Fried after Osman's statements: The assessment of Trump Administration is good tactic

Fried accompanied Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani to several meetings he held last week in the US. Asked to comment on her statements that Trump has prevented late a escalation of the situation from Serbia to Kosovo, Fried says he does not know the details.

“ ... but it's always good as a tactic to credit administration to Trump”, he says. In the interview given REL, Fried also talks about the stalemate in the Kosovo Assembly, the development of economic relations between Kosovo and the US and others.

Radio Free Europe: Mr. Fried, I would like to start this interview by asking you about the ongoing political crisis in Kosovo. For three months now, the country is out of a functional place. The winning party in the election, the Vetevendosje Movement, insists on its candidate for top parliament and in secret voting. Opposition parties oppose. How do you see this political stalemate in terms of democratic functioning and institutional responsibility?

Daniel Fried: As an American, I am not in a position to start criticising Kosovars for the difficulties and political dysfunction. As long as you look at Washington these days... I think Kosovo needs a functional government, but it also needs the ability to cope with its challenges in a stable and energetic way.
The prolonged political stalemate is not a problem in itself, as long as it is resolved with the formation of a government that can do its job. So, I am not alarmed by the current problems, but the future Kosovo Government should be able to co-operate with the US, the European Union and face internal challenges beyond the problems it has with Serbia.
Political rage is a problem if a functional government is formed

Radio Free Europe: In such a prolonged institutional stalemate, what would a responsible compromise look like? Daniel Fried: I'm American, I'm a stranger. I have never believed that foreigners should dictate to political actors in Kosovo what they should do.
This is my position not only for Kosovo, but more generally for the countries of the region. As Americans, we just have to ask for rules to be respected and democracy respected. The government to be formed by this process must be functional and capable of making decisions.
I will not tell Kosovo politicians what they should do. What matters is that at the end of this process a government that can function this is essential to me.

Radio Free Europe: Now that American President Donald Trump is in his second term, how would you assess the level of interest and commitment of his administration to the Western Balkans, and especially to Kosovo?

Daniel Fried: The Trump administration has limited attention to foreign affairs in general, because many important positions in the State Department and the National Security Council are simply not complete. She's active in Ukraine, for example. So it's impossible to do that because of lack of sufficient resources and personnel to deal with issues like Kosovo, or worsening democracy in Georgia.
The Trump administration is also dealing with the issue of tariffs and potential trade wars, while issues in the Western Balkans, unfortunately, receive occasional attention. And, remember, there were people in the Trump district who seemed interested in relations and business with Serbia, in disturbing ways for me.

The idea of building hotels or something like that has disturbed me because it showed a short-term commercial interest instead of long-term strategic interest. In this respect, it may be best that the Trump administration is not too engaged in the Western Balkans, because we would not want this effort to go in the wrong direction. I think you understand exactly what I'm talking about.

Radio Free Europe: Can you explain more about our readers? Daniel Fried: There have been reports that some people associated with Trump and his family were interested in a hotel project in Belgrade.

There is nothing wrong with hotel projects in Belgrade, but it is very problematic if interest in these projects makes the United States forget strategic interests in the Western Balkans and make any suspicious agreements with Serbia. This would hinder our strategic goal: that all Western Balkan countries move towards Europe and membership in the European and transatlantic community, and not remain trapped in a homesickness for lost empires, who will never return again as their deceased grandparents will.

Radio Free Europe: So you think it's better not to engage than to engage in the wrong direction as you said... Daniel Fried: Yes, but it is best to engage in the right direction. This too was the message of [Kosovo President Vjosa] Osmani at least the message I drew from some of her meetings in Washington.

I think she made a powerful appeal for the United States to engage in the right path. It is a strong personality and a highly influential convincing speaker. Radio Free Europe: Do you believe that [this US's biggest commitment] is possible or necessary at this stage?

Daniel Fried: I think it's always a good idea for the United States to know what they want, and I was impressed to hear a strategic message from President Osmani. I don't want to go into detail, but she does very well. I don't know how her meetings with the administration went, but she's a strong, convincing leader and I certainly know how to speak to Americans.
Dialogue with the US is key for KosovoRadio Free Europe: During her visit to Washington, President Osmani said President Trump has long prevented a escalation of the situation from Serbia to Kosovo. Trump's envoy for special missions, Richard Green, publicly rejected that claim. How do you interpret this exchange of statements?

Daniel Fried: I don't want to go into details, but I think it's always a good idea to engage with Trump administration. To continue talking to him, to seek allies and friends, even if the Trump administration -- as I said before -- is not ready to cost Kosovo much energy at this moment. It is helpful to start making contact and communication habits when the time comes.

Radio Free Europe: So, you will not share details about statements to prevent an escalation between Serbia and Kosovo...

Daniel Fried: I don't know the details, but it's always good as a tactic to credit administration Trump.

Radio Free Europe: Let's move on to another matter. Kosovo's acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, said late that normalising relations between Kosovo and Serbia is possible, but only if the US and other actors exert more pressure on Serbia to implement the 2023 agreements on normalisation of relations. Do you think Washington should change its approach and exert more direct pressure on Belgrade?

Daniel Fried: I don't want to give much direct advice, because I haven't followed it in too much detail. But, as a general rule, the US and Europe will have to have what we call <x0->moment of truth” with Serbian leadership. In other words, a serious conversation, to say that it cannot do two things simultaneously: pretend it is on the path to European integration and, meanwhile, to try to restore Kosovo.
The idea that will act to advance Russia's interests is dangerous and destructive. Now, I'm not sure if this is the right time for this conversation, but, in general, I think so.
[President of Serbia, Aleksandar] Vuciq is facing pressure from protests and widespread perception of corruption and failure in his leadership in Serbia. Even though Serbian internal politics is not our business, we have endured the dual approach of Vucinqi for many years, and this must be over.
Economic co-operation with US must not wait for political issues to be resolved

Radio Free Europe: I want to return to Osman's visit to the United States. Considering its statements to strengthen economic ties with the United States, do you think Kosovo is trying to build a new kind of relationship with the US, which is based more on economic interests?

Daniel Fried: It is always good to strengthen economic relations. For this, a government that makes decisions is needed, is open to business and easy for investors to co-operate with. That's a good thing.

The more development Kosovo has, the better; the more economic co-operation with the US, the better. And of course, Kosovo will join Europe, not the United States, but a government that can work with American foreign businesses and investors can also work with Europeans.
Economic co-operation with the United States should not wait until all issues with Serbia are resolved. It should start as soon as possible.

Radio Free Europe: Kosovo is showing readiness for American investment, but does she really have something that the US wants or wants?

Daniel Fried: I don't know business, I don't know about mineral resources or investment opportunities, but I do know that, as a general rule, investors who have vision and enter a market early can benefit a lot. Radio Free Europe: But why this desire for economic cooperation now? Is it an attempt to adapt to Trump politics?

Daniel Fried: Maybe, and I don't think that's a bad thing. Trump wants to know what the American business's interest is, so it's good to focus conversations on such terms. Second, even if the Government and the president of Kosovo are trying for more progress in relations with Serbia, it is good not to block everything by waiting for that progress, but to be done in as many areas simultaneously and to achieve more progress. So, not to be expected to resolve political issues.

Radio Free Europe: What would have to happen if Washington took Kosovo seriously as an economic partner in this new era of transaction diplomacy?

Daniel Fried: I don't know what business deals there may be, but I think an aggressive approach from Kosovo to developing business opportunities can work. And then, when you have some results, it promotes them and shows that Kosovo is a good place to do business.