Global Courant
Kosovo may face a series of other measures from the United States of America and the European Union, if it does not engage in a constructive way for the extension of the situation in the north of the country, warn former diplomats and civil society representatives.
“Let’s hope that (it is not affected) the liberalization of visas” with European countries, the former ambassador of Kosovo to the USA, Avni Spahiu, tells Radio Evropa e Lire.
Due to the tensions in the north, namely the disregard of the US advice regarding the necessary steps there, Kosovo has already been excluded from a large military exercise, led by the US in Europe. Despite the calls of the international community, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has not withdrawn the police or the Albanian mayors from the northern part of the country, inhabited by a majority of Serbs.
The protests there, which are still ongoing, erupted as early as May 26, when the Kosovo Police helped the Albanian mayors of the municipalities of Zveçan, Zubin Potok and Leposaviq to enter the municipal facilities, despite the resistance of the local residents. The elections of April 23, from which these presidents emerged, were boycotted by the Serbian community.
The US special envoy to the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, has asked Kurti to withdraw mayors and police from the north and organize new local elections. The European Union has made similar requests.
While there is no answer from Kurti regarding them, Escobar has said that his “lack of cooperation” will have consequences in Kosovo’s relations with the Euro-Atlantic community. The head of the EU’s foreign policy, Josep Borrell, made a similar warning.
What consequences could there be?
“The United States of America and the European Union are in one voice regarding this issue. As usual, after the measures announced by Washington, the measures coming from the European Union follow. What they will be, I cannot say at this moment, I hope they will not be something that will harm the people of Kosovo and the state of Kosovo”, says Spahiu for Radio Free Europe.
“Let’s hope not the liberalization of visas”, he adds while talking about the decision that is expected to enter into force on January 1, 2024.
Spahiu says that the consequences can also be reflected in Kosovo’s application for membership in the Council of Europe. Kosovo took a step closer to this membership in April. Spahiu notes that without the support of international allies, especially the USA, Kosovo will not be able to move forward.
“We are not yet a fully consolidated state, we have sovereignty problems, such as the north, and many other aspects of our international presence in other institutions… We need the help of our friends, especially the USA. If this friendship fluctuates, the interests of Kosovo will be damaged”, says the former Kosovar diplomat.
What could be the consequences from the EU?
The former Kosovar Minister of Foreign Affairs, Petrit Selimi, said that at least three EU member states are considering the suspension of IPA funds and visa liberalization for Kosovo. IPA funds are intended to help countries that are in the process of joining the EU. In the framework of this program, the Government of Kosovo and the EU have signed in February a financial agreement in the amount of 75 million euros, which will be used in the energy sector.
Selimi said that this is his information: “The latest information from the discussions within the EU: At least 3 EU member states (I will not mention them here) are considering the request for the suspension of IPA funds- s and the liberalization of visas for Kosovo”, he wrote on Twitter on May 31.
REL sources in Brussels say that failure to fulfill obligations in the process of normalizing the situation in the north “will have consequences for Kosovo in the EU integration process and in the financial aspect”, but they do not specify more.
If it comes to taking measures against Kosovo, the EU will escalate them, says Demush Shasha from the Kosovo Institute for European Policy.
“Initially, it will be started with softer measures, such as the interruption of regular political exchanges between the representatives of Kosovo and the EU. Then, these measures can escalate with the suspension of Kosovo’s participation in EU programs, the suspension of access to EU funds, the suspension of Kosovo’s request for candidate country status (in the EU), up to the suspension of visa liberalization”, says Shasha for Radio Free Europe.
According to him, the EU, which mediates the dialogue for the normalization of Kosovo-Serbia relations, will first make efforts “to understand the concerns of Kosovo and to agree on a way forward” between Pristina and Belgrade. Representatives of businesses in Kosovo say that they do not expect economic consequences from the USA, but, according to them, the economy is already being damaged by the situation in the north.
“Kosovo found itself on the front pages of world newspapers as a country of crisis and this is a big alarm for every business”, says Ilir Ibrahimi, director of the Business Club of Kosovo.
“Those who have invested are afraid of the fate of their investment, and those who are thinking of investing immediately give up,” he adds.
How things will develop in the coming days is not clear.
Kurti admitted that there are challenges in relations with international emissaries, but did not speak about their demands. He said that he has offered a “stable and safe exit” from the crisis in the north, which, according to him, includes the rule of law in this area and the removal of “Serbian criminal groups” from there. Kurti has repeatedly insisted that he cannot make compromises with the “democratic republic”./REL
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