Hoxhaj: Kosovo must complete state-building, concerns regional peace

Oleksei Goncharenko, member of the Ukraine Parliament, a member of the Ukrainian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, through a video message has said Russia's aggression has changed the rules of the game.

According to him, the EU's character as a global defence actor has been empowered. He has also cited Finland's NATO membership, which took place following the invasion of Ukraine from Russia. “As a NATO member, Finland will contribute, in human rights, freedom and democracy”, the Ukrainian MP added.

While Albania's former Defence Minister Mimi Kodeli said in the impossible to be part of the panel through a video message, he also said Albanians would be unified to negotiate European values.

We should be united not only as Albanians, but with all countries wanting to see a better future, to have a development. Mother Teresa said: Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love”. What are the needs and requirements for our citizens, to keep them safe inside and outside”, Kodheli said.

Interior Minister Jhelal Svecla made a chronology of attacks in the north, until she said Kosovo has shown success, referring to success stories after NATO's intervention in the country.

Serbia has a de-structive role in relation to Kosovo, not only Kosovo but also Bosnia because of the destructive role supported by Serbia. If Montenegro were not part of NATO and what Montenegrins would think about security, this is an argument that democracy should be protected, but what's important is that Kosovo should be part of the EU now”, Svechla said.

“With NATO intervention, Kosovo represents a democratic movement, states joined to serve in protecting people's lives. Because of this Kosovo presents a success story. We are witnessing the many challenges we are currently facing, three days before the Russian invasion I was at a meeting in Vienna, interior affairs ministers, and it was believed no aggression would occur, although the indicators existed that they would attack Ukraine”, Svechla said.

The minister confirmed that mobilization by the democratic world was late, though it was for applause. Also, he said Serbia and Russia are exploiting each other, and that is a kind of hegemony.

Svechla also singled out the reaction, as she called the weak “” on the part of the EU, following the attack north of Mitrovica.

“was difficult, as well as believed, for a very weak EU response to this act committed by Serbia. That kind of reaction came on 24 September of this terrorist attack by making an invasion in Kosovo, a scenario prepared by Serbia. Unfortunately, we still do not have an EU action punishing Serbia for this act. I really believe that uncertainty comes from Serbia's adventure acts towards Kosovo. This is a confrontation of values, we need to mobilise for what we have to achieve and raise our standards. In 2008 Serbia was in line with security, today it has fallen to 95% ”, Svechla said.

The resident representative for the Dialogue Foundation of Friedrich Ebert (FES) in Southeast Europe, Rene Schlee, said that states that want to join the EU must communicate and serve as a bridge for membership.

Schlee did not agree with Minister Svecla for the statement that Serbia and Russia exploit each other. “have the same function mode, but it could be learned a lot from Russian aggression”, he said.

“We from FES that we have several factors, but those who dominate are the Serbian government under Vucic's leadership. I understand that and I think it's very true, but from my point of view I don't believe Serbia is Serbia's client. So there are similarities that are important that we have the concept of the Russian world. Mandel mentioned that each parliament has to do with priorities, we need exchanges. The case of Finland and Sweden in NATO, parliamentarians had to vote, I suggest we have a foundation for Kosovo's integration into NATO”.

He said how foundations support and expect any postponement because the EU would not merit that name without the states that are its member.

“The EU is a geopolitical actor, NATO and NATO membership are considered a second issue. Confidence in what Kosovo is bringing to the table, Kosovo can do much in its search-saving actions for a strategy, the service for preparation”, Schlee said.

Former Kosovo Foreign Affairs Minister Enver Hoxhaj said Kosovo's north poses a threat not only to Kosovo but to all democratic states.

We had a situation in the north where we saw acts of violence and then a terrorist act in September of last year, why and what's going on? We have to understand, Serbia is trying to make security points north, and this is a big challenge not only for Kosovo, but also for the security of the region because if that happens, we have to ask ourselves what we are doing and where we are being found. Are we creating a power vacuum where people live in the north, this is a big risk to me for security. There should be a political process, elections in the north, the integration of Serbs into our 48x1> institutions, Hoxha said.

The ongoing former foreign minister gave a criticism of the current government for the fact that, according to him, the Government does not have enough support from neighbouring countries.

I have always understood dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia as an instrument that the region will make safer. Minister Svechla did not mention, according to me, the third point we should complete the state-building of Kosovo. This is about regional peace, security. If Serbia is not willing to do so, there will be no recognition, no agreement, we have to have plan B, this is to support Kosovo to have candidate status for membership”, Hoxhaj stressed.