Denis MacShane, former UK minister for Europe, guested on \u201cBalkan Talks\u201d by Franko Egro this Friday, where he spoke about the relations between the new Labour government in London and Kosovo.<\/p>\n
Asked by Egro whether London\u2019s position regarding Kosovo will change under the new prime minister, MacShane mentioned that the new foreign secretary, David Lammy, and other ministers from the Foreign Office have already been in Prishtina, to establish the new relations.<\/p>\n
\u201cHistorically, younger members of Parliament have witnessed Tony Blair\u2019s leadership in international political coalitions and during the intervention against Milosevic\u2019s war. But Britain always has difficulties. We do not participate in European decision-making meetings, we do not meet with Council ministers, we do not meet with other foreign ministers. We have personal and friendly relationships, bilateral relations. There will also be significant changes, as we have left behind the anti-European Conservative government. But we are not at the table, we do not have a voice, we cannot vote, and this remains a difficulty.\u201d<\/p>\n
MacShane warned that he is already in discussion with the \u201cLabour Friends\u201d group, so that Britain can play a good role in foreign policy in the Western Balkans.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope this will be considered, but there are indeed many other foreign policy issues on the new government\u2019s agenda. I hope they will maintain a solid presence, and they are doing so. I know they are keeping some key people in place. But in the end, Britain is not there. The President of France, the Chancellor of Germany, and perhaps even the Prime Minister of Italy need to come together and tell Mr. Vucic, \u2018Enough is enough!\u2019 But the European Union is not threatening; it is more like a friendly labrador than an aggressive bulldog when it comes to foreign policies,\u201d MacShane concluded.<\/p>\n
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