Vetevendosje: Kosovo opened the door to Serbia in US

The Vetevendosje movement has reacted after signing the economic agreement between Kosovo and Serbia.

In a long text, LVV says Kosovo opened the doors to Serbia in the US with the signing of this agreement.

Full Posting:

The Same Way Leads to Similar Failures

Two tenders were signed at the White House in Washington D.C. We need to explain, why did he need two deals? Who has concluded the agreement, who signed, because these are not agreements between Kosovo and Serbia. Are these just a street opening for Serbia in Washington?

What was today called economic normalisation, more like an economy of territorial exchange failure. Above all, the stupid government once again lied because mutual recognition was not achieved, while Kosovo's internal issues were once again addressed with Serbia, which is unacceptable.

At agreement point 7 it is said that the two sides -- Kosovo and Serbia -- will work with the US for feasibility research on the division of the Lake of Weyman -- as a source of water and energy. This point consists of the return of Serbia to Kosovo, so it should be considered treason. Kosovo is independent of Serbia, Lake Weyman is Kosovo's most important water source, and is the property of the Republic of Kosovo, entirely. Recognition of Serbia's rights on Ujman Lake makes this agreement unacceptable to Kosovo.

At that same point, it mentions the diversification of energy supply. That means Serbia's intervention in Kosovo's energy sovereignty, production, market and security is being allowed again. This severely undermines Kosovo's integration into Kosovo's recent arrival in agreement with NTSO-E by breaking away from the energy bloc with Serbia.

At the 5th point of the agreement, it is declared that Kosovo will become part of the initiative called «minischen». The initiative has long been criticised by many sides. Kosovo has no reason to party in any agreement with a country that does not recognise it, such as Serbia. Furthermore, this “minifen” is a space that would easily be hegemonized by Serbia, due to military, demographic and economic inequality between it and other countries. The “minischengen” project has rightly been criticised by most political subjects in Kosovo, so signing in this agreement shows it does not reflect Kosovo side views at all.

At the end of the agreement, it is stated that Kosovo for a year commits itself to no longer seeking membership in international organisations. This is a requirement that Kosovo for a year give up its behaviour as a normal and sovereign state. Why is Kosovo required to relinquish its sovereignty, even temporarily? What does this have to do with Kosovo's economic development? Membership in international organisations helps the economy, does not prevent it.

The agreement reportedly says that Kosovo and Israel will be mutually recognised, and that is very good news. But why should this mutual recognition be linked to this bad agreement, which brings Serbia to Kosovo?

Similarly, the agreement shows that Kosovo will allow railway and road corridors for Serbia to emerge in the Adriatic Sea. If Kosovo didn't get recognition from Serbia, what else would it have to release? The transfer of roads from Mitrovica to Merdare, and involvement in an interstate agreement on Kosovo's internal roads, provide grounds for a dangerous project such as the territorial division of the northern part of the country. Furthermore, commitments are made in the agreement for roads that emerge in Durres and Shengjin, but Albania has not been party to the meeting or agreement.

As for economic points, a portion of them would have to be already carried out, due to agreements previously linked during technical dialogue. However, they have not been implemented by the Serb side, because deadlines have been lacking, as well as punitive mechanisms in the event of non-compliance. Even in this case, we find that there is a lack of investment deadline, but also mechanisms to punish the parties who do not comply.

The way to address the issue of missing persons is shameful and offensive to all victims of war. With this point Kosovo and Serbia treated as equal, bypassing the fact that we still have 1641 people missing as a direct result of crimes committed by Serbia.

Forgiveness for crimes committed and compensation for damages caused during the war in Kosovo is nowhere mentioned.

What is scandalous is that in this deal that claims to regulate the economy, there is no mention of war damage, no reparations. But deep poverty in Kosovo also comes as a result of the massive destruction of private and public property in Kosovo, during the Milosevic regime, and especially during the genocide campaign Serbia exercised in Kosovo in 1998-1999.

It is also unacceptable for Kosovo to be reflected as an Islamic, Arab or Middle Eastern country. Kosovo is a European country, a secular democracy, and it is not near the Middle East geographically or historically. Such reflections damage Kosovo if allowed to take place.

Movement V EVENTION! maintains that this agreement, bound by a government without legitimacy, is another failure and unworthy representation in front of Serbia, as it went to a meeting without a strategy, without a plan, without objectives. This agreement must be rejected in the Kosovo Assembly, otherwise it will lead to other, even more dangerous concessions. The agreement draws Serbia into Kosovo, while recognition by Serbia is not approaching.