Former UN official: A decision about the dinar, wrong and unnecessary provocation

The international community criticised the Government of Kosovo, not for the legitimacy of the BEC regulation, but for the fact that the decision was taken unilaterally, without preliminary consultations and without an adequate transition phase.

Given the fact that Kosovo aspires to membership in the European Union and NATO, this cannot be achieved without adequate co-operation with the international community, the former US ambassador to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation Mission in Europe (OSBE) in Bosnia and Herzegovina estimates.

Therefore for the career diplomat, Kosovo at this stage needs a statesman as former Kosovo president Ibrahim Rugova, when reports with the West are at stake.

“Look at the process Sweden and Finland just passed to join NATO, and both countries have well-consolidised and sovereign democracies. There are EU and NATO members who do not recognise Kosovo. On this issue, Kosovo is not near UN membership. When I first started working with Kosovo over 30 years ago, it was Ibrahim Rugova's skill that brought the world's attention to Kosovo. In 2024, Kosovo needs a statesman rather than a man with a grudge”, he points.

Asked what impact elections in the European Union and the US will have on the prosperity of the dialogue process, he was in charge of working at the US Embassy in Belarus and former deputy head of mission at US embassies in Namibia, Belarus and Bosnia and Herzegovina, points out that no one in Kosovo should expect the world to solve their problems.

Since in his assessment what Kosovo should do is take positive steps and show the ability to manage policies in that way to gain positive support in return.

The full interview of Jonathan Moore for Albanian Post:

Question: The Kosovo Central Bank recently issued a new regulation, where, among many other regulations, it banned the use of Serbian state currency dinar in Kosovo, Serbia said the decision is against Serbs with the intention of persecuting them, while the Kosovo government argued otherwise, stating that the CEC is implementing a provision of the Constitution, how do you see the whole situation?

Jonathan Moore: Thank you for the opportunity to answer your questions. I'm so glad to offer you thoughts from my personal perspective. The decision on the Serbian dinar was wrong, uncoordinated and an unnecessary provocation. Kosovo should be looking for positive solutions and initiatives and should discuss those ideas with partners whose support is needed for Kosovo.

Question: The international community criticised the Government of Kosovo, not for the legitimacy of the BEC regulation, but for the fact that the decision was taken unilaterally, without preliminary consultations and without an adequate transition phase. Why did the international community react so loud?

Jonathan Moore: Kosovo has many priorities. It aspires to membership in the European Union and NATO. See the process that Sweden and Finland just passed through to join NATO and both countries have well-consolidated and sovereign democracies. There are EU and NATO members who do not recognise Kosovo. On this issue, Kosovo is not near UN membership.

When I first started working with Kosovo over 30 years ago, it was Ibrahim Rugova's skill that brought the world's attention to Kosovo. In 2024, Kosovo needs a statesman, not a grudge.

Question: The dinar ban exacerbated bilateral relations between Kosovo and the United States of America, evidence of this was the latest interview of James O'Brien, who directly criticised Kosovo for the final decision, how should Kosovo act in your opinion?

Jonathan Moore: Assistant Secretary of State Jim O'Brien and Ambassador Jeff Havenier have been very clear. Public officials in Kosovo must respect their messages and respond constructively.

Question: There are many rumours that the Government of Kosovo with decisions like that of the dinar, is trying to buy out time and advance as much implementation of the Serb-run municipality Association, according to you, can this be a political strategy and benefit Kosovo from it?

Jonathan Moore: I may miss something, but from the distance, I see no evidence of a positive political strategy on the part of the current government. The association has always been meant to only reflect the capacities that all municipalities have in Kosovo, allowing municipalities with majority Serb populations to work together.

A real political strategy would show Kosovo's respect for democratic practices and social institutions, open the door of Association, impress its international partners, quickly implement the court's decisions such as the one regarding Decani's (Manastir) and encourage economic growth through clear support for Kosovo's impressive entrepreneurs.

By comparison, in many ways Albania offers a different and far more effective model.

Question: The United Kingdom's envoy for the Western Balkans, Stuart Peach, said dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which is mediated by the European Union, should be held in the example of the Good Promise Agreement (the Belfast Agreement), which ended the conflict between rival parties in Northern Ireland 25 years ago. According to you, can the relationship between Kosovo and Serbia normalise an agreement like that of Good Friday?

Jonathan Moore: I have not recognised the Good Promise Agreement, nor would I assume that I will fix the current dialogue. Elements that allow the rights and freedoms of individual ethnic and/or religious communities certainly have merit. It is important that both the United States and the EU, the United Kingdom, be committed to supporting dialogue.

Question: The year 2024 is an election year in many countries around the world, including in the European Union of the United States, how can elections affect the prosperity of the dialogue process?

Jonathan Moore: When I was in the region recently, I was asked this question many times about my country. First, regardless of who wins in the United States in November, we can be sure to hear from many commentators in the Balkans and so-called experts from elsewhere that the United States has been forgotten” or have neglected the Balkans both during and after elections. We have many topics of vital importance in domestic politics and are also dealing with current active conflicts in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. These conflicts and other international issues will continue to compete for policymakers' attention.

This will make even more real what I said earlier: positive and manly steps in Kosovo will receive positive support in return. No one in Kosovo should expect the world to solve their problems.

Question: It has been five months since the September 24th terrorist attack, when a terrorist group illegally entered Kosovo and attacked the Kosovo Police, killing one of its members. Kosovo blamed Serbia for the attack, stressing that official Belgrade tried to “apply the entire north of Kosovo”, but Belgrade said it had nothing to do with it. How have you seen this situation, could the same situation be repeated in the near future?

Jonathan Moore: I haven't visited the North for a few years, and beyond media reports I don't have access to government information or analysis on specifics. My main impression is that whatever the purpose, of course it was a failure and a crime. Although I have visited communities, churches, and monasteries, I can only imagine the stress felt in Bana as the incident developed.

Question: Kosovo's north is continuing to be a source of problems, uncertainty and detection not only of political agendas, but also of daily social dictatorships. When and how does this issue end as a problem, and why is it so difficult to find a solution for the north of Kosovo?

Jonathan Moore: Let me for a moment put away your good philosophical approach. I don't know whether at any point in history a political solution to a crisis or conflict has been universally assessed or permanently. State welfare, support and vision when they are expressed to all in the north and throughout Kosovo combined with close partnership with neighbours and the international community will certainly do things much better.