Former American diplomat: Kosovo must persuade US to continue supporting its sovereignty

Without that happening, according to him, it would be dangerous for the US to be involved in Kosovo's efforts to reach agreement with Serbia.

 

 

Because, look, the United States is not helping Ukraine. Now when they are involved in [the resolution of that conflict], they are lined up on the Ottoman side, on Russia's side, not on the side of true democracy”, Hooper says.

The United States has repeatedly warned the government led by Albin Kurti, due to certain actions they have considered uncoordinated in Kosovo's predominantly Serb-run north.

 

 

 

With those moves, American officials have said Kosovo has questioned the partnership between the two countries.

Kosovo should communicate better with Washington and not lecture Washington”, says Balkan development connoisseur Hoober.

 

 

According to him, “is very dangerous for Kosovo when Americans see it as a problem”.

Mr. Hooper, how did you comment on American policy change to Ukraine, Vice President Donald Trump?

 

 

James Hoor: Me, personally, I don't like it. I think this undermines NATO, while NATO has been crucial to preserving peace in Europe since the end of World War II, or since the late 1940s.

I have great respect for Ukraine. Ukrainians have fought hard, surprised the world and need our support. They need America's support.

 

 

NATO has more to do with tanks, aircraft, [arms] Himars and stuff like that. NATO is truly the belief in the power of America, its purpose and its determination. President Trump undermines this when he comes to President Putin's side.

What do you expect out of this?

 

 

James Hoor: I don't think there'll be a solution to the problem. The problem is Russia loves Ukraine. Ukraine has the experience of being part of Russia, within the Soviet Union. And it has been a terrible experience for him. So he won't be willing to join Russia again.

There is no way for any deal that would make Ukraine part of Russia. You can take part in Ukraine and unite Russia which Russia loves and is trying to convince Americans to accept in a way that involves or explores.

 

 

She'd prefer Americans to accept it in an exclusive way, but if they came to terms with it, as something to be sorry for, but necessary for peace, then this is a good plan B for Putin, even though he would prefer to have formal agreements.

Kosovo to repair relations with US”

 

 

Can all of this signal a broader change in US foreign policy, including its approach to the Kosovo-Serbia dispute?

James Hoor: The Kosovo-Serbia dispute is different and it is very important that you ask about it.

 

 

I think it's very dangerous that Kosovo gets to include the United States in its efforts to reach agreement with Serbia, because, look, the United States is not helping Ukraine.

Now when the United States is involved in [the resolution of conflict in] Ukraine, they are lined up on the Ottoman side, on Russia's side, not on the side of true democracy.

 

 

So it is very difficult for Kosovars to expect that the United States will come to their aid or help in the same way that they helped [over] 20 years ago in the war with Serbia.

I just don't see it happening. Plus, it is dangerous for Kosovo to get the United States involved now, because [Kosovo Prime Minister Albin] Kurt has seriously damaged Kosovo's relations with the US. And, as long as this relationship is not repaired, US involvement will not help Kosovo.

 

 

 

So the first thing Prime Minister Kurti has to do if he wants to include the United States is to repair relations with the United States and then include them.

Can Kosovo move forward without US push?

 

 

James Hoor: Yeah, I think it's possible. Here's a strategic question. Can Kosovo secure better agreements, negotiating it itself, directly with Serbia? Or will he make better arrangements if the United States is involved? This is a strategic issue Kosovo must decide on.

I don't think it's possible for Kosovo to reach an agreement that solves all its problems with Serbia, without the involvement of the United States. I agree with that.

 

 

But Kosovo can achieve smaller goals, even if very important, if it negotiates directly with Serbia.

If Prime Minister Kurti focuses on the outcome of the confrontation, I think it is possible for him to negotiate directly with Serbia and succeed in this.

 

 

Kosovo will be a top priority” of the Trump administration
Do you think the new US administration will approach the Kosovo-Serbia dispute? How high will she be in her priorities?

James Hoor: It'll be a low priority. State Secretary Marco Rubio has no experience in the Balkans, so I don't think it will be his focus.

 

 

If there were a crisis, as happened several months ago, when the danger of Serbia's attack across the border seemed to exist, the United States could intervene.

And if the United States is involved, then you would have the advantage or risk of a imposed solution a solution imposed by the United States. I think Kosovo should think very carefully about this if it wants to have a imposed American solution.

 

 

But, I think Kosovo should consider even if it is better for its interests to negotiate directly with Serbia. I myself believe it would be better for Kosovo to negotiate directly with Serbia to end the confrontation.

I repeat, Kosovo cannot secure recognition from Serbia by negotiating directly with it, because Serbia will not recognise Kosovo until it is accepted as an EU member. And, that won't happen soon, as far as I understand the EU and its goals.

 

 

But there are a number of things Kosovo leaders can do. The most essential thing is to repair relations with the United States. Adjust that relationship before everything else!

Second, I think they should develop good, solid relations with EU foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas. She's from Estonia. Estonia is a small country under the control of the Soviet Union. So I know what it's like to be possessed by a hostile power. So, I think that Kallas will be kind, or at least will understand the situation in Kosovo.

 

 

And third, Prime Minister Kurti must develop a relationship with President [Aleksandar] Serbia's Vucinac.

“to create a direct channel of communication between Kosovo and Serbia”

 

 

But do you think Serbia would agree to engage directly with Kosovo?

James Hoor: Yeah. Why wouldn't he agree? Among [former Kosovo president, Hashim] Thaci and Serbia's president, Vuciq, have had a communication relationship and has been very productive. Perhaps some Kosovars are critical and disagreeable with me, but it has been a productive relationship. He didn't make friends, but he made them learn how to deal with each other and how to communicate with each other.

 

 

 

Now, I don't think Mr. Vuciq has any special favors or any special respect for Mr. Kurti. And I don't think Mr. Kurti has any special respect for Mr. Vuchy. I think he sees Serbia as the permanent enemy of Kosovo and he wants the people of Kosovo to agree with it, and many agree.

He, too, wants the international community to support Kosovo and protect it from its enemy so to treat Serbia as an enemy. I don't think the international community will do that. I don't think he agrees with Mr. Kurti on this.

 

 

But, I think it is quite possible for Kosovo to have relations with Serbia, which is not friendly, but neighbouring relations. The only way to do so, in my opinion, is for Kosovo's leadership to develop a communication channel with Mr. Vuciq.

You said several times that the Government of Kosovo must improve its relations with the United States. How?

 

 

James Hoor: The Kosovo government must communicate, learn how to communicate more effectively with Washington.

For now, the U.S. Government considers Prime Minister Kurti stubborn, unable to negotiate and disruptive. It is very dangerous for Kosovo when Americans see it as a problem.

 

 

Kosovo should have a better relationship, so to communicate better with Washington and not lecture Washington.

I think Americans believe the Kosovo government is trying to create problems with Serbia. I know Serbia is not innocent in this situation and that, sometimes, it wants to create problems with Kosovo.

 

 

But it is dangerous for Americans to believe that Kurti is the main troublemaker in the Balkans who wants to create problems with Serbia, which may require intervention by the United States and NATO. The United States does not want to intervene militarily in a crisis situation in Kosovo. And, I don't think Kosovo should assume that the United States will intervene.

Do you think Washington's commitment to Kosovo's sovereignty will remain as powerful as before?

 

 

James Hoor: What can be said about [former American president Joe] Biden, is that he had knowledge of the Balkans. As a senator, he has been very involved in the Balkans, whether with Kosovo or with Bosnia and Herzegovina. And, I think his support for Kosovo's sovereignty has been very strong. I can't imagine any stronger.

I would not claim that America's support for Kosovo's sovereignty will continue. It's probably going to continue, but I wouldn't make that assumption. Kosovo must work harder to persuade Americans to actively get involved and engage actively.

 

 

This is really my message, that Kosovo should not assume anything about the United States, but must work to ensure their support.

If the U.S. had a more transactional approach, as they now say of President Trump ? What would Kosovo be looking for in that case? Can Kosovo face pressure to make any territorial or political concessions?

James Hoor: A transaction agreement may mean that Americans expect Kosovars to make political concessions. Maybe even territorial... but I think political concessions.

Do you have something concrete in mind?

 

 

James Hoor: I don't want to be unfair to President Trump... First, he does not understand the Balkans, has never tried to understand or claim to understand. It is not a key element of its policy towards Europe. It is the responsibility of the Government of Kosovo to help President Trump better understand the Balkans.

Kosovo's “Staratege must be NATO membership”
What steps must Kosovo take to protect its interests?

 

 

 

James Hoor: I think Kosovo needs a direct relationship with Serbia, which it does not now. Unless you can automatically calculate that the US and NATO will protect him

Kosovo in any crisis situation, then Kosovo must make sure there are no crises and must prevent them, because any escalation of the situation would threaten Kosovo's independence.

 

 

I think Kosovo needs a strategy, the prime minister needs a strategy. And the strategy should be Kosovo's NATO membership. Kosovo certainly wants to be in NATO, and everyone knows that.

But I don't think Kosovo knows how to enter NATO. It's not easy, but that's what Kosovo really needs to be part of NATO. I think it is more important for Kosovo to be part of NATO than of the EU.

 

 

 

The people of Kosovo should see it as the responsibility of Prime Minister Kurti to negotiate, to find a way, a way to bring Kosovo into NATO. That must be the goal.

Do you think Kosovo is not now working towards that goal?

 

 

James Hoor: Yeah, but it's not effective. Everyone knows that Kosovo wants to become part of NATO, is not revealing any hidden truths, but the problem is that you cannot enter NATO by damaging relations with the United States. Because, if the United States wants Kosovo to be in NATO, it will be in NATO.

Even though some NATO countries don't want this... if Americans want it to happen, it will happen. This is reality.

 

 

As I say, NATO is belief in American power, purpose and determination. And other NATO member states understand the important role the United States has played at least the important role they have played so far. In the future, we'll see. But it is the Kosovo government's responsibility to develop a strategy, move towards NATO membership and convince the United States that it is to their advantage that Kosovo is in NATO.

Kosovo does not yet have the new government after the February 9th elections, but what do you think should be its priorities when it is formed and regardless of who forms it?

 

 

James Hoor: NATO membership. The second priority should be the outcome of the confrontation with Serbia. The outcome of this confrontation also makes Kosovo the most attractive candidate for NATO membership, and it is one thing that can be done. Both connect if you have one, it's easier to reach the other. / REL