In a recent live interview for “Review” on Euronews Albania, professor Daniel Serwer, an expert in U.S. relations, shared his views on the draft status proposed by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama for the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities in Kosovo.
Serwer expressed strong criticism, stating that the proposal was not only unjust but also undermined the credibility of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
The draft status proposed by Prime Minister Edi Rama aimed to address the complex issue of the Association of Serbian Municipalities in Kosovo.
However, according to Serwer, the proposal missed the mark and was fundamentally flawed. He went on to support the stance of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who had criticized the proposal, labeling it as a misguided action.
Serwer argued that Rama’s proposal created an unnecessary complication, making the situation even more challenging for Prime Minister Kurti.
He concurred with Berisha’s view that the intervention was unwarranted, as it not only undermined Kurti’s prestige but also failed to resolve the problem at hand.
“This is an unnecessary complication, which makes things even harder for Albin Kurti. I think former Prime Minister Berisha is right. This is an unwarranted intervention, which undermines Kurti’s prestige and does not resolve the problem at hand,” said professor Serwer.
Serwer emphasized the need for Kosovo to present an alternative proposal that adheres to the country’s constitution.
He also highlighted the importance of a proposal originating from Pristina rather than Belgrade or Rama’s office.
Serwer acknowledged that Prime Minister Kurti had deemed the proposed model in Croatia as unviable and suggested that Kurti should put forth a new proposal that aligns with Kosovo’s Constitution.
While the expert recognized the challenges in finding a resolution, he emphasized that a proposal originating from within Kosovo would be crucial in seeking a sustainable and mutually acceptable solution.
“He [Kurti] must come out with a proposal that is in accordance with the Constitution of Kosovo. However, I think it is necessary that something comes from Pristina, not from Belgrade or Edi Rama,” Serwer told Euronews Albania.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama stated on June 8th that he had sent a draft for the Association to French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Rama stated that the document is confidential but expressed confidence that it is “an internationally top-level document that takes into consideration all the reasons for the creation of the Association and that the Association is part of the organization of life for Kosovo”.
The establishment of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities is one of Kosovo’s obligations that the EU and the United States insist on the most.
At the latest high-level meeting within the dialogue between the two countries, a draft for the Association was presented by the Management Team, composed of four members of the Serbian community. This team was dismissed a day later by the authorities in Kosovo.
The draft was immediately rejected by Kosovo, while sources in the EU stated that they were expecting such a response.
Later, Kurti presented a “draft vision” based on the example of Croatia, where there is a National Council for the Serbian community.
Kosovo and Serbia reached an agreement on the Association in 2013 and later in 2015 on the principles for its establishment.
However, in 2015, the Constitutional Court of Kosovo found that the agreement was not fully in line with the Constitution.
Serbia demands that Kosovo implement the reached agreements, but the current government of Kosovo has declared itself against an ethnically-based association.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how Prime Minister Kurti and other stakeholders will respond to these critical insights as they navigate the complex landscape of interethnic relations in Kosovo.
