Paul Antoine: Kurti banned me from going to Kosovo for life

French political analyst and activist Paul Antoine says that exactly two years have passed since the administration of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has not allowed him to enter Kosovo.

As Antoine pointed out in an interview with Novosti, he was banned only because of what he thought and spoke.

"Time passes and my desire to return is getting stronger," Antoine says.

How long are you banned from entering?

For life. I can't go back there anymore. That's what they told me. They gave me some paper, which was in the Albanian language, so I refused to sign it. They also added that I have two weeks to complain to the "Kosovo Embassy" in Paris, which, of course, I did not do, because for me it does not exist.

How do you feel about this ban?

Very embarrassing, because I really liked going there. I have a lot of friends and acquaintances, it's not easy to face the fact that I can't see them anymore.

Did they then explain to you why they denied you entry?

They did not go into details. They briefly informed me that they had put me on the "red list" for threatening the security of the "state of Kosovo" and "Kosovo's international relations". I answered them that the judge should give me that kind of information, but the official at the administrative crossing two years ago answered that "we are not in France but in Kosovo".

What did you do that bothered them so much?

It's simple. It is about all the trips to Kosovo that I organized, the interviews that I gave, and the conferences that I held. The Albanians from Kosovo like to talk about Kosovo only positively. They don't like it when someone tells the truth.

What did you organize?

For example, the trip to Kosovo to the Serbian enclaves of the French Senator Sebastien Meurant, who afterward spoke a lot in the Senate about the difficult situation of the Serbs. That is why the "Ambassador" of Kosovo was invited to provide explanations in the Senate several times. Also former presidential candidate and MP Jean-Frederic Poisson. I also organized a meeting of the Serbs from Kosovo with French Senator Valerie Boyer, Senator Stephane Ravier, and other officials in Paris.

What made you get involved?

I am interested in the situation in the region. I am reacting because I think that what is happening is not normal. To some extent, I understand that Germany, the USA, or England recognize Kosovo. My family's house is older than the US history. But I'm sorry that France does it too. As a Frenchman, I can't understand that.

Any updates on your ban?

No. I am disappointed that there is no progress. There was an agreement from Brussels last year regarding the bans, but it is apparently not being respected. I'm not the only one in this situation. Maybe they thought I would be quieter this way. But they were wrong.

Have you complained to the French authorities?

I did, but it didn't have much success. France believes that this is the problem of the ordinary citizen with the "state" they recognize.

You had anonymous threats from the Albanian side?

There were some. Now they have decreased a bit. But they still exist. They called me on the phone and sent me messages.

Do you have hope that one day you will return to Kosovo, to meet your Serbian friends again?

Honestly, I don't have much, the situation in Kosovo is getting worse for the Serbs. There is always a small hope that I will travel again. But not in the years to come.

Do you remotely follow what is happening in Kosovo?

Of course. I see that the situation is difficult for the Serbs. There is a lot of pressure from the Americans and the EU on the Serbian authorities. Is not easy to. European politics is run by Germans. The Serbs cannot expect much from them. Things will change over time, the attitude of Marine Le Pen in France is different. In Italy, for several years there has been a government that understands what is going on. It should be used. I met with Matteo Salvini several times and I spoke to him about the problems of Kosovo. We agreed.

How will this all end?

It will continue, I suspect, like this for years to come. The situation for the Serbs will worsen. Kurti was chosen for two reasons: because of the "Greater Albania" project and the abolition of EU visas. The Albanians from Kosovo, who only have the "citizenship" of Kosovo, are not interested in staying there, they just want to join the EU. Look at how many of them live in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy... I don't know when, but the moment will come when Kosovo will de facto become a part of Serbia again. The Turks were there for five hundred years, so it became Serbian again. It will be like that again.

How do you keep in touch with your friends?

By phone, emails, organizing events in France. We organized a meeting in the Municipality of the sixteenth arrondissement of Paris, in the French Senate, a colloquium in the town of Le Blanc-Mesnil, the performance of folklore societies, and the sale of Serbian products from Kosovo...

How do you manage to achieve all this?

The hardest part is securing funds. If we had more money, our collective "France-Serbia" would be even more active. We manage on our own, but we manage to survive. We also need a little more visibility, so that people hear about us.

Are you also active in the region?

I was recently in Belgrade and Montenegro to meet friends and rest. I am planning to travel to Republika Srpska soon. I have excellent contacts with the authorities there. My goal is to continue connecting French politicians with politicians from Republika Srpska.