Saturday: We are in a troubled phase of Kosovo- United States

In an interview for the REL, Steun added that Kosovo's reports with the United States should be dealt with with with seriously, especially when President Donald Trump is in the US.

If we understand what President Trump's priority is, if he continues with tricks, with half the truth and uncontinent promises, I have the impression that he will have problems in relations”, he stressed.

Asked whether the US will have greater commitment to the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue as soon as Kosovo forms a new government, Steun said it depends on the format of negotiations, but also on the time it will take over the Trump administration, other geopolitical problems in the world.

An immediate recalculation of politics in Kosovo is needed towards access to United States

Radio Free Europe: What are the tasks that await the country's new government, regardless of who it is formed, in terms of reports with allies?

Adrian State: There are two-three points, the main task is to repair relations with allies and maintain them, so I'm talking about strategic partners, especially the United States of America. This partnership should be treated with seriousness, discretion, and, above all, honestly, because I feel that even rhetoric has lacked honesty or sincerity, especially not only in communication with partners but also with the public, where cheese soap has been sold in a way.

It means, relations with allies, with strategic partners are not at a good point, this is not in Kosovo's favour. Therefore, those who have brought it to this point should be honest in public communication and accept it and render an account for why the relationship with strategic partners is at this point.

If we look at the second point in the wider way, politics in Kosovo must read clearly and without delay the tectonic movement on the political scene, both geopolitically and in US domestic politics.

Therefore, an immediate recalculation of politics in Kosovo is needed regardless of who forms the Government towards access to the United States, with the European Union, with NATO and should have an increased presence on tables both bilateral and multilateral, so both direct communication with the US here in Washington and at international forums where it is clearly communicated with strategic partners. We have to be clear about one thing, it's time to give up romantic, folktological nationalism and replace it with pragmatic and strategic patriotism.

Kosovo to face Challenges Very quickly, even because of political changes in the US, even because of geopolitical changes, therefore, anyone in the government has to have a strategic approach and create a strategic advice forum for foreign policy and for managing dialogue with Serbia.

“Who makes sense that Kosovo- The US is tense, living in a parallel reality”

Radio Free Europe: When we talk about Kosovo's reports with the United States, Mr. Saturday, how did you comment on recent statements by Richard Green, the US envoy for special missions concerning Prime Minister Kurti and his Government, calling him an unreliable partner?

Adrian State: That kind of statement is quite disturbing, but it's not surprising. In any relationship, whether family, social, or political, credibility is violated when you say one thing and do another and do not adhere to the word you have given, you do not adhere to your obligations to partners. Thus, credibility has undoubtedly been violated, the credibility of the Government of Kosovo as interlegator, someone says in words, someone says it in action. There are exactly uncooperative challenging behaviour that has brought Kosovo to this situation where it is under punitive measures from the European Union.

Measures are similar because there is no reason to make arrangements if you are cooperative. Clearly, then, reality and communication with the people should be more sincere and less fairy tales with Santa Claus. Those who do not realize that US-Kosovo or EU-Kosovo relations are currently tense live in a parallel reality, and the lack of reading reality will be costly for Kosovo -- a cost that would be unfair to the people of Kosovo.

*Radio Free Europe broadcast on February 9th a special show for the 2025 parliamentary elections in Kosovo. Follow the following:

Radio Free Europe: During the campaign Kurti said the opposition is trying to find someone in Washington to attack its government. Could Greenell's latest statement have been prompted by the opposition in Kosovo?

Adrian State: Mr. Grenelli is not a lady, it is not an instrument of Kosovo politics, and whoever says it is naive and does not understand what politics is and who it is talking about when we talk about politics in the US not in the Balkans. Mr. Greenell enjoys full credibility with President Trump, has direct access, has his ear, President Trump listens to him, and Green has great influence on this administration. For this reason, his statements should be taken seriously, and any response to them should be weighed clearly and carefully, not to create incredible games and turquoise than Mr. Green is instrumentalized by the opposition, which is by no means reliable to me.

Radio Free Europe: According to Kurti, Kosovo's partnership with the United States in the past has been either aggressive or professional, while he says partnership with the US is viewed with normal. How about that definition of relationships?

Adrian State: Still I'm saying there seems to be a break from the reality that we all know, because we in the same reality live and we hear the same comments from all leaders, ambassadors and state representatives, I don't share the same opinion with Mr. Kurt. On the contrary, if we look at it from the American and European Union perspective I'm speaking from statements made by US and European Union officials and not one person, we're talking about access to the US, the EU and NATO, it turns out there is a problem in the way of communication and action by the current Government of Kosovo with partners.

It does not seem to me that they have complained about co-operation with past Kosovo governments, rather if we remember the statement by former Ambassador Havenier who said “we are facing different challenges from the current government, and this is the change from the relationship we have previously had with past governments”. And if there is a damage to the level of partnership between Kosovo and the United States, that is, falling the quality of partnership, then we fall in comparison to what was previously, which means that prior to the partnership the partnership has been more reliable and has been in the place where it should be, to achieve the goals that have gradually been achieved, with recognition of Kosovo's citizenship, membership in international organisations and so on.

I'm not saying that the relationship with the United States has been perfect or that there have been problems, but relatively as it is now before, we can say that we are now in a problematic phase of Kosovo relations- U.S.A., I'm talking about state relations.

Radio Free Europe: If a Government with Vetevendosje in leadership comes out of this election, how are relations with the United States that now has President Donald Trump?

Adrian State: I suggest that Kosovo's relationship with the US is vital, it is a relationship that needs to be prioritized, that needs to be viewed with extraordinary seriousness, especially in view of the way President Trump prefers to communicate, is very direct and highly valued loyalty. If we understand what President Trump's priority is, if he continues with tricks, with half true and unintelligent promises, I have the impression that there will be problems in the relationship, and this is not imitated in one government or another, anyone who makes Government in Kosovo must be clear to the reality that we are currently in.

“There is an opportunity for people to have consequences”

Radio Free Europe: Is there risk that these Kosovo state-led relations- The US also influence US relations with the people of Kosovo?

Adrian State: Unfortunately, because of the moment we're here and the unpredictableness of things, there's a possibility that people will have consequences, not just in terms of what's unknown, but also of what's known. If we look at the development funds of the European Union blocked, it is in a direct approach to the well-being of the people of Kosovo, not to get into the security aspects of what would happen if there was a fatigue in allies with the non-co-operative approach and then review their approach to Kosovo. Whoever forms Government must wake up and understand that we are ahead of a crucial moment for Kosovo's future.

Radio Free Europe: Are greater commitment of the Trump administration expected in the Kosovo dialogue process- Serbia after the new government takes office?

Adrian State: The US engagement with Kosovo is not uniform, but depends also on the way Kosovo behaves. I hope there will be a greater US commitment to finding a formula to achieve normalisation on the ground of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. But it does not depend only on the United States, it also depends on the previous form, implemented now in a decade where the European Union is the one mediating the talks.

It should be seen that in the geopolitical plan, we are experiencing many challenges, which are much larger in the global plan. I'm talking, there's a war in Ukraine, other problems in Gaza, in the Middle East, in Syria, there are major problems about how China is behaving to Taiwan and other neighbours, and so there are many bigger problems that will draw attention and take the Trump administration time before the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue process.