British diplomat: loss of US support would be disaster for Kosovo

Tensions are still high in the northern part of Kosovo.

Local Serbs are insisting that the new Albanian mayors resign from their posts in four northern municipalities.

However, British diplomat Timothy Less says Kosovo is acting by law with the appointment of four new mayors in northern Kosovo municipalities, despite continuing protests by the Serb community.

According to him, if Prime Minister Kurti did not act that way, he would constitute violations of the law and of the country's constitution.

He even asserts that the mayors must exercise their function from municipal objects.

I understand the logic of Prime Minister Kurti's position. From his perspective, the north is part of Kosovo, regardless of who lives there and what they want. If the mayors resign, then they should be replaced, and this was done after democratic elections in the north. Now the new heads should be allowed to move into their offices to do their job. Anything less would be a violation of the law and constitution”, Tv 1 said.

However, the diplomat says that politics has little significance as to who is entitled to it because he ultimately decides who is the most powerful.

“Normically that the West's approach is disappointing for Kurti, who is simply defending the law in this case, but he must keep in mind that losing US support would be a disaster for Kosovo. In politics it matters little who is right because in the end it decides that he has the power, which in this case is the West”, he said.

According to Les, it is a Western plan for Kosovo to grant autonomy to Serbs.

“There is no doubt that this is the Western plan, diplomats and politicians have repeatedly said they want Kosovo to grant autonomy to Serbs. In one way or another, this is likely to happen, although there are still many unknowns. But if Kosovo continues to challenge the US on the issue of northern Kosovo, then risks diplomatic isolation and attracting American support, as has already threatened US Ambassador”, Les said.

On the other hand, the United States and the European Union are constantly calling for parties to ease tensions and land at the negotiating table.