“We remain committed to advancing the common interests shared by the United States and the people Kosova. Our relationship with Kosovo is based on a common goal - strengthening peace and stability as a basis for mutual economic prosperity. Unfortunately, the recent actions and statements of the Prime Minister in the technical mandate Aljbina Kurti they represent a challenge to the progress achieved over many years", this is how part of the announcement read American embassy in Pristina, published on September 12.
And the political situation in Kosovo is already quite complex - the last parliamentary elections were held about seven months ago, and neither the Government nor the Assembly have been formed to date. The President of the Assembly of Kosovo was elected only at the end of August, after a record 57 constitutive sessions. However, there is still no consensus about the vice president from the Serbian community. Therefore, for now, nothing from the Assembly, nor from the announcement of the newly elected president of that body, Demalia Baša, that the next step should be for the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, to appoint a representative for the formation of the new Government.
Serbian list she requested before the Constitutional Court the introduction of a temporary measure "which will stop further unconstitutional actions of the President of the Assembly, so that an unconstitutional government is not elected or the deadlines for the election of the Government of Kosovo begin to run". The Constitutional Court of Kosovo approved that temporary measure following the appeal of the Serbian List, judging that it should be adopted because it is in the public interest and serves to "avoid risks or irreparable damage."
With it, the Constitutional Court suspended all actions of the elected representatives of the Assembly of Kosovo, as well as the procedure for the formation of the Government, ordering that the measure be effective from September 5 to 30 of this year.
In addition, the Government in its technical mandate, led by Aljbin Kurti, carried out various discriminatory actions against the Serbian community on the ground. Some larger ones, such as the closure of the PIO fund and RFZO, which operate according to the system of the Republic of Serbia, or not so large but essential for everyday life, such as the confiscation of card payment machines in several shops in Mitrovica because of the dinar currency. Among other things, Rašić said that, if there had been no institutional deadlock, discussions on the integration of healthcare and education into the Kosovo system would have already begun.
In the light of all this on the ground, what can be caused by the US decision to suspend the strategic dialogue?
A DEEPER GAP
We can talk about long-term and short-term consequences, Jovana Radosavljević, executive director of the New Social Initiative, tells Vreme. She points out that, in the long term, if there is a change in the direction of Self-Determination or a change of government, she does not expect lasting consequences, because relations with the USA can be normalized relatively quickly.
In the short term, she points out, the consequences can be serious: "A political coup for the ruling party, a signal to moderate voters that relations with a key ally have been damaged and a message to the region that Kosovo risks being isolated and perceived as an undesirable partner if it continues on the same path."
Radosavljević does not believe that Kurti and Self-Determination will change the current course. And that course includes the long-term refusal of constructive cooperation in the dialogue with Belgrade, but also the paralysis of the institutional order, such as the adoption of disputed decisions in the technical mandate, the blockade of the Assembly, attacks on the Constitutional Court, as well as political rhetoric about the "Third Republic", and the denial of multi-ethnicity and the acceptance of the Serbian community as a political factor.
"Also, I don't see how they can form a government and continue with that course", he emphasizes.
He adds that, on the internal level, this decision of the US additionally weakens the coalition potential of Self-Determination. "It is possible for representatives of non-majority communities to distance themselves, and the gap with the opposition is deeper. Returning Washington's trust in Self-Determination will be difficult. If the opposition, which is ready for dialogue with the Serbian community and for the normal functioning of institutions, takes over power, that 'reset' would be incomparably easier." In a response to the Pristina newspaper "Koha", the US Embassy stated: "We want to move forward with the government in the technical mandate, but we need a partner who understands the need to avoid destabilizing actions and is committed to improving regional stability and protecting the rights of all citizens of Kosovo."
Radosavljević says that this is a message to the authorities, and indirectly to the voters, that responsibility is measured by actions, not rhetoric. He further points out that such moves increase the pressure for institutions to function inclusively, and to ensure the full participation of Serbs in the political process - from elections to the functioning of parliament.
"One of the disputes was related to the participation of the Serbian List and the blocking of institutional work after the elections, but also to the closure of Serbian institutions. In this sense, the message is that without respect for the rights of the communities there is no deepening of the partnership with Washington. At the same time, the legal authorities recently overturned the decision of the CEC and enabled the participation of the Serbian List in the local elections, which reinforces the expectation that the political game will be conducted as fairly as possible", Radosavljević points out.
photo: us embassy kosovo...former American Ambassador Hovenier and Albin Kurti
TIMING AND MESSAGE
The US decision came on Friday, September 12, a day before the start of the election campaign in Kosovo for the upcoming local elections in October.
Radosavljević says that the timing is certainly not accidental, because of the effect it can produce, although he does not believe that the decision was made because of the pre-election campaign.
"Voters are being sent a very clear message - the relationship with the USA depends on functional institutions, moderation and respect for the rights of all communities. This objectively affects a part of the Self-Determination electorate, for whom partnership with Washington is important," explains our interlocutor.
In a statement, the United States emphasized that the strategic dialogue was intended as a mechanism to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties for the benefit of the American and Kosovo people, adding: "We hope to continue such efforts in the future when appropriate conditions exist."
In other words, as Radosavljević concludes, American officials emphasize that they want cooperation, but with a partner who does not raise tensions — so the political signal is directed towards the behavior of the authorities, and not against Kosovo as such.
"The European Union should emulate the USA"
Four non-governmental organizations operating in the north of Kosovo - New Social Initiative, CASA, Aktiv and InTER - recently welcomed the US decision and called on the European Union and other partners to follow this example and adequately respond to unilateral moves that worsen the situation on the ground.
They showed this on the example of the new decision of the Kosovo Government in the technical mandate, which refers to the mandatory registration of the residence of citizens without Kosovo documents and the driving of vehicles with foreign license plates.
"These measures are neither legal nor administrative, as the authorities in Pristina try to present them, but political and have only one goal: to make it difficult and impossible for the daily functioning of the Serbian community in Kosovo while avoiding solving the key reason why thousands of Serbs do not have Kosovo documents even after more than a decade of integration," the statement said.
Radosavljević emphasizes that they welcomed the decision of the USA, because they clearly recognize that the course of the outgoing Government is destructive, that it deepens the crisis, and that it affects the Serbian community in Kosovo the hardest and systematically.
"At the same time, we want to see similar, equally clear reactions and concrete steps from other international actors, primarily the EU, in order to stop discrimination, restore dialogue and urgently solve practical issues that negatively affect people's daily lives," says our interlocutor.
