hybrid war on eve of parliamentary elections in Kosovo

It says: Becky Colak

The closer parliamentary elections are approaching, the more tensions are increasing in northern Kosovo. These developments, which culminated in another terrorist act against Kosovo's vital assets, are understood to be deliberate and aimed at destabilizing our country. No doubt, the manager remains Serbia or Russia. As other conspiracy theories remain open, the question arises that apart from Serbia and Russia, who else fits such a deterioration of the security situation on the eve of parliamentary elections in Kosovo?

After the latest terrorist act against vital infrastructure, the situation is alarming. The inevitable feeling is that we are on the brink of war. To understand whether it is a classic or hybrid war, you need to read the statements of Prime Minister Kurti. In fact, the fear created that we are on the verge of a war does not depend solely on terrorist actions sponsored by Serbia or Russia. Feelings of uncertainty and fear of eventual war are also the result of a party state strategy and the supreme leader's combative language. Of course, this state party strategy is part of the hybrid war to justify the failures of this government and cover up scandals. In such a desperate effort to justify poor governance, the prime minister identifies Serbia, Russia and then ranks the Constitutional Court of Kosovo, the entire prosecutorial system, free media, civil society, opposition parties, etc.

While investigations to reveal the perpetrators of the recent terrorist act against vital infrastructure are under way, the prime minister has filled up adrenaline not only in repairing the damage caused, but also in the establishment of the rhetoric for escalation to eventual warfare. Thus, in response to his request, the Kosovo Security Council has approved additional measures to strengthen security around vital facilities such as bridges, trafostations, antennas, lakes, channels, etc. Despite the fact that the Security Council has not declared the state of emergency, the Kosovo Security Force (FSK) has been activated on the ground for that purpose. No one has the legal basis on which such a decision has been made. Perhaps this could be clarified by the institutions responsible in the coming days. However, the prime minister's tendencies to obtain additional competencies in the field of security, contrary to the Kosovo Constitution and the laws in power, are already known for public opinion. Therefore, the Kosovo Assembly must exercise its duty for civilian control over security institutions.

In this highly sensitive and tense situation, the prime minister suddenly takes time and without shame again tries to blame former President Hashim Thaci for the clarification letter sent. NATO many years ago in terms of deployment or KSF operations (which at the time had a completely different mandate and mission) in the country's north. How can there be a man, in this case a prime minister, so evil and make efforts to hurt the former president, who for more than four years is held in custody at The Hague. After all, it is paradoxical to think that the Supreme Leader prevents that piece of paper from ordering him. The KSF keeps state vital assets north of the country. Or maybe that piece of paper simply serves the prime minister to justify the lack of courage in making government decisions? Prime Minister, why don't you try one time to take a rational act that you're obliged to do under law in power, secure financial support for the accused by the Special Court. Do it now, because you're late and ashamed.

For two years now, Albin Kurti's government is trying to convince local and international opinion that its actions in northern Kosovo have established security for citizens, democratic political representation and the welfare of public services. In the last three days alone, however, terrorist acts near public objects at Zubin Potok's Zvecan, which culminated in the destruction of the Iber-Lepenci Canal through the fraught dynamite explosion, they proved quite otherwise. As a result, our country is threatened with escalation of national security, which results not only from the actions of Serbia or Russia, but to a considerable extent the current government because of the irresponsible leadership of the dialogue process. The careless acceptance of the basic Brussels agreement and the Ohrid annex, then of his beloved Zajednica draft on the one hand, while on the other, refusing to implement them, continues to produce risks from political sabotages and terrorist acts aimed at internal destabilisation and regional tensions.

The situation, though very complicated, is simple. We should all be clear: everything that's happening has motivation and electoral cootation and nothing more. Prime Minister Kurti, who on the critical night shortly after the attack, sought party support before the start of the election campaign, misused the terrorist act on Iber-Lepenc's infrastructure to threaten the political opposition and to silence the critical media by naming parts of the hybrid war against his government, and, as stated against the people of Kosovo and the Albanian nation. The silence of criticism against him and irresponsible governance is his only goal, which at the news conference proved that he is willing even to use acts of terrorist rowing against political opposition and critical media.

With such direct threats, Prime Minister Kurti is aiming for the political rift his government caused to deepen further, transforming it into electoral weapons, which he is directing to all those who are refusing to be his electorates. At the media conference, Kurti and his government demanded that in co-ordination with the international community confront Aleksandar Vucinqi's foreign enemy and regime in Serbia, while through his party and social networking militants confront the inner enemy from the ranks of democratic opposition, free media and civil society.

The prime minister's behaviour, along with such serious violation of the security situation in our country, testifies to how insecure and vulnerable our country has become. This situation calls for responsible institutional behaviour and inter-institutional co-operation and why not, even co-ordination with opposition parties. Now we need calm and quiet so that the difficult situation goes towards stabilisation and calm, not confrontation. We should never accept turning Kosovo's interest, its security and stability into electoral bets. Kosovo is bigger and more important than Albin Kurti and his desire for power. In this respect, criticism of government and disagreement with it should never be understood as an attack on our country. Hence, the current government should not rush into its arsenal against the imaginary inner enemy. Kosovo citizens love their state if not more, then as much as any government or prime minister serving it.