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A Kosovar friend writes:
I believe this is where all the problems started:
by the narrative that Kosovo is about to die soon as it does not
have a final deal with Serbia! This is where all lobbyists for
dialogue at any cost have brought the narrative, claiming that we
depend on Serbia’s willingness to recognize us. They want us to
devote all our energy to a deal.
Yes, dealing with Serbia is important, but not at
any cost. The technical dialogue in Brussels had a perverse effect:
it stopped recognition of Kosovo, as some in the international
community felt they should wait for the results. The dialogue also
eliminated the authentic Kosovo Serb parties who accept the Kosovo
state. That was done because Serbian President Vucic in the dialogue
made a lot of promises and accepted a lot of responsibilities (as he
always does). It seemed to the internationals logical to allow him
to have his own Kosovo Serb politicians organized in the Lista
Srpska. That enables him to control even Kosovo’s internal political
life.
Had we devoted our energies after the Ahtisaari
plan (2007) and the International Court of Justice decision (2010)
advisory opinion about our independence to a real state-building
agenda, we would have been in much better position. Instead we
depended on the dialogue, which solidified the impression that the
Kosovo story was still unfinished. We are where we are and the world
has not changed in our direction. But, still I oppose the logic that
Kosovo’s future depends on Serbia’s consent.
The ingredients for success in the dialogue do not
lay entirely with us. We need Washington and Brussels to have a more
supportive approach. Vucic is not going to sacrifice anything for
the dialogue. He wants carrots that reward Serbia. Kosovo had to
play in the dialogue, as he did. But now the pending indictment of
our President and other Kosovo Liberation Army leaders by the
Specialist Chambers have made it far more difficult for us.
What is alternative? I am not Nostradamus. Now the
situation is more difficult and more complex than ever before.
The Specialist Chambers might drag on for many years. It will damage
our image and put at risk our functionality and statehood. The
Kosovo political opposition thinks only of how to take power at any
cost. We could even end up with two of the worst outcomes: partition
without recognition. I am afraid of negative scenarios offering us
only a status akin to that of Palestine or union with Albania.
I am speaking as a worried friend and I hope you
understand.
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