Court for AFP: Democracy and republic must be protected, we seek fair treatment, equality and mutual recognition

For several months, Western emissaries have wandered between Kosovo's capitals and Serbia due to diplomatic impasses to re-solve long tensions of nearly 25 years after the war between Albanian fighters and Serbian forces, which sparked the NATO bombing campaign to end the war.

However, even after more than two decades, Belgrade still refuses to recognise its former Albanian province government, and with the support of its powerful ally Russia, it has banned it from membership in several international institutions, including the United Nations Organisation.

With the war in Ukraine, which has presented a new uncertainty in Europe, the US and the EU appear committed to reaching an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, so that the multi-year crisis in the Balkans can also end.

According to Kurti, Kosovo is currently facing reaching some kind of agreement with Serbia on a deadline by March, despite many fundamental differences and obstacles that negatively affect relations between opponents.

Our biggest “is Belgrade's insistence on a time machine. They want to go back in time and this is not possible”, Kurti said in an interview for the French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) in Pristina.

“Kosovo is an independent state and it will be even better for Serbia to recognise Kosovo”, Prime Minister Kurti said, saying such a step will facilitate Belgrade's integration into the European Union.

Amid the impasse, Kurti insisted that the burden belongs to Serbia, which he called a <x0-authocracy” that has fostered close ties with the Kremlin in Russia and continues to destabilise Southeast Europe.

However, Washington appears to be relying heavily on Kurti and his government to surrender on key issues with the US Embassy in Pristina this week, calling for the immediate creation of a long proposal to form the so-called Association of Serb majority municipalities.

Hours after the declaration's publication, at a meeting held Tuesday by the US Embassy to discuss the proposal, in which Kurti did not participate, hinting at increasing tensions with Kosovo's staunch ally.

He has long been an opponent of the deal, saying the association would give Serbia another ethnic enclave in the region that could be used to undermine his government.

We cannot blackmail. We cannot be afraid. We are brave people, and what we are looking for is fair treatment, equality and mutual recognition,” said Kurti.

It is not fair to pressure the country with pro-European, pro-American and Democrat in the Western Balkans. This pressure should be on Belgrade”, the Kosovo prime minister says.

On the other hand, Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vucic, says his government is too narrow to reach agreement.

During a national televised address, Vuciq said he was given ultimatum by Western states to normalise ties with Kosovo or otherwise face measures that would be major damage to his country.

At first glance, Kurti and Vuciq appear to be the most impossible leaders to reach an agreement, with the Serbian president publicly referring to his Kosovo counterpart as “terrorist scum”.

“I can talk about the positions of the president of Serbia, but not about his educational level”, Kurti told the French news agency.

Once named “Che Guevara of Kosovo”, Kurti was converted by an activist who led violent protests known for issuing tear gas to parliament before becoming prime minister.

Today he is prime minister, after marking a convincing victory in the 2021 elections and not giving up his radical commitment to defend Kosovo's sovereignty, with Western diplomats often complaining of its stubbornness.

But Kurti remains unforgivable in his bid to ensure a stable future for Kosovo.

“Democracy and republic must be protected. It's not easy, but there's no option”, Kurti declares.