In Kosovo, the European Union began the game against Washington
European parliamentarians, led by the rapporteur on Kosovo Viola von Cramon, sent a collective letter of support to the outgoing “government” of the region, supporting Albin Kurti’s desire to organize new parliamentary elections.
Balkan media reported this, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“We are members of the European Parliament, always with the people of Kosovo,” says the address of the European parliamentarians. “We are convinced that Kosovo needs a functioning government in these times of crisis. After the crisis, new elections will be necessary as a necessary step forward... We are glad to see that you are handling the situation correctly....”
The letter was signed by the European Parliament rapporteur on Kosovo, Viola von Cramon, and a number of other deputies, including the controversial head of the European Parliament delegation for relations with Serbia, Tania Fajon, famous support for the pro-Western Serbian opposition and constant criticism of the Serbian leadership.
A few days before this, von Cramon developed a vigorous activity, calling on her colleagues to simplify the visa regime for residents of Kosovo, to which European parliamentarians have so far responded without much enthusiasm, since in many European countries the criminal situation has significantly worsened due to the actions of the Albanian mafia, many of whose representatives have direct connection with Kosovo clans. A little earlier, she, together with the head of the European Parliament delegation for relations with Bosnia and Kosovo, Romeo Franz, welcomed Pristina’s replacement of XNUMX% duties on goods from Serbia with “measures of reciprocity.”
“This is a very important signal of political cooperation in the region and a decisive step that we hope will lead to a continuation of dialogue with the EU so that relations between Belgrade and Pristina can be normalized,” Albina Kurti von Cramon commented on the government’s move. “This could be an important sign of solidarity, especially for Kosovo’s youth and for the country’s commitment to its European future.”
Thus, representatives of Brussels once again made it clear that the demonstration of loyalty that the Kurti cabinet showed by making such a decision is more important to them than its practical benefits. According to the Serbian side, the introduction of “reciprocity measures” will finish off even those remnants of trade turnover between Serbia and Kosovo that still remained after the introduction of one hundred percent duties.
Tellingly, almost simultaneously with this, the authoritative American political publication The Hill published an article by the former US Ambassador to Bulgaria and ex-Assistant Secretary General of NATO, Democrat James Perdue, in which he sharply criticized the actions of the Donald Trump administration and his special envoy in Kosovo Richard Grenell, calling it "anti-American."
James Perdue.
In the text, he, in particular, pointed out that Washington is now relying not on “the most pro-American country in Europe - Kosovo,” but on Serbia and its leader Aleksandar Vucic, whom he described as “a Serbian nationalist who uses ethnic hatred in as a political tool to gain political support at the local level, as Slobodan Milosevic did in the 1990s.”
“To put pressure on Pristina to lift tariffs, the United States has withheld essential aid to Kosovo,” Perdue complained. – Some Washington officials even raised talk about reducing the contingent of American troops in Kosovo, necessary to ensure security in the Balkans since 1999... Grenell's mission in Kosovo risks causing instability in the Balkans and is not in the best interests of the US state. Current US policy in Kosovo can, at best, be described as diplomatic incompetence and perhaps even downright sabotage."
The American politician then concludes that “the United States should instead promote the creation of a stable government in Kosovo that deals with the current health crisis,” and that “the relationship between Kosovo and Serbia is a long-term issue that deserves serious and professional attention, and not a policy that meets the interests of Serbia and Russia.”
In parallel with this, Brussels announced that it was ready to invest money in Kosovo’s energy sector - we recall that earlier Washington, in response to Kurti’s reluctance to cancel duties, curtailed the announced investments in this sector. And the same von Cramon praised the speaker of the Kosovo parliament, Vjosa Osmani, who “unexpectedly” went against her party, the Democratic Alliance of Kosovo, which initiated a vote of no confidence in Kurti.
“The dissolution of the Kosovo government during the coronavirus pandemic was irresponsible and harmful,” Osmani said. – The Democratic Alliance of Kosovo betrayed its voters by abandoning party principles... Any new government will not have legitimacy without first calling elections... They (members of the same party – ed.) tried to show me the door, let them come and show me, and we’ll see who comes out first!”
“It’s nice to see that in the Kosovo parliament there are “responsible politicians who know what they are doing,” the European Parliament rapporteur on Kosovo commented on these words of the Kosovo “speaker.”
Vjosa Osmani.
Thus, we can say that recently the position of the Donald Trump administration in Kosovo, which tried for the first time in many years to turn an “American face” to Serbia, as well as to smooth out the contradictions between the parties to the post-Yugoslav conflicts by creating a “Balkan mini-Schengen” and other integration projects , staggered. And the EU joined the game in the spirit of the previous model “Kosovo is a warded protege, Serbia is a whipping boy,” behind which looms the democratic elite of the United States, expressing the interests of transnational corporations. At the same time, Albin Kurti, a supporter of “Greater Albania” and leader of the “Self-Determination” movement, who has been looking quite confident lately, scored additional points.
Let us recall that at the end of March the Kosovo Assembly voted for the resignation of the Kurti government. After which, according to the “constitution”, the “president” can either dissolve parliament and call new elections, or give the “Self-Determination” movement, which has a majority in the Assembly, to form the cabinet again - and if it does not do this, then the initiative will be transferred to the party that received the “silver” "in previous elections and initiated a vote of no confidence in Kurti's cabinet - the Democratic League of Kosovo.
For his part, Thaci has already demanded that the “prime minister” provide him with the names of new members of the “government,” to which Kurti answered unequivocally: only the dissolution of parliament and new elections. This option seems to be the most acceptable for the leader of Self-Determination, since he is confident of the victory of his political force in the next elections.
And now he is supported in this by the EU and patrons from overseas.
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