Kosovo faces criticism on independence anniversary

Kosovo celebrates its 16th anniversary of independence. On this anniversary it faces criticism and frustration from internationals. They demand that the government not take unilateral action and solve problems within the dialogue.

February 17th, the 16th anniversary of Kosovo's declaration of independence -- an anniversary that is celebrated this year in the face of international calls for politics not to fuel tensions with Serbia, with which the dialogue has developed since 2011. Kosovo is required not to take separate actions, but to co-ordinate them.

The Kosovo-Serbia relationship is tense since last September 24th's attack on Banjska in northern Kosovo by a group of armed Serbs, where a police officer from Kosovo was killed. Kosovo then accused Serbia of supporting the armed group. Meanwhile, responsibility for the attack that led the group was assumed by former Serbian List Deputy Chairman Milan Radojic, who is currently in Serbia. International authorities urged Serbia to investigate the case to the end and those responsible to be brought to justice.

Even a recent Kosovo Central Bank decision has become a cause for increasing tensions. With a BEC regulation, Euro is defined as the only currency for use in Kosovo. This brings the ban on Serbia's dinar, used in almost all Serb-run municipalities. Kosovo's move was single-sided, which could increase tensions, not well-thinking and without co-ordination with the international factor.

Disgusting Kosovo's unilateral decision

Despite international calls for Kosovo to suspend the CEC's decision, which prohibits the use of the Serbian dinar, the decision came into force on 1 February. US Assistant Secretary of State James O'Brien said the United States is very concerned with this decision, underlining that “with this stance, the Kosovo government has questioned partnership with the United States”. The issue of stopping Serbia's dinar in Kosovo last week discussed the KS also in an extraordinary session. The dinar issue has affected the US partnership with Kosovo, and the critical attitude of Kosovo's friends for its unilateral actions, for the US ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Havenier, are disturbing.

It is rare for the American Security Council to say critical things about the Government of Kosovo. Ambassador Linda-Thomas Greenfield did this. It is rare that assistant secretary for Europe, James O'Brien, provide an interview with tones and contexts such as he did, is very rare. Reflect for a problem. My hope is to stop this. We don't want to be in this situation. We want to be under different circumstances”, Ambassador Havenier said at a media conference Thursday. The US's “dedication to Kosovo citizens is stronger than ever. I expect them to celebrate Independence Day together on Saturday, but it's difficult. The government doesn't seem to be working in partnership, we want to avoid this”, Hovenier said.

Kurti: US most important partner

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, commenting on US Assistant Secretary of State's statement, said the United States represents Kosovo's most important friend and partner, but did not imply it would withdraw from the dinar decision. The Republic of Kosovo has no partner, no allies and important friends like the United States, so I consider and co-operate as prime minister of the Republic of Kosovo. The Kosovo Central Bank has introduced a 10-point plan for implementing its regulation. We are a democratic Republic. The government does not overlap independent institutions such as the BQK”, Kurti said.

President Vjosa Osmani, in turn, says the state of Kosovo was born thanks to the support of international allies and friends, at the helm with the US and the American role of establishing our state is too evident. And we have a will from President Rugova, deeply rooted in the hearts of all Albanians, so, as the period of statehood especially testified, the American role for creating our state is highly vertimate, highly conservative, and undoubtedly key”, President Osmani said.

But about Kosovo government partnership - The US ambassador, Jeffrey Havenier, puts it differently. “We would hope that Government and Prime Minister Kurti will engage as partners to resolve this issue together, instead of taking unilateral action and contrary to what we asked for. We are concerned that Government and Prime Minister Kurti have not done so. Whatever statements that things are right and that our relationships continue are not true. We're worried”.

Serious change of international political course with Kosovo

But how do political analysts view the criticism of the international factor towards Kosovo, which is being accused of unilateral acts and without co-ordination.

Blerim Burjani, analyst told DW, that it is surprising and unexpected that such a major turn of political course change occurs in relation to international diplomacy that was unreserved support of Kosovo politics. Kosovo is now behaving fully independent and not co-operatively, which is taking action without international consultations. This inevitable has led to two situations. The first actions, according to Kurti, are independent and Kosovo's move forward based on its political interests. And the two Western states are necessary when Kurt estimates he needs them. This has not rarely caused allies to react and name the prime minister a factor of self-action”, Burjani says.

According to him, while the US and EU assess international security as a priority of action, Kurti must ease the political course in terms of co-operation with allies, taking into account their geopolitical and geostrategic interests in the Balkans.

Burjani says it requires operational rationality and bridge co-operation mechanism. “Regional and international peace and security are the biggest priority of Kosovo friends. Fear of changing international order has pushed the West to defend this international order at any cost, with nothing changing in the”. Prime Minister Kurti must be more adopter of current international and regional circumstances when it comes to international security, analyst Blerim Burjani points out and commit to a full and unconditional solution with Serbia in the sense of full normalisation of relations.

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A review of developments to the establishment of the state of Kosovo makes Ehat Miftaraj for DW. He says the state of Kosovo is a project of Western democracies, taking on developments that took place in the late 1980s and early 1990s. “Through its entire journey, Kosovo and political leaders who have represented Kosovo in many important processes have built and cultivated trust-based dialogue and full co-ordination with the US and EU states”, says Miftaraj, adding that the current government should not also develop the facts and international pledges that the Republic of Kosovo itself has undertaken with the case of declaring the declaration of independence<3>.

Miftaraj points out, it has consequences. “Such an approach of the Kosovo government puts it in a difficult position like the US and the EU in relation to non-concilative states and guarantees that Kosovo will fulfil its obligations to build a democratic state, based on values promoting human rights and freedoms and communities living in Kosovo. Sanctions from the EU and the US Ambassador's statement with a non-technology language are the last signal sent to the government that this wrong approach should end”, Miftaraj says.

Calls for Moderation and Normal Steps

The tensions of recent months between Kosovo and Serbia have raised international concerns about a possible phase of the situation. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during his visit to Albania, said the United States “did not want to see the repetition of what happened in the 90s in the Balkan region, first in Bosnia and then in Kosovo”.

For this reason we are committed to supporting all efforts to advance the integration of the entire Western Balkans with each other and Europe. As far as Kosovo and Serbia are concerned, the negotiations mediated by the European Union are the only right path and we are committed to doing everything we need to support the two countries cross this 11x1> road, said Secretary Blinken.

This week even the Secretary General NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, urged Kosovo and Serbia to refrain from any kind of action that could escalate tensions in the Western Balkans.

“We have seen increases in tensions in Kosovo and in general in the Western Balkans over recent months. My main message is that all sides must refrain from stimulating rhetoric and any action that could escalate more tensions in the region. When we talk about Kosovo, the road ahead is through facilitated dialogue by the European Union between Pristina and Belgrade, and I call on both sides to engage in trust in this” dialogue, Jens Stoltenberg said.

US President Joe Biden in a message of congratulations sent to Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vujic, on the occasion of the Republic of Serbia's State Day, called on Serbia to take steps forward, including compromises when necessary, in order to normalise relations with Kosovo. / DW