Rama: Russian influence could turn into something terrible, Putin constantly mentions Kosovo

“Putin would be happy if there was a conflict somewhere in the Balkans. The chief of the Kremlin stirs and provokes wherever he can. In his speeches, Putin repeatedly refers to Kosovo, the most painful problem from unresolved problems in the Balkans. We have to prevent something bad from happening”.

So Prime Minister Rama said in a recent interview for German media “Der Spiegel” as he was asked about the situation in the Balkans following the start of the war in Ukraine.

Rama said that the Russian influence in Serbia is great and risks turning this into something terrible.

D E R SPIEGEEL: The war in Ukraine has changed the world and is now threatening the fragile peace in the Western Balkans. How deep is this division?

Edi RamaVery deep. More than 80 per cent of Serbs think positively about how Putin is currently opposing the West, but in Albania his popularity is less than one per cent. This is the result of a poll conducted by our government, shortly after the start of the war. Moscow's influence in Serbia is strong, in the Serb part of Bosnia and Herzegovina is even very strong. Russia has a lot of influence on Serbs. We should be aware that this influence can turn into something terrible.

D E R SPIEGEEL: For what should we be prepared?

Edi Rama: Putin would be happy if there was a conflict somewhere in the Balkans. The chief of the Kremlin stirs and provokes wherever he can. In his speeches, Putin repeatedly refers to Kosovo, the most painful problem from unresolved problems in the Balkans. We have to prevent something bad from happening at all costs.

D E R SPIEGEEL: What do you advise?

D E RSPIEGEEL: Putin likes to use Kosovo's history as a template for the invasion of Crime, Donjetsk and Luhansk. Does he have the facts that NATO bombed Belgrade and invaded Kosovo without UN mandate?

Edi Rama: The only reason he didn't have a mandate was that Russia and China voted against it. Crime prosecution follows an imperial model, such as attack on Ukraine, a sovereign and democratic country. The Belgrade bombing and the liberation of Kosovo at the time, in turn, served the goal of saving the population from ethnic cleansing. And the International Court of Justice finally confirmed Kosovo's independence as an act of international law.

D E RSPIEGEEL: Has nothing really changed in the Western Balkans in the past 20 years?

Edi Rama: The Balkans have always been a tense place, it is fragile. But I pretend that the situation is better today than at any other time.

D E R SPIEGEEL: How can this be determined?

Edi Rama: Despite disagreements, the six leaders of the Western Balkan governments have agreed since a meeting in Berlin in 2014 that we must bring back the course of history together. Small steps are needed to build a greater relationship, just as the Germans and French moved slowly toward full peace after World War II.

D E R SPIEGEEL: Does that apply to your relationship with Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vucic?

Edi Rama: Absolutely. The history of Albanians and Serbs is history of pain and blood. But when I was elected prime minister, I decided to go to Belgrade. My visit to 2014 was the first of a head of the Albanian government to Serbia after 68 years. And then Vucic came to Tirana. This shows how far we've come.

D E R SPIEGEEL: Is there any hope for an agreement on the Kosovo issue?

Edi Rama: We agreed on Kosovo that we would not agree. I think Serbia should recognise Kosovo. But Aleksandar Vucic cannot do that. But at least we can talk about it. And we co-operate in projects like that of the Open Balkans.

D E RSPIEGEEL: A kind of miniSchengeni between North Macedonia, Albania and Serbia?

Edi Rama: Yes, where all other Balkan states are invited. Vucic has thus acknowledged the border between Albania and Kosovo. A major step forward and a truly big political achievement.

D E RSPIEGEEL: Only Kosovo does not participate. Why is Prime Minister Albin Kurti against the Balkan project?

Edi Rama: Kurti says Serbs should first apologize for what they have done to Albanians. And I say yes, Serbia should apologize. The only question is when? I think forgiveness will come when the dialogue works. Ally Brandt didn't kneel in 1946. He fell to Warsaw only in 1970. Our political life may be polarized today, often we cannot even agree on the weather here. But when it comes to membership in the European Union, there is absolute consensus.

D E RSPIEGEEL: Can the trauma of Yugoslav wars heal?

Edi Rama: Small steps are needed to build a greater relationship, just as the Germans and the French moved slowly toward full peace after World War II. Open Balkan is a platform for this, and I think my brother Albin Kurti must face Serbs there. But he lets it pass. This is pathetic.

D E RSPIEGEL: Like Albania, Serbia is trying to join the European Union. However, Belgrade continues to buy gas and weapons from Russia. Can such a balanced act succeed in the long - term plan?

Edi Rama: Serbia follows the foreign policy tradition of unannounced communist Yugoslavia, wants to be welcome worldwide, in Washington and Brussels, in Beijing and Moscow. When it comes to Russian gas, I have to say that Serbs are in good company!

D E THE RSPIEGEL - Where Did Unity Come From?

Edi Rama: Our entire story was formed by regimes and empires that we have not chosen, from Ottomans, Communists, kingdoms, totalitarian systems.