Former U.S. Secretary: US has never been so angry with Kosovo Government

The row with Americans harms Kosovo's interests, says in an interview for Radio Free Europe Daniel Fried, former US State Secretary of State assistant.

According to him, the US has never been so angry with the Government of Kosovo, and such a thing is “rather disturbing”.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his team “have received American support as well. They have abused American faith in a way that will be difficult for them to fix”, Fried says.

The response comes in the wake of strong criticism made by US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar, at Kurti's address, which he blamed for lack of co-operation in extending the situation to northern Kosovo.

Tensions in this part of the country, inhabited by Serb majority, have been high since May 26th, when Albanian mayors of municipalities have taken office despite resistance by local residents.

Radio Free Europe: Mr. Fried, the United States' special envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, was highly critical of the Government of Kosovo for the tense situation in the country's north. He criticised Prime Minister Albin Kurti for lack of co-operation in reducing tensions. Kurti, on the other hand, insists that he cannot compromise the democratic republic”. What is your comment?

Daniel Fried: Clearly, Kosovo is ignoring the concerns of the United States and acting in a way that we do not encourage. I have never seen the US administration so angry with the Government of Kosovo, not in these 15 years since its declaration of independence.

The American government has encouraged Kosovars not to make this problem in the north, and Kosovars have ignored us. And the results are exactly what we've been warning about.

I have no doubt in my assumptions. Otherwise I can't explain why the American ambassador to Pristina, Jeffrey Havenier, and Gabriel Escobar would be so frustrated. I assume they have their reasons. I suppose their reasons are based on the disregard Kurti gave them their warnings and on considering US support as being well-being what was wrong and surprising.

He [ Kurti] has made Serbia's president [Aleksandar] Wow, you think that's empathy. I did not think that this is possible, considering that Serbs are the source of the problem, because it is those who refuse to recognise Kosovo's independence and refuse to recognise the reality that Serbia will never again have [Kosovo]. But despite that, Kurt has managed to damage his relationship with the United States for no interest I can identify. It's very disturbing. I have never seen the American government so angry with the Government of Kosovo.

Radio Free Europe: So, you think Kurt is going too far under the current circumstances...

Daniel Fried: Yeah, I think he made a mistake in judging. It defines Kosovo's sovereignty in a way that makes it feel that it can require nothing but maximum. And by doing so, he has made the situation worse.

Radio Free Europe: Escobar, speaking of measures against Kosovo if Kurt is not constructive, said the US “cannot plan anything for Kosovo”... What does that mean for Kosovo?

Daniel Fried: I think he's expressing the frustration of the [American] administration with Kurt and making it clear that Kurt and his team have received American support as well. They have abused the American faith in a way that will be difficult for them to fix, but they better start and do it.

Repeat, the long-term source of problem in Kosovo relations- Serbia comes from Belgrade, from Serbian revanscism, while Kurti has managed to quarrel with the US. Fighting with Americans harms Kosovo's interests in the way I don't understand. I don't know what he [Curty] thought.

Radio Free Europe: Escobar, too, has made it clear that this situation is not about the people of Kosovo, but about an individual, alluding to Kurti. Where is Kurt taking Kosovo?

Daniel Fried: It would be better for Kurt to take a step back and find a way to repair his reports with the United States. Any other course can become much more costly. I don't know what support there is within Kosovo, if viewed as the one who has broken relations with the US, which, first of all, was the first in supporting Kosovo's independence and security in Kosovo.

Radio Free Europe: Many in Kosovo are asked why only Kosovo is punished, not Serbia...

Daniel Fried: This has to do, in all likelihood, with bad faith in the Government of Kosovo. I said, the basic source of the problem is in Belgrade. For the United States to be so angry with the Government of Kosovo, an act of distrust must have happened here. I don't know for sure, but it's my guess.

Radio Free Europe: How would you assess the American administration's approach to Kosovo and Serbia?

Daniel Fried: I think that before this recent explosion, the US considered the problem in Belgrade and believed that Kosovars could gradually emerge in a relatively good state. But it needs a partner in Kosovo to help stabilise the north. I think the American administration feels it doesn't have that partner now.

Radio Free Europe: Do you think the situation in the north can have a broader impact on the region?

Daniel Fried: Of course. There's nothing good that comes out of it. It would be bad if it led to an open conflict, I think of escalation of tensions or escalation of fighting and death. I think Kurt must act quickly to establish at least a working relationship with the American administration. People make mistakes. My advice would be to fix them, but I don't know if we're still at that point.

Radio Free Europe: How much does the ally of Serbia, Russia, benefit from this situation?

Daniel Fried: A lot. This is good news, welcome to the Kremlin and [Russian Foreign Minister Sergei] Lavrov. They like to see the United States arguing with Kosovo. They're going to be open-minded and exploit it.

Radio Free Europe: What would you suggest Kurt would do?

Daniel Fried: Find a way to talk to the United States quietly and find a way out of this confrontation.