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Bugajski: Rama believes that Tirana should be the center of the "Albanian world" with Pristina as the provincial capital

2023-06-14 12:59:46Politikë SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Bugajski: Rama believes that Tirana should be the center of the "Albanian
Janusz Bugajski

The expert on Balkan issues, Janusz Bugajski, has commented on the cancellation of the meeting of the two governments of Albania and Kosovo.

" In fact, Pristina has a collection of complaints against Tirana and especially against the current socialist government. Kosovo's leaders have raised serious questions about Rama's support for the Open Balkans initiative – a format that favors Serbian business and expansionist objectives. The government in Tirana also demonstrates little public solidarity with Pristina on vital issues in the dialogue with Belgrade. Indeed, it often seems that the personal ties between Rama and Vucic outweigh any concern for Kosovo's security and international integration ," he writes.

According to Bugajski, a deeper game is in question.

Rama believes that Tirana should be the center of the "Albanian world" with Pristina as the provincial capital. Such goals are frowned upon by almost all political leaders in Kosovo, who see statehood as their crowning achievement after years of subjection to various iterations of Serbia-Yugoslavia. Although Kurti has expressed possible support for a single Albanian state through democratic procedures and an open referendum, it is difficult to imagine his acceptance of a union with Albania in which Kosovo's status is reduced to a province. Moreover, the longer Kosovo exists as a state, the deeper is the sense of distinctiveness among its population and the unwillingness to submit again ", he continues.

" As a result, we have the silent support of Tirana for the division of Kosovo during the Trump administration, in which the north would return to Serbia and the rest to Albania. Although the secret agreement was not made public, many details were revealed about the border changes involving Serbia and Albania. "Trump's proposals were finally shelved when they met fierce international resistance and threatened to ignite the region ," he emphasizes.

According to him, the newest project envisages the redistribution of the region without changing borders and has apparently received approval in the Biden administration. " The Western Balkans will be divided into three separate spheres of influence, with Belgrade, Tirana and Zagreb gaining political and economic influence over smaller neighbours, including Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. Under international pressure, the weaker states would be expected to agree to supposedly ensure regional stability ," Bugajski emphasizes.

The expert on Balkan affairs says that Kurti's criticism of Rama shows that the plan is known in Pristina and that it is further exasperating the relations between the two Albanian states.

" Paradoxically, after showing steadfast resistance to Belgrade's dominance for several decades, Prishtina must now demonstrate its resistance to Tirana's 'big brother' syndrome. Kosovars will oppose attempts to limit their independence or schemes such as the Serbian "association of municipalities" that will surely render the state politically dysfunctional.

Indeed, Kurti should consider calling early elections to demonstrate how much public support the government actually has to resist pressures to concede ground to Belgrade. This would also send a strong signal to Albanian citizens that the development of Kosovo cannot be decided in Tirana. Disputes between Albania and Kosovo and between Albanian leaders across state borders can be constructive if they lead to new initiatives and involve the public of both countries in discussions about a common future.

However, the current dispute primarily serves the interests of the Vucic administration in three ways. First, the support from Tirana strengthens Belgrade's hand in the dialogue with Pristina. Second, it reduces Kosovo's position in both Washington and Brussels, while increasing Rama's reputation as a regional problem solver. And thirdly, it feeds stereotypical Serbian accusations that Albanians are incapable of governing themselves and need a regional master ," he concludes.


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