Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama spoke to BBC News regarding tensions in the northern part of Kosovo these past few days.
Asked which side is responsible for the tensions, Rama argued that there is blame to share between Kosovo and Serbia.
“There is a concerning situation in northern Kosovo, but I will not emphasize the aspect of danger too much. I will simply say that this situation was initially provoked by the abandonment of institutions by Serbs, which created a vacuum. Secondly, it was provoked by the insistence of Kosovo authorities to install these mayors in empty municipalities, where the majority of the population is Serbian. It was good that elections were held and it was shown that no one can obstruct democratic processes in an independent country, but it was not a good idea to insist on the entry of these mayors into vacant municipalities with the help of the police and the intervention of KFOR, resulting in injuries to soldiers.”
The Prime Minister emphasized that both countries are close to resolving their disputes, all thanks to leaders Albin Kurti and Aleksandar Vučić.
“I believe that the broader perspective is positive. Serbia and Kosovo, thanks to Kurti and Vučić, are very close to reaching a historic agreement. I also believe that the fact that the agreement is so close, based on the Franco-German proposal with reciprocal recognition, has frustrated both parties. It’s like a couple standing at the church door before getting married, starting to have doubts.”
However, the Albanian Prime Minister was harsh towards his Kosovar counterpart, aligning himself with the West condemning Kurti for his actions in the north.
“I am sorry to say this, but I think the same way, and this is not a servile position. I am convinced that the US and the EU are right, and Albin is completely wrong because they are not trying to please Serbia, but to take Kosovo to another level, which means a state recognized by everyone, which can sit in the UN and other institutions.”
Rama does not see Serbia being a threat to Kosovo, and suggested President Vučić to give up on Kosovo once and for all, while urging Prime Minister Kurti to fulfill his part of the obligations.
“I think Serbia has not been a threat to Kosovo since 1999; it has definitively lost Kosovo since 1999. Now is the time for peace, for normalization, to accept and give Serbia what it deserves through agreements, namely the association of municipalities with a Serbian majority, and the right for the Serbian Orthodox Church to have its activities in Kosovo, and for Serbia to accept that it no longer has Kosovo and to accept reciprocal recognition.”
