FLASH
Shkruar nga MEVLUDIN IBISH
Kosovo is facing a bitter reality. This is after Prime Minister Kurti has been criticized for his attitudes towards the tensions in North Mitrovica, while Washington has established closer ties with Serbia, which shows the fluid strategic positions of the USA in the Balkans.
The Balkans is no stranger to international turbulence and crises, where the current developments between Serbia and Kosovo are no exception. The difficulties between Kosovo and Serbia stem from a deep issue of recognition, independence, territorial integrity and self-determination, writes "Daily Sabah" .
Also, it is no secret that the international attitude towards the Serbia-Kosovo situation has always been based on ties with the great superpowers: Russia and China on the one hand and the United States, with its allies, on the other. Kosovo became a close ally and regional springboard for US diplomacy
Serbia relies on its Slavic roots and the Russian Federation's pan-Slavic strategic maneuvers in the Balkans. In a way, the crisis between Serbia and Kosovo turned into a conflict for the dominance of the Western and Eastern blocs.
The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, and the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, have both supported the national issue and populist rhetoric. However, this conventional understanding of the region may be on the verge of change with the latest developments between Serbia and Kosovo.
Change in positions
It is taken for granted that Kosovo is supported by the US and the EU against Serbia, which is supported by Russia. However, some key developments and trends are beginning to point towards a new developing situation, putting Kosovo at a disadvantage, which may lead to a rethinking of its position in the conflict.
Kurti has tried to strengthen Kosovo's position at the negotiating table, to show efforts for full territorial and institutional sovereignty and legitimacy. However, the fact that in order to strategically dominate Serbia, Kosovo must go through the support of NATO and the European Union should not be rejected.
Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, Serbia has been reluctant to continue its long-standing pro-Russian stance, even voting in support of United Nations resolutions condemning Russian military action in Ukraine, but without sanctions. This change opened the door for the US to heal its alliance with Serbia. If Serbian-American relations begin to improve, the US will inevitably take a softer approach to supporting Kosovo and its diplomatic moves, thus pushing Kosovo towards concessions, such as accepting the establishment of "Zajednica".
If we look at recent developments, such a phenomenon is not only a theoretical perspective but is slowly becoming a bitter reality for Kosovo. Albin Kurti's actions prompted criticism from the US and the EU regarding his handling of the recent clashes in North Mitrovica, where one of the consequences was the exclusion of Kosovo from NATO's "Defender 23" military exercises with more sanctions that will follow according to statements from US and EU representatives. The American-Serbian business council, established in Washington DC just a few days ago, is another example of American efforts to reposition Serbia in a pro-US perspective.
Kurti should monitor the developments
If Kurti continues on the current path, unwittingly, it could result in a positive image for Vučić, changing the perception from an authoritarian leader with a negative history during the breakup of Yugoslavia to a contemporary democratic negotiator and stabilizing factor in the Balkans. Vucic's strong legitimacy within Serbia's domestic politics, as well as Serbia's position as a key factor in influencing Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and other neighboring Balkan states, makes Serbia an attractive and now very feasible venture. for Americans.
Kurti duhet t'i vëzhgojë këto zhvillime, të përshtatet me një qasje më të butë diplomatike ndaj bashkësisë ndërkombëtare dhe të bëhet një burrë shteti vigjilent. Ai duhet të marrë kohë dhe të angazhohet në kontrollin e dëmeve për të shmangur izolimin në skenën botërore kur mbështetja e tyre ndërkombëtarisht tashmë po pakësohet. Serbia ka demonstruar aftësinë e saj për të luajtur të dyja palët mes SHBA-së dhe Rusisë, ndërkohë që Kosova nuk gëzon një luks të tillë pasi SHBA-ja mbetet mbështetësi kryesor i shtetësisë së Kosovës, njohjes ndërkombëtare dhe sigurisë së bashku me aleatët e saj.
Rasti aktual kërkon një qasje pragmatike në vend të një qasje idealiste; Ndërhyrja e policisë së shtetit në Mitrovicën e Veriut duhet të lehtësohet strukturalisht dhe të shpallen dhe realizohen zgjedhje të reja. Kurti duhet të angazhohet në rolin e negociatorit dhe paqebërësit, gjë që do ta vendoste Vuçiçin aktualisht në dukje të favorizuar ndërkombëtarisht në rolin e një agresori nëse ai nuk tërhiqet. Ai gjithashtu duhet të adresojë politika të reja për t'i rikthyer atij duke riintegruar komunitetin serb brenda institucioneve të Kosovës dhe duke zgjeruar një degë ulliri për komunitetin serb në Kosovë dhe kryesisht në Mitrovicën Veriore.
As a factor with regional influence and a middle power in recent international conflicts, of course, Turkey's role is also crucial in this regard. I expect Turkey to once again act as a mediator between the two sides, as it did between Russia and Ukraine, asserting its role as a critical actor and stabilizing agent in the region and beyond.
Lini një Përgjigje