Kosovo diplomacy in 2021: Without membership in international organisations and without new recognition

Kosovo, even in 2021, has not noted progress in foreign policy. Even last year there were no new recognitions and membership in any international organization.

Guiltys are valued by the mortorium, part of the Washington Agreement, which expired in September and dialogue with Serbia. Despite that, opposition and civil society criticise institutions for stagnation and lack of foreign policy consolidation.

On the other hand, executives say that under their leadership foreign policy has been a priority and there have never been more Bible visits.

Democratic Party of Kosovo MP Ariana Musliu-Shoshi tells Kosovo that Kosovo's foreign policy has been in a period of suspension, alluding to the work of Minister Grovalla.

According to her, Kosovo in the international sphere has not had dignified representation and great dynamics.

“We have followed a stagnation and suspension regarding the foreign policy field. We have not seen any MPJD co-operation and transparency in line with the parliamentary commission that would have to come and reported at least every three months. In the international sphere we've had an undignified representation, a representation that we as citizens and the Republic have not deserved. There has been no proper representation of our Republic, with this minister (Donika Gervala) who has more often seemed like a Balkan spokeswoman than the Republic of Kosovo. I think there's supposed to be a much bigger dynamic like inside, but even outside”, she says.

MPJD monitors and foreign policy connoisseur Emir Abrashi are also expressed. He says foreign policy under the Kurti Government has been completely out of order.

Abrashi mentions the dismissal of ambassadors, who, according to him, have left Kosovo without an address to the meeting of problems in the international arena and lobbies for new recognitions.

Kosovo's “Republic in this period since receiving the mandate of the Kurti Government has not had a consolidated foreign policy, there has been a completely outlined foreign policy. We have had shortages of mission chiefs in the vast majority of Kosovo's diplomatic missions, we have had a ministry that has not been in charge of meeting with problems Kosovo faced in the international arena. On the other hand, there have been many mistakes on Twitter, when we know that Twitter-diplomacy is a reality in international relations, the more that happens when we've been in the pandemic and eye contact has been rare. The recognitions are conditional on the process of dialogue, as long as we fail to normalise relations with Serbia and have mutual recognition, I believe new recognitions will be problematic and will be a miracle for us to get new recognition already”, Abrashi declares.

On the other hand, Government spokesman Progress Kryeziu says Kosovo's foreign policy has never been more priority.

“does not remember there has been a greater number of visits by political representatives and diplomats from the region and west to Kosovo. As has the considerable number of high-level visits by Prime Minister Kurti, but at the same time by deputy prime minister, at the same time Mrs. Gervalla, as Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi. On one hand, it speaks of an increased interest by countries in the region and the West for even better co-operation with the Republic of Kosovo. But at the same time, it speaks of the prioritization the Government has made to foreign policy, being more active in the visit, but at the same time concluding an important process like that of appointing ambassadors to key states for which there continues to be a lack of substantial criticism of the process. This speaks of a professional development and an extremely well organised and prioritised process by the Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs” respectively, he points out.

In the last month of 2021, the possibility of a new recognition was mentioned by former Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli, but there is still nothing concrete, even though he blamed Prime Minister Kurti for not interested in the matter.