have quick solutions if you want to have a stable comprehensive agreement between Kosovo and Serbia. So the process takes time.

Radio Free Europe: You are a good connoisseur of political developments within Kosovo. I'm interested in your opinion of current governance?

Johanna Deimel: It's a very weak government. Too weak. Neither is he able to challenge (Kosovo President Hashim) Thaci or corruption networks in the economy and politics. It's clearly the tool of others who are deciding from behind. I doubt they are willing to resolve some issues in the coming months until new elections that could occur after the pandemic crisis. Government in some form is serving to preserve these interests. Even though Ramush Haradinaj is aiming to succeed President Hashim Thaci in the post and is criticising the government, I think this is not very serious, on the one hand because of the situation with pandemic and on the other, as opinion investigations show that Vetevendosje is far ahead.

The government Hoti is very weak even in the way it is treating the pandemic and the coronary, and I feel sorry for the people of Kosovo. I must remind you that President Thaci has insisted on declaring the state of emergency in mid-March, when pandemic was at the beginning and not in the situation now. This then led to the political drama with the motion in the assembly that followed the Hot government.