The Alliance That Built Freedom Today Under Test

In May of that year, then Kosovo Albanian political leader Ibrahim Rugova was met at the White House by US President Bill Clinton to show the persecution his people were experiencing.

“We requested from the United States that something be done urgently for halting violence and attacks in Kosovo. And the best solution is an independent Kosovo”, Rugova said after the meeting.

The clashes between Serbian forces and Albanians who had taken up arms were increasing daily. Civil victims were deepening the crisis as US diplomacy got deeper in the game.

Meetings, intensive conversations, diplomatic conditions, and attempts at the agreement everything was renewed this week in the spotlight by James Rubin then US Assistant Secretary of State during his testimony to the Special Chambers in The Hague.

“was a dramatic attempt to bring peace and prevent what we feared would be the great massacre of Kosovo Albanians through a peace conference”, Ruby said.

The peace conference in Rambouille failed: the Serbian side rejected the agreement proposed by the West, while the Kosovo side agreed. Thus, the United States -- as Rubin recalled -- fulfilled its promise to Kosovo-wing war representative Hashim Thaci that if Serbia did not sign, the US would launch a military campaign.

NATO's first aircraft rose in the air on 24 March 1999 to mark the beginning of a crucial chapter for Kosovo.

America has the obligation to stay close to our allies when they try to save innocent lives and preserve peace, freedom and stability in Europe. This is what we are doing in Kosovo”, Clinton said that evening in a speech to the nation.

Seventy-eight days of bombing led to the withdrawal of Serbian forces and the liberation of Kosovo. The United States entered the field with thousands of soldiers part of NATO's peacekeeping mission and established the largest military base in the Balkans.

For years, the US stood by the side of Kosovo, becoming the main supporter of its independence.

The United States officially recognised Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state. In the declaration of independence, Kosovo pledged the highest standards of democracy, including freedom, tolerance and justice for citizens of all ethnicities”, US President Geroge W said at the time. Bush two days after Kosovo declared independence on February 17th 2008.

During the 27 years since 1998, the United States invested over two billion dollars in Kosovo, supporting everything from reforms in rule of law to combating violent extremism and integration efforts into Euro-Atlantic structures.

Today, the view could no longer be different. Kosovo's closest ally for years suspended the planned Strategic Dialogue designed to deepen bilateral relations. It linked the decision to the actions of Kosovo's incumbent government and increasing tensions in the country. But the government rejected the criticism.

Our “Our actions, legal and constitutional, have been in the service of the removal of destabilities. The stability we enjoy today is the natural result of rule of law and public order”, wrote the government's acting spokesman, Kryeziu Progress, on Facebook.

And a week after the suspension of the Strategic Dialogue, Prime Minister-in-Office Albin Kurti himself reacted, who said relations with the US have not been broken, but acknowledged there are “s certain” differences in attitudes.

For the former American ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Havenier, the suspension of Strategic Dialogue was the result of frustrations gathered against Albin Kurti's government over the past two years.

The frustrations began because of some measures that were perceived as uncoordinated and at the expense of the Serb community ʹ as the removal of the dinar or the closure of several institutions in Serbia and climaxed with the harsh criticism Kurt made of some of its judgments.

The Strategic Dialog allows for greater and deeper co-operation. It works like this: delegations go to Washington, or delegations come to Pristina; The U.S. government brings people from the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce... In a way, the entire Government works to strengthen the relationship. So losing this option is a huge loss”, says Havenier for Radio Free Europe.

Social networks dominated commentators who granted access to Kosovo's incumbent government, saying that the “which mixes America, only desert has remained. Others went even further, saying that “we never saw your hairi”, or your “hard work, 26 years, you're playing cat with “

But, really hard work is considered by some observers in the region who say that Kosovo, in the face of Serbia's territorial claims and unresolved disputes with it, should not test US support.

US support is essential in many ways, but most importantly it relates to the presence of American soldiers on the ground. Kosovo would like to keep them there. And, I think it should be there”, says of the Free Europe Radio Expose program Daniel Cerwer, professor at Johns Hopkins University.

At the time the Pentagon is expected to announce a considerable reduction of American forces in Europe, Charles Kupchan, of the Council for Foreign Relations in Washington, says it is in the interest of Kosovo and Kurti to maintain a strong relationship with the United States.

“I think it would be irresponsible and self-destructive if the Government in Kosovo continues to take steps that damage relations with a country that has been so strong a supporter”, says Kupchan.

As for the possibility of Kosovo navigation itself, without strong American support, Havenier leaves the decision on citizens, but adds this:

If I were a political leader of Kosovo I'd be very careful not to do anything that would hurt or negatively affect my relationship with the United States”.

In a poll conducted by the International Republican Institute (IRI) in the May-July period of this year, 77 per cent of respondents in Kosovo said they view the US as their country's most important ally.

In the same poll, 38 per cent of citizens said the country needs a change of key political leaders and parties in power, while 44 per cent said they favour improving the economic situation and social justice.

Analysts warn that both sides must walk carefully, because any vacuum created by the cooling of American support for Kosovo can be exploited by malicious powers such as Russia and their actors on the ground, and neither side will.

Kosovo can maintain good relations with Europe and the US only if it is seen to be negotiating with trust and constructively, to advance the region”, Kupchan tells Radio Free Europe.

Serwer suggests that Kosovo strengthens relations with other allies, especially at a time when, as it says, the US is being distracted by other global priorities. He specifically mentions Japan, South Korea, Greece.

There are other options, although no one is as good as Americans. But if you unite a group of friends, you can somehow compensate for the loss of American attention. I am not sure whether the Government of Kosovo is doing this, and it is difficult for a government in office to do this”, says Cerwer.

REL conversationators warn that co-operation on behalf of independence can be dangerous. They underline that co-ordination with allies and international partners does not violate sovereignty, but is the essential tool for preserving it and ensuring stability.

Global examples such as the meeting organised last month by US President Donald Trump, with European leaders for the crisis in Ukraine, clearly show that co-operation is not only advisable but also necessary.

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani pledged that she would engage with US President Donald Trump's administration to strengthen and protect the alliance with the US, which she said “has always been in behalf of our people, national security, regional stability and Euro-Atlantic integration”.

Clinton, Albright, Bush, Biden All are carved names today in public spaces in Kosovo.

When about five months of liberation had passed, Clinton went to Kosovo to meet people who had put their trust in him. Among the excited crowds, he acknowledged that forgiveness is difficult, but said it is important to create lasting peace.

No one can force you to forgive for what has been done to you. But you have to try”, Clinton said in November of 99. / REL/ Periscopi/